Just back from another great trip; almost too perfect weather! It was better than NOAA’s forecast. Less breeze, the 3-5″s were gentle long periods, at night virtually no swells on a glassy smooth sea. During daylight hrs., the slight breeze produced a minimal wind-wave action. Water wasn’t as blue as the first 36 but still crystal clear. Under a cloudless sky, boy was it hot!
Bob took us back to the general area where we were on the first trip and were visited by the whales, ever-present for most of the time with one passing bow to stern a bit deeper but still only 25-30′ off—very impressive mammals.
Started a drift around noon and first fish in 1/2 hr. later with multiple hook-ups or singles on a regular basis. I think most, if not all YFT’s were the same size as before—60-70# and were not line shy. As we drifted out of the zone, we’d run back into it and the fun would start again. Unlike the usual, after sunset, the bite didn’t shut down until 10 PM at which time most had had enough fun for the day, but a few hadn’t and stayed with it. I think totals for Wed. were 15-20 yellows on ice.
As is usually (or always) the case, with a forecast and a previous bite as nice and good, I counted 17 lights from all size fisher’s boats Wed. night with the usual Googins running through our slick or setting up in it. It’ll never change-it even gets worse with every year-what with the “elitist” attitude increasing at an alarming rate.
We stayed, rather than running to the deep for swords—bad temps out there, poor reports prompted the non-move. At 4 AM we ran back to the beginning area; with “Magic Hour”, “False Dawn) producing nothing and after full sun-up at 7 AM, it started again–a repeat of the previous day’s drifts with the bite ending around noon. Subsequent drifts produced 2 more yellows with the 3 toots coming around 3 this PM.
A school of Mahi showed up Thurs. PM and a few were boated. Also, during our stay, several Albies were boated, some kept, others thrown back.
Whales weren’t there when we left and the PB’s had arrived to set up in the remnants of our slick, Today, it looked more like a day at the “Hambone” or “Hotdog”–almost that many boats.
Notables: Only 2 (I think) blue sharks–one an unseen bite-off, the other, a small blue (5′) after mid-night. Aso a very large (12′) Tiger shark made a pass through while a Yellow was being fought–no harm, no foul.
Tuna totals: 50 YFT’s (Pool 66*4 oz bled weight)
Thursday’s fish were mostly 10* lighter, smaller than Wednesday’s.
Kudos to Capt. Bob for his efforts–always greatly appreciated and to the crew who worked their buttes off, gaffing, boating tuna, detangling and dealing with all their other duties–always a privilege fishing this platform.
Met some new faces, happy to see previous friends.
Oh, the “5 Shark Club” has been disbanded!!! Thank goodness!!!!!!!!!!
