Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Offshore Fishing 5-30-08

Posted by MWH on 05/31/08 - 11:38 AM
#1
My buddy Steven and I decided to head out for a early offshore fishing trip. The plan was to head out 50 miles to an area where I caught a Mako shark last year, then venture further out to the Canyons and troll for Tuna...We left Annapolis at 2:30am headed for Chincoteague VA.

[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008017.jpg[/IMG]

The conditions were near perfect and the weather was to improve throughout the day. Once we arrived we began chumming and within an hour we had birds and our first shark for the day, a brown shark possibly a "Silky" over 5' in length. I reeled this one in and after a couple pics was released.
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008019.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008018.jpg[/IMG]

It wasn't long and after a battle, this 7' Blue shark posed for a picture. Steven reeled it in along with our third which looked approx 6'....

[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008021.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008022.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008020.jpg[/IMG]

No Mako's today so we decided to head further out to the temp break I have been watching. This was an area beyond the Norfolk canyon in 1000 fathoms, 84 miles offshore. The conditions were now perfect so we decided to go check it out and try for Tuna and whatever else...

[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008024.jpg[/IMG]

We found the area which looked very fishy the current was very defined going from a green water 67 deg to electric blue water 69.7 deg. We began trolling, through the area through the cold and warm water. We found plenty of birds flying fish, scattered sargasm weed, small bait fish and several very large pieces of lumber, holy cow!! This cradle was one of several and was the size of a Ford Excursion. Wouldn't want to hit that...

[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008027.jpg[/IMG]

We trolled a few hours with no luck. We did have 3 hard knockdowns/strikes that didn't hook up. We suspected Mahi-Mahi...Pulled up and headed home, great day on the Ocean, love that blue water.

On the way in we came across what looked like 100 of these Dolphin who were nice enough to give us a show for our efforts.
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing2008028.jpg[/IMG]

Posted by brady on 05/31/08 - 2:41 PM
#2
Man, you could'nt have picked a nicer day to head out! Love the pics of that blue water. 84 MILES!!! WOW last time I was out that far I was on the USS GUAM headed for the Mediteranian. I can't wait to take both Outrages out, but don't expect me to be going 84 miles out. The old 200s have got to burn more than your 150s. We go out that far and you might be towing me back :o 84 miles out in a 25 Outrage----------Crazy! But definetly something to be proud of

Brady

Posted by TexasOutrage on 06/01/08 - 7:32 AM
#3
Great pictures! I love to see that blue water.

Two questions....what did you use for chum? What was your total fuel consumption for the trip?

Posted by msl on 06/02/08 - 5:44 AM
#4
Not even a phone call, dam I must be on the short bus. Sounds like you had some fun. I was just looking at the SST and they have been holding tight for over a week. Did you see any other boats out??? MAko's are only a couple weeks out. We are heading down CBBT on 13th and 14th......Cobia.........

Posted by HarleyFXDL on 06/02/08 - 6:02 AM
#5
84 miles out??? I feel couragous if I go 5 miles out....lol.

Posted by MWH on 06/02/08 - 6:06 AM
#6
Brady,

The season is just getting started, finish that boat up and lets get it out there.


Hey Texas,

I got to tell ya I knew we were hitting our limit or near it. In perfect conditions, I usually cruise between 30-32mph. This trip though we were around 27-28mph because we wanted to conserve. I don't have a flo-scan but when we returned the fuel gage was showing we had 1/4 tank left (it was filled when we started). We probably burned between 130 - 135 gallons and I'm basing that on passed trips but I've never been beyond 65 miles in this boat so, 84 is a new record that probably won't happen again. I won't know for sure until I go fill it up and that will sting abit considering the price of fuel...We used ground up chum, "Alwifes" and I had a bushel of whole Alwifes to cut up and toss in the slick. Also, I had some "Little Tunny" from last year we used as the bait.

msl,

Hey you got to put down the beer and return those messages. I tried contacting you. We didn't see any other boats but did hear a couple guys on the radio, didn't sound like they found the fish either. Alot of freighters out there which would explain all the debris. Thought for sure we would have landed something in the break as fishy as it looked. Maybe next time.

Posted by Blue_Northern on 06/02/08 - 8:45 AM
#7
What a nice day out in the Whaler! That is some blue water and a flat day. Sucks that gas is so high right now -- the painful part about that outing would be filling the boat.

Posted by DelawareDan on 06/02/08 - 2:08 PM
#8
Great report, Mike! Sorry you didn't score on the tuna or even dorado... but definitely a nice day on the water.... sounds like perfect conditions. Keep goin'. You can't catch 'em if you don't go!