Sorry for the late report, but its been very hectic with many customers visiting NC for Bluefin fishing. Managed to keep everyone happy and even got a second trip in.
From March's adventure: We got into Manteo this past Saturday, stopped at Mennings (Big Brass propeller) in Milford, DE for their famous Seafood gumbo on the way down (recommended).
Various anglers staying in and around Pirates Cove. Our our group met up with Capt John for some local seafood and then later met Paul's at the Ramada. It was nice to but faces with names and meet everyone!
We fished Sunday morning on the 60' C/R Richie Howell with Capt Mark at the helm and Matt and Adam in the pit. It was fairly breezy in the morning so we hung out on the boat and rigged our gear, heated up and scaled our drags and left the dock at 7AM. It was a little sporty in the morning but the C/R is a true beast she ate up the slop like nobody's business and the 2 or 3 boats trying to follow her had a hard time keeping up.
In the cabin we readied our weapons, Jigging Master 350's to 500g rods, Alutecnos reels and of course CM Hammered Jigs - I knew the current might be stiff so we started the day with 320g jigs and #150 leader from the get go. Bluefin, unlike their cousins the YFT, have large and very abrasive teeth and will quickly file through #100 - so don't even waste your time or energy the fish are here to feed and feed they did.
After a slow and uneventful morning (2 Yellowfin on the troll), the group was growing a little restless, so I climbed to the bridge and wanted to see what Mark's thought's where, not 5 minutes later we rolled up onto a nice pod at 120. DROP THE JIGS - it was like a firedrill as 4 anglers fought to be the first to the rail, but I half slid down the ladder and was in the water and hooked up first - 20 seconds - CM320 (tail weighted
- game on. Shit Yellowfin I said out load as I had just set the hook with my best Bill Dance swing and the fish felt small on the JM500g - then he realized he was hooked. Dumped half my 12C in about 10 seconds as I eased up to #4 (26 lbs) I stopped him and turned him back the boat. I fought the fish for about 15 minutes and he was hooked very solidly so I passed the rod to Tuna John who had never used such a short rod, we got the fish about 90% to the boat and lost him due to a tackle failure
Reel got broken turned into an egg beater. We grabbed a rag and where able to slow the fish as Adam (Waterman) grabbed a leadering glove and wrapped the braid around his hand. It was our goal to splice the line onto another setup but as we tried the mainline broke with a load snap two feet from Adam's glove
No biggie - first fish.
Mark got us right back on em and we dropped again, Bam Bam BAM - three hits two fish on - Lucky John is now hooked up in the corner and John D is hooked up on the port side.
OK we still have the one on - John D's fish on a "non traditional" jigging setup ie a 30 and 7 foot rod. At this point we see fish breaking and Adam and I are on the bow in 10 seconds casting. A few casts into it we hear a load pop and several choice words from the Pit.
I know you want to see the pictures so LONG story short:
1. Get your butt down to NC
2. Bring the heaviest stuff you own
3. Bring the heaviest jigs you have (CM320 and CM420 worked GREAT and got bit all the way around 20 seconds to 1 minute in the water).
4. BIG HOOKS leave the 8/0 and 9/0 at home, you need 11/0 to 13/0 Quality Hooks - serve them yourself with #500 cord
4. Eat your wheatties these fish are feeding and in warm water they have a great deal of energy and sound down deep into the stream and they are a pain to get up...
The stream is ripping all flatside jigs where going sideways for US, we tried them ALL Patriot 270g, Stingo 300,CM220, PJ 260 - honestly I'm trilled to report our product worked so well. Its tail weighted - these fish where moving so you have one drop make it count and get it down QUICK (120 feet or so)
Saturday we met up with Reggie, David, Cortland and company (sorry guys long day bad with names) for dinner across the street from the Marina. Great to see the Panama gang again!!!!
Good luck, be careful, be ready to drop when your Capt says drop em
Tail weighted, drops quickly and accurately
** CM Hammered Jigs are available for purchase on the Canyon Runner ! if you guys need em **
