Well it is about time I tell the story of Royal Star angler Corbett Wright who is a superb fisherman that combines creative techniques with dedicated effort at the rail. Corbett is one of those guys who is out there every stop throwing a jig or casting a bait enjoying the moment and the surroundings like a kid in a candy store. In fact, especially when it came to the wahoo action, there were times when it was pure entertainment just watching Corbett who had a knack for producing the most incredible aerial strikes imaginable by skipping various baits along the surface while the boat was sliding ahead following the location of a school. For several days his trademark bait was the crusty, sun roasted salami (mackerel) that was nose hooked with a 10/0 circle hook and skimmed along the surface. Almost every stop was accompanied by the majority of anglers hooting and hollering as enraged wahoo skyrocketed five, ten, even fifteen feet out of the water slicing and dicing the bloated salami to pieces. I can say with certainty that Corbett?s genuine passion for fishing is shared by a select few who appreciate every facet of this incredible sport.

That said, I make the point about Corbett as a preface to the story of his luck, that although was bad for a millisecond at Clarion, was actually good when one considers the potential outcome. You see Corbett has the distinction of being among a handful of anglers to be struck by a flying wahoo that was chasing a casting lure (not his) with such intent, that it flew out of the water heading straight for the boat. This is a horrific scenario that every long range Captain envisions and has happened in various degrees of good or misfortune, depending on how one chooses to look at it, in the past. Picture the set up, eight or nine anglers across the rail all casting or winding jigs while aggressive wahoo charge the boat. As an angler?s lure approaches the boat, here comes a wahoo in hot pursuit with the momentum of sixty miles per hour behind him. Of course the wahoo does not stop when it reaches the surface and the next thing you know ? crash! there is a wahoo hitting the side of or landing on the boat. In the case of Corbett, who was one of those eight or nine anglers across the stern rail, he was blessed to actually see the fish come out of the water and turn his body just enough that the wahoo, that was lined up for a direct hit, grazed his side as it flew by. With the razor sharp teeth a wahoo carries and the momentum behind them one can imagine the potential for damage this scenario offers. Fortunately in Corbett?s case, he wound up with a souvenir shirt that was cleanly sliced open at the waist and a slight war wound that was patched up with some betadine and a band-aid. Wow was he lucky!

I am sending a photo of the aftermath taken by Toke Aw as well as a couple others featuring the three release methods discussed two days prior. Enjoy and look forward to plenty more.

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Photo here...