Seized the weather window and headed to Edisto Banks looking for tuna and wahoo. Wahoo were elusive but we did put 3 nice 16-20 lb blackfin in the box and released 7-8 not so little tunny, 1 cuda and a peanut. Bumped the ledge a little and got totally frustrated catching more huge beeliners than I have ever seen before! Somebody must have told them they are invulnerable right now. Anyway, it was a good thing we decided to play by the new rules and let them go because we got pulled by DNR at the jetties. Ride home started out sloppy but sat down nicely for a beautiful close to a great November day.
Man that sucks that the season is closed for those Beeliners… We fished 80’ on some live bottom west of Edisto 60 got several nice grunts - released, 2 triggers - fishbox. I dropped down and there were lots of grouper but every time I’d try to take a shot the dang AJ’s would get nosey and spook em off, every one of them were rocked up. Chop and slop on the way in 22knts out and 12knts in. We also got checked at the jetties by a DNR officer, he was nice and everything we had was legal, however they still make me nervous. I heard that the Charleston 60 was hot with boats and fish!
“The Wet Dreams”
20’ Pioneer 197
150hp Suzuki 4-Stroke
Conservation tip: Not having any previous experience releasing football beeliners anywhere except into the fishbox, I did discover that when caught at 160 feet they do require venting to have any chance of getting home again. 16 gauge hypodermic works great.
I actually used one that I tag mahi with yesterday but didn’t feel great about putting that big a hole in the fish…particularly if you should puncture the gut. We routinely use hypodermic needles for stuff we collect for the aquarium and rarely have complications from those smaller needles.
We were outbound in the jetties & saw ya’ll getting checked. Was the DNR guy by himself?? Also saw a few boats going thru dynomite hole & avoiding the man.
We must be a magnet for the law. We’ve been stopped at least 6 times including once by the coast guard all the way out at SW Banks! Sunday’s check was one officer in the Contender, checked catch, licenses and life jackets. He was pretty pissy until we offered him a beer - kidding! He was great. So, why would folks go thru dynomite hole to avoid the man unless they are being naughty? Tut, tut.
