What is the most interesting thing you have seen while offshore?

[r.waddill]

Off of Chub Cay in the Bahamas a sub breached in front of us about a 1/2 mile.

[heydaad]

Last Summer, July 05', heading to Ensenada from San Diego ... Nuclear Sub would surface in front of us (about a 1/4 mile away) ... then go down, I could watch him on my fishfinder as we passed over him. This went on for 30 miles, and he played "cat and mouse" with us at least a half dozen times. He hailed us before he left, and told us to have a good trip South. Same day, from Rocky Point for 15 miles south, Blue whales all around us, as many as 3 at a time. They surfaced so close, we got sprayed. Their blowholes looked as big as our dingy. You could hear their chatter through my hull like some eery sci-fi soundtrack. All in all a wondrous day on the water. My seven year old never stops talking about it.

[Hydro]

Great thread!

Two years ago, we were fishing for kings off of Topsail Beach, NC. Our first stop was at an artificial reef about 8 miles offshore, AR-362. We went to the reef bouy to jig up some bait when we noticed that there was a green tree frog hanging onto the bouy! I moved the boat close to the bouy and the poor little guy jumped onto the gunnel. We figured he must have hitched a ride on somebody else's boat and jumped off onto the bouy, but its possible somebody put the little guy there on purpose.

The little green guy stayed on board for about an hour, climbing around the T-top and the console, before we lost track of him. Unbelievable.

[dssmith]

Returning from the Gulf Stream last summer, about 25miles from shore, I spotted a whitecap about 1/4 mile ahead. I thought this odd since the waves were 2' or less and no white caps.

Came upon a giant leatherback turtle. Had to have been at least 8'long. Huge head. Neatest and wierdest thing I've ever seen. Watched him/her for a minute or more.

Of course, the minute I grabbed the camera he shoved off

[auguste]

Monster blue marlin following side of boat and eating squid . . . less than 10 ft from the boat

[Striper4]

I have a 21' CC however, this particular day I was on a 565' T-Hull (for you submariners) and as I was not needed to repair anything I yelled up to the bridge and asked the Captain if I could join him. He said come on up... Being on one of the most Complex and lethal pieces of machinery in the world and seeing this huge vessel under way was quite a thrill for a young Electrician on one of our War Vessels.

[STRIPERMAN]

-submerged tree, like the one mentioned, but this one launched me
completely airborne at night. so much for"brief scans w/ a spotlight"
-vertical ten footer in the inlet of No Name River in Alaska. We were in a 15 ft.
Achilles inflateable. I gunned it and we launched for some EXTREME hangtime
and landed flat. No serious injuries.
-same boat challenged by a bull sea lion while anchored for halibut. Scared the bajesus out of me, moreso than the bear that almost ate me.
-100+ lb. ling at night @ Arethusa Neptune in the Green Canyon ate a 5 lb. tuna on my line(trout rod-small baitcaster). I had tuna alongside when here
came the shadow. Best fight ever(lifer). Ended 45 minutes later w/ terminal failure.
-another night @ same platform(2 miles away) we approached unidentified radar target. 3 hard stationary targets which appeared to hundreds of yards apart equally spaced. As we approcached a target directly, the spot light showed what looked like a stationary pipe a few feet above surface with a glowing ball a little bigger than a basketball on top of it. Capt. Don got spooked and turned our 130 ft. Breaux's Baycraft towards the Neptune. We had investigated without running lights to keep the Neptune from hailing us.
The targets dissapeared minutes later. Waaaay cool!!!

[chris V]

ran over the top of a large school of 3-4 foot in diameter rays swiming north. they were running together like a flock of birds.
man-o-war jellyfish inflated on the surface getting blown by the wind.

the vapor trail from a space shuttle launchwhile I lived in hilton head SC

as a kid offshore with my dad, in a 20' boat. with a 7 1/2' beam, a hammerhead swam across the transom that his head was on one side and his tail on the other. I was previously dangling my feet inthe water.

vacationing in the keys, house on the gulf, watching the lobsters do what they do at night with a spot light. same trip, say a small octopus crawling along in 2 feet of water under our dock. the wife and kids shined the light on the little guy, and I slipped into the water, and caught him with a dip net and a bucket. very meorable experience. played with him for a little while, then let him be on his way. after the kids had so much fun with the little guy, could not bring myself to use him for grouper bait the next day.

[welder]

Water skiing to Catilina island, stopped got in boat [ 28' safari with 2/351s and duo props ] blue shark swims into props after were on swim step and motors are back in gear ....................shark sushi

[finlanderr]

Living in San Diego, I have seen alot of incredible stuff off my Wellcraft CC. Acres of breaking fish, schools of Dolphin/purpoise, breaching grey Whales within 30 feet of my boat. Big makos and Marlin free Jumpin< watchin schools of Yellowtail to 30 lbs swim under my boat, then watchin em tirn and eat the jig i just threw!. Tryin to toss a live bait on a big swordie enjoing the afternoon sun! that is awsome by the way! And to think that has happened in one day really freaks me out! seein is livin! Jefe.

[ncfisher]

Left out of new river inlet 2 navy ships 2 miles out. As we got closer 2 hovercraft are doing manuvers. I ran between the ships cuase they were far enough apart. All the while a smaller boat near the anchored ship shadowed us until we got past them. Another time out we caught an albacore that had 3 cudas taking turns on him. My brilliant brother decides to gaff one of the free swimming cudas. Needless to say it was entertaining and i dont have to tell you who won.

[rippedzilla]

didnt see it but about 2 years ago after hurricane isabel in nc there was a single wide trailer floating several miles off of cape lookout. there was a coast guard advisory for several day, until it hit the stream and got out of dodge.


swarmed by 1000's of dragon flie in pamlico sound. landed all over our 20' cc, covered the entire boat, engine and eventuall us as well. must have had well over 500 resting on me alone. kina weird and cool, they were just chillin, and we were catching specs n reds. my buddy has the pics somewhere.


seen way to many jets and helicopters in the pamlico sound and neuse river do bombing maneuvers. its pretty cool when they "bomb" at night. great light show, with aewsome tracers on the gun rounds. you can see the shoot across the horizon then hear them hit the target ship


nothing that great but im only 23 and still gotta pay my dues and put in the time....

[Red_Tag]

Great thread!

School of Northern Bluefin (Longtail) Tuna ripping through what seemed to be a moth hatch - 10 miles from the nearest land. Caught a 28lb Longtail with a brown "Woolly Bugger" ...


Watching two 6' Manta Rays in a mating dance dogfighting in the waves.


(Last weekend) Watching 6x 7' sharks ripping through bait balls about 5 miles out. They were so intent on the bait I was bouncing flies off their dorsal fins ...


Being eyed off (while fishing from a 20' RIB) by a bunch of US Navy Seals on the front of Guided Missile Frigate (I think) while it passed us in the channel 200yds away. After the USS Cole incident we were feeling mighty watched ...

[flynny7]

Submarine running on the surface darn close to us off Montauk....COOL!!!

[capeannfisherman]

While aboard the USS FDR CVA42 went through a hurricane(that was a rough ride) lost 2 men, many injured, 1 helicopter over the side, top 9 decks flooded. +100'waves busted us up bad. Anyone else served on the FDR in this forum?

[Getn Busy Livn]

One of the coolest things I've ever had happen was having a family of dolphins (two adults and two 3' babies swim, roll, jump right next to the boat 35 miles offshore for about 30 minutes. We threw them some live sardines (bounced off the gunnel) but I couldn't tell if they actually ate them. It was like our own little Sea World experience.

When we decided to head to another spot they swam alongside and jumped through the wake a couple times before leaving. I've got pictures somewhere which I'll post. Very cool

[byram]

2 summers ago while fishing outside greenwich harbor a rather large sea plane circled and landed. A small launch came out and picked someone up and the plane took off. I was a couple hundred yards from it and it was really loud as it taxied for takeoff.

[byram]

Oh..by the way.. I did see Tommy Hilfiger and his girlfriend yesterday looking at fireplace screens. I was there pricing 32' steel I-Beams. At a local Iron works company.

[maxpax]

Great Thread! Good stories! Where are the PICS??

Tuna busting is always a thrill but I rarely get the camera out because of the rod in my hands!

Drove over a HUGE 20'? basking shark this summer. Crew saw it from elevated positions. I was at the helm and was oblivious. Sunfish always pretty cool.

Marine Mammals are always a treat up here in the Northeast. I admit I posted these videos before but still pretty cool. One song long and the END is the best part of both. CLOSE whale shots and dolphins wiht babies, jumpers, and also close encounters. Amazing creatures.

Dolphins.

http://www.vidilife.com/index.cfm?f=...AE-9&action=10

Whales

http://www.vidilife.com/index.cfm?f=...F8-2&action=10

[A Few Dollars]

Jumping rays
a few sea turtles
a whale shark
a sunfish about 4' high x 5' long
jumping dolphin
a momma and baby dolphin swimming alongside the boat for about 5 minutes while trawling
rolling tarpon
a school of 100 big stingrays
a school of hundreds of bull reds
30 lemonfish behind the boat (free gafted 2)