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riptide
09-23-2007, 08:27 PM
After leaving them crashing this morning and going 0 for 1 I was determined to get back out. Backman was looking to crew on a boat so I called him and asked if he was up for a rocket ride accross the bay to cast a tuna in a center console. His only questions were "where and when do I meet you" Sandwich in 20 minutes!

At 1400 I re-splashed the boat and Larry and I ran towards the Race in a sloppy 2-4' bay chop. While not used to a CC Larry seemed pretty satisfied with how the baot handled the bay slop at 40 mph. In short order we were back on the fish.

Unlike earlier these fish were breezing and rolling but still just as picky. We had shot after shot at these fish with limited success. After a bunch of good shots I beaned a fish on the head and either snagged it or startled him into eating, but wither way for 5 seconds I was tight. The tunas tail reached the braid and all I reeled in was a tattered braided line, no lure or leader.

Re-rigged we try again. Another swing and a miss, but no hookup. Finally I nail a long cast (as many of them had to be) and I come tight. I thought the fish looked 35# or so. After about 15 minutes Larry sealed the deal with and gaff to the gills on a fat 50" fish. The stomach was bloated with 2" sandeels.

We continued to chase acer size pods of fish and even get right into some of them with the boat, but the fish were really not hard on the feed, or at least not for what we were throwing. AS we headed for the canal we found several HUGE schools of fish hard on the feed. We got a few sweet shots into them and Larry made a money cast that had a brief take that never felt the hook. I coudn't even get bit in the roiling mass of fish. That small bait sure makes them picky.

So I ended the day with one fish landed and my streak in tact. Final tally for the day 1 for 5, including 2 breakoffs, 2 pulled hooks and a landed fish. Not the best average, but you have your good days and your bad. Bottom line we got our fish. The fish landed took a Polish Sandeel. We had takes on both those and the Ocean Lures plugs. The evening run home was FAC and a nice end to a long day.

Overall a great long day OTW with a TON of fish around, but they made it a challenge. I had a great time fishing all morning with Dana and Larry all afternoon.

backman
09-23-2007, 09:17 PM
Impressive experience running across the tops of 2-4's as comfortable as I would be in my much heavier express; except 50% faster!

Lots and lots of fish; very happy fish, breezing and playing as opposed to slashing and feeding. I suspect a dry fly would have worked better than lures :)

In any event; when push came to shove Terry hit one on the head, only did 1 1/2 trips around the boat before bringing the fish to gaff in 15 minutes or so. There is a lot to be said for 360 degrees fishability. I'm so used to having to use the boat to keep the angler positioned on the fish; it was nice to sit back, relax and let Terry sweat and do boat laps ;)

the number of fish in the bay was amazing; the school on the way home was at least 100 yards square and dwarfs anything I saw this year down south.

johnh
09-23-2007, 10:54 PM
BTW....how did down south in Atlantis go?

backman
09-24-2007, 05:29 AM
best chunk bite I have ever experienced. See my report elsewhere for more details but we ate swordfish Saturday night, wahoo last night and have to decide what to eat tonight :)