Zigh
07-28-2004, 12:43 PM
posted on 28-Jul-2004 10:19:42 AM
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Greetings fellow, 'Wranglers of Fishes'... Made a trek out to the 500 line from OI on Monday mating aboard the 'Widespread Panic'. The outgoing tide and variable breeze made the inlet as calm as it gets. Unfortunately, the dense layer of fog made finding the markers a touch difficult. Without radar, we followed a charter boat out to the sea bouy where the fog magically lifted as we headed S. Arriving at the 100 fathom curve we found a nice rip and grassline with Petrels dancing everywhere and the radio alive with action of all sorts. Bills, Bailers, a Tuna scratch, Wally Wahoo, they were all around according to the airwaves. The weather was a curiousity all day with it's multiple cloud layers, distant Thunderstorms, 2 menacing water spouts, and 2 rainbows. We set our 8 line spread and started to run S down the line on the inshore side of the rip. My spread for the day consisted of>> Flats~ blue/white Tracker, pink Sea Witch, and then a blue/white medium Islander bubble jethead, which I placed 3 yards in front of the bird with black/purple large Witch for the bird trailer. The Shorts~ bubble gum/glitter Sea Witch, and Chartreuse Witch. The Longs~ Green Sea Witch, and another bubble gum/glitter Witch. Water temperature was 81* and a vibrant blue color even under the darkening sky. Our first bite came on the long rigger port side and never pulled tight. The drop back produced another slight tug, and a 1/2 eaten hoo was retrieved. After another couple of short strikes and with the grassline less organized, we turned N on the offshore side and into the slight breeze. There were some Mahi sitting under a board on the edge of the line and both long riggers went off simultaneously as a couple of Gaffers pounced the spread. One fish thru the hook, the other was a 15lbs. 'skunk remover'. We turn S for another pass to no avail. Things slow down, and the radio quiets. We cross back over to the inshore side and suddenly POP, POP, SNAP, POP, it's ON!!!! The port long, the starboard short, and the Wahoo rig all go zinging! Then the other long goes off!! The fish on the Bird rig doesn't slow until almost full drag on an 80W. Still taking drag he bites thru clean and is gone. AAAARRGGGHH^%$%@ Fortunately, one of the 3 other fish is still on and putting on a show well behind the boat. Turns out to be a White Marlin. After a nice battle, the fish is brought along boatside where I was able to perform my first ever hook removal, picture(in water), and revival of a Billfish; it was AWESOME!! As the fish swam down and away in the azure blue, I felt about as good as a man can feel. Good stuff!! Set the spread again getting another Mahi in the boat and another Wahoo bite that didn't materialize. At 1:30pm, the guys wanted to head for the barn as their buddy had been ill the entire day, and even catching his 1st Billfish wasn't bringing him around. We made NNW and found an incoming tide to sweep us back thru the inlet with little trouble. In summary... All of our bites came on the long baits today which I was running further back than usual. Never had a fish on the flats. Lots of short pulls and weird stuff out there, but any time you can see 'Whitey', it's a good day! Fish On Friends :D
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Laughing so hard, the devil gets scared....
Zigh
><((((*>
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Greetings fellow, 'Wranglers of Fishes'... Made a trek out to the 500 line from OI on Monday mating aboard the 'Widespread Panic'. The outgoing tide and variable breeze made the inlet as calm as it gets. Unfortunately, the dense layer of fog made finding the markers a touch difficult. Without radar, we followed a charter boat out to the sea bouy where the fog magically lifted as we headed S. Arriving at the 100 fathom curve we found a nice rip and grassline with Petrels dancing everywhere and the radio alive with action of all sorts. Bills, Bailers, a Tuna scratch, Wally Wahoo, they were all around according to the airwaves. The weather was a curiousity all day with it's multiple cloud layers, distant Thunderstorms, 2 menacing water spouts, and 2 rainbows. We set our 8 line spread and started to run S down the line on the inshore side of the rip. My spread for the day consisted of>> Flats~ blue/white Tracker, pink Sea Witch, and then a blue/white medium Islander bubble jethead, which I placed 3 yards in front of the bird with black/purple large Witch for the bird trailer. The Shorts~ bubble gum/glitter Sea Witch, and Chartreuse Witch. The Longs~ Green Sea Witch, and another bubble gum/glitter Witch. Water temperature was 81* and a vibrant blue color even under the darkening sky. Our first bite came on the long rigger port side and never pulled tight. The drop back produced another slight tug, and a 1/2 eaten hoo was retrieved. After another couple of short strikes and with the grassline less organized, we turned N on the offshore side and into the slight breeze. There were some Mahi sitting under a board on the edge of the line and both long riggers went off simultaneously as a couple of Gaffers pounced the spread. One fish thru the hook, the other was a 15lbs. 'skunk remover'. We turn S for another pass to no avail. Things slow down, and the radio quiets. We cross back over to the inshore side and suddenly POP, POP, SNAP, POP, it's ON!!!! The port long, the starboard short, and the Wahoo rig all go zinging! Then the other long goes off!! The fish on the Bird rig doesn't slow until almost full drag on an 80W. Still taking drag he bites thru clean and is gone. AAAARRGGGHH^%$%@ Fortunately, one of the 3 other fish is still on and putting on a show well behind the boat. Turns out to be a White Marlin. After a nice battle, the fish is brought along boatside where I was able to perform my first ever hook removal, picture(in water), and revival of a Billfish; it was AWESOME!! As the fish swam down and away in the azure blue, I felt about as good as a man can feel. Good stuff!! Set the spread again getting another Mahi in the boat and another Wahoo bite that didn't materialize. At 1:30pm, the guys wanted to head for the barn as their buddy had been ill the entire day, and even catching his 1st Billfish wasn't bringing him around. We made NNW and found an incoming tide to sweep us back thru the inlet with little trouble. In summary... All of our bites came on the long baits today which I was running further back than usual. Never had a fish on the flats. Lots of short pulls and weird stuff out there, but any time you can see 'Whitey', it's a good day! Fish On Friends :D
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Laughing so hard, the devil gets scared....
Zigh
><((((*>