OFFSHORE FISHING- Gulf Stream Trolling and such....

At the Ocean Isle Fishing Center it is our goal to help you catch more fish.  We pride ourselves on working with the area's best captains and having the most knowledgeable staff.  However, it is one thing to know, it is another thing to tell, and that is where the OIFC comes in.  See the below articles, videos and links that will hopefully help you have more success fishing the offshore waters.

Carolina Off-Season Wahoo- originally printed 2006

Carolina “Off-Season” Wahoo

by Capt. Brant McMullan

It was a fateful January fishing trip some three years back that opened my eyes to the viability of the Carolina’s wahoo fishing.  I had received a ROFFS sea surface analysis, which showed a huge warm water eddy pushing inshore across a well-known area of bottom structure in 30 fathoms of water called the Steeples.  I knew this was a fairly rare occurrence for mid-Winter, and given the equally as rare good weather forecast, I decided it was worth exploring.  Departing from my homeport of Ocean Isle Beach, NC and accompanied by my wife, brother and father, I set off for the bluewater to see just what happens offshore on the edge of the Gulf Stream during the “off-season”.  Upon arrival at the Steeples we found water temperatures in the 72-74 degree range with lots of rip activity as the Gulf Stream eddy pushed across the 30-50 foot tall “steeples” on the bottom.  We were thinking yellowfin tuna and thus deployed a spread of ballyhoo, which were rigged with fluorocarbon leaders.  It didn’t take but just a few minutes before we had lost several hundred dollars worth of tackle and figured out tuna would not be on the menu for the day.  Instead it was an all out wahoo blitz.  The wahoo had piled up over top of the steeples and were feeding on squid and small tunas.  We rerigged with wire and put out a couple of swimming plugs, and the day’s action was nonstop.  The wahoo were so thick that while angling a fish at idle, it was frequent to hook additional wahoo on the remaining baits still left out.  By noon we had boated eight wahoo with the smallest at 35 pounds and the largest at a very respectable 68 pounds.  We had discovered a virtually unknown wahoo fishery, and opened the door for future exploration of Carolina’s “off-season” wahoo.

Wahoo frequent the entire Carolina coast with equal concentration.  Their preferred water temperature range seems to be in the 72-80 degree range, and although they are a Gulf Stream pelagic, they differ in their habits from their counterparts Yellowfin Tuna and Dolphin in that they are a much more residential and structure oriented fish.  So long as the water quality conditions are acceptable, wahoo are happy to set up camp over structure as they feed on a variety of local fish including snappers, small tunas and flying fish.  Capt. John Jenkins is a well known charter captain who fishes the northern Carolina coast out of Morhead City, NC where he frequently runs his charter boat Calucutta for Wahoo.  Capt. Jenkins prefers to fish blended blue/green water in the 72-76 degree temperature range.  He notes that the most important factor he has found in finding wahoo is the presence of bait and in particular, looks for schools of small tunas as a tell tale.  Most times Capt. Jenkins will focus on fishing the edge of the break from 30-60 fathoms, but he says that if the action is not happening in this range, he has often found the wahoo holding in depths over 65 fathoms along rips, temperature edges or around floating debris.  Particular wahoo hotspots where the Calcutta typically heads include the 40 year rock, Big Rock and Swansboro Hole. 

Capt. Jay Weaver fishes his charter boat Ali L out of Charleston, SC where he covers the wahoo fishing grounds off the southern Carolina coast.  Much like Capt. Jenkins, Capt. Weaver prefers water temperatures in the low to mid 70’s and notes that crystal clear, blue water is not a requirement when looking for wahoo.  Capt. Weaver typically narrows his search for wahoo to the 30-50 fathom depth range where the edge of the continental shelf drops abruptly and forms ledges and rock formations.  Above all else, Capt. Weaver believes that the presence of baitfish, in particular small tunas, is the key to finding good wahoo action.  When heading out of Charleston, SC for a day of wahoo fishing, the Ali L will likely fish the Southwest Banks or the Edisto Banks.

I run the charter boat ShowTime out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center at Ocean Isle Beach, NC, which is situated in the central Carolinas.  Similar to Capt. Jenkin’s and Capt. Weaver’s approach, I concentrate my efforts along the 30 fathom curve, preferably where water temperatures are in the 72-76 degree range.  However, if bait is present, in particular small tunas such as false albacore or bonito, I have caught good numbers of Wahoo in water as cool as 69 degrees.  My favorite fishing holes are all located along the edge of the continental shelf in 25-40 fathoms of water where the shelf has particularly high relief in the form of ledges, rocks or live bottom.  Local wahoo hotspots where you are likely to encounter the ShowTime fishing for wahoo include the Steeples, BlackJack hole, MacMarle’n hole and Winyah Scarp.

In recent years, wahoo fishing off the Carolinas has become a regular seasonal fishery.  September through April is when wahoo are in greatest abundance, which is a direct result of the schools of small tunas that migrate to and winter off the Carolina coast during this time.  Given the right conditions, the wahoo fishing is absolutely phenomenal with double digit catches of wahoo frequent, many topping the 60 pound mark.  Within this wahoo fishing season, there seems to two distinct patterns.  September through November the Gulf Stream is typically still in its “Summertime” flow as it pushes over the 30 fathom edge.  As this warm, clean water covers the 30 fathom edge and all it’s associated structure, the wahoo move in to feed on the abundance of baitfish. Once Winter officially kicks in and the strong west winds become frequent, the Gulf Stream shifts to a “Wintertime” flow that pushes it’s edge offshore of the 100 fathom curve.  However, warm water eddys frequently spin off of the Stream and push back inshore against the cooler water and over the 30 fathom edge.  These eddys usually only cover a small section of the 30 fathom edge, thus creating a concentrated area of wahoo feeding activity.  Though this occurrence is rare, it is the time when fishermen will encounter the most numbers and largest average size of wahoo. 

There are two themes that seem to be consistent no matter where you’re fishing for wahoo.  The first is to fish you baits at depth.  Wahoo prefer baits fished below the water’s surface, and in many cases, the deeper you can get a bait will be the more effective it is.  The other theme is speed; and wahoo are not afraid of it.  In the Bahamas, the most popular fishing technique has boats pulling artificials at up to 20 knots in an effort to cover ground and stay away from the Barracuda.  In the Carolinas the Barracuda are not typically a problem, but covering ground to find fish is certainly effective.  Under this “search” scenario, pulling artificial swimming plugs and lures at speeds between 7 and 12 knots has proven very effective for not only finding packs of wahoo but also catching them.  This technique of fast trolling artificials is my particular favorite when targeting wahoo.  Typically I put lines in the water when I reach 25 fathoms and troll at 8 knots while working across the continental shelf break between 25 and 35 fathoms.  A typical spread consists of 8 lines with 3 swimming plugs such as the Yozuri Bonito or Braid Marauder run from the back of the boat on flat lines, all rigged with #10 wire leaders.  Always on my flat lines and some times on my rigger baits, I will run a custom designed trolling sinker that I created called a “wahoo bomb”.  A wahoo bomb is a cigar shaped trolling lead that has a hole through the center, like an egg sinker, instead of the traditional swivels on each end.  I slide the wahoo bomb onto the line before tieing the #10 wire leader with rig to the line.  I then hold the wahoo bomb between my fingers, keeping it at the boat while free spooling line through the wahoo bomb, thus pushing the lure or rigged bait some 50 to 75 feet behind the wahoo bomb, which I feel helps the bait draw more strikes.  I then simply take a small #8 “dental style” rubber band and half hitch it behind the wahoo bomb and then take the loop and run it over the head of the wahoo bomb where a groove in the head of the weight catches the rubber band and thus locks in place.  It may sound complicated, but its incredible simply and amazingly effective.  What I am achieving is getting my bait at more depth while also not adding a stand alone leader which will force me to have to wire a fish from a long distance.  Once the wahoo bomb surfaces, the mate need only pop the rubber band loop off the head of the wahoo bomb and it will slide down to the wire leader, only feet from the wahoo. The wahoo bomb takes the bait down another 10-15 feet below the water’s surface and the weighted flatline positions are by far the most productive in drawing wahoo strikes.  From the two inside rigger positions I will fish a C&H Wahoo Wacker or similar cone weighted head lure, either with or without the wahoo bomb, and then from the outside riggers I’ll typically fish cedar plugs which serve a dual purpose in that wahoo and tuna love them equally as well.  Down the center of the spread and furthest back, I will run a blue/plumb Ilander rigged with a large ballyhoo. 

Wahoo fishing aboard the Calcutta, Capt. Jenkins prefers to go with an all-natural spread.  He trolls medium to large rigged ballyhoo behind Carolina Gentleman skirts on #10 wire leaders and prefers to use red/black and blue/white color combinations as he trolls at speeds of 7-8 knots.  Capt. Jenkins notes that part of the fun in wahoo fishing is the incredible aerial strikes that he often encounters.  If the fishing is particularly good, and he wants to spice up the trip, Capt. Jenkins will often deploy a 9” purple/black Moldcraft Super Chugger and fish it from the flatline closest to the boat.  According to Capt. Jenkins, the wahoo go crazy over the “Bonito-like” lure and crash it with added intensity right behind the boat.  Conversely, if the wahoo fishing is slow, Capt. Jenkins will deploy a #32 planer from an 80 pound rod/reel outfit with a 20 foot, 200 pound mono “spacer” behind the planer and then use either a Drone Spoon or rigged ballyhoo as bait.  He notes that the depth of the planer is determined by how far behind the boat it is set and that you should experiment to find a particular depth that may work better than another.

       Capt. Jay Weaver of Charleston takes a completely different approach to his wahoo fishing aboard his Ali L.  Capt. Weaver uses 130# fluorocarbon leaders on all his baits and no wire at all.  He feels like the fluorocarbon generates more strikes from leader shy wahoo and notes that he rarely loses wahoo due to a cutoff.  In fact, in the past two years Capt. Weaver has boated wahoo over 90 pounds, both caught on 130# fluorocarbon leaders.  Capt. Weaver says that hands down his favorite and most productive setup for wahoo is his wire line.  Capt. Weaver uses a #6 planer run from wire line and heavy, bent butt rod.  Behind the planer, he uses a 60 foot “spacer” of 250# monofilament which then connects to his fluorocarbon leader via a 200# SPRO swivel.  He does make one slight change with his leader on this outfit in that instead of using his typical 130# fluorocarbon, Capt. Weaver will use 200# flurocarbon leader as the drag must be set very tight on the wire line rod in order to keep the planer set in position.  He also notes that in adjusting the distance of the planer from the boat, there will typically be a “sweet spot” which presents the bait at the desired depth for the wahoo, so it is important to regularly adjust the wire line to find the perfect depth. The remainder of Capt. Weaver’s spread consists of an assortment of ½ - 1 ounce Sea Witches rigged ahead of medium ballyhoo with standard trolling speed at a relatively slow 6 knots.  Capt. Weaver’s typical spread includes a blue/black Sea Witch on the shotgun at 300 yards, plumb/black or pink/white Sea Witch on the long riggers at 250 yards, crystal Sea Witches on the inside riggers at 150 yards, a green/black Sea Witch on the inside shotgun at 125 yards, the wire line run as a flat line at 50-70 yards back and a naked, split billed ballyhoo on the other flat line at 40-50 yards .

Wahoo are known for their spectacular strikes and line sizzling runs.  They are one of the fastest fish in the ocean, and when 50+ pounds of wahoo hits your bait doing 50+ miles per hour, it is certain to deliver a strong dose of fisherman’s adrenaline.  However, just because you’ve gotten as far as the strike does not mean the catch is a guarantee.  In fact, in my experiences, wahoo have the lowest catch to hookup ratio of any fish I encounter when trolling.  Once a wahoo strikes, it will typically peel off line for a few seconds then do a 180 and head back at the boat.  This is when the majority of wahoo are lost.  It will likely repeat the procedure several times as it lunges away from and then back toward the boat.  During this time it is up to the angler and the boat driver to work together to keep the line tight.  The angler must be prepared to wind like mad the second the wahoo turns to the boat while the boat driver must also be prepared to move the boat ahead to help the angler keep the line tight.  Assuming you’ve made it out of this first stage, the wahoo will begin its second highly effective means to escape, head shaking.  As the angler, you will almost certainly be able to feel the wahoo slashing its head back and forth as it attempts to throw the hook.  If the line is not kept absolutely tight, the hooks will drop.  The boat driver can assist at this time as well by moving the boat ahead, again to help the angler keep the line tight.  And finally, once you’ve gotten the wahoo almost within gaffing range, it will attempt its last Houdini maneuver.  Just as the wahoo is being brought to leader it will throw a double whammy on you by combining both lunging and head shaking at the same time.  The angler must be extra weary at this time to keep the line tight, and the boat driver should keep the boat in slow ahead while turning the boat toward the fish.  This turn is what is referred to as “getting the fish inside your circle” and is a big help in keeping fish out from the under boat.  Then finally, once it’s all gone as planned and the gaff shot is delivered, beware of the razor sharp teeth that are coming over the side.  I can attest to this danger from personal experience as the first wahoo I ever boated gave me a big thrill and 25 stitches across my ankle.  A smart way to handle wahoo on the gaff is to have the fishbox open when the fish comes over the side.  The gaff man and the angler should be the only ones in the cockpit and the gaff man should swing the wahoo aboard on the side opposite of the angler.  Throw the wahoo in the box, have a seat on the lid and congratulate your fishing buddies on a job well done.

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Carolinas? Spring Yellowfin Fever: Top Skippers Trade Tips to Take Tuna- originally printed 2003

Carolinas’ Spring Yellowfin Fever:  Top Skippers Trade Tips to Take Tuna

By Capt. Brant McMullan

If you’ve never been there, you ought to try it. If you have been there, you know the oh-so-sweet sound of “snap, snap, snap” followed by the captain’s cry, “Flat line, insider rigger, long rigger -- got ’em on!” 

No fooling. That kind of sweet confusion gripped a charter I had out of Charlotte, North Carolina, last April 1 on the MacMarle’n. My clients – a father and two sons -- had done some inshore fishing, but had only heard tales of the great yellowfin tuna fishing just a few hours away from home. As we plowed the 30-fathom curve some 55 miles offshore, I spotted three petrels hovering low over a slick. I spun the MacMarle’n toward the action and anxiously awaited the action to come. Almost as if scripted, the left flat popped from the gunwale clip, then the right flat, then the inside right and the long, until all seven rods doubled over as line poured off the reels. Under this full-scale attack, the family froze, not knowing which way to go. It’s the type of cockpit chaos I can never get enough of. Fortunately, it comes frequently. It’s classic early-spring yellowfin tuna fishing off the Carolina coast. 

Yellowfin tuna range up the East Coast from south Florida to New York, but the Carolinas enjoy some great fishing. North Carolina and South Carolina’s thriving sport-fishing industry owes a good part of its success to yellowfin. Top charter captains use a lot of the same tactics to cash in on this annual rite of spring. Studying what they do can improve your tuna tactics from good to outstanding.

WHEN

Yellowfin tuna action throughout the Carolinas consistently peaks in mid-April. Typically, captains begin catching good numbers of pup yellowfin of 15 to 25 pounds in March. By the middle of April, the fish become plentiful and average 30 to 40 pounds. In May and June, when the water begins to warm into the mid- and upper-70s, average size reaches 35 to 55 pounds, but the number of fish begins to decrease until the spring run ends in mid-June.

Capt. Pete Manuel of Beaufort and I usually get to enjoy excellent yellowfin action a bit earlier, during mid-February, while Capt. Robby Garmony of Charleston, South Carolina (about 130 miles south of Ocean Isle, where I live), prefers to wait until after Easter before he looks for yellowfin. Capt. Rom Whitaker of Hatteras notes that his area gets a good fall run of yellowfin, lasting from late October through December. Although yellowfin are not quite as plentiful then as during the spring, the fish tend to run a bit bigger, around 50 to 60 pounds.

The Gulf Stream and its warm-water spin-offs, called eddies, profoundly influence the movement of yellowfin. The Gulf Stream tends to kick off eddies in the central Carolinas between Morehead City and Myrtle Beach earlier in the season than it does to the north or south. The Big Rock, 38 miles southeast of Morehead City, and the Steeples, 60 miles southeast of Ocean Isle, are not only great fishing spots. They act as huge roadblocks that interrupt the flow of warm Gulf Stream waters and spin off southward-flowing, fish-producing eddies.

WHERE

Many captains fish in about 50 fathoms or more of water. They typically focus their initial effort on areas with good bottom structure, then begin to look for visible signs of life like temperature breaks, weed lines or schools of baitfish. Charleston’s Garmony tends to fish a bit deeper, working structure in 75 to 100 fathoms. He also prefers to fish blue water from 72 to 74 degrees. Manuel and Whitaker prefer to fish blended, blue-green water from 69 to 75 degrees. And they both fish deeper -- in 100 fathoms or more -- to find bigger yellowfin. I like to troll in blended water from 69 to 73 degrees in the early season and blue water later in May and June. I tend to fish a bit shallower than many captains, focusing on 25 to 40 fathoms, where I find the most bottom structure and yellowfin.

Although targeting depths between 25 and 100 fathoms or more can cut down the immensity of the ocean, there’s still a lot of water left to fish. Whether it’s blended or blue, you still have to know what to look for. Most captains agree that the presence of baitfish like squid, mackerel and flying fish is the most important indicator of yellowfin. Manuel really tunes into his fish finder to look for clouds of suspended bait with the telltale red dots that signify yellowfin below. I like to fish around scattered grass, where I often encounter yellowfin gulping weed clumps to filter out the sea life. I also always look for standard signs like birds, current rips and color changes when hunting yellowfin.

HOW

Discovering how to catch yellowfin tuna in the spring can prove to be the most interesting part of the puzzle. Nearly all captains use the standard technique of trolling small, 8-inch ballyhoo rigged naked or behind Sea Witches. I like to add a couple of baits with C&H Alien heads. Garmony adds an Ilander Saillure to his spread. Trolling speed ranges from as slow as Garmony’s 5.7 knots to as fast as Whitaker’s 7. Most captains use wind-on leaders to help entice wary fish. Besides making tuna easier to handle at boat-side (because there’s no need to wire the fish to gaff), 30 to 60 feet of wind-on leader keeps the swivel well away from the bait, prevents it from interfering with the bubble trail and allows a more natural presentation to wary yellowfin.

Long used in California for tuna fishing, wind-on leaders have become very popular in yellowfin fishing in the Carolinas during the past couple of years. They keep the swivel away from the bait -- eliminating the possibility of a swivel leaving a bubble trail -- and save crew the tedious task of wiring yellowfin to the boat. Our Carolina captains all use 40- to 50-foot leaders attached to their main lines with SPRO Power or Heavy swivels. SPRO swivels are very small relative to their strength and can easily run through standard roller guides. (For more information, contact SPRO, 3900 Kennesaw 75 Parkway, Suite 140, Kennesaw, GA  30144; www.spro.com; 770-919-1722.)

(Q1. TYPICALLY WIND-ONS BRING THE SWIVEL CLOSER TO THE BAIT THAN WITH THE TRADITIONAL IGFA-ALLOWED LEADER SET-UP. WHY DO THESE PUT FARTHER AWAY? AND WHY USE SWIVELS INSTEAD OF TYING MAIN LINE DIRECTLY TO WIND-ON LEADER)- maybe our definitions of wind-ons are differrent- In the correct sense, I think a wind on is where you splice leader to main line then have snap swivel on leader then snap in short leader with rig attached- however, what I’m referring to as a wind is I guess maybe a hybrid version- Rather than go the trouble of splicing the main line and leader, we attach main line to leader with a wind-on swivel (ie. One that runs easily through guides), but instead of having snap swivel at end of that, the actually hook is attached- therefore no swivel anywhere close to bait- actual wind on swivel may be 30-40 feet from hook- get it?

Standard tackle usually means 50- to 80-pound Penn Internationals or Shimano TLDs or Tiagras. Leaders range from 80 to 130 pounds, depending on the size of the yellowfin. Each captain seems to have his own opinion about the best type of leader material to use -- fluorocarbon or standard monofilament are most  popular. Garmany and I like to use 100- to 130-pound Sufix Invisiline fluorocarbon leaders on all of our baits, while Manuel prefers 80- to 130-pound Momoi Diamond line because of its small diameter and high strength. Some captains, like Whitaker, say that they get no more hookups with fluorocarbon than with wire. Whitaker prefers to use wire leaders in many instances, particularly when it’s rough, because the wire leader helps him troll his baits deeper.

Garmany and Whitaker often pull at least one spreader bar as they troll, using 10- to 12-inch artificial squids. As for skirting ballyhoo, blue-and-white seems to be the all-around staple color, although most captains like to throw in one or two different ones, including a darker skirt, usually blue and black, and one skirt with pink. For teasers, the artificial squid daisy chain, followed by the standard Ilander rigged hookless with a horse ballyhoo, produces great action. I like to throw in a twist, exchanging the squids on my daisy chain for 8-inch Yo-Zuri Flying Fish. The Yo-Zuri flyers swim deep and are particularly effective on rough days.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

When Manuel spots the thumbnail-sized red marks on his fish finder indicating yellowfin, but they won’t come up to feed, he deep-drops diamond jigs for them. He throws the boat into neutral while the mate drops an 8-ounce, silver diamond jig to where the fish were marked. The mate works the jig once it reaches the desired depth. If no bite comes within 30 seconds, the mate winds the jig up fast, drops it down again and repeats the procedure up to a half-dozen times. If a fish is hooked, Manuel immediately brings the boat back up to trolling speed. The school almost always will follow the hooked fish and attack the bait spread. [Q2. WHAT HAPPENS IF NO FISH HOOKED WITH DIAMOND JIG? MOVE TO ANOTHER SPOT? AND WHY DON’T ANGLERS JIG TOO?]- IF no fish is hooked, then pick up and keep trolling- that’s just a fun and different way to produce strikes- Anglers can jig too, whatever- its more like, see the mark, have a rod rigged, Capt. yells to mate and mate drops down- most charters don’t function quickly enough- not to say some don’t

Garmony likes to throw a little excitement into his yellowfin fishing with a kite. He waits for wind speeds of at least 12 to 15 knots and then deploys a spread of three naked rigged ballyhoo on 60-pound fluorocarbon leaders attached to the kite. Garmony trolls his kite baits at 4 knots. He prefers that the baits spend 50 percent of the time in the water. This technique can produce incredible strikes, and is particularly effective when yellowfin are busting the surface but won’t take standard trolled baits.

I’ve found a couple of other tricks handy for catching yellowfin. I use a lot of high-speed trolling lures like Cedar Plugs, Green Machines and Zukers to locate the schools. Unlike tuna fishing off Hatteras, Beaufort and Charleston, where it’s not uncommon for charter captains to have to run from hordes of boats chasing yellowfin, Ocean Isle is unique in that there’s little competition for tuna. Most anglers where I live don’t have the big boats commonly used to go 50 miles offshore.

It’s fun to fish away from the crowd, of course, but when it comes to hunting down a school of yellowfin in a large expanse of water, it helps to have other boats covering ground. I often troll artificials like Cedar Plugs and Green Machines at speeds of 8 to10 knots to locate yellowfin. This technique proves particularly effective during the early season, when flying fish typically aren’t present and the tuna often seem to prefer the look of Cedar Plugs. Once I find the yellowfin, I either stay with artificials or switch to naturals, depending on whether the tuna get smart and begin shying away from artificials after seeing them a few times. One of my favorite formulas for success includes the technique described above -- but I slow-troll live menhaden, pinfish or cigar minnows rather than switch to dead ballyhoo. Nothing beats live bait for getting fish to strike, and the thrill of watching a yellowfin crash a panicky baitfish on the surface is awesome.

In fishing, the little things can make average anglers outstanding. Doing their thing for many years has made the captains I’ve cited among the best. Day in and day out, they prowl the deep waters off the Carolina coast in search of the school of yellowfin that will bring down every line and send all aboard into a frenzy.

It can be a demanding and often frustrating chase. But follow these captains’ prescriptions for yellowfin tuna success, and you could find yourself on the outstanding list.

Capt. Brant McMullan runs Capt. Brant’s Fishing Adventures charter service, which includes  a 32-foot Albemarle and a 27-foot Contender, out of the Ocean Isle Fishing Center at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. McMullan also operates two large Carolina king mackerel tournaments, the Jolly Mon King Classic and the Fall Brawl King Classic. For more information, consult his Web site at www.captbrant.com.

[SIDE BAR #1]

Local Spring Yellowfin Hot Spots

Hatteras area:

·        The Point: 35 31.80N/74.50.25W, 700 fathoms.

·        SE Rocks: 33 05.50N/75 12.50W, 300 fathoms.

·        Rock Pile: 34 51.405N/75 31.344W, 35 fathoms.

Beaufort area:

·        Big Rock: 34 09.94N/76 10.79W, 40 fathoms.

            --Swansboro Hole: 33 51.822 N / 76 25.766W [Q3. DEPTH OF THIS ONE?].- 40 fathoms

·        900-Line Bottom: 34 36.29N/75 45.24W, 35 fathoms.

Ocean Isle Beach area:

·        Steeples: 33 14.99N/77 16.00W, 40 fathoms.

·        Black Jack Hole: 33 09.964N/77 30.865W, 30 fathoms.

·        100/400: 33 08.317N/77 40.334, 30W, 30 fathoms.

·        Winyah Scarp: 32 50.48N/78 15.51W, 30 fathoms.

·        Capt. Pete’s: 33 46.600N/78 07.200W, 100 fathoms.

Charleston area:

·        SW Banks: 32 29.16N/78 49.31W, 30 fathoms.

·        Georgetown Hole: 32 32.63N/78 34.85W, 80 fathoms.

·        380 Hole: 32 07.61N/78 56.70W, 380 fathoms.

·        Ammo Dump: 32 08.32N/78 58.03W, 220 fathoms.

[SIDE BAR #2]

Wind Up with Wind-Ons

Wind-on leaders have become very popular in yellowfin fishing during the past couple of years. They keep the swivel away from the bait -- eliminating the possibility of a swivel leaving a bubble trail -- and save crew the tedious task of wiring yellowfin to the boat. Our Carolina captains all use 40- to 50-foot leaders attached to their main lines with SPRO Power or Heavy swivels. SPRO swivels are very small relative to their strength and can easily run through standard roller guides. 

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Gulf Stream How-To- originally printed 1997

Off The Deep End:

The furtive waters of the Gulfstream are far offshore, but with the right preparation and precautions, anyone can fish these “untouched” grounds

            I believe I was 13 years old the first time I fished in the Gulfstream.  I remember the day very clearly:  the weather was postcard material; flat seas, blue skies, and short sleeves.  Jamie Milliken, my father, my brother, and I were fishing about 30 miles offshore on our ’28 Mako enjoying success with Grouper, Snapper, and Kings.  It was midmorning and we were all ready getting tired when my dad proposed we pull in the lines and ride out to the deep waters of the Gulfstream to see what we could find.  He had been reading the latest issue of Saltwater Sportsman, and according to Mark Sosin, the Gulfstream was home of some of the best sportfishing in the world. 

                We ran the boat for about an hour and pulled the throttles back when we reached our destination, the mysterious “Steeples”.  We had heard of the spot before; tales of mountains rising from the bottom of the sea where giant marlin, tuna, dolphin, and wahoo swam.  As I peered over the side of the boat and took my first glimpse into the cobalt depths, I was instantly transformed.  No longer was I a fisherman, I was the Captain Kirk of the high seas; “going where no man had dare gone before”. 

            I have to chuckle a little at our first ever spread of deep water baits.  I can only assume my dad did not get that far in Mark Sosin’s article.  Anyway, we feebly deployed six baits, and began trolling them around, not knowing where to go or what to do, just that this is where the “big” fish were supposed to live.  One hour had gone by and we had not seen or heard a thing, the ocean was dead, and we began to question Mr. Sosin’s fishing knowledge.  Suddenly it happened, our first “Gulfstream” fish.

            The tiny Shimano TLD 15 let out a scream and the live-bait rod buckled under the pressure.  I grabbed the rod and handed it to my seven year old brother, Barrett.  Our king mackerel tackle was severely outmatched, but Barrett fought hard; battling almost thirty minutes before getting the first glimpse of the fish.  A huge yellow-green forehead broke the surface followed by five feet of pure gold, thrashing and fighting to free itself of the hooks.  Barrett fought another fifteen minutes before finally bringing the big bull dolphin along side the boat.  Jamie gaffed the fish and drug it over the side where it came to rest in the middle of the cockpit floor.  We stared in awe at our triumph, we truly had discovered a new world. 

            Upon return to the dock that evening, we strutted around like we had just brought back the first rock from the moon.  The dolphin was weighed-in at 42 pounds, and earned young Barrett a North Carolina Citation catch award. 

            Today, what was once a trip to the edge of the world is now within arms reach. Many people have since discovered the rewards this offshore playground offers, but still many others question the sanity of traveling 60 miles offshore to catch a fish.  I can only offer this advice when attempting to jump the mental hurdle:  What goes on out there is often beyond words: jumping billfish, skyrocketing tuna, and swarming dolphin to name a few.  Do not let your anxiety stop you from exploring a new world.  Enter slowly and take all necessary safety precautions, it is not necessary to beat yourself up in a six foot sea the first time out.  There will be plenty of postcard days that offer the perfect opportunity to explore the fishing grounds beyond the horizon; and once there, I guarantee you’ll be hooked for life.

HOW DO I GET STARTED FISHING THE GULFSTREAM?

First and foremost in your mind should be safety.  You’ve had a bad day when you’re 60 miles offshore with no power, no communication, and nobody looking for you.

            Before leaving the dock be sure you have:

1.      Enough fuel to carry you 200 miles.  This is the average distance travelled on a 14 hour day to the Stream ( 60 miles there and back plus or minus 80 miles trolling).

2.      A good radio, one that has a range of at least 20 miles. 

3.      Several bottles of water, just in case you end up staying longer than planned.

These are the bare bone necessities.

It is preferable to also carry:

1.      A cellular phone

2.      EPIRB- Radio Beacon that can be turned on to help Coast Guard in locating you if there is an emergency.

3.      Life Raft

Probably one of the most important safety precautions you can take is to be sure someone knows the area where you will be going and what time to be expecting you back.  Better yet, there are lots of fishermen who would love to have another boat to travel with in case of problems.

WHAT TYPE OF FISHING GEAR DO I NEED?

There are a lot of different routes to take when choosing the right gear to use when attempting to tackle these oversized fish.  Your decision will be strongly influenced by the width of your wallet.  Basically you need a reel that can hold at least 400 yards of 50 pound line and a medium to heavy action rod.  There are of course fish out there that could be caught on less, but I assure you there are also fish out there that floss there teeth with stuff bigger than that.  All and all, you should be able to handle most anything you encounter with this size rod and reel. 

If you have lots of money to spend and want to look particularly shiny, the Penn International reels are probably the right reels for you.  If you have to search under the couch cushions before buying your tackle the old 6/0 Penn Senator will get the job the done.  My favorite setup is a compromise between the two.  I like a Shimano TLD 25 with a Penn Stand-Up Slammer rod.  The price is middle of the road, but I  most like the outfit because the Shimano graphite reel is much lighter than the International or Senator which make it better suited for stand-up fighting.

            Speaking of stand-up fighting, as far as I’m concerned it’s the only way to go.  With the exception of a Bluefin tuna or a giant marlin, you ought to try to catch all your fish standing up.  It will give you a little more respect for the strength of the fish and also keep you from catching more than you need to eat.  With this in mind, I suggest purchasing  two if not three gimbal/harness belts.  The kind that have an insert for the butt of the rod and shoulder straps that attach to the eyelets on the top of the reel.  With this setup, you can strap yourself into the fish and let your whole body do the work, not just your arms and back.  The reason I suggest at least two belts is when you get in a school of tuna and all six rods go down, you want the fight to be man versus fish, not man versus other man for rights over the belt.

            The last piece of equipment you want to have is a gaff.  Not your 3 inch king mackerel gaff; a good strong, reinforced six to eight inch gaff will get the job done best.  I’ve seen it happen many times where a nice fat tuna will get stuck with a whimpy gaff only to have the hook come back looking more like an “L” than an “J”.

HOW SHOULD I MAKE MY RIGS  ?

            Good question.  The age old dispute of wire versus mono comes into play when making this decision.  Do you risk having an 80 pound wahoo skyrocket on a bait rigged with mono only to have the line cut by the razor sharp teeth or do you risk having the wary tuna see your wire under water and shy away from the bait?  This is a question I have beat myself up over for a long time, but I have to say that as of today ( subject to change tomorrow), I use strictly mono.  My theory is based almost solely on my love for catching billfish.  It is much more effective to freeline a bait rigged with mono to a billfish than one rigged with wire (this technique applies mostly to Sailfish and White marlin, Blue marlin will usually crash a bait regardless).  It is also much easier to wire a billfish, and for that matter any fish, with mono than with wire.   As far as wahoo go, yes I do occasionally lose a rig to a wahoo, but amazingly enough I catch probably 80 percent of the wahoo I hook with mono.  I think the reason is that the wahoo strikes the back of bait and instead of getting the mono in his mouth just gets the hook.  The wahoo you will lose, however, is the one that attacks the bait head first:  for me an 80+ pounder comes to mind immediately, but I can only hope for losing that one fish to mono I have caught ten more because of the mono.

            Just because I use mono do not think it is automatically the way to go.  I know lots of very good fishermen who use exclusively wire and do really well.  It’s simply a preference thing, whatever you have confidence in is what you should use.  One thing to consider, sometimes when I’m fishing in areas known particularly for big wahoo, i.e. the “Steeples”, I will put out a couple of baits rigged with wire to target the toothy critters ( baits that use either blue/white or black/red skirts and are weighted with more than two ounces).

            Getting past the wire versus mono dilemma, when targeting tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and small billfish, I like to use a 12’ leader made with 100# - 150# test mono.  I will then crimp on a 7/0 Mustad hook ( don’t use some cheap smooth finished hook, they will bend out under pressure), slide whatever skirt I like onto the line and over the hook, and finally crimp a loop in the other end of the leader for the snap swivel to attach to.  As far as skirts go, I like blue/white, black/red, and chartreuse for my colors and usually use an assortment of weighted and unweighted lure heads, my favorite all around definitely being the blue/white Islander Saillure.

HOW DO I RIG MY BAITS?

This is a question that is best answered by watching and not reading.  There are lots of good videos out on how to rig baits, and there are lots of good fishermen who would be more than happy to give a lesson.  What I can tell you is the size and kind of bait you buy for offshore trolling is very important.

For catching your tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and small billfish, a twelve pack or eight pack of ballyhoo is just about the perfect size.  A common misconception when fishing for these fish is you need a giant bait to catch a giant fish.  Well, it is true that the bigger bait may draw more attention, but I guarantee your hookup ratio will be poor if your bait is too big.  It’s like trying to eat a Hughes Marina cheeseburger in one bite.  Instead of using horse ballyhoo or six packs, try using the smaller baits and see if your hookup ration doesn’t get drastically better, especially on tuna bites.

The brand of bait you use is also very important.  There are several companies that sale frozen ballyhoo, but I guarantee they are not all the same.  In my opinion the two best brands (meaning most fresh and well preserved) are Bait Masters and Calcutta.  They soak their baits in some sort of secret solution that makes the ballyhoo meat tough and preserves its natural color.  These baits will troll a lot longer without washing out ( a term used to describe what happens when a bait begins to disintegrate because of the water pressure caused while trolling), and they will appear more natural than other brands.

WHERE AND WHEN DO I GO FISH?

            Your best bet for finding good fishing spots is to buy a Maps Unique chart at your local tackle store.  Simply look for areas that have good bottom structure (ledges, live bottom, wrecks) and are in at least 110 feet of water.  The water depth is probably the thing that varies the most when trying to find fish offshore, but by trolling between 110 and  300 feet of water you should be able to locate at what depth the majority of the fish are holding and concentrate on that area.

            Gulfstream fishing is really a year round sport, the water temperature is fairly constant and there are always fish to be caught.  On the other hand the fishermen are not always so easy to find come January and February.  Undoubtedly, however, the best month to fish for tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and billfish is May.  The prime migration of tuna and dolphin passes offshore of our area from April through July, but May is for sure the best.

There is so much more to be said about “Stream” fishing, but frankly I don’t have the rest of my life to explain.  You just have to get out there and experience it yourself.  My suggestions come from time spent on the water, but do understand that much of what I preach is merely opinion, I will never claim to even come close to knowing it all.  Just remember: be careful and take your time- you might even want to consider chartering a Gulfstream trip just to get an idea of what to expect.

Since I’ve got your mind on tuna, dolphin, and the such, let me take this chance to make you aware of the Far Out Shootout offshore bluewater tournament to be held May 23-25 out of Ocean Isle Beach.  The tournament is a tuna, dolphin, wahoo, billfish rodeo that offers anglers a chance to compete against eachother for cash and local bragging rights while also providing the security and comfort of fishing offshore with friends that can help if there is a problem.  This year I will be hosting the tournament and after the Captain’s Meeting will be answering any questions on how to get started Stream fishing or maybe just how to improve.  In addition, during the awards ceremony on Sunday evening, there will be a cookout for anyone looking to get a good meal of grilled tuna, dolphin, and wahoo.  The event is meant to be fun and I hope you will consider making it part of your fishing schedule.

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Mahi to Marlin- originally printed 2004

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Rough Weather Gulf Stream Tactics- originally printed 2004

Rough Weather Gulf Stream Tactics

By Capt. Barrett McMullan

Throughout this spring the weather has been nothing less than perfect, which has permitted both experienced and newcomer anglers to venture to the Gulf Stream in search of the glory species that reside some 60 miles off of our coast.  However, over the past week the typical summer time southwest winds have picked up and now anglers finding themselves faced with new and maybe unfamiliar conditions for fishing the Stream.  With such a long ride out to the fishing grounds one would think that having flat calm conditions is a must.  Flat seas certainly make the long run easier and probably more enjoyable, but due to the direction we travel to the fishing grounds in relation to the wind direction a less than perfect weather day is no excuse to stay at the house when we know the fish are out there waiting on us.  The southwest wind, which usually is what we are faced with for the next couple of months, allows for easy travel in a southeasterly direction like towards the Black Jack Hole or Steeples when leaving from Shallotte inlet.  By traveling southeast when hit with a southwest wind you are able to run in what is called the trough, meaning side to the waves as oppose to directly facing the waves.  You are likely to take a good bit of sea spray but just take your time and Cadillac on out to the blue water and the ride will be better than you would expect. 

Now that we have convinced ourselves to leave the dock on the less than favorable weather report and we have run the trough out to the blue water it is time to go fishing.  Fishing in rough sea conditions certainly adds a degree of difficulty to the entire Gulf Stream fishing experience.  Once you get your sea legs under you and can actually make your way around the cockpit fishing your typical calm water trolling spread should produce bites.  The one trick that I have found to be very effective for rough weather Gulf Stream fishing, and this week’s tip of the week, is to add some weight to each rig.  When fishing in a heavy wind many times you will get a strike, and because of all the slack in your line created by the wind you will not achieve a sufficient hookup and the fish will escape.  In order to avoid this scenario I will take between a 4 and 8-ounce egg sinker and slide it onto my main line before tying the leader to the main line.  Then, when letting out the trolling rig I will hold onto the egg sinker in my hand while the line slides through until the lure is about 30 feet back.  Finally I will tie a rubber band around the line below the sinker to act as a stopper for the egg sinker.  Now I have achieved my objective of adding weight to the rig to take the slack out of the wind blown line but I have not taken away any of the performance of my lure.  This windy weather tactic will increase your strike to hookup ratio and help turn those dreaded bad weather fishing days into some of the most challenging and rewarding fishing trips you will ever experience. 

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Scoring a Carolina Slam- originally printed 1999

Scoring a Carolina Slam

By Capt. Brant McMullan

Carolina Slam-  When an angler catches a combination of Yellowfin Tuna, Dolphin and Wahoo.  A highly prestigious accomplishment, the Carolina Slam is most often achieved during the months of May and June.

            There is nothing like the thrill of big fish on the end of your line.  The sound of the reel, the bend of the rod and the ensuing chaos;  all are tell tale signs of a successful day fishing the Gulf Stream.  There’s the Yellowfin Tuna that often run in packs and result in not one but many simultaneous strikes.  There’s the Wahoo who hits and runs with such speed the clicker on the reel wines for relief.  And finally there’s the Dolphin whose brilliant colors, acrobatic leaps and strength leave the angler first gaping in awe then gasping in pain.  Yes, all are fine prizes and absolutely delicious on the dinner table, but a day of fishing which results in the capture of all species is worth noting.  Stand by as I will explain particular tactics pertaining to each species that will put you closer to accomplishing the Carolina Slam.

YELLOWFIN TUNA:

            The basic technique for targeting Yellowfin is to troll rigged Ballyhoo at 7-8 knots.  The rigs consist of 10-12 feet of 100#-150# mono, a ½oz. egg sinker, 7/0 Eagle Claw 9011 hook and a pink or blue/white skirt- I particularly like the C&H Alien and Lil’ Stubby lures.  The preferred water temperature is between 72 and 76 degrees, but a little deviation on either side is acceptable so long as baitfish are present.  Water depth should be 140+ feet deep.  And yes, the baitfish are the key ingredient.  Yellowfin will always be close to food, and there is nothing they love more than Flying Fish.  In addition, if you’ll watch your fishfinder for clouds of bait suspended in the water column, it is a good chance you are marking Squid which Yellowfin happen to also love.  One other note to help you catch more Yellowfin; once you get the initial hook up, continue trolling for at least another 15-30 seconds to allow other Yellowfin in the school to spot your baits, increasing your chances for multiple hookups.

            A tactic that I often use when I see Yellowfin crashing on Flying Fish but not hitting my Ballyhoo is to deploy a spread of natural color Cedar Plugs and Black/Red ¼oz. and ½oz. C&H No Alibi feathers.  I will then pick up my trolling speed to 12 knots and chase the Yellowfin schools.  This technique is very effective for locating scattered fish or chasing fast moving schools that you can’t catch while trolling Ballyhoo.

WAHOO:

Wahoo are a really neat species to fish for because your success in catching them is very technique oriented.  Sure you may catch a few while fishing for Yellowfin or Dolphin, but the terminal tackle and lures you choose to fish with can drastically increase your results.  For starters, you can only use wire as leader material.  Wahoo have teeth like razors and will bite through mono in