NCsaltaire

Rocking & Rolling with Kyle

September 29, 2008 at 11:53 pm 2 comments

We began our weekend with anticipatory trepidation. We were scheduled to fish the Gulf Stream for big fish on Sunday. Hurricane Kyle was looming just off the Carolina coast and our off shore trip would originate in Ocean City, Maryland. Would we go on our annual off shore trip or not?  The forecast was for waves up to 15 to 24 feet with winds of 15 to 20 knots.  Not good.  But at 0500 Sunday morning, with Kyle just north of Atlantic City, four buddies and I boarded the Marli, a 58 foot Custom Carolina yacht out of the Sunset Marina with Captain Brian and first mate Buck. It was dark, real dark. The clouds and ground fog shielded us even from any stars or city lights.  Sun up would not rise until seven – more than an hour and half of flying across the huge swells at 20 miles per hour using only radar. The only lights were from the dimly lit cabin. Not a comforting feeling but we had a very competent crew.

We traveled east over 40 miles before we wet the lines the first time.  Swells were alternating between 12 and 14 feet.  When we were in the trough, the waves appeared to be as tall as a two story home.  But at least when in boat sunk in the trough the 20 knot winds were somewhat blocked.

Two false albacores were quickly decked.  With the monkey off our back, we then proceeded to deck a 117 pound Blue Fin tuna.  It took four anglers over an hour to deck that fish.  No we were not weaklings, we alternated reeling in the Blue Fins, because Blue fins just happen to be the toughest fish to land.  Within the next hour and half, we caught and released two more 100 pound plus Blue fin tunas. By eleven o’clock and in spite of Hurricane Kyle, we were on our way to a good day.

We then focused on the dolphins, no not Porpoises boys and girls. Dolphin is a game fish also referred as Mahi Mahi.  To find the dolphins, we traveled another 15 miles east into the warm gulf waters – into the throws of Hurricane Kyle. The weather was relentless – swells continued to rise well above 12 to 14 feet, but the winds had died down fewer than 10 knots. We found four lobster buoys in 75 degree waters, and there we found the fish.  It took us two hours to fill the box.

At 1430, we were wore out – was it the great fishing day or did we meet our match with Kyle.  Truly, of all my years on the water, this day was the toughest on the water. The trip home wasn’t as eventful as the trip out, but more rewarding.  With the decreasing swells at our stern, we cruised at 35 mph toward the dock.

If one statement could describe the day, our captain said, “Everyday he is on the water is treated as a tournament”.  Good for us because between fighting the weather conditions and our fantastic catch, we really did come home as winners.

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