Smooth water all day, lines in at 5:45 at 200 ft, trolled out to 700, nothing but a few short strikes. First hookup, a double, at about 9, boated both, each about 20 lbs, more short strikes, then another at 20 lbs, then some excitement, a billfish hit one of our ballyhoo on flouro + islander skirt but did not hook up. Finally another 20 pounder. Like many other posts, was slow, had top work for them. Finished with 4 gaffer mahi, barracuda, and a billfish we wished we had seen more of. Fish were around 400 ft, water about 81, Purple/Black seemed popular, no weed lines or big rips but lots of little short rips. Took some focus to make it happen. At one point at about 1PM out of nowhere about 8 boats descended on us, no idea why. Maybe a Roffers report said “fish here” that was released at about 1 PM?
A fun day, great crew, and special thanks to all for making a donation to Junior Sailing of Beaufort and thanks to Brent for bringing his beautiful collection of 6 Penn Internationals!
Anyone have a better day out there?
“Mary Catherine”
Grady White 330 Express
Beaufort