5/7/2008-Big Blues on Topwater!

[GanzAndere]

Beautiful morning when we launched from Harker's Island -- light fog on the water, and the water off Cape Lookout was smooth as glass. Water was extremely clear and there was barely any noticeable wind. We patrolled the area looking for birds working the surface, but found absolutely no activity nearshore. Finally I noticed that a large blue followed my TopDog to the boat, so I got him on a subsequent cast with a big Storm Saltwater Chug-Bug. Great fish -- ca. 28" long. Figured out the big blues were roving the area in small packs -- couldn't find any schools. Began to catch 2-3lbs blues off and on, and later managed to nab a huge 32" blue on a Super Spook, later a 34" monster on the ChugBug. The 32" fish jumped several times -- it was astonishing for a bass fisherman like me to see this enormous fish explode out of the water, shaking his head as he jumped completely out the water!

Not that many fish for the entire day, but got 3 of the biggest blues i've ever caught -- and all on topwater. We kept the first few of the day, then started throwing 'em back -- didn't have room in the cooler!

i knew the big blues were in the area, and had also seen a video someone posted here or elsewhere of catching blues on topwater -- so when nothing else worked in the clear water, i mimicked their lures and retrieve, i.e., a popper/chugbug-type lure with which i would kick up as much noise and create as large a splash as possible. Most of the blues would come to the boat shadowed by 2 or 3 others of the same size -- but rarely caught other blues in the same spot.

photo of the 32" blue i got on the Super Spook attached.

// joel