Welp, guess I dont make the 08 Skunk list!

[Dave B.]

First sucessfull 08 trip.. so the pressure's off now.

I havent fish'd offshore NC coast since I sold my boat, did a little fishin at the end of 07 and spent some time at Jordan at the end of last year, but today was great to be back out at it and with Mike as well.

For some funny reason.. the weather doesnt like me
Mike mentioned a couple days ago about fishin. I didnt hesitate and I was in no matter the game-plan (or weather). So.. of course it's rainy, windy, cold.... ha ha hahaha...

First off.. the water clarity was excellent. Water was beautiful today! I havent seen it like that in a while, so just the boat ride out was great.

Yup, the Atlantic is still there, and yup, she's salty! he hehe...

Fish were more than cooperative. Mike had the idea for flatties, but adapting to changes,, it quickly turned to black sea bass. First few were ok.. we thru back at least 30 somethin fish.. but then we snag'd some nice 15 inchers So decided to hang a little while longer.

My best black bass came when I decided to try different combinations... I started with 3/0 circle hooks, then switched to tru-turn's with my Okuma AV-80 w/ 17 lb Yozuri purple hybrid line and 4 oz egg weight.
I mixed it up using dead bait and gulp tab white/green dealies, then penny color'd 3 inch shrimp gulp. All baits worked.

As a challenge, I grab'd Levi's AV-50 Okuma rig'd with 6 lb Berkley Tourn. line and a 4/0 Tru turn J hook. One of the BSB spit up a rock shrimp, so I put it on a hook and tossed it out. I turn to talk to Mike and Wham! lost everything! So re-rig'd and put on the penny gulp shrimp and that little 6 ft 6 graphite rod doubled over and the fight was on. I knew it was somethin heavy.. but never expected a over 15 inch fat bellied black sea bass!!
That was alot of fun on that light of tackle for sure!

Anyhoo.. long story short... we had a great time. Crappy weather, but that is Carolina fishin.. (at least for me)

Thanx Mike for the invite, had a great time and plan to enjoy a fresh black sea bass dinner tonight! Let's pick a cold day in Feb and do it again!

Oh yeah,, Mike caught this snake/eel lookin thing with a king mackeral lookin head.. I never seen anything like it and I had no clue what it was, but the thing was fat and round and over 3 ft long... I wasnt about to touch it neither! Knowin my luck it could've been one of them billion volt rare sea bottom eel's that you shouldnt touch.. so it got released to do whatever it was doin down there again..

P.s. Mike as you can tell... my hands finally thawed out enough for me to type! Thanx again!