Article 061502

Fishing out of Port Mansfield (Dad’s Boat) with my father and the two grand kids (first time offshore with Grand Pa)!  On our way out we had a problem with the electronics box power so with some quick thinking and spare wire we were on our way to the weather buoy.  We had nothing the first few passes even though the bait was thick, I put out a Billy bait lure I got in the Key’s a few month back…sure is hot!  Anyway we got a Rainbow runner, then a Blue runner, then a 30# Mahi Mahi hit the little bait.  After a good battle he was in the boat with another pass a Wahoo hit the little bait and took the hook with him.  After a quickly improvised wire leader on it we were back in action, another Wahoo and by the way the kids are reeling in the internationals from the rod holder (heavier tackle than I usually use with the kids) and having a blast!  With the Wahoo almost at the boat I saw another fish with it LING! Get a Ballyhoo out!  No Shark!  And he was eating our Wahoo Dammit!  They were even hitting the Rapalas dead in the water.  After a few Sharks we headed to Ranzell’s with no luck and then headed off the 100-fathom line.  About 4 NM shy of the 100 fathom line was a beautiful weed line and rip we worked it with more bait crashing the water than I have seen in years, we hit a school of nice Mahi Mahi and 7 rubber bands popped we only boated a two and couldn’t find the school after we got things (the kids) settled down but what fun.  We needed to head back early (Kids back to Mom) but I’m sure that weed line would have turned on soon.  The water was unusually warm 87 degrees.  I’m sure it was due the calm seas and the sun.  It was nice seeing lots of bait again!

Fish on!

Capt. Scott (Bullrider) McCune