Report: Reel Draggin' Tackle Aboard the Muff Diver 11 July

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 07-12-2007, 05:44 AM

Reel Draggin’ Tackle Fishing Team Report – July 11, 2007
Fishing today Aboard The Muff Diver

Location: Ocean City, Md. - Sunset Marina
Boat: 1984 46' Ocean Yacht
Captain: Aaron Rogers
Mate: Wayne Bradford / Ken Lahr
Reel Draggin’ Tackle Crew: G. Benhken, Don Noyes, Doug Poole, George Hussy, Larry Lindenberger, Jonathan Newell

Details: Left the Ocean City dock at 5:00am headed for the area around the Hambone, about 45 miles ENE of Ocean City. Our plan, get our blue fin limit and push into deeper water and look for yellow fin. Around 7:30 am we set out a spread consisting of:
- 2 lines off of the out riggers Way Way back with Skirted Hoos
- 2 long lines of the riggers with Blue/White trackers & Hoos
- 2 Short lines with green Slammer Bird Bars
-1 Short shotgun Rainbow Bird Bar, running between and behind the short riggers.
- 2 flats that were changed out often, and included Hoos, Jets, and the RDT Sport Dredge

Shortly after lines went in we had a triple knock down, all big fish. One came unhooked, a 46" BlueFin Tuna went on ice and the other was 45" so back he went. Lines in, another pass and another triple knock down, all too small. Re-Set the trap, another pass and this time we only get two lines down, one comes unhooked and the other yields a 47.5" BFT, and on the ice he goes. We are off to a really great morning. The marks are down deep and the next two passes do not yield any hits. We quickly rig a Carolina Planner to our Reel Draggin' Tackle Rainbow Dredge and send it to 40 feet. As soon is it hits depth off it goes and a small 43" BFT is released. We had two more hook ups on the dredge as we pushed off shore looking for YellowFin Tuna and Mahi. Once out of the BFT zone and into the YFT zone, we changed out our spread just a tad. We added another spreader bar, brought in the dredge and put the RDT Draggin Slayer Jets out on the short lines. It didn't take long and we picked up a single Yellow Fin, estimated to weigh about 30#. Re-Set the trap and another pass and the Long Line rigged with a Blue/White Tracker takes off. Is seams fairly light compared to the others, then you see the line coming up and holy crap ... a Sail Fish is doing the tail walk about 50 yards off the transom. We immediately clear all lines, the leader mans ready, the camera mans ready and the crew executes a very quick and flawless Sail Fish release with crew pictures. The trap get re-set and back we go, this pass yields a larger (est 50#) Yellow Fin. Re-Set, and back we go, this time the spreader bars are covered with Mahi and the next two passes yield four nice size gaffers.

It was a great day to be aboard the Muff Diver. The final tally, 14 solid bites, 1 Sail Fish Released, 2 Blue Fin iced, 2 Yellow Fin Iced and 4 Mahi iced. The water was warm all over, 71-74 degrees. The marks were deep and at times it took the dredge or the bird bars to entice them up. The Way back lines took the Blue Fin, the Bars took the Yellow Fin and Mahi. The Sail Fish took a Blue/White Tracker running right next to the Green Slammer spreader bar.

Thanks Capt Aaron and Wayne, its always a pleasure to be aboard your boat.

C-Lure · 07-12-2007, 06:34 AM

Thanks for the report Ken. Sounds like you kept the reels singin'. Nice release on the Sail. Bob

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 07-12-2007, 09:47 PM

Thanks Bob. Hopefully we can repeat or top that day next Friday. Joe Riley will be the Skipper when we go out.

RI Popper · 07-13-2007, 09:19 AM

Great Report! I'd love to get out there how was the surface action looking?

Armand

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 07-14-2007, 06:41 AM

Not much surface action. The BlueFin Tuna were all deep and we had to work to bring them up. We probably could have had some Jigging action but the trolls were producing and we were testing our new Sport Dredge, which got hit all three times we put it out. The weed lines have not developed yet. I expect much more surfce action in our canyons in August when the seed lines develop.

Bob & Mag · 07-14-2007, 07:25 AM

Great report. Thanks for posting !

stormy c · 07-21-2007, 12:59 PM

Folks I was lucky enough to be on this trip, I come from those there parts and my wife and I travel there every summer. I have been on many a skunk (tuna) trip but this was a great trip. Looks like reel draggin tackle has got their act together and along with this boat and crew it made my vacation. The tuna was fantastic that night, if I can figure out how to post pictures I will, or I will send them to Ken to post. Looking forward to next time. Larry

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 07-21-2007, 09:58 PM

Larry,
It was a pleasure to have you aboard and the crew of the Muff Diver is humbeled to know that we made your vacation. Feel free to email me the pictures, lahrken@comcast.net

We look forward to having you aboard again.
Ken

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 07-27-2007, 01:50 PM

Here is a link to a bunch of pictures from this trip. Thanks Larry for getting these.
Ken
http://www.reeldraggintackle.com/Cha...07_Report.html

RI Popper · 07-27-2007, 02:10 PM

That's Beautiful Pat. I wish I was there!!! Nice pics and fish

Armand

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode