Had planned to take Cracker and his nephews out on my boat on Wednesday, but Don Q invited us to go on his 40’ Cabo “Just One More.” Good call… not only is the boat an awesome fishing machine, but it’s got… drum roll, please… AIR CONDITIONING! It was hotter than hell out there, but the boat made it downright comfortable.
Left at about 4:30 and had lines in at the Hole before 7:00… it was a very slow morning, and we managed a couple of little dolphin before picking up and running offshore to Bubble Rock. It turned out to be the right call… we found some huge mats of weed and lots of little dolphin. Ended up keeping six up to about 14 lbs. along with a 15 lb. wahoo, tagged two and released many more. At one point we pulled up to a mat and chummed several little ones out for the kids on spinning gear… It was so hot that I even decided to take a swim (which had nothing to do with the line that got wrapped around the prop… [:I])
We kept trolling until Cracker ■■■■ near keeled over from heatstroke, and pulled up and headed back to the Hole to give the butterfly jigs a go. We dropped on one of Don’s spots in 350’ and put six nice scamp in the boat on 10 drops… the other two yielded big reef donkeys. It sure was nice hooking them and then handing off to the kids to reel 'em in. Cracker hooked into something big midway up the water column that almost spooled him… we actually had to back down on it to keep line on the reel. He fought it for about 45 minutes, hoping for a big YFT or a Trident amberjack, but closer inspection revealed a big @$$ shark, probably 250-300 lbs. He immediately handed off to one of the kids, who lasted about three minutes until he gave it to me. The reel was just about fried, and we tried thumb-dragging and handlining to get him up, but he finally broke off. Cracker’s little 20-year-old levelwind Shimano was just about melted.
Fishing on a boat that nice will spoil you in a hurry… the kids spent half the day watching snowboarding on ESPN down in the salon, a
It was a pretty day, although VERY hot. After watching Ryan and Cracker with the butterfly jigs, I have re-spolled a couple of my reels with braid. I was amazed at how well they did.
It was a pretty day, although VERY hot. After watching Ryan and Cracker with the butterfly jigs, I have re-spolled a couple of my reels with braid. I was amazed at how well they did.
BTW, I was using a Shimano Torium 30 with the “bottom fishing upgrade” on a 7’ Bass Pro Extreme Freestyle Jig Stick… very nice combo for jigging. The 7 footer gives a lot of action to the jig and has a very skinny butt that doesn’t tear up your armpit. It was bent double on a couple of AJs, but never felt like it was in danger of giving up.
Did I mention the Foreman grill with fresh sausage biscuits for breakfast and grilled ham and cheese for lunch? Just ■■■■.
Ryan, Just curious to know how much fuel the cabo consumed on that trip? Fishing in luxuray must be nice. I am sure it is easy to get spoiled fishing with accomidations. The way that you and I normally fish is tradional.
I have had the pleasure of fishing on Don’s boat…only it was in the Spring. We didn’t really need the helm air going, but it was refreshing nonetheless. On days like this, it’s almost a necessity.
Beautiful boat, owned by a class act.
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
Henry, I’m not sure what it burned… Don Q can tell you for sure (although he might hold that close to the vest, since he does charter it. ) As I recall from previous trips, it is a surprisingly economical boat.
Don,
Got the transmission fixed a couple of weeks ago…then broke a morse cable on the shifter. I am going down tomorrow and fix that and take it out for a much-needed spin around the bay. I’ll have it ready soon…and about dam time, too!
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
A friend of mine out of Beufort has a 48 foot Cabo I get invited on several times a year, he even lets me drive it for more than just a few minutes,good times. A boat like that will make anyone soft. Any boat with AC and that makes its own ice for the box as well as drinks faster than you need it is where I want to be,especially this time of year. (It really makes crushed soft ice)
On the bright side,Cracker, now that the old Shimano lives in Davy Jones locker it may just be time to call Phin and jump on the Avet wagon before it’s too late. All the cool kids are doing it.
Don Q, I guess fishing from a Cabo is like having four strokes on a sportfisher. I estimated close to 18 gph. That is terrific. I have not fished on a sportfisher in about 20 years. I really enjoy fishing on my center console though. Is your boat docked in oyster cove? If so I know about where you are talking about. Thanks
) As I recall from previous trips, it is a surprisingly economical boat.
