Fish Report for 11-8-2008

Royal Star Fish Report

11-8-2008
Royal Star

What a great day on big fat skinies with a size average on several stops reminiscent of the "good old days" of fall long range fishing. Trophy of the day went to Nigel Parker who landed a seventy two pounder on the Raider jig while another dozen fish weighed out from fifty to sixty three pounds!

Combined with the remainder of the twenty five to forty pound beauties, we put together a very nice day that was complimented by flat calm weather and perfect conditions. Needless to say spirits are high and we are highly motivated to continue this trend if the fish gods are willing.

Before signing off, I have to attempt to do this fishing justice by relating the details of chartermaster Larry Fancher's fifty eight pound wahoo that produced one of, if not the, most spectacular demonstration of wahoo antics I have witnessed. Amidst a ripper stop that found all hands feverishly working to maintain some semblance of order, if such is possible in a good stop on skinnies, Larry hooked a a big wahoo very close to the stern. In fact, there were three or four wahoo that jumped out of the water in conjunction with the hookup and any one of them could have been the culprit. Anyway the fat skinny that chowed Larry's bait took off like a rocket straight back from the stern for about one hundred yards before switchbacking and heading straight for the boat. It only went about ten yards before doubling back again and heading away from the stern at what seemed like an impossible velocity even faster than the first run. The second time the frantic wahoo headed away it rose to mabey only an inch or two below the surface. As it did so, the approximately one hundred yards of monofilament between the rod and fish snapped from the ocean spraying a ruler straight rooster tail of water about ten feet in the air.

It was not over yet. The instant the wahoo failed in its second attempt, its next tactic was to head for the bow maintaining the mind boggling velocity and the absolutely spectacular rooster tail of water that resembled the spray behind a water skier performing a slicing outside turn. All of this of course was accompanied by the unmistakable whooshing sound of the monofilament tearing through the water at a heart stopping rate leaving a momentary cavern behind. And the most spectacular aspect of this entire scene? The whole event transpired in probably less than three seconds. It happened so fast that only a handful of us even witnessed the actual spectacle.

Everyone else, alerted by all the whooping and excitement, looked over to see a one hundred fifty yard foam streak and Larry's back as he hightailed it to the bow way behind his fish. Classic wahoo action. This is why so many anglers have such passion and enthusiasm for long range fishing. There is just nothing like it.

Tomorrow is a new day with another perfect weather forecast and lots of potential. Look for reports to continue...