Our last 3 trips we had 2 returns and 1 new client from N.Carolina.
Harry brought his son and 2 other guests with him. The day started off with threatening thunder boomers over the Glades. We headed out and collected plenty of fin fish real quick and then proceeded to the cricket patches. Devon was working his magic as the storms were growing seaward. These storms coupled with a few other cells coming in from the East, and began stacking up. Finally, the lightning got too close for comfort and I pulled Devon from the water and ran back into the shelter of the islands to wait for the storms to blow through.
We were never threatened directly by these systems but it is better to be safe than sorry. After everything blew threw and expended its energy, we headed off for some Yellowtail fishing. The current was flowing strong and the easterly winds were even stronger, giving us a less than advantageous lay. This time spent for the ‘Tails’ was fruitless, although we always manage to catch a few Cero’s and other fish. We headed out for Nasty Town.
As we arrived the current was ripping about 3 - 3.5 knots and the winds were up. Tough fishing again tonight. I marked plenty of fish in our usual areas and Devon started off the night. We worked over and over, in out, up and down, adjusting drifts and anything else we could think of. We had 4 good bites and hook ups but the fish always managed to come unpinned. We did catch a couple of Barracuda on the fish baits. Whoop-de Doo! Devon and I worked hard drift after drift until Harry finally threw in the towel, accepting his fate that nothing was going to spark up these Red Devils!
The next trip was with the Cubera Princess, Casey, who set an IGFA record with us last year. She brought along Dusty, her Dad and his friend. Devon did his thing again, collecting plenty of Bugs, and we headed for some ‘Tailing. The conditions were all screwed up, yet again! Gimme a break, already! We caught a few undersized Tails which is abnormal for this location. As the sun set we blasted off for some Cubera with hopes of breaking her existing IGFA record. Plenty of fish showing on the sonar but as usual, the current is strong to the North, and the wind is bucking the drift! C’mon!?! What’s a man got to do to get a break out here! We fished late, drift after drift, trying everything we could think of and never got a single bite… NOT ONE! What the *#^%!!! Unfortunately, this night set a record alright. Our first trip, ever, to not even get a look-see!
The last trip out was with Marty Moore from Moorehead City, NC. He drove all the way down, by himself, to get a shot at one of these fish! No pressure here, right? All the conditions looked good for a change! We took off and all 3 of us had some fun collecting fish baits. We curtailed that enjoyment to go search for those patch crickets. Devon worked his magic and quickly got us plenty of legal bugs. He has been the absolutely consistent! We headed out for some ‘tails. Can you guess what happened next? Kinda, sorta! We arrived in the area and set up on the hook. No current at all, just wind! I pulled the anchor and moved deeper. Still no current. Crapola! Just deal with it, Capt. Jim! We let the baits just drift quietly down with the chum and, BAM we started getting hits. Yes sir! Although unorthodox in presentation, we managed to catch a number of good Yellowtail, a Cero, and other fish.
I hauled the hook as the darkness fell. Arriving at our final destination we marked huge numbers of fish, scattered all about the area. I could only hope they were in “feed mode.” Light current to the North at a ½ knot and a SE balmy breeze. WOW! Finally the conditions are looking good. First drop and the drift seems endless. Nothing. Second drift and we passed the normal haunts but I continued the drift since we were headed for some obscure areas that have produced in the past. The aft rods starts to jiggle and then it bends over. I quickly took about 5 cranks on it as the rod doubles over tight. Bottom! I turn around and utter some expletives because we have lost so much terminal gear this year while trying to make things happen, that it is ridiculous. Devon screams, “That’s a fish!” Sure enough! The fish either picked up the cricket as it laid on the bottom, pulling the sinker free, or it was such a “Slob” that it stopped everything dead in its tracks. Marty jumps on the rod and realizes that the latter scenario was the case. This fish is turning him every way but loose! The fish is taking drag at will. Just as we think Marty has the upper hand and gaining significantly on the fish, this “Slob” shows him otherwise and makes a tremendous last ditch run. Pop! No way! Nothing marking on the sonar but bottom! What a heart breaker! Retrieval of the gear showed everything intact but half of the leader is gone. This fish was schooled and took him into something which had cut him off, winning his freedom. Hey… you don’t get big in this ocean by being stupid!
Just as fast as that fish cut us off, the bite quit, again! We worked hard, drift after drift, catching only 2 Barracuda in the interim. Marty tried his hand at night time speed jigging and managed to get a couple of bites and boated a HorseEye Jack.
We continued on. Finally we had another suspected bite which resulted in a crawdad torn in half. I didn’t count this as a bite since there were no fang punctures evident on the bait anywhere. A few more drifts and another bite for sure this time but, once again, it lasted only 15 seconds and the hook pulled. Good grief! What is the deal? I guess it is better to be lucky than good, but we are having no luck at all! We worked hard into the wee hours of the morning, extending his trip significantly, especially since he drove so far. I just couldn’t believe that with this slow current and the extended look that these fish were having at those scrumptious baits, the action was so few and far between. Marty told us he figured it would be akin to fishing for Marlin and he had only hoped for 1 or 2 bites. WOW! That’s a refreshing twist to those who think any type of offshore fishing, is hands over fist continuous action. Now, the current begins to get faster and faster and the winds changed, once again delivering the problems we have incurred over the previous 2 weeks. We finally threw in the towel, dejected and tired! The only high point to these slow nights is that the customers get to take home the Yellowtail, etc, that were caught, as well as all the left over Lobsters.
All of these trips were lackluster to say the least. Those who think Cubera fishing is a no-brainer… think again! If you spend enough time chasing them, other than the occasional optimum nights, you will find the opposite to be true. We’ve tried to perfect our techniques and just when we think we have the handle on this, our grip begins to slip! Each trip seems to raise additional questions! It is my experience that either they are doing the mating thing or they are eating, and you better be there when the latter occurs. It seems the feeding window is usually short and intense, when it happens. This season has been challenging in the respect that not only are there the normal pitfalls, there has been none of the normal summer patterns to offset them. Full moon? New moon? El Nino? High pressure fronts? Strong winds? Ripping currents? Extreme tides? You name it! We have had to contend with all these conditions as well as the unstable weather patterns. Each seemed to throw that proverbial monkey wrench into the spokes. Go figure! At least we haven’t had any hurricanes parked off our front porch! Hmmm… I wonder if…?
Our trip this weekend with our good customers, Paul, Luis, and their buds, is hopefully, going to be the turn around. Nothing about fishing is guaranteed. BUT… There is one guarantee! Devon and I will do everything humanly possible to try to make our trips successful. The only problem is… “Mother Nature” all too often, will not!
Capt. Jim
The BEAST
305-233-9996
beastcharters@aol.com
www.beastcharters.com