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regulator 26 · #1 07-20-2006, 08:53 AM

Went south of the Vineyard yesterday morning after the thunder and lightning was over. The seas were pretty rough around Noman's but improved as the day went on. Put out the spread at the claw and immediately caught one suicidal bonito the size of a keeper scup. We thought we would have a great day, but it was not to be.
Working on increasingly old info (the cloud cover from the storm made the most recent sea temp charts useless) we headed east looking for the temperature breaks along the 20 fathom line that had been so prominent. No luck. The temps went from 70.3 to 70.4 to 70.3, etc. In the entire day we did not see one other sportsfishing boat, only draggers, dolphin, birds and one humpback whale. The wind came up quite a bit and we were beginning to be concerned about the long ride home right into it when we had a huge hit on the left outrigger while approaching the star. We ended up bringing to the side of the boat the biggest bluefin we have caught in our brief offshore career, but not big enough, as it was just short of the 47 necessary inches. We trolled the same area for another hour with no interest. We were also not able to find again the big ball of bait that showed on the finder when the bluefin hit, despite the use of the man overboard button.
Anyway, a great day on the water and can't wait to get out there again.
Dave

keithJ · #2 07-20-2006, 10:23 AM

One is better than none. Good work!

backman · #3 07-20-2006, 02:18 PM

came south out the Hooter; circled the draggers 10 miles below twice and caught 3 shearwaters before moving East. Over on the edge of the shoals we found a school of dolphins balling bait and got 2 40" class bluefin in 3 passes through the school. We noted the temp had dropped to 68.5. By the time we got back to the dolphins a 3rd time they had moved west into 71 degree water and the bite was over.

We trolled S through Tylers, picked up a couple oceanic bluefish in the 71 degree water - w/ the wind from the north; I turned west just above the lanes as we picked up 3 more bluefin; 40-44" in 73-74 degree water. We also picked up a smattering of small mahi in open water, not associated with any obvious structure or debris.

N10-15 bothered me also so we trolled N past the level of the dump and started picking up random small bonito also through the Star. We had one good tuna knockdown in that area also, but did not hook up.

I saw 1 boat all day; a small Regulator looking boat ~3:30 about 7 miles below the Hooter - was that you following me through Muskegat?

Scoot · #4 07-20-2006, 10:17 PM

We hit the bay on 7/18, along with sister ship Hook'em II and covered most of CCB. Thought we might find some of the fish that frustrated Capt. Mike. Although we marked fish (deep) that resembled tuna they were not interested in any offerings made onto them. Didn't try overly hard to bring them to the surface as we were off to try for Bass at the Race. Thanks for the report though!