Count me in....3 May...off Pakistan

Saltwater Offshore Reports
1

Long version:

Dolphin bite is “ON” in the world and all I have had to brag about is one billfish trashing-up a leader without a hook-up off Oman last week.

Fast forward, same stinkin’ heat, different country, nice crystal blue Indian Ocean water and I’m still dragging plastics @ coffee times, lunch time and after chow. Running 10+ knots is a bit too much wash to troll in but I’m at it never the less.

Today @ lunch break off Pakistan in 600 feet there are signs of life – occasional flying fish! Skipper had reports from others that we’re in good water. 2 lines in, jet head with pink & blue rubber (same rig the billfish thrashed) and a 2” diameter chugger in mahi-green.

Once both lines were back in clean water the jet head popped the release clip. Lots of drop-back due to the clip being 40’ below the rod and I just thought I had set it too soft. Heck No!, The rod doubled over and the 6/0 Special Senator started screaming. Awesome, no radio, no gloves, 45’ gaff? Not! Marsh Tacky??

Spun the spokes until the spool slowed down and began the cranking…
Son of a gun is still hungry even with a hook in it’s mouth. Fish went across the prop wash (and a 22’ prop puts out some wash) and went after the other lure. Backed off the drag to keep it away from it, didn’t need a Murphy card tossed into the mix.

With the Skipper’s Captain Harry’s Ugly Stick White Tiger rod bent almost in half, the drag all the way down, one thumb on the line/foregrip and another thumb on the spool, it took 25 minutes to winch her in. OK, now straight down I had to bring her up 45’. 130# mono did not like being dragged across a painted pipe hand rail (some thermodynamic issue) so I took wraps and hoisted away.

Once thru the railing and securely gripped in under the gill, I saw I could have fought that fish all day and it would have stayed hooked. 9/0 hook fully sunk up thru the upper mouth, dead center. Kinda glad, made it a sure bet it didn’t tear away during it’s thrashing while being lifted vertically. Just over 23#.

Fi

2

Always wondered if people could fish of freighters…that’s awesome! Maybe a big pier net would help?

-Miscellaneous boats
“Everybody dances when shotgun sings” Stewart and Winfield

3

I am surprised y’all fish with a 4/0. I would expect a 6/0 at least to ensure you have enough line because I’m sure it takes some time to slow down. awesome fish!

4

I am surprised y’all fish with a 4/0. I would expect a 6/0 at least to ensure you have enough line because I’m sure it takes some time to slow down. awesome fish!

5

Good call Rap-man,

It is a 6/0.
Other rod has an Okuma 50W.

Slow down!
The Skipper would earn a plane ticket home.
Company has us bugged, eye-balling everything from mission control.
Can’t even flush a large one two times without setting off red flags.

6

great report Dave! y’all be safe over there on the other side of the world…

The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org

7

That is awesome Dave. You told me last week you’d get one. Save some of that mojo for when you come home, my freezer is empty of anything other than a few pounds of shrimp and some freezer burned tater tots.

Dave, I have a spare bridge net if you want it for your next cruise.

“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?

8

Awesome report!

9

Wow! That’s cool! I’ll bet the Cook and crew gave you a hug for the dinner!.

Pick up a “snag” Treble like the Pier fishers do to help get the bigger ones on board.

10

Very interesting and well done report - thanks.
I too always wondered about trolling from a freighter.
Dreams of trolling from a sailboat still haunt me.

11

Too cool.

2005 Grady 209 Yam F200
“El Dorado”
1989 High Tide Super V-14/2004 Yam 25 2-Stroke
2016 Mi Tide 1503/Suzuki Df30
Johns Island, SC

12

Awesome. Had a slightly raised eyebrow opening this thread!

Recall one of the crew on a cruise-to-nowhere my family took when I was just a wee lad. Fishing off the stern like OP he pulled in a nice tuna. I remember thinking ‘how the hell is he getting that up here?!’

13

Yo Fred,

No hugs going on out here.
Folks did enjoy dinner.
Had to save a few chunks for the ride back West.
Once we get up thru the Suez: the sea temp is cooler and there isn’t any more dust to chew when breathing. Also a few days later the ‘Egyptian Air Force’ is all but gone. Not as fast as US flies but annoying none the less.

No doubt there have been dozens of Rube Goldberg snatching devices fabricated. Skipper just showed me a sweet little Honda 4 stroke portable winch. Trying to get one of the Trident guys to commit to leap over after the next fish and climb back up. That’s what they were trained to do! (well, not with a fish)

14

Don’t matter where your at,always thinking about whats for lunch,awesome job.

15

That’s awesome DG. Doing about as well as me in the dolphin catching business right now lol

“mr keys”

16

Good work.
Might be a good idea to invest in a pier gaff for the future.
http://www.haddrellspoint.com/product/sea-striker-pier-bridge-gaff.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrLXXBRCXARIsAIttmRN5WF_ETMtQPemFRhMxggbvXDbbGlDvER22wjVnd_uk9uphYi10rjoaAqDREALw_wcB

17
quote:
Originally posted by DG34YF

Yo Fred,

No hugs going on out here.
Folks did enjoy dinner.
Had to save a few chunks for the ride back West.
Once we get up thru the Suez: the sea temp is cooler and there isn’t any more dust to chew when breathing. Also a few days later the ‘Egyptian Air Force’ is all but gone. Not as fast as US flies but annoying none the less.

No doubt there have been dozens of Rube Goldberg snatching devices fabricated. Skipper just showed me a sweet little Honda 4 stroke portable winch. Trying to get one of the Trident guys to commit to leap over after the next fish and climb back up. That’s what they were trained to do! (well, not with a fish)

Ok… Don’t be so sensitive. :smiley: Let’s change it to a good firm Handshake.

Haven’t heard anyone use Rube Goldberg in a bit.