It was a sad day for me as the Fish in OC / Deadly Tackle Carolina Skiff came out of the water for the winter. It was cold, but calm on the bay so I hit Route 90 for a quick catch-and-release rockfish before heading to the ramp. The ocean was a little rough this afternoon and looks to be really rough over the next couple of days as we watch a potential winter storm moving through the area Sunday into Monday.
Captain Chase Eberle, Malakhi Lucas, Kenny Schoen and Ashton Schoen had a great trip to the ocean today aboard Chasin’ Tides putting a true “giant” bluefin tuna in the boat. The crew got the bite in just five minutes of trolling and took turns fighting the fish on 50-pound stand-up gear. After three hours the big bluefin hit the deck and measured in at 97″. John Lewis of the Talbot Street Pier & MR Ducks was nice enough to put the big bluefin on the scale at Talbot Street where it weighed in at a whopping 442 pounds. Nice fish guys!! Chasin’ Tides has now harvested their one “giant” bluefin allowed for the year.
Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star was able to get out on the bluefins as well today.
Most Tuna This Season For The JV Squad! (We’ll make Varsity yet!) 1/3/25 – some dolphin videos by Shelly too..
After long hours consulting Bowditch’s “American Practical Navigator, 2024 edition,” Shelly foretold of a dangerously low tide this morning and heavier than normal seas on any shoal we might cross (or fish) given wind & current in opposition. She was right too.
Thankfully the super low tide was already making as we tied her loose – back bay waters were rising. We paddled out of the marina and down Shantytown channel without incident. On clearing the inlet we found, as is always the case with westerlies, a fabulously calm sea
..until we got 12 miles off or so.
Alex & Mark deployed a 20 block reef unit on my Mother’s reef.
We got right to it.
Winds weren’t all that. Bit saucy. Wind laid down to under ten knots after a while. Sea height immediately fell right out too as if by miracle.
Westerlies do that.
Beautiful day.
And in those calm seas?
Yes Sir!
Bluefin put on a fine show.
Nice fishing.
After my few clients (including tog legend JoJo!) all had a go with a tuna, I coerced Shelly into putting down her massive tome, (& The American Practical Navigator is just that! I read the 1977 edition through several times) ..so that she might catch her first tuna.
Did a fine job too.
We landed 7 of 9 with a tuna net. No gaff and release here.
The other two?
Ones that got away.
And, would you believe it? They were our two biggest.. (Not a fish story! They really were!)
Can gaffing work? You bet. Lip gaff. Netting them gives us zero release mortality if a gaff is poorly placed, however.
They’re super easy to net. Just lead em in. They don’t have a reverse gear like a summer flounder does…
Lots and lots of bad weather coming. Gusts began to whistle in my radar mast’s guy wires at 3:37. Part of a squall line I reckon. Didn’t last. Get’s my attention though, promise. CG’s been broadcasting a gale warning on the emergency (ch 16) frequency for several days.. That’s 40 to 54 mph or 34 to 47 knots – lot of wind! We’ll double her lines; close off all vents; pull some boat maintenance, some home maintenance; perhaps some reef foundation storage work now that the raffle is over. ..and maybe take a minute to just relax.
Like any other boating operation: ‘If you think you’re caught up? You don’t really understand what needs done.”
It was a sad day for me as the Fish in OC / Deadly Tackle Carolina Skiff came out of the water for the winter. It was cold, but calm on the bay so I hit… READ MORE
Crab Pie Ingredients 1 Pound jumbo lump crab meat 2 Deep Dish Pie Crusts (this recipe will make 2 pies) 1/4 cup of diced onion (or shallots) 8 oz of Swiss cheese 2 Tablespoons flour 3… READ MORE
