May 25, 2012
High Temperature:
90. Winds NE 5 – 10 MPH (says
weather). Seas 1-2 feet.
The sentence above is the weather forecast. What a bunch of crap.
As we leave the channel this morning, the waves are 6-8
feet. In fact, I have been heading out
since January, and these are the worst seas I have seen in the last five
months.
On the boat today are Russell Paul and Vince Capish. Vince works for TPD. Let’s see, how do I describe Vince? I've got it:
He is indescribable. Let’s leave
it at that. The guy has a heart of gold
and you won’t find a better person to count on if you are ever in
trouble. If I say anything more about
him, he will want to kiss me, and since there would be no way I could stop him
(he is twice my size), I will stop. The fish is actually huge, but Vince makes him look small. When we catch a big fish, I need to remember to only take pictures with little guys.
Because of the NE 20 MPH fricking wind, we don’t get more
than a mile out of the channel before all three of us are soaked. I am only cruising at about 10 MPH.
Before I completely blame it on the weatherman, let me say
this: “I think weather forecasts, in
general, aren’t supposed to be for those of us who fish. I think the weather forecast is for people
who are sitting on their back porch reading the paper and drinking coffee. I will also say this, the weather in the Gulf
changes hour-by-hour so it really would be impossible to predict if from
morning to afternoon. Still, 6-8 foot
waves and a 20 MPH NE wind is “quite” different than 5 MPH and 1-2 ft
seas. Okay, enough about the damn
weather.
We are heading to Oar Reef this morning. Oar Reef is just inside K Tower so I feel right at
home. I remember when I was scared to
death to go "all the way" to K Tower. Now,
it seems like a close friend. Russell
loves to troll. He isn’t a big bottom
fisher. And like Mike Wilson pointed out
a few weeks ago, “Marc, let’s compare all the fish you have caught trolling,
versus bottom fishing. Any fish worth
noting has always been trolling and not bottom fishing.” Interesting perspective and entirely
correct. So we will troll. Besides, it is really starting to get hot out
here on the water and “always moving” is better than sitting still. No longer do I need a jacket heading out in
the morning.
We are trolling with a Green Stretch 25. I also have a new
Blue Stretch 30 that Mike Wilson picked up at Bass Pro Shop last week. Although the greens have been very dependable, I’m looking forward to trying something
different.
It takes us awhile because of the waves, but we finally make it to
Oar Reef in about an hour. Everything on
the boat is wet. Vince is two Natural Lights
in, but he still has 34 left, so we are
good.
We only troll for a few minutes when we hear the sweet music of drag. Something small. A Spanish Mackerel. The Stretch is at least half his size. He must have had delusions of grandeur. We throw him back. Not interested in him. We aren’t trolling long before something hits
the rig in the rocket launcher right above my head. I will take a moment to apologize to the deckhands here
(especially to Vince since he is a guest), but I really didn’t think when
I grabbed the rod. Besides, the fish didn’t
hit it that hard so I kind of figured he was another Spanish Mackerel. And, in fact, as I start reeling, I can tell
he is on the line, but he isn’t giving up much of a fight. I get him close to the boat and then all hell
breaks out. He does NOT like the look of the boat. He runs. He runs hard and fast away. Damn, this fish is much bigger than I thought. Definitely not a Spanish Mackerel. I already know he isn’t a shark because they don’t hit Stretches. He is either a King or an Amberjack. I get him close to the boat again, he runs again. I am moving all around the boat by this time cause this son-of-a-bitch is going every direction and pulling my drag. Russell and Vince are both staying out of my way and are getting the gig ready. I will apologize to Vince here again. I had no idea the fish was this big, otherwise I would have let Vince take the pole. Still, as the Captain, I am having a fantastic time fighting this monster. I know how Ryan feels now.
I get him close enough to the boat where Vince can gig
him. Damn Vince, I’ve never seen anybody
gaff a fish that effectively. Anytime you
are on my boat, you are the official “gaffer”.
King Mackerel. 25
pounds. Biggest fish on Geeks 1 up to
this point. Sorry Ryan, you had
the biggest King, but this thing is bigger. There is a new KING in town!
I suppose the contest between you and I has now officially begun.
Its getting late in the day so I head to shallower water
around Ochlocknee Shoal. We head to my
waypoint called “Shark Shelf”. Guess
what we catch? Yep, shark. Damn, there are lot of sharks here. Interesting that during the summer time
everybody swims here.
We head in with, yes, you guessed it, one fish. But damn, he is one large fish. I am okay with that. When we get back to the dock we compare notes
with the 3 or 4 boats that went out that day.
Nobody caught much – not even Captain Vic. That wind killed them. Geeks 1 returned with the largest fish – by
far.Wait, let me repeat that, Geeks 1 returned with the largest fish! Love it. Russell says I am adding to my Captain Creds.
Vince, at his best!
Tight Lines.
Captain Paul
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