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Question for any fisherman in the house

pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
edited July 2002 in General Discussion
In August, have a chance to go out on a charter boat to fish for Tuna & Wahoo off of the Virginia coast (Wachprague, VA.). I am an avid fisherman but I have never done anything like this before. Has anyone here ever done this off of the Eastern coast? It this a Worthwhile trip and does anyone have any advice/pointers on what I should expect?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Gun control is hitting your target
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Comments

  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    Well if you dont have your sea legs you better take some dramamine or you can expect to get sick. Other than that you should have a blast, like any other charter or guided hunt, I would try to contact a few former clients to get some feedback before you purchase unless you dont mind just going on an expensive boat ride and getting drunk. lol..

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I fish out of the Ocean City, MD inlet. You will be fine if you follow some simple rules.

    1. Take dramamine or bonine the night before and then when you get up.
    2. Alcohol on the stomach in the a.m. with the diesel fumes and waves is not the greatest, try to limit it the night before.
    3. If you feel queesy, stare at the horizon, it does not move like your surroundings on board. No matter what, do not go in the cabin!! Sea sickness is a function of the inner ear which is affected by your seeing things changing in relation to yourself, such as the boat pitching and rocking.
    4. eat something like bread for breakfast, no grease.
    5. Ginger ale is a good stomach calmer as well, it works even better flat.

    have fun, the tuna showed up last week and are in the 25-100lb range and larger.

    I won't be suprised to see you guys at the Jackspot or Twin wrecks (about 21-26miles out). That is unless you are trolling the canyons or the hotdog. Canyons are 65-75 miles and the hotdog I think is about 31-35 miles out. Good luck.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • concealedG36concealedG36 Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    You'll have a blast! Remember that some of those tuna can get HUGE, I hope you have good arm strength!! :)

    Have fun!
    G36



    Gun Control Disarms Victims, NOT Criminals
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  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    I fished out of Wachprague (The Flounder Capital of the World)
    while visting my son stationed at Parramore USCG Station just off shore.
    I can tell you that you can be in for a rough ride outside if weather conditons are not good.

    But there is plenty of great fishing inside.
    There are boats for rent at the city dock.




    I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man

    Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ocean City, MD is Great!

    Miles of Boardwalk, Great bars on the Boardwalk, Lots of Rides on the Pier, fishing at the inlet(there are more than one inlet)near the Pier with Parking, Surf Fishing, French Fries cooked in Peanut Oil, all within walking Range. And a Great White Shark under Glass on the Boardwalk. Marlin Tournaments and Great Golf courses popping up every year.

    Did I Mention I LOVE Ocean City Maryland?

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JustC...thanks for the useful information. My friend is a doctor, he is going to write me a script for some type of motion sickness patch that you put on your neck, have you ever heard of this?

    concealed...guess I better get in shape,maybe try reeling in my 98lb labrador for conditionong

    22WRF...Did you do any good when you fished there?

    Ruger...I can't believe you like anything that doesn't involve Rugers, unless you carry that P95 in your tackle box for the really big ones!!!



    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's a fun ride, but no guarantees they'll find the fishing spot. I've done this twice, on a large boat (say 30 people) and on a small charter boat where me, my dad and my brother were the only passengers aboard. The big boat was a half day out and back, a passenger was seasick the whole time, and we caught nothing.

    The small boat was of course a choppier ride but more fun. Nobody got seasick, and of the 3 of us fishing I'm the only one who caught two, yes two, fish -- one a species of small porpoise (not the bottle nose dolphin) and one a 3 foot long Kingfish, as I recall. You may be "fishing for" Wahoo and Tuna, but there's no telling what will bite, right? Chances are 50/50 you'll come back with something else, which might be okay.

    It was fun. Take sunscreen for the small boat as well as a seasick pill as prophylaxis. My brother was jealous that I was the only one to catch fish, but there's no telling the fish whether to grab anybody's bait. If you go out expecting a good time for a half a day or so and maybe, maybe not catch much, you'll have a nice boat ride. The fish are a bonus. That's my experience. Your mileage may differ -- your captain may know where to fish...... Heheheh!

    By the way, it only takes one or two to have a good meal when they're decent ocean-size fish and that Kingfish made a good main course for a whole family dinner. As for the seasick part, let your waist be the pivot -- in other words, I found it helpful to let my lower body go with the boat and keep my upper body on an even keel with the horizon. Good luck...

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

    Edited by - offeror on 07/10/2002 10:56:03

    Edited by - offeror on 07/10/2002 10:58:25
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  • 22WRF22WRF Member Posts: 3,385
    edited November -1
    pigeoncreek1

    We always caught fish there.
    The channel coming in from the ocean is very deep and many types fish that you would think can only be caught off shore come in the channel.
    Including Kings, and Dolphin. From the old Coast Guard Sta out is deep water and you never know what you might catch.

    Inside if you a you are running your own boat be careful there are lots of shallow areas that can sneak up on you.



    I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man

    Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of All Those that Threaten it
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Offeror and 22WRF....Thanks for the Insight

    I just hope I dont get too seasick, I hate to puke

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • BullzeyeBullzeye Member Posts: 3,560
    edited November -1
    I spent the holiday weekend fluking in Long Island sound and off Montauk point up in CT.

    Had a tough time keeping bottom due to the wind, even with a 16 oz. sinker, but it eventually calmed down and I caught my 6 fluke limit all three days. Fluke's great eatin' let me tell you what.

    Caught me a 20-inch shark too. Little bitty guy, but damned if he didnt put up a fight like a welterweight cinnamon bear. Ate the bait and the rubber squid lure and bent my circle hook into a pretzel.

    I tossed him in the live well with the fluke, but the little * started chewing on the fluke and thrashing around, so I had to put him in his own bucket and cover it up with a board. Then he knocked the bucket over....

    I eventually had to club him senseless with the butt of a fishing gaff. Didnt feel very good about that, though. I almost felt like he deserved to go free for all the effort he was going through.

    Gave some mighty big steaks for such a little thing. Just perfect for my teriyaki barbequed shark-kebobs.

    I let ya'll know how they turn out.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    pigeoncreek1, I have never used the patch but if it is presc., I am sure it works well. I just use the Bonine from the store.

    If you are fishing on a TRUE tuna trip, and not some half day deal, you will catch fish. I mean a sport fishing boat with a tuna tower and twin diesels in the neighborhood of 42-52 feet. If that is what you have chartered, any good captain down there will be able to put you on some fish. And, if it is a true tuna charter, you can expect to be no less than 25 miles out, I would bet it will end up more in the 40-60 mile range. You will be looking for 76 degree watew temperature. They will hook up in 72-74 degrees, but boy when you hit them in the 76 degree water, they will be everywhere. Don't be suprised to have 2 or 3 fish on at one time.

    You will probably be "chunking" which is basically chopping up butterfish and throwing the chunks every so often in your chum slick behind the boat. Your line will have another piece on it, and you will be feeding the line out to match the other chunks in the current. When they get there, you will know it. If you don't chunk, you will be dragging lures. That is a less seasick way of doing it because you are making foreward headway, but if you get into them chunking, sometimes it is straight chaos for 1-2 hours. Have a blast my friend, if you "hook up", it will stay in your blood for years to come. Just take a whiff of that pure salt air every so often while you are out there, and take a gander at the clarity of the water. Makes you want to go out every day.

    RugerNiner,...how often you at the beach? Give me a yell when you are headed that way, I'm 1/2 hour away (with a boat)

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

    Edited by - JustC on 07/10/2002 16:32:49
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bullzeye

    Sounds like you had a good trip, I hope mine goes as well as yours did! I caught a 25" hammerhead in the Gulf this winter while in Florida....coolest damn thing I ever landed, took me 45 minutes to get it in(I was using light tackle)! I'd like to set the hook on an 8 footer sometime!

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JustC;

    I was living in Lancaster, PA. back then. I moved to Jax, Fl. two and a half years ago. But I'm thinking of moving back to PA. I miss the season changes.

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Gotta love good 'ol PA

    I like to vacation in Florida but I love fall & winter too much to head south. I would like to take a crack at hunting a gator, ya know a good spot?



    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Golf Courses.


    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    pigeoncreek --
    Landing and seeing a hammerhead would indeed be a great thing, even if one let it go after having a good look. But I have eaten shark, and it can be wonderful, briefly grilled. As for your fishing trip, your enjoyment will probably be highest if you can avoid "expectations." Expect to have a good time, and I'll bet you'll have a great day on the boat. Just let the fish be fish, and you know how they are....

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That hammerhead was a very interesting catch. I had no choice but to release him being my hotel room was not equipped with a kitchen. I will have to try it sometime.

    I know above all how fish are..they have their own agenda, independent of what you think they should be doing. I'm sure I will have a great time regardless. If anything it will be better than being parked at my desk working, right?

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • Rob GreeneRob Greene Member Posts: 102 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've only gone deep sea fishing one time in my life and had a blast doing it! A group of us got together and chartered a lobster boat out of Bar Harbor and made a day of it. I didn't bother taking dramamine or any other motion sickness stuff and was just fine. If you have a problem with the motion sickness, though, I would recommend doing something about it before you go. One of the people in our party was sick all the way out, all the way back and all the time we were out. 24 miles is a long way to be sick. Came back to port with plenty of cod and pollock. Just reading the posts makes me want to head down to Bar Harbor and do it again!

    **It is your right to posess a firearm. In case of questions, please refer to ammendment 2, United States Constitution.**
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I didn't mean to harp on seasickness or anything, just thought I would extend my cheap insurance policy for having a good day on the ocean. It has been stated already, that it is a long ride if you are feeling bad. An ounce of prevention.................!! Last time I was, would have to be about 17 yrs or so ago.

    Let us know how it turns out, oh yeah, and if you have a couple hours left over, you could always slide up here and I will show you how to marinate and grill a tuna steak. LOL You know, because I am a nice guy and all that.

    RugerNiner, let me know if ya are vacationing up this way.


    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk

    Edited by - JustC on 07/11/2002 11:54:48
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  • pigeoncreek1pigeoncreek1 Member Posts: 217 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JustC,

    I didn't think you were harping, I appreciate the information from everyone being its my first time. I'm sure everyone's pointers will help me have a more enjoyable trip...

    I'll bring the Tuna(hopefully) and some cold beer!

    Gun control is hitting your target
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    call ahead and let me know your beer of choice, I have 192,294 cases right outside my office door. It's the least I can do with you bringing tuna steaks and all.

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • RugerNinerRugerNiner Member Posts: 12,636 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    JustC;
    I'm seriously thinking of moving back to PA. If and when I do I'll look you up. I can get to OC, MD. in three hours by going from PA. to MD. to DE. to MD. again.

    Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
    Keep your Powder dry and your Musket well oiled.
    NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
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  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    The reason for the script ( I was told ) is that the active ingredient is a cocaine derivative. I used 1, and didn't like it. It made me jittery and nervous and induced a constant thirst. If you can, try one 24-48 hr before boarding to see how it affects you. I took mine off after 4 hr. If you're on a private charter you'll probably be trolling on the surface and moving, which will lessen the chance of seasickness. A good sized tuna can wear you out in about 10 min. if you try to hoss 'im in. Let it run and keep the line tight pointing the rod tip at it. I'm sure the crew members will give you some good pointers on how to fight 'em. I hope you experience the fun of watching a Wahoo jump as the tuna don't seem to be so inclined. If you are on a party boat ( which I doubt ) they will be looking for schooling fish on the surface and drifting through the school. If so, set up your spot on the stern and get there early.

    Edited by - Oneshy on 07/12/2002 10:53:45
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