The Gulf Stream and mother nature make for a unique combination as far as the elements are concerned. Add or subtract El Nina and La Nina usually gets you slop. We got a lot of slop today. There are many Sailfish around if you can see them through the rain, wind and lightning. 1 for 6 today in that regard. Some of the better boats had a dozen or so with a White or two tossed in. We’ll just need to try harder!
There was great action amongst the fleet yesterday with billfish! We’re seeing more life and activity which is awesome for the Pirates Cove Big Game Tournament around the corner. The Pelican released three Sailfish and three White Marlin yesterday! We’re looking forward to a successful tournament next week! Kicking it off with the Alice Kelley on Sunday with anglers Summer Bracher, Stephanie Moore and Esther Vaughn, these women ROCK by the way!! Tuesday starts the Big Game Tournament and we’re bringing out the guns for a huge win! Bring it!!
With the weather pattern stuck, the last few days have been less than stellar weather-wise. There is light on the horizon in the form of a cold front. We hope it makes it. Pat is filling in for Lee in the cockpit allowing Arch to take longer naps on the bridge. Ken Braxton, his two sons and friends caught 2 out of the 5 White Marlin raised today. The one Sailfish seen escaped unharmed. Something is going to happen soon. Stay tuned.
Steve Wozniak has caught more types of fish than 99% of us. Today on board the Pelican, in less than stellar conditions, he checked another species off on his bucket list. In his quest to catch every kind known to man, Steve’s count stands at One thousand One Hundred Sixty One (1161) The latest being a White Marlin. One of one seen along with a very wet Sailfish. Steve that is an impressive and amazing number! Thanks for letting the Pelican crew help you out.
Tom Postalwait and his son Neal helped Arch and Lee today. Just a couple of billfish seen and one Sailfish caught. They put a couple of gaffer Dolphin in the box. The Wahoo’s seem to like the Pelican’s Hawaiian eye teaser. Has in eaten good. Arch will be digging into his stash this evening. No worry Tom. It’s all inclusive. Come on cold front!
9 year old Jackson Bolling decided his White Marlin last year was not enough. Today he returned on board the Pelican to add a Sailfish and 50 lb pound Tuna to the count. Otherwise fishing slacked off a bit. We need a cold front!
Another one for the short list. 10 year old Charlie Tucker of Charlotte, North Carolina has a story to tell. His summer break included catching his first Blue Marlin (light tackle) on board the Pelican today! Arch estimated it 125 pounds. Congrats Charlie! Send us a picture if you have one. His crew mates also caught one White Marlin. The other one was not hooked. Same for the 3 Sails. A similar day amongst the fleet fishing for Marlin.
The wind has picked the last few days. Spotting and catching has been a challenge. In spit of the excuses the Pelican and crew have managed to release a couple of Whites out of the half dozen seen. The box has held a few Tunas and gaffer Dolphin as well. We are hoping it lays out a little as tournament season approaches.
In an effort to crank it up a notch John Seskos, his son and a couple of friends challenged Arch and Lee to do so. While the day started out with a flubbed triple play. Score Billfish 3 Pelican 0 , the next few innings improved considerably. When it was all said and done the final score was Pelican 1 Blue Marlin, 2 White Marlin and 2 Sailfish! Final Pelican 5 Billfish 3. Congratulations to all onboard the Pelican for the only Grand Slam reported amongst the OBX fleet today.
The Pelican and a few other boats from the OBX fleet made the long run (40+ miles) to the Marlin hole today. The trip paid off as Tom Thompson caught and released 3 White Marlin. They raised 7! Rouge Wahoo wreaked their normal havoc but no lures or teasers where sacrificed. A few Blue ones mixed in with a scattering of Whites seems to be the trend.
