Learning to fish offshore...

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
21

My dad and grandfather were the ones that got me hooked on saltwater fishing. We used to go to the piers up and down the coast of NC and fish all we could and every once in a while we would go out on head boats and catch Snapper and Grouper off the bottom. As far a trolling, I am willing to go out with anyone that is willing to take me out and teach me anything they can. I have gone out with captains from Key West to to Hawaii to Wake Island. I find myself working on the boat more than I spend fishing, and I love every second of it! I try to get on the helm as much as I can to learn what I can. If the captain wants to run the wheel then I go to the deck and try to work the mate into fishing. I have as much fun rigging baits and helping people as I do reeling in fish. I love just being out on the water with fish coming over the gunnel. Hopefully one day I will be up to level 4 at least. All that said, if anyone ever has anything they want to teach just let me know.

“Here’s to swimmin’ with bow-legged women”

22

Okay, it’s official. I want to learn the black art of offshore fishing! Never have beennin a boat in saltwater until I boat my first boat about 5 months ago.I read about all of you guys almost everynight and have to admit, I don’t think I know what I am missing. Would any of you great captains like to take pity on me and my son and help us learn?

23

There are only 4 levels and I believe that they are also in the hunter’s ed course. They mark your MAIN “goal” or “desire” when fishing\hunting.

  1. any
  2. many
  3. big
  4. challenging

Most fishermen never make it past level #2. You can tell who they are. They have one goal, to fill the cooler with as many fish as possible. People who are in category 3 typically throw back smaller fish and even purposely avoid smaller fish to find larger ones. If you have a cooler full of peanuts, you are a #2. Category #4 is someone who has on the big lures looking for that marlin when everyone else in the ocean is catching 30 lb gaffer dolphin. They could care less about certain species and just want to land that fish that nobody else can catch…

My background… I caught my first sailfish in my father’s boat at the ledge in Charleston when I was 10 (That would have been 1986). It was a 19’ bayliner at the ledge with a force 125 hp on the back. THe boat only held 60 gallons of fuel. To extend our range, we had a 30 gallon bladder style tank and a 15 gallon hard plastic tank. We ran the bladder first until it was sucked dry. When that happen, we rolled it up and out of the way and switched over to the hard red tank. We used the buddy system back then. Funny enough, our “buddy boat” was no other than the famous Kenneth Nelson’s father (can’t remember Kenneth’s login name on this site). We even got to fish together sometimes. Kenneth’s dad had a HUGE boat. It was a 22’ Grady with cuddy cabin and hard top. Back then, sailfishing was a lot cooler because you could stick a gaff in them and hoist them over the rail. My fish weighed in at 53lbs and led the trident tournament up until the last week in which I was beat by a 55 lb fish. That fish still lives on the wall at my dad’s house. We didn’t have girls like ladyshrimpkilla that caught 70 lbers every weekend back then. That wasn’t our first trip however. We started out trolling around the jetties for king macks. No livies back then, just balleyhoo.

24

Hell, I almost forgot! Back then, the skipper didn’t pay for fuel. I think gas was around 70 cents a gallon or so and usually my dad’s friend forced him to take $100 bill for gas and bait. My dad refused to take the money but then his friend always insisted. Nowadays, you have to get a second mortgage to fill your boat up and worry that people might get “t-rex” arms when it’s time to fill up!

25

To all,well done it is great to read and be encouraged by others you don’t know but would; some day like to go fishing with or at the least like to meet.As I sit and read these latest post it is great to re-call in memory anyways some past fishing trips and how wonderful they all were.I thank my parents for taking the time to take me hunting-fishing but most of all to respect the out-doors that all of us have grown to cherish!
Sport-fishing for me is the wonder of each time a different adventure never knowing what to expect even though I hardly get to go anymore (live in the up-state) and all the characters you meet along the way, I think this sight is great and hope to sea you out there!

26

Excellent topic, Phin.

I’ve fished casually all my life. Father wasn’t around, so mom would take me to Lion’s Beach:wink: and Folly to wet lines whenever she wasn’t working 2-3 jobs (so we could have cool clothes, Nintendo, etc…). Also had a neighbor (with two daughters who didn’t like to fish) who took me (freshwater) fishing whenever he went.

I went to college, got married and moved to Charlotte where I’ve been for the past eleven years. Luckily, I now co-own a business located in North Charleston, and my “business” trips have allowed me to rekindle my passion for fishing. I go every chance I get when I’m down (usually inshore), and there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.

I’ve also chartered with several big boats out of Charleston and try to learn all I can every time I’m fortunate enough to get offshore. The good Lord blessed me with the ability to play college football, but I can honestly say there’s NOTHING in the world that gets me more amped than the sound of singing drag and the bedlam that it causes!!! While a full box is nice, I consider the fish to be an ancillary benefit. To me, the charters are learning trips. I do all the basic grunt work the mates will allow me to do because I consider the trips to be hands-on how-to seminars. “Teach a man to fish…”

What little (real) fishing knowledge I have I’ve gained in the last few years. I use the internet, magazines, tv shows, this website, and anything else I can get my hands on to fuel my additction. I’ve “met” several cool fellas on this site and hope to meet many more. I have, and always will, gladly pay my share (or more) for the opportunity to fish with any of y’all. Tight lines!..

27

I learned to fish from my father in North Joisey!! He would take me in his 12’ John Boat, trolling motor, and when we had one, tiny outboard to lakes and rivers in the area. I grew up on large mouth, pickerel, and trout. Opening day for trout season in the beginning of April was practically a national holiday in my house. We had a few sweet spots in a couple of rivers we knew, and we were out there, in our chest waiters, can of worms on our belts, and stringers ready to go at least a half hour before the opening cast.

My uncle used to have a 23’ Mako way back when. We did some drifting for fluke and blues (flounder and bluefish :slight_smile: ) along the beach when I was a kid. We would also do some surf fishing, and always went fishing off my grandmothers dock down in Brick, NJ. Snappers (baby bluefish) were abundant and a ton of fun on real light tackle.

It wasn’t until I moved to Charleston in 1995 that I was introduced to real, no kidding saltwater fishing as it’s own entity. I had friends who started inviting me out to do some King fishing and such. It didn’t take long before I saw the light and realized this is what I wanted to get into. I still fresh water fish when the opportunity presents itself, but I seek out the salt water fishing now.

I knew that I really wanted my own boat well over a decade ago. However, as a lowly E-4 in the military, the money just wasn’t there. But that didn’t keep me from day dreaming on the computers, lining up the rods and reels I would buy if I could, checking out the best packages for outriggers, and just lining up my dream boat. This time gave me a lot of opportunities to read and learn about the sport. To get some education on it. About 5 years ago, I left for a deployment to the country of Qatar. When I came home, my wife surprised me with a ton of money she had saved in that time doing a ton of extra work while I was gone. So, the boat that was once a dream became a reality. I then started to meet all you fine people. I know that this site still has good

28

The paying thing is another interesting topic- somewhat related to all this.

Lot of variation between folks I have fished with. Some cannot afford what others can, but you know what? If they work harder than anyone else and are the first to show up and last to leave my house when I am dog tired, then I end up feeling like I owe them $ rather than them owing me anything.

I recognize when people appreciate what’s shared with them, and those are the folks I am happy to teach. They earn it. They value it correctly.

I’m shown the same thing. I’d love to learn from a lot of people better than me at whatever type fishing, but I know they don’t have any desire to teach me unless I get a chance to prove to them how much respect I’ll have for the knowledge and experience I could gain from them.

I am like skinneej with the approach to giving specific instruction to 1,000’s of people on the web. I see this site as being more properly used as inspiration and fellowship for us.

Courtland posts a report showing 10 tuna caught last weekend, then I want to catch tuna. Skinnee posts a report showing a limit of wahoo and talking about 2x as many cutting off in the same trip, then I want to go catch wahoo. The reports encourage us, and the discussion area helps us think and laugh.

Perfect example of what offshore fishing, the sport, and this community are all about is when I get a call or text about somebody overdue or when I’m overdue myself. You would be amazed how quickly information and help gets mobilized. We drop everything and try to look after one another- NO MATTER WHAT. News of somebody in danger travels 3x as fast as fishing reports it seems. And the response from the community is 30x faster also.

www.scmarine.org

www.joinrfa.com

Luke 8:22-25

29

This is a perfect post on this forum. I have really enjoyed hearing everyone’s stories so far and hope that many more of you will share as well. I am still very new to fishing and still learning as fast as I can. What I can share is that after my first offshore fish, I no longer cared about reeling fish.

The enjoyment in this sport, for me, comes in the whole experience like many of you have said. There are so many people out there who will likely never even hear of the kinds of things we enjoy each trip on the water. Tons of folks from out of town question why I would not chose to live elsewhere; perhaps for better school systems, job opportunities, etc. All I have to do is take them out on the boat once and they are trying to figure out how to get here!

Back on point. The challenge in fishing, and the reason I continue to love it, is that it appears to be a genuinely endless learning experience. I don’t want to fish with a guy that knows it all. I want to go with a guy who wants to try something new, granted that he/she actually has reasoning and thought behind the idea. It’s all about seeing what happens… how will that idea work? are they biting? what is on the other end of my line?

I don’t know if this is where you are going with your post/questions… but I think this area needs more fishing information. I have yet to shop much in Charleston, so I can only speak for how I feel about the Beaufort/HHI/Savannah areas. I order half my tackle and talk to people hundreds of miles away because the questions I ask or the items I want to give a try are not even heard of around here.

I have used this forum quite a bit for help recently. But I only ask a small portion of the fishing questions that float around in my mind. I know how many of you feel about the one on one, and I completely agree with it. If all the answers are posted for everyone to read at their will and with minimal effort, the most special things about fishing are lost.

So how about a medium for us to get together?

30

I will quickly change what I’m doing if I see a better way. Could be more effective, more efficient, cheaper… I don’t care. All part of the constant challenge of offshore fishing.

The sport has changed a lot. used to be a right way and wrong way. Now, there are lots of ways.

What is cool is that fishing is fishing. I learned stuff in Alaska fishing for halibut and king salmon that I tweaked and used here. Very different fisheries, but still so much the same!

Fishing is universal. People understand something you’re trying to explain to them almost instantly it seems if you use a fishing analogy. Takes fiften seconds to sink in after you’ve tried to explain something for a few hours.

www.scmarine.org

www.joinrfa.com

Luke 8:22-25

31

BigTuna, you should consider joining one of the local fishing clubs. I spoke at one a few years ago on the red snapper debacle and there were like 40 members there. Lots of good people willing to trade info, etc. I believe it was the East Cooper Fishing Club.

32

i spent basically the 1st 7 years of my life fishing the flats near clearwater florida with my dad ever since i was in diapers. can’t describe how great and cherished those memories are to me now. whenver i can wet a line with my dad is an awesome day. still cherish them… all of them

we moved to the asheville area when i was in 2nd grade… hard to adjust to catching 10 inch rainbows after catching 10 - 15 pound reds alllllllll the time. eventually i loved trout fishing. just took me 10 or so years :stuck_out_tongue:

i moved down here 3 years ago and it was like… oh yes this is what i have been missing. i LOVE saltwater fishing. it’s just really exciting that at any point, on any trip you could catch an absolute monster… doesn’t usually happen (for me at least :wink:) but the thrill is there… absolutely

i feel blessed everytime i get to go offshore. i don’t get the opportunity very often and im grateful to those who have been generous enough to take me (Lynn and Andy that’s you). im not rich by any means so i really cherish the moments i have out there and i don’t mind being beat up slightly if it happens to be on a smaller boat

i cant wait until i have kids down the road and i can pass on what my dad did for me. my favorite thing these days are to watch my neighbors from kentucky and my wife catch fish. there faces light up everytime! :sunglasses:

33

I was born in South Florida, lived in Islamorada, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables and Miami. My father mated for Ron Hamlin’s father Tom Hamlin. For those of you who don’t know the Hamlin’s, Ron is a multiple IBX billfish series champion as well as Rolex Cup and many , many others. Instruction was kinda just passed down, and I have had the wonderful opportunity to fish with tons of great captains and took in their knowledge and stored it in my brain for eternity. After moving from Florida, I moved to Georgia for a few years and then grew up in Columbia,SC went to school at Heathwood Hall, spent every weekend I could in Charleston fishing. Summers were spent in Florida, but Charleston will always be my home. I have spent the last 15 years fishing both tournaments and fun fishing from the WMO and MA 500 in Jersey and Cape May and Ocean City, Maryland to the Bahamas Billfish Challenge. I am amazed at how much I learn on every trip, always keeping an open mind to new tricks and tips. I primarily fish out of Charleston and Morehead City, NC. Fishing is my life and my sole passion, teaching others and introducing the sport to children is what makes it fun for me now. Anyone who has fished with me will tell you it is hard as hell to get me to reel in a fish, I have had my share of fun, it is time for me to do my duty as a sportsman and share my knowledge and love for the sport to keep it alive.

Wanna kill fish, then let’s go! Always ready, always willing to teach the ways.

34

It seems to be a constant evolution, at least for me. I was heavy into it for a while when I lived on the coast and then I moved away from the coast, so a lot of time is spent dreaming of time on the water and reading.

Some people enjoy the preparation as much as anything and I would fall into that category. Operating under the principle of prior planning prevents pi## poor performance. Having equipment work as it should and having thought of most fishing scenarios ahead of time and being prepared is part of the challenge as I see it.

I have been fortunate over the past year or so to make some friends who have helped me re-enter the sport and fine tune some skills. Now my desire to learn more stems in large part for a desire to pass some knowledge and experience on to my son. He loves fishing and would rather be on a boat than anywhere, so we will always have that in common.

35

I learned to appreciate And love fishing from my daddy. He also taught me to respect and appreciate what so many take for granted. To me…There is nothing like the smell of the saltwater and marsh in my nose…the wind…but hopefully not too strong of one…on my face and watching the sky in all it’s glory as it welcomes and then says goodnight to a new day. I once asked my daddy how far out you had to be for it to be considered “offshore”…and he laughed and said…you are " offshore"… As soon as you leave “the hill”. ;)… While I’ve only been fortunate enough to go to the “big water or ledge” a couple of times…(but .we do fish some of the reefs as well as inshore a lot)…I love being on the water. …I will never forget the wide eyed childlike wonder I felt the first time I saw the sky lit up as if it were on fire…caught a glimpse of the spotted dolphin seen offshore as they seemed to lead us out to the ocean…and the fast little flying fish as they scurried out of our way. I was amazed at how quickly the color of the ocean changed…and the sight of hundreds of glass minnows or baitfish shining like diamonds below us. I know this sounds corny…but even now as I think of it I have to suppress a big grin…and yearn to be on the sea again. I grew up in mcclellanville where the creeks and ocean and it’s delicacies have been a way of life for so many…and as I grow older I appreciate even more the treasure that I have been given in learning from it…and from my daddy. He once told me he had no “riches” to one day leave me when he passed…and without hesitation I told him that the time spent with him and all that I had learned and loved because of it was the best inheritance that he could have ever given me. . In his teachings, memories of times spent with him , and those with my husband and family, I will always find peace and be reminded of how Blessed I am. The ocean is a true treasure chest…not just in what she has to offer…but of the memories shared there.

36

If you really “learn” to fish offshore,what you can put in the box is an a$$load of real friends.

37

Cape horn gets it…

www.scmarine.org

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Luke 8:22-25

38

I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay. As a kid I learned a little from my grandfather who was an avid fisherman. I was too young to go with him on offshore trips but did enjoy surf fishing with him and fishing from docks and piers on our annual trips to the beach (Ocean City, MD). Growning up, we always had a boat ranging from runabouts to 25’ weekend sail boats but never any really suited for fishing. I’d drop a line in the water everywhere we went but had little success. As I got older my buddies and I would charter a boat once or twice a year and fish for rockfish (stripers). We usually did well but it was more about having a few beers and having a good time with the guys. In 2003 I bought a little 18’ Bayliner ski boat and would fish when I could. Again not much success but it was relaxing and good family time. I moved to Charleston about 6 years ago and learned to fish from shore. I’ve done very well and always seem to catch fish from Daniel Island to the Folly pier, Surf spots etc. I absolutely love fishing around here. I could drop a line in a mud puddle and be as happy as can be. I mostly release what I catch and just enjoy being on the water taking in the scenery. Last year I bought a 23’ trophy WA w/ 200 EFI with the notion of being able to fish the offshore reefs. But, it seems like the weather, GPS issues, lack of ocean confidence and experience or cash always seem to get in the way. I’m going to put the boat up for sale this week so it looks like my dream of becoming an expert Charleston angler are fading. I’m ok with that. I may never catch a Dolphin, Wahoo or Tuna but just sitting at a dock somewhere with a line in the water forgetting about the stresses of life is fine with me. I’m at peace on the water and I love fishing. To me, that’s what it’s all about.

If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.

39

J.P. you don’t have to have a boat to be an expert.

Some of the most knowledgable on this site don’t have a boat. They go on others’ boats.

In fact, there are some folks I have learned a great deal from that have never had their own offshore boat at all. They have never posted on this forum or given a seminar to a group or anything. These are one-on-one type guys who may seldem open their mouth to teach anybody anything until they see something in a potential pupil that sparks a desire to pass on their experiences or knowledge.

The boat doesn’t matter… just like how many fish being caught on a given trip doesn’t matter.

I will tell you about one guy that I know that I’ve talked with for hours now. I never seem to have enough time to talk with him. Most on this site would probably pass by him on the dock or beach and not pay him much notice. I asked him once, “So when did you first get into fishing in the ocean?”

Now, this man is probably 70 years old now. He fishes almost every day in some manner or another. Might be bream or crappie. Might be bass. Point is that he is fishing. It is his life, literally. This man has enough stories to keep your attention for days- that is my point. So before he can answer my question, he explains that he used to walk through the woods barefooted for 2 miles just to get to the creek and catch fish. He would get a basket of fish while his friends tried themselves. In all of the stories he has told, he has never been fishing alone. This is notable, you see.

How many of us have told about learning to fish offshore, and our story begins with us going out there alone? Someone taught us. Someone showed us. Someone got us there.

The basket of fish would be taken back, through the woods, without any shoes on since shoes were for church only, to the community where he was a hero. This gave him more satisfaction as a child than showing his friends how to catch as many fish as him. Some people just have a talent for understand how to trick the fish I believe.

40

I have been fishing since I can remember. As young child, my Dad and Uncle would take me to the beach, the creeks, the river, ponds, or anywhere fish may be. We would have a blast bass fishing, going for cobia and spades at the nearshore reefs, or offshore. Dad drove the boat and my uncle was the mate. I guess I took all of this for granted at the time and didnt think much of it, but I was lucky enough to have a boat capable of going offshore,and friends that would take us as well.

We would travel to Central America and charter boats for billfish, tuna, etc and had some great trips. I was learning alot about fishing, but nothing really seemed to sink in. My job was to reel in fish and wash the boat when we got back. As I got older, fishing didnt seem as fun, and it kept me away from chasing girls and hanging out with friends.

As time went on we sold the boat, my father suffered a back injury, and my uncle crumbled to his addictions. We didnt fish together any more, but we did go with friends from time to time. At this point in life, I knew what to do on the boat, how to rig baits, and the basics associated with going offshore.

After college,for some reason fishing became fun again. I didnt have a boat, so I would go surf fishing and with friends in the creeks. I focused hard at learning how to become a decent inshore angler. Started recording my methods, tides fished, and conditions. I purchased a jon boat from a friend and went as much as I could between work and grad school.

During this time an old friend of mine got into a small sportfish boat out of the outerbanks. He would invite me to come up and fish, but I never seemed to have the time. Finally, I took him up on his offer and made the trip. The chance to go offshore again sparked something and I have been hooked since. I have learned so much from him and the guys we fish with over the past couple of years. Recently, I was able to take my father back offshore for his first trip in 10 years. We limited out on yellow fin tuna. We both