Posted on July 17th, 2024
Hit the vid for the final, and most exciting day of the OC Tuna Tournament!
Ocean was a little rough for much action today, but after this front moves through it looks pretty beautiful for a few days!
Yesterday, Captain Brian Porter and his crew on Boss Hogg had a crazy good day of offshore fishing between the Wilmington and Spencer Canyons. The crew had a white marlin release, mahi and one of the better tuna catches we’ve seen in a while.
Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star headed to the barn early thanks to the building seas, but he still put some sea bass in coolers per usual.
Hardly a car in the parking lot this morning – uh oh. I double-checked the weather. One site had a lovely summer morn ..yet NOAA’s National Weather Service fairly well held hellfire and damnation upon those who go to sea.
Hmmm..
Went to sea.
Ten knots, then 15 & a piece; conditions were deteriorating but not lousy. Abbey, Lorie & Gail deployed an 18 block reef unit atop Rambler reef –
We pressed on.
Our first few stops were for mahi. Abbey landed, with a continuous stanza of squeals from college buddies, the day’s first. Her mini-mahi came over the rail, flipped off a hook, bounced off an aluminum bench seat, and flipped out through a scupper.
Awwww!
Really OK – was a throwback anyway. Caught 4 more – all better sized – with none after so I anchored.
Dagone sea bass bite was on. DoublesDoubles & Doubles with most going back. As the bite on that piece slowed I considered my next piece. Glancing up at my anemometer I saw 27.8 knots..
Well OK then. Time to apply rational thought here.. Wind increase from mid teens to upper twenties had come with a switch more to the west – almost 240. From that new direction the wind would have to build a fresh set with the old set beneath – would have quickly made a more confused sea. And, at almost 30knots? Building that new sea wasn’t going to take terribly long.
Prudence demanded I haul anchor and head for the barn. Came in a touch early with a hearty credit applicable next trip..
Using her reef building karma, Abbey won the pool.
Of note here – my good Dr friend had his daughter and friends along. He’d given them a scopolamine patch yesterday and a zofran this morning. Of 10 souls aboard, only one was temporarily discomforted and bounced right back.
That Is Not What Usually Happens With Unprepared Clients.
Being seasick is no joke. Though “The Patch” is a gold standard – Meclizine (Bonine etc) works for most everyone – especially if started well beforehand. If you know you can handle this medication and it’s going to be more rough than usual, do like OC’s original fishing sweetheart, Sue Foster, and take two!
I couldn’t begin to count how many folks I used to see squander their day because they ‘didn’t want to be drowsy.’
Hmm.. I’d take a short nap over projectile vomiting most anyday..
Folks are usually too excited about fishing to be ‘drowsy’ anyway – and if the fishing is no good?
Great time for a nap!
Zofran is new to me. An anti nausea for all manner of surgery and medications that also upset the stomach – from what I’ve seen it’s a near miracle at sea.
Prescription – but of three Drs I asked, none thought it harmful in anyway.
Worth having in your arsenal if possible!
Looks like rain early tomorrow – then beautiful and calm.
Cheers,
Monty
JD And Mary Eddy were fishing on board Reel Steel Charters today when the landed 5 nice sheepshead and had a 32” throwback striper.
