OI Disaster

[Kayak fisherman]

Went out of OI this weekend. Took some friends. There were apparently wildfires in NC and the smoke carried out almost to the Gulf Stream. Been out of OI many times on charters (with some of the same people I took this weekend), but this was the first time on my own boat. I followed some dudes out of the inlet, and zipped out to the Hole and the Point areas. Beautiful, calm ride with lotsa whales and mammal-dolphins. Went 53 miles to the two hotspots and all the other boats were there. Put the outriggers up and hung a 6-line spread (ReelDraggin' Tackle stuff). I was trolling around with everybody else. Had ballyhoo but hadn't added that into the mix just yet.

We were there! The fish were there! The timing was right! Boats were catching them. Everything was perfect. All the gear was mine and was prepared by me, from the boat to the hooks, and everything was just right. I even re-calibrated my new radar I had installed last year and it worked fine. I told the guys with me to get their fighting belts on and they could catch the first tuna/mahi mahi. I was going to put them on the fish. It was one of the happiest moments in my life.

Then, it happened.......... One of my longtime friends, a nice but fairly stubborn guy on occasion, turned into the biggest nimrod I have ever been around. He basically told me he didn't agree with the concept of trolling for fish and he was gonna show me how to do things.

Mind you, the only gear he brought was his hat and his lunch. He's never had a boat and he really doesn't own any fishing gear (beyond the basic crap you get at Target. Not WalMart. TARGET). He commenced taking down my rigs and very obnoxiously starting arguing about I didn't have a clue how to fish. We got into a big argument (no, no one was drinking) and then........

Anyway, I'll spare the details. I'll just say this. The fish were there, we were there (I had just been off HI a few weeks ago and we caught 'em on the same setup) and we would have come home with a boat full of fish.

This weekend was one which I wish had never happened. It was the perfect weekend totally ruined by someone I thought I knew very well, only to discover how idiotic and stubborn he could be. I cannot begin to list the careless things he did and did not realize he was doing. I bit my lip and just kept telling myself I would never allow that kind of situation to occur again.

[rbr]

Live and learn, however I don't hesatate to point out who is Capt. on my boat. Keep that in mind.

Bert

[Russ D]

Damn man that really has to suck. That's why the captain is in charge no matter what. You know that far out at sea you where within your lgal rights to make his ass walk the plank!

[Raymond56]

Sorry for the bad day ya had man shame wanst nuther boat ya could have thrown him on. Live and learn i guess just one them thangs

[b8 boy]

Sorry to hear of your bad trip. I know personally I am eager to learn others techniques so I watch learn and if the day is a failure(not due to lack of fish around) I wouldnt fish with them again. To argue with the captn is mutiny and un called for. I guess he will get the point when you dont invite him the next trip. Hope you next trip is your best ever. Martin

[Kayak fisherman]

I know I must sound whiney, but you guys just don't know how heartaching it was.

I was SOOOO overprepared. My boat is SOOOO well-equipped. I've got every lure and rig I could find. I have logged over 900 miles on this brand new boat and have worked out the kinks. Until reading your responses, I thought I had everything Bass Pro and Boater's World and Bishop's have to offer. Not one of those stores sells a "Plank". I'm definitely gonna get one of those.

It's just not in my nature to invite someone to go fishing (even though he was BEGGING to go) and then tell him "Hey, it's MY boat, so you just shut the f$#k up." However, it IS in my nature never to take him again. I told him how mad I was out there and it bounced off him like it was nothing. Never taking him again will give him the message.

Still, I'm gonna get one of those planks.

By the way, after I gave up on fishing, I cleaned up the boat, hit the kill switch on it (not a great idea, I know, but my boat's new so it'll restart) and I did what any pissed off fisherman would do. I jumped into the water and cooled off. The pussies I was with forgot their bathing suits. MAANNNN, we were in the DEEEEP water and you could see forever. That water's crystal clear. The next time your out there, you owe it to yourself to just stick your head in the water and see what it looks like.

[Reel Draggin Tackle]

Bummer ... you were armed and ready! The year has just begun, every trip is an opportunity to learn. Some lessons are tougher to swallow than others, but they are lessons none the less. Chalk it up and head back out, there's still fish out there.

[GAW]

This may be the most ridiculous thing I have ever read on a fishing site---- are you 6 years old?---- you're whinning in public because you don't have the nads to control your guest and you didn't get to play with your favorite toys, is that right?----- What do you want from the readers of this thread???-- a shot of testosterone or kiss on the forehead and hot cup of cocoa?

[Kayak fisherman]

A kiss and cocoa. Hey, that sounds like a good name for a boat. "A Kiss and Cocoa". Seriously though, I just needed to vent. I don't have the nads to do what I should've done because I run into the guy where I work. Your testosterone, kiss & cocoa comment is well taken. I'll get back to talking about fishing and take my crying for some chick website.

By the way, all the reports I heard on channels 68 through 79 mentioned they were using blue/white (or white/blue) and Pink/white (or pink/white) slammers or skirts. Lots of Mahi, yellowfin and several bigeye. Also, I heard of several marlin hookups, and saw some of the biggest cobia (caught inshore obviously) that I have ever seen.

Also, the coolest setup I've seen lately was a 20ft or so center console with a 10 ft fiberglass stepladder mounted in the middle of it as a tuna tower. That thing was great. It's probably not a new invention, I just haven't seen it before.

[Russ D]

Yeah they run blue/white blue/pink/white almost like a religion down there. It works so they don't change much.