This was my first trip this season. My military obligation in Germany this winter and spring caused me to miss the Mahi. A family vacation to FL, and my wife going to Kenya on a missions trip has left me with very few days where I could fish, and then having one of those days have good weather in it . . . . well, it just didn’t happen. So while my wife has been gone, I’ve been “Dad, Large and in Charge,” and found someone to agree to watch my kids. Thursday started to look like a great day so I got a buddy and his friend to come along, and made a plan.
My 8 year old son was after me all last season to go fishing. I kept pushing back thinking he wasn’t quite ready yet. When the subject came up again this year, he kept bringing it up. So I talked it over with my wife, had a long sit down with him to tell him what the day was going to be like, and he was in!! So with my crew of 3, we made a plan to go fishing.
The day started off with a few hiccups. My truck got stuck in my back yard trying to get my boat and trailer out. Stupid rain!! That took a half hour to figure out. Then my buddy cracked his forehead and the bridge of his nose on the door of my truck at Shem. After all of us agreeing he didn’t need stitches, we pressed on and headed out from Shem as the sun was coming up.
We went over to Morris Island to find some bait. Behind the island there was nary a fish in the water. I’m used to seeing the menhaden popping on the surface, and being able to hear them as well. There was nothing! So we moved out to the harbor side. There were a few boats out there throwing nets, and I saw a few fish, but couldn’t bag any. So we pressed on to the last four cans of the channel markers to get some bait. The ride out was a little rougher than expected at first. We hit the brake water, the barrier between the dark and blue/green water, and it smoothed right out. Got to the cans, and found lots of little bait. Nothing with any size to them. My son got to see his first school of Cuda’s. He was so
Fantastic narrative and pictures, although they pale in comparison to the being able to take your son offshore for the first time. Congrats on an awesome trip and gaining a new crew member for life!
And also, thank you sincerely for your service to our country. You make it possible for us to go fishing in the first place.
“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”
From the input I’ve gotten, they are shorter, stockier, and darker than an AJ. Not the silvery brown color, but just dark brown. You can’t tell from the picture because of how my son is holding it, but the tail is bit different than an AJ. More “shark like” is the only way I can think to describe it. They are just as wormy and all as an AJ.
best report I have seen in months. I will always remember the time my dad spent with me when I was a youngin and know for a fact he is the reason I love the ocean so much. good for you sirecks! you deserve every one of those fish you got. your son is a pro now!
I rent mine for $250 a day if you want to try one out. He is mostly potty trained, eats like a horse and is not capable of putting on sunscreen. Please send payment via PayPal to rentakid@yahoo.com.
You figure out what is wrong with the motor? Good learning tool for the Son also. Teach him that it isn’t all about the fun of catching but there is work involved to.
No Easy. As far as I can tell, the short is tripping the alarm, and it is causing the computer to kick in the rev limiter. So I’m guessing I have a short in the overheat protection circuit or the oil sensing circuit. What I don’t understand, because I’ve not properly investigated it yet, is how the latching system for my cowling is involved. I’ve got some footage of us messing with the motor and you can see the RPM gauge, hear the alarm, see the throttle angle, and see me messing with the cowling. I’ve got some troubleshooting to do. However, in about 10 days I leave for over a month to go to OK for some training. So my next fishing opportunity, heck any boating opportunity, won’t come until the middle of September. I admit, I was truly perplexed out there on the water.
My son got to see all the glamour of offshore fishing. The wild life, the catching, getting stuck by a fishes spine, and even helping dad clean the boat and the gear. I made sure he got his money’s worth. After all that, he keeps asking, “WHEN ARE WE GOING AGAIN!”
Wow, what a cool trip (aside from the motor problem). Your boy looks like he’s in hog heaven holding up those fish, congrats!
Wild, uneducated guess, but check for cracked ignition lines— if you have one that is “bumped” by the cowling, it could cause it to ground out on the block. That piston will miss, but the motor will still run, just run slower or rougher.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
Sirecks, don’t teach him to much to fast or he will be talking trash about you when the wife gets home! LOL Next thing you know he’ll be wanting to drive the boat and you’ll be the deck hand:wink: An electrical problem like that will drive you crazy. Time to invite your Crew Chief over for a BBQ:smiley:
He’s already telling anyone who will listen about his time on the water. I’m just waiting for the day where he starts correcting me on my anchoring technique or color choice of my bait. LOL!! Yeah, the inner Chief will be woken up for this for sure. Or, I’ll just buy a new 4-stroke!!!
Sir,I don’t know you or you me;But let me thank You for your service!! and you must be overwhelmed with excitement with your 1st trip with your son,fantastic report and great going on the fish.The smiles pretty much says it all!!! Thanks for sharing…
You know when you are a true fisherman? When you bog truck down trying to hook up boat…fishing partner cracks skull at landing…can’t catch bait…motor dies…and still catch fish and have a wonderful day…good job for hanging in there…thanks for service of country and raising a fine young man…family men, we are a dying breed.
