Happy to have put a couple newbies on their first billfish the past few weeks. Kenny Collins and Matt Garrett (aka Garrett) from the upstate got their first billfish. It was Kenny’s first trip targeting pelagics and in true fashion he did a great job fighting it. (He always get’s the booners too).
Here’s the flyby.
6/9 - Left IOP at 10am for a few hours of trolling since the marlin are in good right now. Wasn’t planning on taking things quite as serious since 1st Mate Matt wasn’t there for this trip. Nevertheless we were hoping to make him proud and keep the streak going. Hooked him straight out in 350’ after finding a huge area of bait and temp break and working that area through the afternoon.
6/5 - Left IOP at 4am after being nervous about some storms with Brent of G & W Boatworks. They appeared to be dissapating so we decided to leave. We were met by a nice ocean and were all glad we decided to make the trip. Filled the box with dolphin and as it usually goes, around lunch time short right rigger goes off and we have marlin literally passing us on the opposite side of the boat seconds later. We were able to stay on him or ahead with one guy driving, one fighting, and two clearing all the bling and rods. Fish dove deep and wouldn’t budge. Finally we planed him up. It sure is painful watching all that line go back out but man it makes it easier! Brent worked his tail off for about 2 hours and we released him as he got his gorgeous color back. Check out the release video on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM_Kp24iZf0
5/26-5/27 - Left City Marina at 3pm with Greg from Hanckel for Chasin II’s first overnight sword trip was slow for what we became accustomed to last year. We did fill the box with dolphin on the way out after putting the lines in at 5pm but no bites on the squid. Reeling the lines in, we realized we had a rat on. Nevertheless we got a sword but he was a few inches short. Maybe the ocean LED’s really do matter? We’ll find out on the next trip… Eager to ge