I got call from my brother wednesday that the weather is looking good this weekend. I slightly dismiss him being that I was at work. Start hitting the interwebs. Yup, sure enough variable winds less than 10kts everywhere. Ok, I’m 2/4 there. Weather is there and I’m off work. Time to assemble the crew! Quick commitments from BMac and Graham and we are set.
I’m a little worried about the crucial last 3/4. Are the fish there? I want this to be a trip everyone remembers. I primarily troll and have had the best fortune late September, and it’s still hot! I tie some dark color lures on weights and wires and picture giant zebras coming over the gunnel. Targeting wahoo is hit or miss, and I want to make sure we bring home meat! I visit Jeremy at Atlantic Game & Tackle and load up on some bottom gear just in case. I am checking out a sweet wahoo lure, but in the back of my mind I am thinking groupers will be the day makers. (I will be back for it!)
Left Shem Creek at 5:15. I am anticipating a slow bite trolling. My thoughts are to troll early, and as soon as we pass over some good looking live bottom, drop some baits to it. Fighting my instinct to get out there as early as possible, we search for bait behind Morris (too dark) to no avail. We head to the last cans in hopes to have enough light to catch bait. After the first 10 minutes of casting, I am ready to move to the next one. BMac convinces me for one last cast. Pulls one in, then another , then fills the sabiki rig. A couple more cast later and we have full live well. I mash the throttles down and head east!
I couldn’t ask for better seas. Ran 37/38 mph to 3 miles short of the Georgetown hole. Not longer than 10 minutes after deploying our spread, we have our first strike, then another. Graham grabs one rod, and I take the other. We Scream for belts still buried in the console, and watch lines peel off the reel. Grahman comes unglued but my brother sticks the gaff in a 40lb wahoo that lights our spirits! Day maker in!
After passing over the same line
