riptide
10-17-2007, 07:10 PM
We decided to make a long shot run for the warm water 30 miles south of Atlantis. I managed to get Bob Pink and Shaun Ruge to go in on this 100:1 long shot horse and make the big bet. The forcast was for 1-2' seas all the way to the edge. We've been watching a temp break as it's moved towards Atlantis. IT was a 64-69 degree break and it's been holding up for some time. A similar break near the dip had been giving up nice catches so we decided to be the rabbits and make the run sans any intel. A few canyon regulars gave us their blessing and said we should do well. Not that we needed encouragement, but that helped.
At 0300 we met at my house and we loaded up the last of the gear. 400 gallons of fuel, 400# of ice, 30 gals of fresh water, 5 dozen ballyhoo, a ton of rods and gear, 2 EPIRBS, a life raft, gumby's, extra flares and a ditch bag. Since we would be running accross ALLOT of cold water we wante to have ALL of our ducks in a row. Extra safety gear on top of extra safety gear was the rule. Each of us doned our Mustang suits for the ride out from Bourne.
The run out was really nice. The water was FAC and the guys acted as lookouts until we hit open water. Then they kicked back in the beanbags and I got to relax, run the boat and reflect.
http://riptidecharters.com/Stangsopti.JPG
There was something really peaceful about running in the dark. I was nice and warm and dry. The Verado's Superchargers gave off a soft turbin whine that alomost made me think I was on a plane. The same motion that you get on a plane was what we had for the run out. Like a plane I knew when I pulled back the throttles I'd be somewhere far away and warm.
We ran to the edge and beyond. We cleared the edge at 0700 just as the sun had cleared the horizon.
http://riptidecharters.com/Skyopti.JPG
The run was fast and flat as we cruised at 40 mph on the glassy seas. Around 0730 we hit the numbers and the temp guage matched the chart at 69 degrees. The air was warm and it didn't feel like October anymore.
We looked around a bit but didn't seee any signs of life. Dispite that we put in on the break and I wirked the seam south another 20 miles. We zig zagged back and forth from 69 to 64 and we headed farther offshore. We found some scattered weeds but no life on them and the bird life seemed more interested in us than anything that was alread there.
After running as far south as we dared, I turned us back north and worked the trailing edge of the break the same as the leading edge. Still no life. When we got back to the lines in spot we pulled up and ran north to the edge of the canyon. There was a 60-64 break there and with the structure we hoped to pull some bluefin out to salvage the day.
As we neared the tip of Atlantis Shaun and I saw tons of life. Huge breaks and loads of birds. We had found it!!! Unfortunatley what we found was 3 suare miles of dolphins. WE went lines in and worked all around and through the dolphins. THey put on their show, but still no fish. We went lines up again and ran farther north to a waypoint I hit on the run down. The water was 578 degrees but we saw some biat on top and a few whales. We hoped that the water was not too cold and we might find some life there. Still nothing.
Finally we went lines up for good. We stowed the gear and headed for Gay Head. The ride back was just was fast and flat but this time we were without the Mustang suits since the su was out and the temps were very comfortable even at speed. The guys napped while I ran us home.
Other than a sloppy ride though Buzzards Bay on the way in the trip was smooth and comfortable. The fishing however was just that FISHING. Final tally, no hits, no runs, no errors. We didn't see any tuna other than a few albies off Gay Head on the ride in. We pulled a little bit of everything, but truth is I don't think we ever pulled anything in front of or over fish.
Overall this was a learning curve trip. I was able to run the boat long and see what it was going to do. I learned my saddle tanks read empty when they have 30 gallons left in each one. I learned my boat has planty of power when its full loaded but steers a little sluggish. I learned that anyone that puts their head on the beanbag chair falls asleep instantly. I learned that just because there is a temp break off the canyons there is not always fish on it. I learned I can make the edge in 2.5 hours from Gay Head fully loaded :brow
Lastly I learned that just because you CAN run all the way tothe Edge, doesn't mean you have too ;)
At 0300 we met at my house and we loaded up the last of the gear. 400 gallons of fuel, 400# of ice, 30 gals of fresh water, 5 dozen ballyhoo, a ton of rods and gear, 2 EPIRBS, a life raft, gumby's, extra flares and a ditch bag. Since we would be running accross ALLOT of cold water we wante to have ALL of our ducks in a row. Extra safety gear on top of extra safety gear was the rule. Each of us doned our Mustang suits for the ride out from Bourne.
The run out was really nice. The water was FAC and the guys acted as lookouts until we hit open water. Then they kicked back in the beanbags and I got to relax, run the boat and reflect.
http://riptidecharters.com/Stangsopti.JPG
There was something really peaceful about running in the dark. I was nice and warm and dry. The Verado's Superchargers gave off a soft turbin whine that alomost made me think I was on a plane. The same motion that you get on a plane was what we had for the run out. Like a plane I knew when I pulled back the throttles I'd be somewhere far away and warm.
We ran to the edge and beyond. We cleared the edge at 0700 just as the sun had cleared the horizon.
http://riptidecharters.com/Skyopti.JPG
The run was fast and flat as we cruised at 40 mph on the glassy seas. Around 0730 we hit the numbers and the temp guage matched the chart at 69 degrees. The air was warm and it didn't feel like October anymore.
We looked around a bit but didn't seee any signs of life. Dispite that we put in on the break and I wirked the seam south another 20 miles. We zig zagged back and forth from 69 to 64 and we headed farther offshore. We found some scattered weeds but no life on them and the bird life seemed more interested in us than anything that was alread there.
After running as far south as we dared, I turned us back north and worked the trailing edge of the break the same as the leading edge. Still no life. When we got back to the lines in spot we pulled up and ran north to the edge of the canyon. There was a 60-64 break there and with the structure we hoped to pull some bluefin out to salvage the day.
As we neared the tip of Atlantis Shaun and I saw tons of life. Huge breaks and loads of birds. We had found it!!! Unfortunatley what we found was 3 suare miles of dolphins. WE went lines in and worked all around and through the dolphins. THey put on their show, but still no fish. We went lines up again and ran farther north to a waypoint I hit on the run down. The water was 578 degrees but we saw some biat on top and a few whales. We hoped that the water was not too cold and we might find some life there. Still nothing.
Finally we went lines up for good. We stowed the gear and headed for Gay Head. The ride back was just was fast and flat but this time we were without the Mustang suits since the su was out and the temps were very comfortable even at speed. The guys napped while I ran us home.
Other than a sloppy ride though Buzzards Bay on the way in the trip was smooth and comfortable. The fishing however was just that FISHING. Final tally, no hits, no runs, no errors. We didn't see any tuna other than a few albies off Gay Head on the ride in. We pulled a little bit of everything, but truth is I don't think we ever pulled anything in front of or over fish.
Overall this was a learning curve trip. I was able to run the boat long and see what it was going to do. I learned my saddle tanks read empty when they have 30 gallons left in each one. I learned my boat has planty of power when its full loaded but steers a little sluggish. I learned that anyone that puts their head on the beanbag chair falls asleep instantly. I learned that just because there is a temp break off the canyons there is not always fish on it. I learned I can make the edge in 2.5 hours from Gay Head fully loaded :brow
Lastly I learned that just because you CAN run all the way tothe Edge, doesn't mean you have too ;)