Took my 11 year old (offshore veteran) out with two of his friends (their first time offshore). Left the dock at 3, forgot my phone, left dock again at 3:10, bumpy ride but managed 28-30, lines in at 160 ft just before sunup. High speed trolled out to about 2000 ft and nothing happening. Put out a full spread with ballyhoo on islanders and 25 feet of flourocarbon leader and slowed down. Still nothing. Scattered weed lines at about 300 ft but no sharp temperature breaks between 160 and 2000 ft. Finally hooked up a Mahi in the middle of nowhere (no weeds or visible break or rip). Then a double knockdown but nothing breaking the surface so guessing it was not something we were going to put in the box and sure enough two barracudas come up. Kids had fun reeling them in and inspecting the teeth up close. Another hour and then another hookup on our short corner cedar plug. This one also did not come up but was fighting alot different than a barracuda. My son’s friend finally brings up a black fin tuna, a first tuna for him and first black fin in my boat. Again, caught in the middle of nowhere with no visible breaks, rips, or weeds. The tuna passed by the ballyhoo on the long riggers and the center wayback to take the short corner plug, something I had read they would normally be to fussy/skittish to hit. Crisscrossed the spot we hooked a few more times and then just as we are heading for home the long rigger pops off on my son’s left handed rod so he got to fight the last fish of the day. This one put on a good show, a nice 20 lb mahi, largest fish my son has fought yet. Ended the day with 2 gaffer mahi + a black fin tuna. Lots of weeds, tons of flyers, but no connection between those and where we hooked up. Frustrating when the fish are not following the rules! I am thinking I should have stayed in shallower water, maybe 140 ft where the first temperature rise was. Anyone else do better out there yesterday? We saw no other boats, guessing the weather was keeping people at the dock.
"Mary Catheri