Last weekend we caught over 60 small YFT and managed our limit of 18. This weekend the bite was scattered but the fish are bigger. Crewed up with Matt Dunn, Matt (Rock Crusher), his brother Bo, and Doug. Headed out to the canyon with lines in around 3 pm Saturday. Just as we are putting the spread out, a thick fog rolls in and the wind kicks up. I'm thinking WTF....not good for an overnighter. But conditions improve within the hour as the winds lay back down and sun peaks back out.
Start trolling the south wall and a nice fish explodes on the rainbow spreader bar on my Tiagra 30. I have my 30s packed with braid and a top shot of mono. They start to freak out because within seconds they think we are about to be spooled but soon they realize this as the braid starts ripping out. After a short fight, Bo lands a nice 40 inch BFT. Troll the south wall then head south at the SE corner. Pick up 2 gaffer mahi. Late in the evening a big mako explodes but misses. Then comes back and long is tight but it's a short battle has she cuts the line and is gone.
As the sun sets, we reposition over the Norfolk Canyon for the night. Winds are
light and our drift is only 0.3 knots to the west. Should be good, heading straight up the canyon. A long line string had the south wall covered up so we set up along the north wall. Got the chum chucker hooked up and it's putting out a beautiful chunk line of fresh butter fish. We position 3 rods around the chunk line, 2 free lines and 1 with 3 ounces of inline weight with butterfish on 60 lb floro on
Circles. Then put out 2 sword rigs and send them out on floats. Swordlight out but minimal bait around the boat. Not a single pull all night. None of our baits touched. Oh well, seas were flat, a good night for sleeping so I got some rest.
At sunrise Sunday, get back on the troll. Soon, more and more boats arrive and before long, I thought it was striper season at Cape Henry.
Troll up and down the line from the canyon to the 400 line and 2 lines go down hard. I jump on one but the hook pulls. Matt Dunn is on the other and after a good fight, he boats a 55 lb YFT. A few more mahi and no other hits. The guys want to deep drop so we head back to the canyon. Manage 6 beautiful golden tiles in the 30 lb class with one pig that Bo pulls up that goes 47 lbs. I finally switched over my deep drop rigs to
Circle Hooks and I must admit I was impressed at the increased hookup ratio over the
Js. Setting a J hook at 750 feet always did prove challenging. Head over to a wreckfish hole and get our 5 wreckfish in short order. My fish boxes are full so we head home.
Final tally of the best eating fish in the ocean:
1 40 inch BFT
1 55 lb YFT
3 mahi
6 Goldens to 47 lbs
5 Wreckfish
A few pics from our day.
Bo with his 40 inch BFT.
Matt with a nice 55 lb YFT and a mahi.
Here is Bo with a pig 47 lb Golden.
