I'm a little late on the report.....we spent 10 days in Hatteras, fishing 9 of the 10 days. We made it offshore 4 times and caught 33 dolphin and 1 bonita. 3 or 4 of the dolphin were over 20 lbs and the 2 biggest were 23 lbs. We fished inshore 5 times catching a lot of flounder but probably only 10 - 15 keepers. We also caught several whiting. We also have GO PRO footage of almost every gaff shot and a couple that will make the blooper reel.
Friday May 16th
Three of us left central NC for Hatteras Village around 4:30 pm. Knocked the 320 mile trip out and made it to the village around 11 pm. Filled the boat up just before turning onto the island. Three other buddies were to arrive the following Tuesday.
Saturday May 17th
Too rough to head offshore so we went flounder fishing in the sound. Despite catching several short flounder we weren't able to put anything together keeper-wise. Tried a few new spots and one of them produced 6 or 7 whiting. Kept those and had just enough for a nice fried fish dinner that night. Topped the boat off with fuel after fishing.
Sunday May 18th
Beautiful weather allowed us to head offshore. Up at 3:30 am, made coffee, loaded the boat and headed to the marina (grueling 1/4 mile drive). Got to the marina at 5 am. Paid launch fee and loaded up with 60 lbs of ice. Launched, sipped coffee for a few minutes, waiting for enough daylight to make the run to the inlet. Departed at 5:30 am. Within 10 minutes of deploying the spread we had our first gaffer. Good action all day. At one point we hit a slow spot and decided to pick up and run about 3 miles to the north west. Got to the spot, dropped lines and had 4 in the box in about 15 minutes. Ended the day with 13 and a bonita. The bonita was interesting. Never caught one before. This wasn't a false albacore - it was a true atlantic bonita. Mighty fine eating...I pan seared it on the cast iron and it was just like YFT, or similar. Delicious. We also ate fried dolphin bites that night.
We could barely lift the cooler.
The catch of the day.
Monday May 19th
Another blow day so off to the sound. The wind direction allowed us to really work over a nice bank on the edge of the ferry channel. Pull in too many to count including 6 keepers. It would be fried flounder for supper this night!
Tuesday May 20th
Fortunate to have decent weather again, we shoved off at 5:30 am for some more dolphin action. We got on them pretty good including this 23 lb bull. This type of fishing is hard to get tired of. Some of the best video footage is us trying to get the fish from the gaff to the fish box. Our haul was 7 dolphin this day.
Blue Runner resting.
Wednesday May 21st - Thursday May 22nd
Our buddies arrived the night before......and brought the wind with them. Too rough for offshore so we got in no hurry and hit the sound for the flounder both days. Sadly I do not remember what we caught either day.....and can't find any photographic evidence from which to draw a conclusion. However I do remember we ate a really nice meal of fried flounder Wednesday night! Thursday night we had some kick azz subs with roast beef, ham, lettuce, tomato, mayo, swiss, and horseradish sauce - out of sight.
Friday May 23rd
Forecast called for smooth seas in the morning but 3 - 5 at 4 seconds during the day then it was supposed to lay back down. Sooooo, offshore we went. The ride out was great at 30+ mph. Seas were pretty nasty as the morning progressed and someone turned the fan on HIGH. Trolling was not impossible between the troughs. I just had to get the boat situated in a following sea after hookup as to not throw anybody out of the boat. And knockdowns we had - a bunch of em including a daily double. We got 8 fish this day and some really nice ones including the really long one my buddy is holding. We had to do some serious engineering to fit that fish in the box. LOL. Our buddies in the other boat had 4 or 5 I believe. Decided just to troll in to calmer water where we were able to pick up and run in at 25 - 30 mph. Off to the Hatterasman for a burger and fries.
Freezer room is getting sparse.....and the fridge is filling up fast also!
Saturday May 24th
A floundering we will go... Went and caught 3 good flatties - well actually 4. Sparky was so used to throwing them back, he measured a nice keeper and accidentally went to toss it overboard, realizing what he was doing at the last second - but it was too late. We had a good laugh about that. Also had a few nice whiting. The biggest flounder was 17.5" . 15" is the size limit. Had some pan seared mahi and bonita for an appetizer before heading off to the Sand Bar for a nice sunset meal and to celebrate Slick's impending birthday.
Sunday May 25th
Absolutely pristine conditions. Conditions must've been too good actually. We trolled and trolled and trolled without a bite. Finally around 11 am we get one. Then 2 more in about 10 mintues. Then nothing, nothing and more of nothing. In between the nothings I saw a free jumping billfish a couple hundred yards away - pretty cool. Finally I see a little commotion behind the pink chugger so I drop it back. Fish on! the nice bull at the top of this picture. We only got 4 fish this day but were glad at the cleaning table. Worn out, we shower and head to the Hatterasman for our final night's meal. The other boat had 6.
I will add some video footage as I am able to upload it. Until next year!!
Friday May 16th
Three of us left central NC for Hatteras Village around 4:30 pm. Knocked the 320 mile trip out and made it to the village around 11 pm. Filled the boat up just before turning onto the island. Three other buddies were to arrive the following Tuesday.
Saturday May 17th
Too rough to head offshore so we went flounder fishing in the sound. Despite catching several short flounder we weren't able to put anything together keeper-wise. Tried a few new spots and one of them produced 6 or 7 whiting. Kept those and had just enough for a nice fried fish dinner that night. Topped the boat off with fuel after fishing.
Sunday May 18th
Beautiful weather allowed us to head offshore. Up at 3:30 am, made coffee, loaded the boat and headed to the marina (grueling 1/4 mile drive). Got to the marina at 5 am. Paid launch fee and loaded up with 60 lbs of ice. Launched, sipped coffee for a few minutes, waiting for enough daylight to make the run to the inlet. Departed at 5:30 am. Within 10 minutes of deploying the spread we had our first gaffer. Good action all day. At one point we hit a slow spot and decided to pick up and run about 3 miles to the north west. Got to the spot, dropped lines and had 4 in the box in about 15 minutes. Ended the day with 13 and a bonita. The bonita was interesting. Never caught one before. This wasn't a false albacore - it was a true atlantic bonita. Mighty fine eating...I pan seared it on the cast iron and it was just like YFT, or similar. Delicious. We also ate fried dolphin bites that night.
We could barely lift the cooler.
The catch of the day.
Monday May 19th
Another blow day so off to the sound. The wind direction allowed us to really work over a nice bank on the edge of the ferry channel. Pull in too many to count including 6 keepers. It would be fried flounder for supper this night!
Tuesday May 20th
Fortunate to have decent weather again, we shoved off at 5:30 am for some more dolphin action. We got on them pretty good including this 23 lb bull. This type of fishing is hard to get tired of. Some of the best video footage is us trying to get the fish from the gaff to the fish box. Our haul was 7 dolphin this day.
Blue Runner resting.
Wednesday May 21st - Thursday May 22nd
Our buddies arrived the night before......and brought the wind with them. Too rough for offshore so we got in no hurry and hit the sound for the flounder both days. Sadly I do not remember what we caught either day.....and can't find any photographic evidence from which to draw a conclusion. However I do remember we ate a really nice meal of fried flounder Wednesday night! Thursday night we had some kick azz subs with roast beef, ham, lettuce, tomato, mayo, swiss, and horseradish sauce - out of sight.
Friday May 23rd
Forecast called for smooth seas in the morning but 3 - 5 at 4 seconds during the day then it was supposed to lay back down. Sooooo, offshore we went. The ride out was great at 30+ mph. Seas were pretty nasty as the morning progressed and someone turned the fan on HIGH. Trolling was not impossible between the troughs. I just had to get the boat situated in a following sea after hookup as to not throw anybody out of the boat. And knockdowns we had - a bunch of em including a daily double. We got 8 fish this day and some really nice ones including the really long one my buddy is holding. We had to do some serious engineering to fit that fish in the box. LOL. Our buddies in the other boat had 4 or 5 I believe. Decided just to troll in to calmer water where we were able to pick up and run in at 25 - 30 mph. Off to the Hatterasman for a burger and fries.
Freezer room is getting sparse.....and the fridge is filling up fast also!
Saturday May 24th
A floundering we will go... Went and caught 3 good flatties - well actually 4. Sparky was so used to throwing them back, he measured a nice keeper and accidentally went to toss it overboard, realizing what he was doing at the last second - but it was too late. We had a good laugh about that. Also had a few nice whiting. The biggest flounder was 17.5" . 15" is the size limit. Had some pan seared mahi and bonita for an appetizer before heading off to the Sand Bar for a nice sunset meal and to celebrate Slick's impending birthday.
Sunday May 25th
Absolutely pristine conditions. Conditions must've been too good actually. We trolled and trolled and trolled without a bite. Finally around 11 am we get one. Then 2 more in about 10 mintues. Then nothing, nothing and more of nothing. In between the nothings I saw a free jumping billfish a couple hundred yards away - pretty cool. Finally I see a little commotion behind the pink chugger so I drop it back. Fish on! the nice bull at the top of this picture. We only got 4 fish this day but were glad at the cleaning table. Worn out, we shower and head to the Hatterasman for our final night's meal. The other boat had 6.
I will add some video footage as I am able to upload it. Until next year!!
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Thanks for reminding me about a bucket list trip.
