| Nyati Offshore R.O.C. Report
Port Aransas,
TX
July 22nd-23rd, 2005
Report by Oz |
Thursday night, Scott, Shindle, Aggie, Moose, and I met up with
YT, Ronnie, and Troy and began the preparations for the long weekend of anxiety
aboard the Nyati. Hoping to hook into some monster Marlin, we were also in
the Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado, and Tag & Release Calcutta pots. We were fishing
the Rockport Offshore Challenge two days after Hurricane Emily made landfall
and on a Full Moon. Our outlook though mostly optimistic, feelings of high
dirty seas lingered in the back of our minds on the way out. We departed
the dock late Thursday night and took our time making it out.
After stopping for a few minutes to help a shrimpboat that was
in trouble, we get on our way and hoped good karma would follow us out to
deep water. Early morning we get rigged up and lines in the water. Around
6am as the horizon was about to light up for the days adventure, we hit up
a solid early bird Wahoo and I land the first fish of the trip.
After an hour or so we start hooking into some average Dorado.
Trolling the weedlines back and forth we could see several fish waiting for
the ambush. Moose then gets in a decent Mahi.
We troll a nice rip with weed and see a pair of nice Dorado
busting bait up ahead. We get ready and Aggie trolls past and the Bull swings
into the spread and picks up a bait. After a couple minutes Scott get a beautiful
contender Bull Dorado in that went 35lbs.
After getting our 2nd Wahoo, we troll a while and Aggie is hooked
up on a nice 'hoo' that hit his custom offshore lure.
Aggie adds another solid Wahoo to the total.
The Custom 'Bitch' Lure (notice the embedded wedding band in the head)
By the late afternoon, we have already bagged several nice Wahoo,
Dorado and a couple Blackfin. While we can't seem to find the billfish, we
hook into another nice Wahoo. It is Moose's turn to bring this bad boy to
the boat while YT watches on and Ronnie awaits with the gaff.
After a couple minute fight on the surface, Moose gets the nice
Wahoo into the boat. While all the Wahoo caught were within a few pounds
of each other, this was the biggest one at 40lbs+ and so far our best chance
to place in the tournament.
There was a storm squall on the horizon but the bite remained.
We continued to bag a couple Blackfin Tuna including a nice steroid induce
one that hit like a train. I brought in a nice Blackfin that only added to
our sashimi reserve for when we get back.
We hit up another Blackfin or two before the rain turned the
bite off. Since it was close to dark and the skies cleared we headed out
over the Rocks to try and chum up some Yellowfin. We managed to bring a nice
7'+ Dusky or Silky up into the lights but that was about it. We then decided
to just deep drop and catch Snapper. Scott strikes first and lands a double
and then Moose gets a nice Snapper at 10lbs+.
We drop for a couple more hours and in the process of catching
some large Hardtails and a record Remora, we land a total of 7-8 solid Snapper.
During the chaos Scott puts down a live Hardtail and a shark eventually tears
up the leader. We play around the rest of the night hoping for the Yellowfin
that never showed up. Right before sunrise we decide to crash as YT, Ronnie,
and Troy get ready for trolling again. Just after sunrise Aggie bags the
2nd Blackfin of the early morning. By now I couldn't take it and decide to
skip my sleep and head out and help troll. We hook up again and this time
to a solid fish and I jump into the fighting chair.
We were hoping it was a triple digit Wahoo but it fought
much like a Tuna because it hit and dove straight down. The fight was still
on and the fish is yet to be discovered so we could only hope for a solid
tournament fish. After a 20-30 minute fight on the Tiagra, I finally get
him up to the surface and we can see the wind-on section of the leader. The
fish saw the boat then dove down once again. We were now convinced that it
had to be the Yellowfin we were looking for... or was it. It makes it way
back right behind the boat and Ronnie grabs the leader. He see's a glimpse
of the fish down under the boat and was about to yell 'Wahoo' and then the
words 'MARLIN!' came out of his mouth. Chaos ran rampart on the boat for
the Marlin was still green and we had to get the camcorder along
with myself having to throw on the Tournament T-shirt for the valid
release. While running inside to get the shirt, I wake up all the guys by
also yelling 'MARLIN!' at the top of my lungs.
We deal with the very energetic fish and end up with a successful
release as the fish darted off back into the deep blue sea. I was so incredibly
happy to see my first Blue Marlin swim off away from the boat with a couple
thrust of its large tail. I have to thank Troy and Ronnie for handling her
at the boat for the release and Capt. YT for driving the boat accordingly
during the fight. While this Marlin wasn't big enough to place, it did go
towards our catch and release points and we were finally on the board. This
was a truly awesome fish and very happy to be like Scott and have my first
Marlin come from Texas waters.
We troll a nice rip and for a couple hours had non-stop action with
Dorado and Blackfin. While one of use were reeling a small dorado to the
boat, a Billfish came and nailed a lure right behind the boat in the spread.
Shindle hops on and fights the fish for a couple minutes before it unfortunately
spits the hook. For the next few hours the bite had slowed to nothing and
we were pressed for time. We do one last troll and as we finally begin to
bring in the lines, a nice Wahoo hits and Shindle gets his revenge.
It was time to come in and the only word was that the largest weighed
wahoo thus far went 18lbs. We knew there were other nice Wahoo caught but
didn't know how big. We fly the flags and begin the long haul in.
We make our way back to the weigh in with minutes to spare.
Being the last boat we found out we had to be the leading 38lbs for the current
Wahoo. We were sweating bullets and knew it would be very close and were
just hoping to place. Moose's Wahoo hit the scales at 41lbs and change and
we end up taking 1st for the Wahoo pot. High-fives go around and we are gleaming
with excitement. Scotts Dorado makes it in 3rd, being eclipsed by a massive
56lb beast. Overall it was an awesome tournament and we were hystatic about
the Wahoo catching Nyati ironically with its 80th Wahoo of the year, taking
first under the Wahoo Division of the R.O.C.
We head back to the dock to clean our bounty. Not only was this
a killer trip and we ended up placing in the tournament, but we brought home
a fresh variety of Tuna, Snapper, Mahi, and Dorado. And I ended up going
into the water for the traditional Marlin dipping.
The next day we go to the awards ceremony and our catch becomes official.
This happened to be once again another stellar trip aboard the
Nyati. Thanks go out to YT, Troy, and Ronnie for overseeing a successful
trip and as always it is awesome fishing with Scott, Moose, Shindle, and
Aggie. In the end we end up releasing a nice Blue Marlin, Scott puts a monster
Dorado in a 'full nelson', Aggie catches a nice 'hoo' on the 'lure', and
Shindle gets his revenge. And finally, congrats to Moose for a nice
Wahoo that ended up paying for the trip itself. It was great fishing with
everyone and as always can't wait to get back on the water.
- From the Nyati.. Oz over and Out
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