Sorry this is late, but I thought I would share since there were no other recent offshore reports from the Carolinas. I am out of Ocean Isle Beach just across the border in NC.
Thurs Dec 27, 2007 on the Fishin’ Physician:
First bite occurred before I could get my full spread out- it was a wahoo that broke the wire on my Mann Stretch 30. But immediately after, the port medium line screams! Shimano Tiagras sound great when a big wahoo hits. I know this is a good one. He fights all the way to the boat despite a tight drag.
Whoa, he is too big for me to gaff and pull over the side. I have to fight the fish, grab the gaff, and unlatch the tuna door of my Contender. I AM SOLO. I gaff him in the shoulder and guide him up on the transom and through the tuna door. He is heavy and I had to heave ho twice to get him in and then close the door and relatch it. He is 63 inches and weighed 68.3 pounds. It is a personal best for me.
I get lines back out and keep trolling in 170 feet at the Blackjack Hole. The Tiagra screams again! I look back 100 feet and see a billfish jumping. Is is a little Blue marlin or a big sail? I’m not sure yet. I grab the rod and reduce throttle to forward idle on both outboards. Before I start reeling, the other side reel starts screaming. It appears to be another billfish. This one looks like a sailfish. He starts dancing. Wait a minute, maybe its the same fish. Nope, the starboard line is going out the starboard corner and the one in my hand is going out the port corner. The one in my hand is screaming the reel and looks to be well hooked.
I guess I already told you that I am fishing SOLO! I decide to fight the closer one and smaller fish first to reduce the possibility of tangling. The Shimano Tiagra 50 makes quick work of the 40 pound sail as I get him along starboard side. Since I am wahoo fishing, I am using wire. I grab my Kevlar cleaning glove while still harnessed into my fish. My wind-on leader works like it’s supposed to, reeling the short leader all
I saw the picture on Ocean Isle Fishing Center website. I didn’t realize you got some sails on that same trip. Thats a nice day with a full crew, much less solo. I guess that auto pilot came in handy. How do you like the TR-1?
The TR1 Autopilot is fantastic. I’ve used it for three full seasons without a failure. It even slow trolls for Kings in moderate (not rough) conditions. I could not produce as well solo without it. I never had an autopilot that made it through one season without a failure, but this one has no rudder ■■■■■■■■ which is what fails on most other units.
Caught these fish a little north of Little River. There were several Little River SC boats fishing with me. The BlackJack Hole is about 14 miles South of the break from the Steeples. It is about 25 to 30 miles north of the break at Winyah Scarp.
Hey, doc. Met you this spring after the Jolly Mon in Murrells Inlet. Saw your photos on OIFC’s website, we also went out of OIFC the morning of 12/27 and were rewarded with our first BFT. Anyways, congrats on an awesome trip (that’s a huge wahoo) and good luck in the new year.
Matt, Congratulations on your nice Bluefin Tuna. I saw the cleaned carcass hanging at the Ocean Isle Fishing Center. Great job! Good luck to you and your team this 2008 as well. How blessed we are to be able to catch nice fish in the Carolinas in late December!
