Well, after not fishing offshore in 2 or 3 years due to a recent-past illness (I’m better now, thank God), and due to us selling our 34’ Fountain last year, I’ve been really itching to get back out there and catch some fish. We’ve only had the new 38 Fountain out to the ledge or beyond one other time this year, a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the boat ready until AFTER the spring dolphin fling and phenomenal bite had already started to wane off from the heat. I didn’t post a report from the first trip. We caught a wahoo, a couple of dolphin, a king, and a few little tunny–nothing to write home about. The seas were 3 to 5 that day too, so it was what it was.
Yesterday was our second trolling trip in the new boat, and we had high hopes of a gorgeous day out there because of a terrific weather report and a “Wahoo Fest” report by Captain Grady. I was going to fish the SW Banks and the Scarp until I saw Grady’s report and talked to Dick Vance, on Hot Shot, who went to EB also. We started out heading for the Edisto Banks at about 5 AM, but about 15 miles outside of the jetties, we got a marine warning on the XM weather system. It said that the line of thunderstorms that we were looking at contained lightning and 30-mph winds. The storm was directly between us and our waypoint, so I altered south a little, did some quick calculations, and reduced speed to 18 MPH so the storm would be moved on by the time we reached our destination. This obviously delayed our fishing by an hour or two, but it worked out well, and we dodged all of the storms. Hot Shot punched on through and was rewarded with an early wahoo on the ledge weighing in at somewhere around 60 lbs, Dick said.
The sea was great yesterday. The weather man nailed it, finally! The atmospheric conditions also turned out to make for one seriously beautiful day on the water. We got lines in pretty late and didn’t set the world on fire with our catch, but we caught some fish and had a good time on the water. At times, when we weren’t wa
Can’t believe you forgot the “tall and dark” part in your glowing description of me. I feel slighted. The “bushed” part after the Tuna was a result of getting old too fast!
Guys that boat not only is a speed demon but handles great around the weedlines. I spent most of the time trolling the line on the helm and what a great feel.
Great job on the hoo Patrick! Shan, my new little buddy, probably caught more ragging than he should have but he’s a gamer!
Thanks for the great pics Matt great meeting you.
Lee also forgot to mention how deadly he is with a gaff. That dude is dead on with perfect gaffs every time.
Thanks also to Dick V of the Hot Shot for the heads ups.
Great time on the Fountain yesterday. Thanks a bunch Lee. Can’t wait to go again.
Yes, they are Verado 275’s. They push the boat about as fast as the 225’s pushed the 34 Fountain, but with less acceleration.
P.S. They are quiet, though, and very smooth. The thing I like the best is the new fly-by-wire throttle/gear controls. They are very nice. I used to have to manage 6 controls for the triple engines on the 34 (3 gears and 3 throttles). Now, I only have two, period, and they are as smooth as silk to operate. If I engage both throttles in the same gear, then all three engines go in gear. If I only engage one, then only that engine goes into gear. If I put one in forward, and the other in reverse, then the center stays in neutral. This makes for easier docking. I also forgot to mention that the Verados make life easier by the fact that they will run on 87 octane fuel. That’s all they sell at Ripley, so that’s what I use. The computers reduce the pressure output of the supercharger (PSI) to compensate while you’re using less than 92 octane, though, in order to prevent damage to the pistons/cylinders. This retards the horsepower by about 30 HP, so it probably reduces MPG slightly.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Hey Lee, great pics, nice to see you fishing again. Post some pics of the new 38. I should have the worldcat in service in a few weeks, maybe it won’t be too late to catch a few.
Nice! What a post! I don’t think I would have obtained that much detail if I had been there. I want to see some more pics of your ride. Sounds like a S-W-E-E-T rig!
One thing you are missing… you need some bling, bling. Get some gold or silver reels. Nothing against the shimanos but if you are going to run that bote, dress it up. Phin, talk to the man. Put him on some of those deals we all know and love you for.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan!..
Great a plan, Custer had a plan.”
All Rise - 31 Contender Fish Around with a pair of 250 Yamahas
Good Job. Wish i could have gone. Nice pics. Anyone that hasn’t seen the boat, it’s a looker. This is scary true:
“Everyone, Billy is the slightly less attractive guy with the goatee, darker green shirt, and sunglasses, in the first two tuna pictures, and I am the more dashing guy , holding up the prize that Billy fought. He’s holding the rod in that pic. Seriously, Billy, don’t grow anymore facial hair or we’d look like twins in that picture.”
When’s the next trip? We need to plan one like we talked about the other day.
I’m up for Friday, Sunday, or Monday, guys. The weather is looking best for Sunday–(WA4PHY says) 2-3’ swells, light winds, 85 degrees, and 79% humidity. Can’t beat that with a stick. Gimme a call if you want to go (509-2526).
I’ll try to find some boat pics for y’all. My wife took some; I just can’t find them right now.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Phin, talk to the man. Put him on some of those deals we all know and love you for.