Fishing, pumping water and getting burned "gotta love it"

[747mopar]

We went out fishing today, for those who don't know we are on vacation in NC and went fishing in the Sound. We took my dad's inflatable Zodiak and a 15hp Merc, it started out rough, it leaks and we weren't smart enough to figure out the correct motor angle causing us to plow threw the water at first. We tried a few spot out in the open water "nothing" then by the tall weeds "nothing" we eventually figured since it was 91 degree's we'd try the shade at that's where we finally got something. I fought it for 15 minutes before finally landing it (kinda, I wasn't bringing that thing in our inflatable with it's nasty tail). Pretty fun, that thing was dragging our boat everywhere all the while we were taking on water. Not feeling so safe anymore, they said that far north in the Sound was fresh water "that sure as hell don't look like a fresh water fish to me" which got me thinking about sharks. Everywhere we dropped anchor it was 3ft-4ft "it was fun" a boat that served double duty as a bathtub, a big Ray and some good laughs. Anyways, any advice is welcome, we wanted to use fresh bait but you have to catch some first.

 

[Mopar-Charger]

I fish a lot in South Carolina. You can catch Rays, whiting, and sharks pretty much any where you throw your bait in the water. Live baits good, but if there's a small tackle shop around you I'd buy some squid and throw them on a double drop and see how you guys do.

The boat sounds fun, make sure you have a bucket! ;)

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

You must have been on the Bayside! Get on one of the charter boats and go fishing like you mean it! World class tuna fishing at Pirates Cove Marina or Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

 

[Mopar-Charger]

Gosh Dang! Look at them tunas! I've heard all about Oregon Inlet. Been talking with my dad and we plan on heading up there for a 2 day fishing trip on his boat.

If that's your picture, did you cast for them when they ran, or just trolled?

SUSHI, SUSHI! YUM

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

Normally we troll for Tuna and jig for Dolphin around a grass line or debris field. We spotted a sheet of plywood and trolled over to it and all the lines went off at once with 50-60 pound Yellowfin. We stopped the boat and landed most of those Tuna in the next 1.5 hours! Trolling rods aren't made for stand up action w/ big Tunas.

Hope you got a ocean going boat, we were about 40 miles out that day and have been 80 miles out, 65' w/ twin diesels. I've seen guys out in 28' boats, but when it gets stirred up out there, you can't have too big a boat.

 

[Mopar-Charger]

My dad has a Grady White 330 express. twin 225's. She's a spectacular boat and hangs well in bad weather. To get to the Gulf we usually have to go about 60+ miles. There's a Radio tower about 60miles out called R8. Once we get there we throw in some wahoo lures and troll at about 15-20 knots till we find some temp breaks or weed lines.

Sadly we don't get many Yellow fin where we are at. We do get some black fin But small ones.

Yesterday we went out about 80 Miles and found a small weed line, trolled it and landed a 30lb Mahi.

Had a nice day, we got beat up when we headed out at about 3:00 AM. Waves were about 4-5ft until mid-day, then settled down to 3ft swells.

Came in about 20 miles and fished out secret spot for some triggers. Landed a queen trigger, and two regular ones. Had a nice grouper and a big Red snapper.

Here's a few photos of yesterday.

 

[Budnicks]

Damn you guys are making me want to blow off work & go fishing...LOL...

- - - Updated - - -

747mopar sounds like you having fun to me, when ever I'm fishing with Pops it's a damn fiasco especially with his old POS 1977 16' Glasspar Tri Hull open bow & old 50hp Merc., always fixing something every damn time, he loves that POS...LOL... but it's all good to spend time with him out on the lakes & streams, but he won't go in the damn ocean unless it's a big a$$ ship & I won't go in his POS old broken down boat... I love Halibut, Salmon, Shark, Ling Cod & Rock Cod, Jack Tuna, Stripper or Sea Bass fishing here in the Pacific, but I haven't been in a while thou... Squid, Sardines, Shrimp, Oysters & Clams is what we used 90% of the time...

 

[747mopar]

Normally we troll for Tuna and jig for Dolphin around a grass line or debris field. We spotted a sheet of plywood and trolled over to it and all the lines went off at once with 50-60 pound Yellowfin. We stopped the boat and landed most of those Tuna in the next 1.5 hours! Trolling rods aren't made for stand up action w/ big Tunas.

Hope you got a ocean going boat, we were about 40 miles out that day and have been 80 miles out, 65' w/ twin diesels. I've seen guys out in 28' boats, but when it gets stirred up out there, you can't have too big a boat.

No way, it's an itty bitty inflatable big enough for three (750# limit) but there is absolutely no way I'm going on the Ocean with it. Where we're at is all the way north in NC in the Sound, we put in just a little ways back behind the beach house we're staying at and stay in the calm water. Two years ago when we stayed at Ocean Isle we cut up our first catch and killed the sand sharks (35 fishing off the pier) then went deep sea fishing. I was nervous as hell (never been on the ocean) my cousin said it would be fine because it was a 100ft boat "yeah right" that thing was going up and down probably 10 ft, everyone puked except me and my brother, I ended up catching some sea bass and a 3.5' shark. So do sharks run around up that far in the Sound because I'm a little nervous about that. Man, I'd **** my pants if I caught some of the fish you guys are catching, I'm used to cat fishing and bass fishing. I'll let you know how the next outing goes once we fix the leaks.

 

[Mopar-Charger]

Bass fishing tehehe. My friends are all about bass fishing, they have their little'ol bass rods. Whenever they ask me to go fishing, since i don't ahve a bass rod I use my 4500 shimano (65lb Braided) with and ugly stick. I pull in bass like they are bait fish.

Once you catch a 60 inch wahoo, the only thing funner is catching a ray about the size of the one in the first post with an ultra light.

If you haven't ever been out fishing, been in the GUlf experienced a trip I'd put it on your bucket list. Off-shore fishing tops any type of fishing out there. YOU have to do it, it'll change your life ;)