What happend to everyone?!

[Captain Ollie]

I thought you guys were more hardcore than this! We went out on Friday and had the 50 line to ourselves. With the moon on its way to full I couldn't resist making my way through the 6 footers that were about 2 feet apart. We ended up with only one hit for the night, boating a nice fat 55 incher at about 9. Hit a squid at 150. Fished till 3 with no more action. We went out again on Saturday when the forecast sounded slightly better. Of course the NWS crystal ball seems to still be slightly blurry as the forecasted 2 to 4 was once again 4 to 6+. This time however there was ONE other boat out there in the slop as well. We set up one the 50 just south of the hills and just as I get my 300ft bait down (squid) it gets yanked out of my hands. Looks like an exciting night. WRONG. The fish is on and takes about 50yds of line at 15 lbs of drag and then just stops. I sit there in a stalemate for about 5 minutes then shift into low gear. Slowly but surely I crank the dead weight (keyword) to the surface. 400+ feet of line in low gear couldn't be more painful. The fish of course comes up dead. It was hooked in the side and lassoed mid body with the leader. I was certain this fish was gonna be undersize and didnt look forward to throwing a dead pup over the side. However, when we measured it it ended up going 48in. I must have measured the fish 10 times and still couldn't believe it. We went back and did another drift over the same area and didn't get another nibble. Then we moved in slighty and did another drift with the same result. Pulled the lines and headed in by 3. Overall it was one hell of a beating for not much action, but still one hell of a good time.

[FinalPoint]

Nice. Good to see some hardcore guys out there.

[Shark Tagger]

I suprised you didn't see the New Lattitude out there. That hannaman has a strong stomach too

My boat is too small for the seas lately.

Looks like the wind is oigng to let up this weekend.

[Flatsfish B]

My boats to small!

[quack quack]

I am HARDCORE it's never to calm to scare me :lol:

[rafter]

hardcore=Guy with a big boat :mrgreen:

Our boat is too small. Glad to see some one is still catching with this wheather. :thumright:

[Uncle Buck]

I got a good laugh when I read Capt. Ollie's signature, "It's better to be careful 100 times than be killed once." Doesn't quite jive with drifting in 4-6ft out in the stream at night! :lol:

But hey... I don't know anyone else who brought sword meat home that night.

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by Captain Ollie

I thought you guys were more hardcore than this!

Nope, just smarter. :lol:

Nice first post BTW.

[CaptKen]

Key Word FULL MOON 4 to 6, Naw Been there done that.
only if your really needin somethin to do really really bad.

like tonight for instance key word Full Moon sucks, but 2' or less
and I do need somethin to do but with the wind switchin west later and hate west wind hmmmmmmm maybe. might get a couple hours in before the pressure drops and the bite shuts down,hmmmmm maybe but it will be a crappy ride home with the waves in my face.
Ken

[quack quack]

Bingo Ken :shock: Full moon+West wind+Deteriorating conditions+4ftplus slop in the face on the way home=OK I am a puss you guys have fun tonight and catch em up

[DORADOsteve]

Originally Posted by quack quack

Bingo Ken :shock: Full moon+West wind+Deteriorating conditions+4ftplus slop in the face on the way home=OK I am a puss you guys have fun tonight and catch em up

I feel the same way. Friday's forcast is a bit more favorable.

[Disco Lady]

Conjo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: Right on uncle! I dont care how big a boat it is . My safety first!

[quack quack]

Originally Posted by Disco Lady

Conjo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock: Right on uncle! I dont care how big it is . My safety first!

DL:I am sorry but that is just so funny. Way to go UB you the man. :shock: :lol:

[Captain Ollie]

In case anyone wants to know my boat is a 28 foot Kevla Cat. Its built like a brick s--thouse! I think I'd go out in anything anywhere short of a gale warning. Not to mention the fact that I'ts built sort of like an express and I'm sitting under a top fully enclosed with Strataglass. No matter how rough it is I don't get a drop of water on me. Nor do I have to deal with sitting there listening to the wind roaring in my ears as I watch my floats. As for that signature line, I can't take credit for it. I read it somewhere a long time ago in some liferaft paperwork. It stuck in my head ever since because it is so very true and funny in a dark kinda way. AND as for me not being true to that line and being out there at night in 6 foot seas, I'm definitely not a googan. I hold a 100ton master liscense and have over 20 years of experience on the water and underwater on an almost daily basis. Iv'e been swordfishing since the days when you and your fish would get tangled with the longline gear. Let me tell you how much fun that can be. As long as the FORECASTED windspeed is less than 20 knts and doesn't involve ANY type of NORTH direction I have no issues with going out there. As far as everyones preferences on the moon, I happen to like the full and have had some really great nights on it.

[Disco Lady]

Conjo!!!!!!!! :shock: i also hold a 100 ton master license and have seen the shit happens very fast in rough seas.Good luck to all and be safe.

Capt Ollie, I'm glad to see you on Swordfish Central and to read that you
are enjoying the new cat. There are not many Capts that I fully trust
but i would go out swording with you on any night. Keep in touch
and I hope to see you on the 25th. cheers, arthur

[Uncle Buck]

Originally Posted by Captain Ollie

In case anyone wants to know my boat is a 28 foot Kevla Cat...

Hey Capt... I wasn't doubting you or your boat's capabilities. It was the ironic relationship of your 4-6' at night report -vs- the safety-minded signature that I got a laugh out of! :lol: It's all cool.

[Disco Lady]

Im also not doubting your capabilities Capt. ollie is the new rich kid mentality that i see every day on the water down south with there new bad ass boat that momy and dady got them that worries me. Tight Line!!!Capt.

[Broadbill]

You can't catch them from the dock!!!!

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by Broadbill

You can't catch them from the dock!!!!

True, but it's a bitch fighting one while you are floating in the water with nothing but your PFD and a rod belt. :lol:

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by Disco Lady

Conjo!!!!!!!! :shock: i also hold a 100 ton master license and have seen the shit happens very fast in rough seas.Good luck to all and be safe.

Yup. I've long said we are way overdue for a fatality on the 50 line.

[Disco Lady]

Very Very well said Capt.mitch and i wish every body the best on the 50 line.be safe tight line!!!!

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by Disco Lady

Very Very well said Capt.mitch and i wish every body the best on the 50 line.be safe tight line!!!!

Mother Nature can be a bitch of a teacher. Found that out the hard way one time. Was down in the Keys with a large group of friends including a couple we've partied and traveled with for 30 years. In fact, we're godparents to both of their children and both of their grandchildren.

Anyways, we were down at our place in Marathon and the weather for the following day was calling for nasty. Told everyone the fishing trip was cancelled. They spent the rest of the night convincing me otherwise. Got up in the morning and found myself getting talked into 'just taking a look'. Well the "peek" out Vaca Cut turned into 'let's see what it looks like at Hawks Channel which became a 22 mile run to the West Hump.

Second mistake: Delegated weather watching duties to my buddy Jerry. I knew when I got into working the tuna, I'd not be as focused on the weather. HUGE MISTAKE. Got there and we were the only boat! Fish everywhere. Bailing tuna, big dolphin and a pair of nice hoos. Even had a rat blue come up a swipe at the flat line. The action was non-stop and all the fish were quality. It still ranks as one of the best fishing days ever.

Finally stop and take a break to re-rig and just generally clean up. Look back towards home and stop dead in my tracks. The sky is BLACK as far as you can see. Calmly I asked Jerry how the weather watching was coming. "It's beautiful man, you were worried about nothing" - as he points south towards Cay Sal.
"Uh, turn around a minute Jerry," I said. "Holy crap," he says, "Glad we don't have to go through that to get home."

There was a good 30 second moment of silence while he was trying to decipher the look on my face. "AW SHIT, I was looking the wrong way.

It's the only time in my long time on the water that I put everybody in PFD's. Locked everything down, wrote down my position, started the stopwatch and off into hell we went. Got absolutely pounded for a solid 20 minutes before breaking through the squall line. Tore the VHF antenna completely off and knocked out the Loran. Spent as much time in the air as in the water. Lightning popping all around us. (ask Tom how much I like lightning on the water :lol: )

Broke through on the backside and stopped. The adreneline was still pumping in everybody. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Pulled out the charts, did a quick bit of dead reckoning and plotted an estimated course to Vaca. Not sure whether I was lucky or good or both but Bonefish Tower popped up just where it should have been about 2 minutes after I thought it would.

Never again. Had that been at night, there is no way I'd have come through. I had 10-12' breakers coming from all directions. All I did was try to keep the bow up without flipping over backwards.

Besides, already have caught enough swordfish.

[Kevinm]

CaptinMitch,

Do you still have a place in Marathon? I fish there practically every weekend. Was that storm over a July 4 th weekend about 6 yrs ago? I also swordfish in the keys as well. always looking for crew.

[jerry]

hey kevvvy take me, take me

[RiskTaker]

Hey Jerry:

Is Kevin one of your kin folk? I just sent him a PM too.

Something about that "quit your rum drinkin" that made me suspicious.

Hey - How did that fishing tournament turn out. Wasn't it just last weekend?

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by Kevinm

CaptinMitch,

Do you still have a place in Marathon? I fish there practically every weekend. Was that storm over a July 4 th weekend about 6 yrs ago? I also swordfish in the keys as well. always looking for crew.

No, it was Key Lime in Marathon Shores. Bulldozed now from what I hear. Am looking for another time share/rental to handle about16-20 people so keep me in mind.
No. it was the third week in June about 13 years ago. I'll have to check the logbook to make sure.
Have always wanted to do a West Hump sunset tuna/Floyds Wall Sword trip. If you have a place I can lay my head when we get back in, I've got everything else. Being ex-military, any 12 square feet of dry space is fine.

[Kevinm]

CaptinMitch,

I fish the marathon Hump all the time and most of my swordfishing takes place about 8-10 miles sw of there. THat is what we call the "Tongue". I have also fished west of Marathin near American Shoals on the "East Crack". DOne well at both places. However I have had better results fishing right here off the Port. There seems to be a better concetartion of fish this way. But then again I am usually bymyself in the Keys with no other boats in sight. I have maybe seen 1 other boat once in about 15 trips. Would be glad to take you.

[jerry]

RT, that he is, that he is. Yep, the tournament was last weekend. Rougher than snott. I managed the first day and headed to the beach on the second with a fresh wahoo for lunch and a cooler full of beer. Glad I went too as the seas got worst the second day. Average seas for the tourny were 8-10 and it just was not worth the backache.
I must be getting old, it took me three days to feel normal.
A decent amount of fish were caught, the winning boat had 9 wahoo the first day and almost that amount the second. Fish were a bit on the small side though. Biggest wahoo was 49lb and the biggest YFT was 75lbs.
I did manage a few wahoo and a nice YFT the first day so I am happy. Been eating sushi and tuna tataki for the past few days.
Gonna set my eye on the swords this weekend though. Good luck to all.

[RiskTaker]

Jerry:

That sounds great, with the fish catch on day one. A Man cannot live on swordfish and rum alone. Yu's gotta hav some Tuna Tataki and some Red stripes to balance the load to keep an edge off the complainin'. Do you have a good recipe for Ponzu sauce?

I had some Jamaica jerk Pork today for lunch at the Jerk machine. It was pretty tasty. They have Saltfish and Ackees but that is only served for breakfast Mon. It kind-of keeps reminding me to get a ticket to your island. I will keep you posted on any noteworthy news.

P.S. - Went deep droppin with Capt. Ken and Davie on Tuesday evening. Only got two rutty sharks. We had aborted plans to go swordfishing: something about the combination of full moon, Sw winds and possibility to get worse that just did not seem to motivate us enough. But I suppose compared to 8-10 seas, anything less is fair game. But I had to work the next day: no time for rest and recovery the following day.