The short. Caught 5 bonitas, and 5 AJS on jig, and saw scattered gannets picking around scattered chopper bluefish from 5mi North of R7 east 16 miles then North 5mi, then back west to 10mi NE of R7. Then 3 mi troll down Tybee Trough to Bettsy Ross, (No Bonitas there.) Water temps unknown as my equipment doesn’t work. But it felt warm to the touch in 130ft. And there was much sargasso weed. I saw not another boat on silky seas.
Just returned from Hatteras targeting BFT by way of Jig and Pop. They are not there. I was blown out of my Monday trip, which saved some money, and led to searching here instead. There is a bit of talk right now about the patterns of these amazing fish because they are not where they should be. They apparently go on a pattern for sometimes 10 consecutive years, and then other times just 2 or 3 years. Sometimes they are found in cold water, sub 60, as cold as 45, 5 miles from the beach at Hatteras and more often outside the temperature break around 70 degrees. Sometimes, they are found here in front of Hilton Head in cold water near the Betsy Ross and Eagles Nest.
If they are not where they should be, perhaps they could show up here. Watch for whirling gannets. It’s worth a look.
John Tolerton