 ANOTHER TRIP TO WEST ATLANTIS
The "XIAO MU JI" was in for another run to the edge, as the weather was going to take a dump late Saturday going 5-7 ft out of the southeast and Sunday building to 7-9ft on Monday. So,Friday night into Saturday was going the only opportunity we were going to have in getting back to our big fish we had last week in West Atlantis. The crew comprised of George M., Rexx L. Cody and myself. We arrived at the vessel at 5:30PM and Cody & Rexx started icing and salting the boat. I started rigging the swordfish squids while Cody and Rexx started chopping the butterfish for the coming night. George arrived and we shoved off. As we came out of the inlet and I went into program mode and got the AP16 into the auto-tuning mode. Alan from Simrad had been kind enough to reset the unit and reprogram it for me before we got to the boat. Thanks Alan! With the unit now runnning good, we set off for the edge. As we came around the Montauk Point we headed the 96-NM to the West Corner of West Atlantis, we soon were backing down from our initial 25-knot cruise speed to slower 18-19knots in building seas. We arrived on scene near the edge at 11:30 in 4-6 foot seas.
We motored over to our last week numbers and put the boat into neutral. As we readied the bait rods the current gave up it's direction that we were going to be drifting as I wanted to the east. Out went the Sword bait rods, one set at 250ft and the other at 125ft with giant rigged squids and tamden 12/0 Gamagatsu Big Game Hooks, 300# leaders and deep drop multi-color lights. George started chunking as Rexx got the tuna rods in the water with whole butterfish and sardines. I got to putting the green and blue Hydroglow lights into the water and the generator going. Cody started jigging with his Butterfly jig he had been successful with last week. It was a rockin-rollin night with the 4-6 foot seas and the occasional 8-footer thrown in to keep you working on your toes.
Eventually, Cody hit the sack, George had been chumming himself and he too went down for the count. Rexx and I stay focused on getting the action going. Around 2Am I took a nap hen gave Rexx a short nap. Around 4AM I got Cody up and he took over the chunking duties. I laid down to hear Cody yell "Dad" "Dad" , "I got something!" I need help the line is tangled. I jumped up and as I got to the rod and tried to get it out of the holder to get the tip wrap undun the rod doubled over and SNAP! It was free. The hit wasn't like the typical tuna hit. it was that tell-tale swordfish run-off. It was also the witching when we always get our swordfish bites. Oh well!, then reeling in the 125ft swordfish rod, we found a small Mahi on the bait. Could'nt belief it. I started getting the trolling rods ready and baits on the for the mooring troll. The night radio chatter was that our slow bite was the same for everyone else sitting on the edge. We heard of one short sword and one keeper sword coming in along with just one or two yellows.
With everyone up and the sunrise upon us, we set out the spread riding in the trough of the rough seas. Just as we trolled northward to our last bigeye bite numbers the port corner rigger with a lolly-pop spreader bar cracked and the 80 bent butt started screaming out line. I started my throttle dancing and thrashing of the boat dance trying to get a multiple. Finally, I gave the helm to Rexx and I took the rod. I started to reel and there was nothing, it was gone. The mystery fish was gone! We worked the area till 10:30 AM with no other takers.
We started trolling the toward Montauk, as I got off the edge and up on the flats I switched my spread to four Stauker "The Ticket" chugger lures framing seven new Fred Archer mini-bait bars in Silver/Pink 2-3/4" squids being chased by large 12" predator squids using weed guards on them since the amount of weed was ridiculously bad! We were coming up on 14435 x 43335 and I changed the seven to pink/silver mini bars to seven black/silver/pink mini Fred bars with 9" Hot Pink baits chasing them. I went up to the tower to enjoy the ride with Cody and get some filming in. I was watching the spread when a two big fish rolled on the port side corner rigger mini bar and the long lat bars. The rigger clip cracked but the rod didn't come tight. I got down and started coming about to run over the same spot. We rest the corner rigger and as we came back over the way point the pack attacked again. With the kreel in the area, I knew these mini bait bars were going to be the ticket. This time I danced the boat, saw a few more fish roll and the third fish was on. Cody and Rexx started fighting the two fish when Cody's fish was off, he quickly grabbed the other rod. Cody's fish came to the boat first and met the gaff in it's head. Nice Albacore! Then Rexx's fish met Cody's gaff in its head too. Nice Gaff job Cody, I said!
We got the spread back out and worked the area for a couple of passes. Then I put "XIAO MU JI" back on auto-pilot with her path to Montauk. A ten minutes later another fish hit the spread and George took the rod. This fish was taking lots of line and I thought that just maybe we had found the Allison yellow fins or even a Bigeye. With no more takers in the spread I throttled back and let George get to work. I have to say this fish fought hard all the way to the boat. I felt comfortable since it was on one of the 80s. I got my gloves on and Cody readied the gaff. As I saw color it was a nice fish but not a really big fish. I wired the fish and brought it to Cody who made another perfect head gaff shot. Cody couldn't hardly get the fish over the gunnel. Wow! that's some slob of an Albacore! its close to 60-pounds guys. We iced the fish and got back to working the area for a while. Soon two more rods when off and Cody and I took the rods, these were small fish, I thought. Sure enough, I see my fish going side ways across the surface. What! What was this, its small whatever it is I thought. Soon, the two dolphins showed themselves and we had them in the boat.
Finally, with no more action it was 2:30PM and 64-miles to the Point we said enough! We cleared the spread, pulled in the riggers, pointed the girl toward the barn and rounded the Inlet at 5:30PM. Fueled up taking a mere 140-gallons of diesel for a 200-mile round trip with 14-hours of trolling canyon trip, Not Bad, I thought!
Back at the dock, with three Mahis and three Albacore, we saw the largest Albacore on the Dock Record board for the year was only a 51-pounder. So, we took to getting the big Albacore weighed. It tipped the scale at 57.65 pounds, a new dock record for the year. Well, it was a little consolation prize for a slow trip to the edge. I can't wait to get out there again. Capt. Marty
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