The Distance We Travel To Achieve Our Dreams
Have you ever envisioned the perfect trip? You know, the kind where everything just falls into place? The excitement and build up of the trip, days or sometimes even weeks before….. For this weeks entry, I am going to share just that……. THE PERFECT TRIP.
We had been watching the Loop Current as it was far out in the Gulf of Mexico, well beyond the Steps some 160+ Miles from the shores of Saint Pete Beach. It was that kind of pattern that was frustrating as it seemed we couldn’t get an eddy or temp break to come within reach. All of that changed in an instant. We saw our window on a Friday, a beautiful 4 degree break, with Blue and Blended blue water had branched off over the steps 125 nm SW of Saint Pete Beach. We knew that it was go time. The Bladder of the sportfish was filled with diesel, every lure was packed, ballyhoo by the case was loaded. Our coolers were full of libations and food for a few days of fishing far from the shores of Florida. We were off. We steamed west to our anchor spot some 70 miles offshore, this was home for the evening. Why not drop some rods and catch the evening snapper bite while we still could? The night was filled with Mangrove Snappers, Yellowtails and Vermillion snapper. Day 1 success.
We awoke to flat calm conditions, and that feeling of knowing it was going to be a good day. Right from the start we saw life as we pulled our anchor. Flying fish, and bait showers were all around us, so instead of picking up and steaming to the steps, we opted to drop the lures back and troll towards our promised land…. It wasn’t long before the sound of a Fin-Nor Santiago 50wide dumping line filled the air, and the sound of the diesels faded. Steve at the helm, me in the pit, Kraig grabbed the rod…. “its a good fish” was all that Kraig needed to voice to me…. Kraig had the fish turned and started working him to the transom. I knew the fight all too well, and confirmed my prediction when I saw him staying deep and those tell tale stripes were flashing…. WAHOO. I had Kraig walk up the gunnel towards the salon, Leaned out with my gaff and stuck Kraigs first Wahoo. I knew it was going to be that kind of trip.
Not four miles away as we pressed west, the lines all started racing away, and we were covered up with Blackfin Tunas to 25 pounds. One after another, firsts, personal bests and stacks of tunas were hitting the deck. We made the right call to troll the way out. A day into our trip and we were already toting Snapper, Wahoo, and Tunas with just over 40 miles to go to Shangri-la.
We reached the steps around 2pm and the conditions were beautiful. Hard to believe we are 130 miles offshore and its glassed out, the kind of day where you lose the horizon line as it seems the ocean just fades into the sky.
It was game on from here, Teasers out, Dredges out, and a 9 rod spread. I had just laid down for a nap in the cabin only to be awakened by yelling “Billfish, Billfish, Billfish” I jumped up and got to the helm and started backing down as Steve was on the rod. way out on the horizon we could see a fish greyhounding. As Steve got settled in I was able to see that tell tale flash of a large dorsal as it grabbed air. It was a Large Sailfish. With backing down and Kraig on the leader we had this fish landed in a hurry, which is the best way to insure their revival. It was the first Sailfish on Steve’s new boat, and another personal best. measured at 85” and photos taken, This fish was destined for a replica mount.
It seemed we had checked off all the boxes… but one…. And not all that long after that sailfish came and went, that final box was to be checked off in a big way… We ventured a little south of where we hooked the sail, to find a good rip. Another sportfish to our west on the horizon, the reels started screaming again, and before too long we had Mahi jumping and flipping and doing whatever they could to try and avoid my gaff… It was at this point after we boated the first few that I glanced back in the spread and saw a flash on the center rigger….. SNAP, the clip popped hard and a 30 wide started to dump. I handed the Rod to Bryan…. The guy that traveled the furthest to be on this trip. In from North Dakota. He had one dream for this trip. That dream was to catch a Mahi. Before we left the dock, I promised him I would put him on a mahi… As he locked into the gunnels cranking on the fish, I saw it jump way out, and knew I found him the right one.. It was a large Bull. I told him to try not to look at the fish but to settle down and just focus on cranking when he could gain line. The fish came straight up the centerline of the boat, swimming into the propwash making it ever difficult for me to get the gaff in him. I had Bryan walk back up behind the chair, and i took my shot and stuck him right above the eyes and flopped him into the boat. We had done it. 3 Firsts: Wahoo, Sailfish, Bull Mahi, 3 Personal bests, and a Boatload of fish, we turned east and started steaming home with all the boxes checked. Billfish, Wahoo, Tuna, Mahi, Bottomfish. The trip that dreams are made of.
