Tidelines – July 2012
The business end of running a saltwater fishing newspaper, as well as some general obstacles and obligations, has kept me from the quality fishing time needed to write a fishing-focused Tidelines column with the accompanying (gratuitous) “Gary” fish photo.
I may not have found a full day to fish this past week (isn’t that how it works with small business ownership), but the heart of the Fisherman’s Post staff—Max/Editor and Joshua/Sales—freed up Sunday to go offshore out of Wrightsville Beach and release a sailfish. An article on their trip will be in next week’s issue in an effort to highlight the hot sailfish bite in the area, a fishery that has been steadily growing in popularity, as well as to promote the upcoming Cape Fear Sailfish Classic.
Obligations kept me from putting in even a half day on the water that Sunday, but I did have the open window, though, to hit the Masonboro jetty rocks early that morning. Unfortunately, fish luck has not been with me lately, while obstacles have abounded, and I think I dropped down only four unmolested baits before the morning coffee kicked in and I had to (very quickly) head back to the dock.
This Sunday mishap was preceded by a fishing trip that failed to come together during my turn at the Outer Banks distribution run. Donnie Davis, of DOA Charters out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, and I were set to sight cast to cobia on the second day of my trip to Hatteras, but as I was finishing up my workload on day one Donnie called with the news. His starter had failed the week before and he had missed a couple of trips, so he wanted to skip our fishing day together (a non-paid trip) to take out some returning clients (a paid trip).
Donnie’s a good friend and I’m cheap, so the decision was easy. Our trip was postponed. I think he ended up catching six cobia that day. Maybe I should have guilted him a little more instead of giving him my blessing to indefinitely shelve our trip.
Obstacles kept me from fishing on that Friday with Donnie, and obligations (both Fisherman’s Post and family—remember, I have a new born in the house) kept me from the Saturday reschedule.
And now at Fisherman’s Post we find ourselves deep in preparation for our inaugural Morehead City Inshore Challenge this weekend (July 20-21). The detour to Town Creek Marina, the host site for the event, is finally cleared up, so everyone should have an easy drive out to join us for the weekend festivities.
On Friday, tournament participants will be enjoying free pizza and drinks (compliments of R.A. Jeffreys, Anheuser Busch, and Sweetwater Brewery). And then on Saturday we invite everyone in the community out to watch the weigh-in (starts at 1:00, and ends at 4:00). You’re likely to see numerous red drum measuring right up to the 27” size limit (and hovering just above and below the 7 lb. mark), and it’s anyone’s guess on what size flounder will win that division.
Carolina Beach is proven flounder country, but something tells me that a monster flatfish, the biggest we’ve seen this year in tournament fishing, will be coming to the scales at Town Creek Marina on Saturday. It may come from the port wall, or it may be pulled off of the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Maybe someone brings one in from AR-315 or AR-320. Or perhaps the double digit doormat will come from the Fort Macon rocks.
If that monster flounder is weighed in alive, then it will be released (and qualify for our live release bonus cash payouts). If it isn’t weighed in alive, then there are obstacles and obligations. The Fisherman’s Post staff will overcome that delicious flounder obstacle by being obligated to fry and eat it.
And hopefully (for all of us) I will have a successful fishing trip before next week’s Tidelines column and be able to pen a more intriguing editorial. I’m even prepared to give up my morning coffee to bring a quality fish over the rails.
