How we do it in the South !

Wefings · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject: How we do it in the South !

Had a great trip to Louisiana with some friends to fish the fabled "Midnight Lump" otherwise known on the charts as the Sackett Bank. It about 20 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River . Its an underwater salt dome [ called a "diapir" by geologist types] that rises from 400 Ft depths to 200 Ft. It creates a constant upwelling condition and is a very fishy place. The action was constant with the first fish [ 70+ LB Amberjack] on a bottom rig hooked within minutes of dropping anchor . We were chunking and kite fishing for the tuna , two very interesting techniques . Chunking is the magnum version of chumming ,with literally hundreds of Lbs of cut bonito and menhaden going into the water in the course of a day , and kite fishing is a kite/helium balloon on a short rod with a release on the line [ I guess you could call it an "uprigger"] that has your live bait dangling at the surface [ attached to its own rod] ,causing a commotion, and getting bit usually by the bigger fish . It a very effective and exciting technique as you get to see the bite .It also gets the bait away from the boat and there is no visible line in the water for the fish to see.

We left the dock 5 a.m. Superbowl Sunday on a 65'X23' Resmondo , built on Perdido Bay just above Orange Beach Al. The boat was very comfortable for all 10 fishermen with a bunk for all , 2 heads W/ showers ,and a great galley/salon with tracking satellite TV. One of the great things about the Alabama captains is they almost all have "Big Green Egg" grills built into the boat . That makes for some great meals aboard . We started a Boston Butt after breakfast on Mon a.m. and after the lines were in we had a great lunch of BBQ Pork and Sashimi !The boat has a high capacity ice machine and huge fishboxes to load em in . And we loaded em....

Day one fishing was started with the big A.J. and the blackfin tunas started biting as well . A blackfin is native only to the Gulf and Atlantic and is a smaller tuna . On the lump there are some pretty big ones in to the mid 30LB range . They are excellent table fare and on a blind tasting it would be hard to tell fresh blackfin from fresh yellowfin. They pull hard and are alot of fun on conventional or tough spinning gear. Later in the day the first yellowfin bit and it was in the 40-50 Lb range with 2 more came aboard before we stopped for the evening to watch the game .The bottom fishing was active in the afternoon with 2 gag groupers at about 25LB and 3 or 4 more A.J.s to 50 lbs.We also caught beeliner [ vermillion] snappers all day long in the 2-4 lb range . The beeliners would come up into the meatslick for a free lunch .

Day two fishing started at about 6 a.m. with our early morning mission to replenish the bonito supply . They were cooperative and we filled a couple full size trash cans . We were catching them for the boat's following trip as well as for our morning fishing . While we were catching bonito the blackfins showed up and the frenzy began .At least one angler was hooked up to a tuna for the next few hours. The kite was getting bit regularly and the chunk rods were starting to go off regularly as well . Then the first big yellowfin appeared in the chunk trail at the transom . It was big , in the 150 range . It didn't bite and disappeared . Then another one hit on one of the chunking rods and the big fish of the day was on . That fish ran Todd, the angler to the bow and with the help of the really great crew was kept from wrapping the anchor rode with about nine passes under and over the line . After about an hour struggle the fish was harpooned from the bow , walked to the stern and landed . It appeared to be about 120lbs and the bites kept coming on 50 to 90 Lb fish. We ended the day with 4 yellowfin and 8 blackfin and another couple A.J.s .

Then the bite quit, as it will eventually do, I was first to the shower, then to the cutting board with a blackfin cuttin up the prime parts for the sashimi plate and some loins to sear on the grill with some good ,spicy, genuine cajun seasoning called "Slap Yo Momma". A complete tuna adventure kit should always include wasabi,soy sauce and a good knife, don't leave port without it !
Marc Grove

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject:

Awesome.... and you have my address if you just have more fish than you need now Marc. Great looking trip.

Papillon · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject:

Yep Sir E Bob, That's what I call a real Super Bowl Party..Boat-Fish-Pig and PigSkin.

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject:

So then.... Brigner (C-Pearl) is not the only C-Brat that realizes that sometimes, ya just gotta have SAT/TV to make the total occasion work!!

I bet that was one more super bowl party for sure. What a way to spend it... fishing, grilling, watching the super bowl in your own "private club" ...

Awesome.

CatyMae n Steve · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject:

Nice carnage! Thumbs Up

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject:

You guys are in big trouble. That guy on his nose third from the right is Charlie Tuna.

What a great way to save an otherwise wasted day of watching football! Way to go. You should have been on TV.

416rigby · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

That's mouthwatering! We just gotta get some tuna blood in our boat this summer.

Jeff Brigner · Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject:

Thats the way to do it captain ! Those aren't just fish those are fesh

Wefings · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:01 am Post subject:

I can see it now... 10 C Dorys rafted up on the Lump,Wallas heaters running,chum flying,dingies filled with ice and fish ................Rick and Donna , you in ??????

patrick and linda · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

you guys are having way to much fun. shouldn't you be more attuned to the common man's dilemma, slaving away at work, shoveling record snow falls, and dreaming about the day when the sun will shine again?
so, for all us common guys, in deep cold weather country, i bid you all
a great day.
pat

alandgin · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:04 pm Post subject:

WOW!

What a fishing trip!! Marc, are you in the photo, or did you take it? If you're in the photo, which one is you?

Marc, when I get the big boat someday (22' or 25'), I'll drive down to FL - AL and hire you to guide me out to the "Midnight Lump"! Very Happy

Guess, I'll just head out to the ice fish house and see if I can catch a couple 10"-12" crappies Sad

and dream about those blackfin tunas Mr. Green

Al

Wefings · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject:

I am the odd man out holding the Amberjack 2nd from Rt. I guess you are in for the Lump Gathering !
Marc

Jeff Brigner · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject: Marc

alandgin · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

Great fish, Marc! Thanks - nice to tie a face to a name. Very Happy

Al

416rigby · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:17 am Post subject:

Well, Marc, we don't have a Wallas, but you know our motto: "Have Mr Heater, will travel." The previous owner of our boat was into tuna big-time. She's been 60 miles off San Diego getting bloody. I want some of that action! Ok, not the 60 miles offshore part, but you get the idea.

We'd love to do a tuna trip...just depends on when...there's that dang work thing getting in the way of our fishing again. Twisted Evil

Maybe you could shoot out some ideas...are the tuna typically in the area all year or just in winter, that sorta thing. I think Brigner needs to get that pretty new boat all bloody! Jeff, we'll even let you clean all the fish. How's that for a deal?

Geeze, there's no fish emoticons here...lol

Rick