Plan was to get some bait, check out a spot where I had seen a tarpon rolling, then head out to 60’ or so and try my hand at trolling for Dolphin for the first time.
Well, plan A was a non starter, i couldn’t believe it but I coudlnt find any menhaden, they have been everywhere the last couple of days, but I didnt want to waste too much time so headed out to about 65’ and started trolling. Decided just to keep at it and head towards 95’. About 90’ had a Cuda. Decided to look for some bottom features or fish and picked up some good activity, so put the MK in spot lock and put a bag of chum over. I was thinking about Plan C, which was to go after some Spades. Started throwing some bits of shrimp out, and catch a flash of gold and blue, i could hardly believe that it was a dolphin. I grabbed a King rig, without wire, put a squid on, cast it out and 20 seconds later i saw a dolphin suck it down. My joy was short lived as it bit thru the 25 lb mono in a second. Grabbed my Tarpon rig, with a float, put on a squid and let the float out in the chum stream. 1 minute later ive hooked my first Dolphin (not on a charter). Man, that thing fought, jumped out the water 5 or 6 times, long runs. Got it to the boat and realized i was gonna have to gaff it. Ive never gaffed a fish before, but remember my friend telling me to go for the head and follow through…i got lucky and got it in the boat. Managed another one, same technique, this one i didnt see take the bait as i had let the squid/float drift of in chum stream. Decided to troll a bit again and had a smaller dolphin that i released.
Decided to call it a day, amazing day, saw a ton of flying fish, one actually ‘flw’ into my boat, and 4 or 5 dolphins that were kinda mottled gray color, havent seen any like that before.
Cant wat to get out again,
I’m not a Dr, those are my initials and I cant edit my user name. Please do not contact me regarding medical issues
I love your posts Dr. Good job! Aren’t they beautiful when they first come out of the water! Good eating!
Haven’t taken Mom to the Cod Father yet, but will try to get her there. She had her sister and brother over for a bit from England last month. Funny how her accent comes back so quick.
Thanks a lot guys, it was only a couple of years ago that I was ‘fighting’ the submerged Jetty, and sure I was loosing monster fish!
Fred, hope you make it out to Codfather, need to get my fix again. You are right, they are such beautiful fish, the colors, and i can see now why in some places they are called Dorado, which i think is for gold.
I do the cooking and my wife said that was the best fish I had ever cooked, thanks to Matt H for showing me how to fillet.
Trouble is im itching to go right now, there is something about being out there that is just so pure and recharging.
I told my wife it was a bit choppy coming in and she immediately said ‘you arent getting a new boat’. She remembers that is how i started the process to get my current boat, saying it was too small and dangerous, and taking harrowing video of my trips in the 20’
cheers
I’m not a Dr, those are my initials and I cant edit my user name. Please do not contact me regarding medical issues
Good job! Aren’t they beautiful when they first come out of the water! Good eating!