Woke up at 4:15. Looked outside at the trees half bent over and could see the surf crashing on the beach in the dark. Saw a strong cell on radar about an hour away moving this way. Pulled up the Edisto bouy and the 2:50 report was 19 kts, 4.3 every 7 secs. Picked up the phone and told everyone to go back to sleep, “I’ll call you in two hours.” Shockingly, I fell asleep. Woke up at 6:15, fully rested, no wind, no storms, bouy was down to 3.6 every 8, made the call and said, “Let’s go.” Rolled outta Dewees about 7 but couldn’t make a comfortable heading towards my spot so turned noth(east) towards GTH and cruised 25 kts for 20 miles then bumped it up to 30kts. Within an hour, already had a guy hanging over the side, high speed chumming and every minute or so spray would slam into the side of his head at 30 kts. I felt sorry for him, but after about the tenth time, it got kind of funny.
Lines in after nine and immediately pulled off a wahoo and missed a dolphin. Found some good water in about 200 feet, 76 degrees, and caught about eight and missed that many. Picked up and ran towards SW banks and pulled back 3 miles shy. Missed two sailfish in 300 feet in scattered weeds then caught six more dolphin. At 3, pulled up XM doppler radar and saw a line of severe storms between Summerville and Walterboro and told everyone to pull 'em in. Rolled home between 35 and 37 knots and beat the storms as they had moved south towards Hilton Head. Wish we’d stayed, but kind of nice to leave in the light and come back by 5. All but two of the dolphin were over 15 lbs up to 25. They are growing fast. Blue and white and nakeds were getting the most bites. Also,about 30 miles off, I smelled smoke and checked my temp gauges and got concerned. Then after ten minutes or so figured it was some forest fire. Got to the dock to find out it was the Georgia/Florida fires we smelled that far offshore.
Good going on your short day. That smoke was something else… we only bottom fished for about twenty minutes b/c we saw the darkness approaching… w/o radar… thought we were going to get crushed by the storm that you had referenced earlier on the radio… then smelled the smoke.
Compared to an average day where one can see the Ravenel bridge aprox 13 miles from the rocks, I couldn’t see it as we made the turn inside the waterway into sullivans.
More importantly… how were your eats???
I feel for your crewmember…I remember you and your dad laughing at me hanging over when we went to the Abacos.
I gotta get down there some day soon so we can catch up…not much going on here…just getting older and fatter.
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
Carla Dee,
Hope my crying wolf on the thunderstorms didn’t cut your day short. I have been caught in too many too severe to chance it anymore. They really looked bad and extended in a 60 plus mile line heading south. I’d rather be home early and safe than get caught in 50 kt, lightning-packed t-storms. Smoke clouded sky was a little eerie. Eats were nothing to write about. Highlight was the hot AJBS around 9 am.
Tom, love for you to fish with me this year. Try to get away on a flat weekday.
Capt. Mel
Mel,
I’ll make it happen…just give me a day or so notice so I can tell Ed I won’t be at work, and I’ll come on down. You can let me stay in the doghouse…I am sure he won’t mind.
You picked out the power on the new Contender 38 Express yet?
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
quote:Disappointing right there. Good going on your day there though Mel.
Originally posted by a-fish-a-knot-oEats were nothing to write about.
Mel -
Don’t be confused… I appreciated your weather report! More info is always good info. See you on the water.
Wolokrab,
I don’t remember laughing at you- it was your profound quote,“A bullet to the head would be nice!” as your pale green face leaned over the gunnel for the fifth time that had my dad and me in stitches.
Thanks for the acolaydes, skinneej. See you out there Monday.
Capt. Mel
No chef on board= no eats worth writing about! We fished 5/19 in avg. 4-7ft swells, occasional 8-9 footer, with 3-5ft wind waves stacked on top. We were less than 10 miles past the jetties and had one of the crew green and puking. He did not get off the floor for 10 hours! Rough water yesterday must have aggrevated the dolphin- had 2 dolphin lift the lid and jump out of the transom fish box. One made it to safety, but the second, 22lbs, dazed and caught in the white wash at the transom, hesitated just long enough to allow for another gaff shot. You and Jeremy would have been very proud of me. Kept 13 dolphin- 10 to 32 lbs.
Capt. Mel,
Thanks again for a great day. The extra sleep actually made my day a hole lot easier. The “crew” has let me know that they will send some pics. They really had a great time (except one:dizzy_face:)
Hamp