Deep Sea Roundup 2010

[mako]

We fished the 2010 Deep Sea Roundup this past weekend aboard my buddy Patricks' 40' cabo "Stir It Up". Due to the Friday forecast of 8-10' seas with 25kt winds, we opted to sit out the first day of the tournament, as did most of the fleet. We broke the jetties at 4am on Saturday morning and set our course on autopilot. By 7am we were at our location for the day, a beautiful temperature rip with some nice weed. As I was setting the long rigger I looked off the port side and saw a 8'+ Hammerhead feeding in the weeds, pretty cool to start the day off. We were terrorized all day long by millions of chicken dolphin that inundated the rip. By mid morning, we had picked up a nice cow dorado in the #30 range and missed a blue we saw blow up bait off the bow.

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The blue nailed some bait and then grabbed the shotgun as we pulled past her. We continued to work the area in hopes of her returning, but it wasn't meant to be. The day remained active thanks to the large amount of bait in the area. Early afternoon produced another nice dorado and an average wahoo.

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Charlie was driving up in the tower and watched a blue swim across the bow not 50 yds from the boat. We worked the area looking for her but she was not interested. At 2:45 Charlie and I were driving up in the tower and approached a large weed mat. As we neared the mat, the starboard short rigger got annihilated and a solid blue came greyhounding through the spread. Charlie and I scaled down the tower to clear lines as Patrick took position in the tower to drive. We got Nick settled in the chair as the blue put on an aerial display less than 50 yds from the boat.

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She stuck her head and shoulders out of the water thrashing from side to side, and we could immediately tell this was a really big blue. She greyhounded towards the boat, then spun and took about 600 yds of line before finally settling down. With a low spool on the 50, we started backing down on her. We gained a couple hundred yards before she recharged her batteries and took off again on a couple more nice runs. After 45 minutes, we had her to the leader. We knew she was a big fish, but when I took my first double wrap on the leader and she didn't budge, I knew she was a beast.

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I have leadered a good amount of billfish in my life, but this was undoubtably the largest I have ever seen next to the boat in the gulf. I have no problem calling her #450, and in fact she probably would go a bit more...but I would rather underestimate than over.

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We removed the hook, took a couple of photos, revived her by the boat and then set her on her way. We started celebrating and turned towards the house. We were optimistic about our chances to place in the tournament. When it was all said and done, we took 1st Place Blue Marlin and 2nd Place Overall Billfish. It was a great trip, certainly one that will be etched into my memory for some time to come. Til next time....
Gabe

[Ryan]

Nice! Congrats

[plumberman]

Sounds like fun! Congrats!

[Dewberry]

sorry but i have a dumb question
how do you decide who gets first place? did yall weight or measure it somehow in the water? and is there a tournament official or something on the boat to validate it?

[TPOTTS]

Great job Gabe, that is a brute of a blue for sure!

[Old salt]

Killer report Gabe! Congrats on the win.

[HWK]

Congrats Gabe

[Skipjack]

Awesome Fish! Congrats!

[RodBreaker]

sorry but i have a dumb question
how do you decide who gets first place? did yall weight or measure it somehow in the water? and is there a tournament official or something on the boat to validate it?

There is a separate division for released billfish:

http://www.deepsearoundup.com/Rules.html

[James Mc.]

BadA$$ Gabe that is one hell of a report and congrats on the 1st place.

[Jd761]

Nice!

[stargazer]

Badass Gabe , well done again !!!

[Dewberry]

sorry but i have a dumb question
how do you decide who gets first place? did yall weight or measure it somehow in the water? and is there a tournament official or something on the boat to validate it?

There is a separate division for released billfish:

http://www.deepsearoundup.com/Rules.html

thats pretty awesome that the off shore community is allowing people to catch and release while still competing

[frenzy]

Congrats buddy.

[Oz]

Great job brother!!