Posted by Scott C on 2002 AM:

Deadly Dick and Dad

Went out last night 8/7 with Dad for a little blue, possibly striper action out of Port Jeff. Started off a little rough as the wind was still at about 10 knots from the north. Nice drift though on an incoming tide. Started with bunker chunks with no action for about an hour. Saw some small birds diving closer to the entrance of the harbor and decided to go check it out. I tied on my Deadly Dick and started to jig in about 25 feet of water.
First drop....WHAM ! Nice cocktail blue around 3-4 lbs. Then a huge sea robin. Then another blue around the same size. Ok..I was having fun now ! Dad points out that there are big fish showing on his recorder straight under the boat now....so down goes the Dick. Barely nipped the bottom and on the first crank up WHAM ! and I mean W H A M !!!! Its a respectable fish and it starts to tear off line feeling like a big blue. I can tell this isnt a bass because it was changing direction so much and jerking my pole all over the place. ....I got a good battle going here ! Then the fish rockets to the surface and we get a look at it.....My dad goes "holy @#$# %$#$" !!! and starts to go nuts running around the deck...."its a ...its a *&$%#ckin whatdayacallit" I have never really caught a @#$#%$ whaddayacallit before and didnt know what it was based on the fleeting glimpse I had....then this thing goes tear assin toward the bottom again and strips out a mess of line again ! WOW....these freakin whattayacallits really fight !! Then he finally gets it out......"ITS A @#$%$# SPANISH MACKEREL !!!!! Get that thing in the boat.....I LOVE SPANISH MACKEREL !!" So now I got all this pressure to boat this torpedo.....Let me tell you....this fish was fast, full of energy...and damn strong !! It wasnt huge but it fought like a 10lb blue !!
Finally get it in the net and my dad is practically screaming with joy !!! I was so happy for him........he got a Spanish Mack !
I am laughing my ass off now because I have never seen him so excited over a fish..... well almost when I bagged a 37" bass (first one on his boat) last year......he almost SH%t himself then.....but this fish brought him more joy for some reason....he was even telling other boaters that passed buy....."my son just caught a Spanish Mackerel!" .....how embarrassing !! We had a ball after that celebrating this fish....caught 3 more cocktail blues and a huge porgy with the Deadly Dick. All dad got was my/his Spanish Mack......... one fish that I will remember for a lifetime.....

Thanks Dad !

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Posted by Scott C on 2002 AM:

one more

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Posted by BARRY on 2002 AM:

Scott,
Nice spanish, we used to catch them all the time off the beach when I lived in WilmingtonNC Good fighters and great eating. We used catch Green Bonito at the same time it was a ball on light spin tackle. Just watch out for the teeth on them. They run in schools and follow the warm water and bait keep trying there should be more around tell your dad to try trolling very small "jap feathers" or small "ceadar plugs" FAST about 6 to 8 knots. Good luck. See you Sunday
Barry

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Posted by Scott C on 2002 AM:

Funny thing Barry is that I was not ripping it like everybody says to do....just lucky I guess. Hit the bottom and 2 cranks later......pole was bent in half !

My Dad was saying......."you are not supposed to catch them like that !!" When I threatened to release it he said......."but its ok, I'll still eat it !" We were howling !!!

I have fished the salt since I was 4 years old and never caught one of these.....I was truely impressed with its strength

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Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

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Posted by ADKBass on 2002 AM:

Scott -- nice fish! used to get them as a kid off of Holden Beach NC!

Tight Lines!

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Posted by theole34 on 2002 AM:

scott

great fish. i have heard they are a blast. they make outstanding defensive runs - unlike the steelers. lots of fun.

robbie

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We're talking about "Spring" fishing...... right?

Posted by ChrisChance on 2002 AM:

Great Story

Bravo to you and here here to your dads belly being full of SM.

Posted by paridiseblue on 2002 AM:

great fish. i have heard they are a blast. they make outstanding defensive runs - unlike the steelers.

theole, man you caught me 100% off guard, i spit my coffee out my nose and all over the floor. hooked solid is going to be pissed ,lol

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Posted by NO LUCK on 2002 PM:

Funny!!

I never got one of them but I did hear that they are crazy SOB's. Nice night with dad...Matt

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Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:

Great fish!! Those speedsters are a ball to catch. Story is they can get up to 50 MPH!! And I believe it.

One tip. If you're gonna eat them, bleed them out right away and put um on ice. Makes all the difference in the world.

I usually let um go but truth be told they struggle so hard during the battle their chances of survival aren't very good anyway.

Did you know with tuna (same family) the meat can actually spoil before you get the fish to the boat if you play it too long?

And Barry's right. They don't travel alone. Where's there's one, there's more. Usually a lot more.

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Posted by Bass Rat on 2002 PM:

Nice fish Scott.

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Posted by Scott C on 2002 AM:

JP...Thanks for the tips. I thought to bleed it right away but my father is very meticulous with his boat..... any blood spills and he would have spent more time cleaning it than fishing ! It was on ice instantly though.....Havent heard if it was good or bad...

havent heard from dad in a while either...... maybe I should call him !

__________________
Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

Spawn till you die
ESBA