I had Wayne, Robert and Blake from Va. aboard for an offshore trip Wed. out of Topsail. Fishing was extremely slow. Started out at the 15mi. boxcars which was loaded with bait. Nada. Worked out to the 200/200. Nada.
Then I discover that there are bananas onboard my boat. This is not a good thing. Eventually got a King on a spoon down around 50ft. 8 foot shark has him for breakfast before I can leader him in. (I told you that bananas were bad.) 12:00-Sailfish bills bait on long rigger and swims off. 12:15-downrigger trips.
Finally, a fish in the box (the bananas are gone, but they weren't thrown overboard, still not feeling good about the whole banana thing). Few minutes later, downrigger again and short rigger goes off. King and a Mahi in the boat, things are looking up. 12:40-put short rigger back out and in just a few minutes I see a bill coming out of the water behind it. Clip pops on outrigger, free spool, feel the pick up. let him take it, back in gear, HOOKED UP!!!! Hand rod to Blake, start clearing lines. Get about 5 good jumps and gone, leader breaks. (Now to you see why you don't bring bananas on boats???) Lines back out, troll some more, long rigger pops. Feed it back, feel the pick up, missed him. Drop back again, picks up, miss. Again. Again. 4 shots at that fish, reel in bill frayed leader. ARRRRRGGGGG.
Finish out the day with one more King on the downrigger.
Lines in at 1:30 for the ride home. A day of slow, frustrating, exciting fishing!!!!
