Tissy Furnes
11-05-2006, 05:46 PM
Got in 2 1/4 days down at Harkers this week (11/1-11/3). My first trip of what I hope will be many. Went down with my friend Shultzie in his RV and got a hook up at Calico Jacks. Wasn't the only hook up we would experience during our stay.
You Harkers regulars should recognize this view.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing008.jpg
First day we lucked into finding a bait ball. What a site -- albies slashing everywhere, the bait swirling like mad to escape, a shark wallowing in the midst. Good news for us the ball wound up under our boat. A few other boats cruised in to share the fish. Interesting, when the ball was under the boat, the albies tended to slack off. Back the boat off to expose the bait and they would start popping. You didn't want to put the ball out there so long that it would disappear or get completely eaten, just long enough to stir the albies and get some shots, then let the bait come back to the boat for shelter. I shot some video footage that once edited will be really neat to see.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing003.jpg
It was really cool to watch the albies feed in the clear water up close. But it was cooler still to catch them. Popped my albie cherry on this fish. By the end of the day I hit double figures.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing001.jpg
Another one off the ball.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing005.jpg
Second day was spent chasing up and down breaking fish. Definitely tested my casting ability. Still, numerous shots and a few that I made good on. Below is a regular grade albie. Caught my best fish later (14 lbs) on a long cast to quick moving fish. Alas, no pic. Had one bigger than that flash at the fly in close the day before but I couldn't close the deal on too much slack line.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing009.jpg
Last day brought big north winds and only a couple hours fishing and bobbing on waves inside the hook. Had a couple shots at very fast moving fish but no connects. Some good action supposedly happened down toward Atlantic Beach but it was too far a haul in too rough weather to make the trip. No matter, we were very happy with our week.
Special thanks to guides Stick Sandlin and Brian Horsley for working hard and putting us on fish. Fantastic trip and I can't wait to go back.
You Harkers regulars should recognize this view.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing008.jpg
First day we lucked into finding a bait ball. What a site -- albies slashing everywhere, the bait swirling like mad to escape, a shark wallowing in the midst. Good news for us the ball wound up under our boat. A few other boats cruised in to share the fish. Interesting, when the ball was under the boat, the albies tended to slack off. Back the boat off to expose the bait and they would start popping. You didn't want to put the ball out there so long that it would disappear or get completely eaten, just long enough to stir the albies and get some shots, then let the bait come back to the boat for shelter. I shot some video footage that once edited will be really neat to see.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing003.jpg
It was really cool to watch the albies feed in the clear water up close. But it was cooler still to catch them. Popped my albie cherry on this fish. By the end of the day I hit double figures.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing001.jpg
Another one off the ball.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing005.jpg
Second day was spent chasing up and down breaking fish. Definitely tested my casting ability. Still, numerous shots and a few that I made good on. Below is a regular grade albie. Caught my best fish later (14 lbs) on a long cast to quick moving fish. Alas, no pic. Had one bigger than that flash at the fly in close the day before but I couldn't close the deal on too much slack line.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g33/sebastianokelly/2006-10NCFishing009.jpg
Last day brought big north winds and only a couple hours fishing and bobbing on waves inside the hook. Had a couple shots at very fast moving fish but no connects. Some good action supposedly happened down toward Atlantic Beach but it was too far a haul in too rough weather to make the trip. No matter, we were very happy with our week.
Special thanks to guides Stick Sandlin and Brian Horsley for working hard and putting us on fish. Fantastic trip and I can't wait to go back.