Huge Whiptail with "The Babe"

Linesider's B/G · 08-21-2007, 11:27 PM

"The Babe" being Capt.Bill Brown. A nickname Capt. Bill has earned for himself being known to point to the fence, as he did on this trip.
The Billfish left Lotteryville Marina, Westerly RI, 4:30AM on Sunday, 08-19-07, with high hopes on board. A short ride into Fisher's Island sound and we had a 1/2 dozen live blues before sunrise.
We've got enough bait, so Capt. Bill says "I've got a spot where I think I could get you guys a nice Thresher. It'll be one nice bite that were looking for or if you want I'll put you on Blue sharks all day." The ride was going to be a little longer for the Thresher, but with Bill on your side and flat seas, no worries.
We took off to the south southeast of Block and found clean green water over structure. A no name spot on the chart.
A skeptic in the group may not have been happy with the longer ride and the pressure of a skunk was on! We get set up and have a nice fast drift, in flat seas. Bill's magic potion is going over the side. Two and Half hours into and nothing doing. "No signs of fish, no birds, no whales, no life" mentions the skeptic. The Babe replies, "somethings going to happen."
Moments later the live bluefish is screaming, Bill sets the hook, Fish On! What is it? No one knows, but its big. The fish is making nice runs and staying up high in the water column. The first 15 minutes go by and no one knows what it is yet. The fish gets closer to the boat and is going deep. Bill was pretty calm, but everyone else is dying to know what we had. The fish comes up, a big, big blue shark...it turns and runs peeling line and does the same several times before its brought to leader boat side and controlled. The fish is dehooked after a bit of effort is expelled.
These guys are sharkers, so they have seen them before and weren't here for big blue dogs. But they all agreed, that shark kicked some a**!! We all need to stop talking smack about blue sharks because some will break your back and then pull your leaderman overboard.
One bait in, the second goes in and then goes off. Thresher!!! Everybody yells it at once, the Thresher tail is up on top smacking the water and there's no question....its ON!!!
Now Capt. Bill's excited, and you can truly see his passion for this sport. He has seen more Threshers than any captain around and it seemed like his first one. Everyone on board was all buisness, orders were given and followed....clear that line, move that bucket, reel, reel, where's the fish, get the gaff ready.
A couple of fast hard runs and you see the power. The fish made a nice jump and a picture may have captured it. A lot of tail slapping up high. Capt. Bill ran the boat on this fish and used the boat to beat the fish. I have heard him talk of this, but to see it done is amazing. This fish was beaten, boatside and gaffed in 15-20 minutes. No way could it have been done without running on it.
The tail measured exactly 6'feet and the body was about another 6. I would guess about 225-250, I'll try to post a picture, but the picture just doesn't do it justice

Thanks to Bill's son and Mate Pat. On top of being a real class act, hard working guy, he has knowledge, experience and a maturity level well beyond his age. If he stays in fishing, I would expect to see big things from him in years to come.
Pat also has cat like reflexes. He dodged the whiptail as the Thresher was gaffed boatside, allowing the tail to come only inches from his head.
I think he may moonlite as a ninja when not working on the Billfish.

Heres a pic of the crew and the guest of honor.

John

ARCTEKJim · 08-22-2007, 02:05 AM

nice trip.....nice fish......jim

Roy · 08-22-2007, 05:07 AM

Gotta love those whiptails

Great report

74Formula233 · 08-22-2007, 07:03 AM

Nice fish! Was talking to Bill yesterday about your trip and it sounded like a good time!

Congrats!

Andy · 08-22-2007, 10:39 AM

Great report congrats very nice thresher!!!!

08-21-2007, 11:27 PM	#1
Linesider's B/G NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 7	Huge Whiptail with "The Babe" "The Babe" being Capt.Bill Brown. A nickname Capt. Bill has earned for himself being known to point to the fence, as he did on this trip. The Billfish left Lotteryville Marina, Westerly RI, 4:30AM on Sunday, 08-19-07, with high hopes on board. A short ride into Fisher's Island sound and we had a 1/2 dozen live blues before sunrise. We've got enough bait, so Capt. Bill says "I've got a spot where I think I could get you guys a nice Thresher. It'll be one nice bite that were looking for or if you want I'll put you on Blue sharks all day." The ride was going to be a little longer for the Thresher, but with Bill on your side and flat seas, no worries. We took off to the south southeast of Block and found clean green water over structure. A no name spot on the chart. A skeptic in the group may not have been happy with the longer ride and the pressure of a skunk was on! We get set up and have a nice fast drift, in flat seas. Bill's magic potion is going over the side. Two and Half hours into and nothing doing. "No signs of fish, no birds, no whales, no life" mentions the skeptic. The Babe replies, "somethings going to happen." Moments later the live bluefish is screaming, Bill sets the hook, Fish On! What is it? No one knows, but its big. The fish is making nice runs and staying up high in the water column. The first 15 minutes go by and no one knows what it is yet. The fish gets closer to the boat and is going deep. Bill was pretty calm, but everyone else is dying to know what we had. The fish comes up, a big, big blue shark...it turns and runs peeling line and does the same several times before its brought to leader boat side and controlled. The fish is dehooked after a bit of effort is expelled. These guys are sharkers, so they have seen them before and weren't here for big blue dogs. But they all agreed, that shark kicked some a*!! We all need to stop talking smack about blue sharks because some will break your back and then pull your leaderman overboard. One bait in, the second goes in and then goes off. Thresher!!! Everybody yells it at once, the Thresher tail is up on top smacking the water and there's no question....its ON!!! Now Capt. Bill's excited, and you can truly see his passion for this sport. He has seen more Threshers than any captain around and it seemed like his first one. Everyone on board was all buisness, orders were given and followed....clear that line, move that bucket, reel, reel, where's the fish, get the gaff ready. A couple of fast hard runs and you see the power. The fish made a nice jump and a picture may have captured it. A lot of tail slapping up high. Capt. Bill ran the boat on this fish and used the boat to beat the fish. I have heard him talk of this, but to see it done is amazing. This fish was beaten, boatside and gaffed in 15-20 minutes. No way could it have been done without running on it. The tail measured exactly 6'feet and the body was about another 6. I would guess about 225-250, I'll try to post a picture, but the picture just doesn't do it justice Thanks to Bill's son and Mate Pat. On top of being a real class act, hard working guy, he has knowledge, experience and a maturity level well beyond his age. If he stays in fishing, I would expect to see big things from him in years to come. Pat also has cat like reflexes. He dodged the whiptail as the Thresher was gaffed boatside, allowing the tail to come only inches from his head. I think he may moonlite as a ninja when not working on the Billfish. Heres a pic of the crew and the guest of honor. John Last edited by Linesider's B/G; 08-21-2007 at 11:42 PM. Reason: adding pics*

08-22-2007, 02:05 AM	#2
ARCTEKJim User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: VOODOO GRILLE MYSTIC Posts: 2,805	nice trip.....nice fish......jim __________________ custom built t tops/towers/hardtops etc www.arctekmarine.com CLINTON, CT

08-22-2007, 05:07 AM	#3
Roy User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Home Posts: 483	Gotta love those whiptails Great report __________________

08-22-2007, 07:03 AM	#4
74Formula233 User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Exeter, Rhode Island Posts: 3,318	Nice fish! Was talking to Bill yesterday about your trip and it sounded like a good time! Congrats! __________________

08-22-2007, 10:39 AM	#5
Andy User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 866	Great report congrats very nice thresher!!!! __________________ http://cthuntingnshooting.com/

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