60 mahi today, in the mix were a 44 lb. mahi, (60 inches long), and 

several 37-to low 40's.   ----Capt. Brian on the Run Off

More Montana

More bears......but not as close as my encounter the other day. 

 You wouldn't believe what I had to do to get these shots.  They don't call them mountain goats for nuthin.   Anna's quote of the day:
"Baby, don't fall, nobody will believe that I didn't push you"

 Too cold for me at Logan Pass, actually fresh snow on the ground, heading to lower altitudes and latitudes today, enough of winter and I'm ready to get a line wet.

Congrats to Anna, we just got word that she has been selected as one of three North Carolina representatives on the South Atlantic Fisheries Council.   She will also continue to serve on the NC Marine Fisheries Commission.  

Montana

 Glacier National Park has some of the prettiest scenery that I've been around.  Pictures don't do it justice.

















And there is plenty to do.......like mountain climbing

             .......or hiking through the woods

Or just sitting on the porch and watching the lake.  Late yesterday afternoon I saw the menhaden popping pretty hard, but nothing was busting in them so I didn't even give fishing a try.

And from the looks of this cat, I was underprepared

I was also underprepared when I met this guy coming on to the trail.   Anna was on the "big hike" with the rest of the tour group.....I thought that 7 miles through the mountains was a bit much for me, so I mosied on back to the lodge.   No need for bear spray, what are the chances?  I flashed a couple of quick shots so that  if they found the camera they would know what happened. 

Lucky for this guy he decided that he didn't want nuthin to do with me and we headed down the path in opposite directions.

 Do you know the difference between black bear turds and grizzly bear turds? 

Black bear turds are full of berries and fur from little animals. 

Grizzly bear turds are full of those silly jingle bells that hikers wear to let the bears know that they are coming around the corner and they smell like pepper spray. 

Now that joke was just unbearable. 

Drum Report

This pic came in from Capt. Gary yesterday, he witnessed the catch and the previous bait busting that was going on in the river.  Also reports of drum showing up around the inlets and a big gathering in the ocean.   More reports of tarpon heading up the coast and of fish being jumped in the sound. 

As for me, arrived in Montana OK, just trying to keep Anna from wrecking the car avoiding all these prairie dogs. 

.......and a bucket of bass

Few triggers in there also.

and the offshore report from the Run Off

A 500 plus lb. blue marlin release along with 28 gaffers and a couple of bailers today,  yesterday 30 mahi, day before 59 mahi......so on and so on...---Capt. Brian

Hope to get out there again

It was really, really, really good grouper fishing a little ways off the beach today, not to mention the big bass, triggers, 15 pound snapper and a gaffer dolphin that swam too close to the boat.  I've learned a lot from Capt. Ray, thank you Ray.


 It'll be a little choppier tomorrow, laying down over the weekend....but I'll be heading out West with Anna to check out a fly fishing lodge in Montana.   No worries, if you want to get out on the water, guides like Capts. Ray Massengill and Chris Kimrey are ready for you in the ocean, Capts. Joe Ward and Gary Dubiel in the river and Capt. Greg Voliva will head either direction.   As we roll into July, Capt. Brian Harrington has a few openings on his center console or offshore on the Run Off, if he's booked, we've got some other great offshore charter boats that are available.   

If you want on the water, give us a ring or shoot us an e mail to get you out there.

bait balls, TARPON and dolphin

Consistent bait ball action along the beach to the west and east, but not many cobia in them, plenty of sharks and TARPON.  That's right tarpon and lots of them.  As my crowd informed me yesterday, "you can't eat them", so we went looking for something more palatable......bass and groupers.  If you kill a tarpon, you should be forced to eat it.

Dolphin action has fired back off in a big way offshore.......heck, with this pretty weather, I may even get out there again and beat my head against the grass.  

In Costa Rica, big tunas and lots of them.......

Excellent forecast

Really shaping up to be a pretty week, some of the Down East Guides, including myself, have openings on Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Honey do-s

Getting them done today, meanwhile, this is what Capt. Chris and Capt. Brian Harrington were doing.

Chris had an amberjack trip, some knuckleheads wanted sore arms, they quit counting at 30 reef donkeys.

Capt. Brian had some guys looking meat, they got it.   3 anglers got their limits of:
groupers (both gag and red), sea bass, triggers, silver snapper, then headed a little offshore for their limit of dolphin.

I'm pulling a double tomorrow.....

More from the Neuse

"Good mixed bag on the Neuse.  Plenty of trout, with a few nice flounder and black drum.  Excellent top water striper fishing out of New Bern.  Piles of little pups....looking good for fall!!!" 

From Capt. Gary

They're still here

This 50 pounder won't be making it any further up the coast.  Even saw a couple of bait balls yesterday.  Lots of albies around, yup, albies, not big ones, but plenty of them.  Spanish fishing is good as well.  Bottom fishing is on fire as well as the aj's.  Weather forecast is beautimus.   Got a few honey-do's for Monday morning, but I'm up for a boat ride and am open Monday afternoon or Tuesday in case anyone wants some pulledge.                                                                                         

Neuse River Mixed Bag

Trout, flounder and pups.....and plenty of them.  These pics are from Saturday's trip with Capt. Joe Ward.  Excellent light tackle reports are also coming in from Capt. Gary and Capt. Greg.

Before the blow

After catching bait, beating our way out there and getting on anchor, we didn't fish long, but it was really good.  No problem with a limit of nice gags plus the throw backs, couple triggers, bucket of bass and 4 cobia.....all in less than 2 hours.

Don't think that we'll make it out there this weekend in that blow that is in the forecast.

Southern Sportsman Frank White

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/fishing/story/11183259/

Frank White who pioneered the Southern Sportsman television show passed away last week.  Although I only met him a couple of times and never spent any time on the water with him, he was an inspiration to me and countless others.  

"Do yourself a favor, take a kid fishing"  ------Frank White 

Future looks bright

My buddy Raiford sent this pic and quote from Currituck Sound:

"Catching a pile of these. A few 12" trout. "

Capt. Gene Wooster reported large number of small trout from the Neuse today, they released over 50 in just a few hours, good news for this fall fishing....

weekend pics

I wish that I could claim credit for some of these pics......I can get a little credit with putting them on the fish, great trip thanks to Capt. Chris Kimrey, Capt. Greg Voliva and myslef.  Thank you Kenan for the shots.                                                         

Hair cut

I was sporting some pretty shaggy facial hair up until a week ago.  Started to get aggravating so I shaved.....then everything was lopsided so I got the top chopped.....I don't even recognize myself in the mirror.....I think that I'm partial to the wild look.

Dolphin fishing

After picking up a few tricks from a day on the Run Off last Thursday, Culley charged out in his bay boat for a good day of dolphin  fishing the next day.  Yes, it was slick calm with zero forecast of thunderstorms and yes he had friends in bigger boats that were keeping an eye on him and the skies.  

I got inspired and charged out there yesterday.....one day of it and I'm over it.  That's a long ways to go in a little boat.  Apparently the grass scattered, temp breaks changed and all the weekend boats plucked away the hungry ones.  I'll leave the dolphin fishing in the hands of those who do it on a regular basis.  If you want dolphin fishing, we'll make sure that you are with the right guys......here or in Costa Rica, which is where my offshore experience is going to be centered. 

Ended where we started

Finished up in the Papagayo tournament just where we started, 4th place.   Here in NC, dolphins, groupers, amberjacks and bass.   Good fishing and good eating.

Open Dates

Hi Folks,
George is open June 11, 13, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23. There has been plenty of grouper/black sea bass. If anyone would like to chat about a trip give me a call at 252-671-3474.
Thanks
Anna

meanwhile in Costa Rica

Dragin Fly went up to Papagayo (northern Costa Rica) for a tournament and they are in a 4 way tie for first place with 8 sailfish releases, lost the daily by just a couple minutes.....

Forecast for the weekend

http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AM/158.html

Looks like it's going to be a pretty one.....and I got a report of a decent wave of cobias coming this direction.....yeah right, we'll see if they get here, glad that there is some other stuff out there to catch.  Let us know if you want to get a last minute trip.

It's all happening again....

Just a day after the blow, wow, what a difference a day makes.  It hasn't affected Capt. Mitch Blake up on the Albermarle Sound, this is his striper report:

" Past several days have produced well over 100 fish half days on the Stripers.  Fly or casting this is the best NC offers!"

Dolphin fishing fired back off the beach with Capt. Brian on the Run Off and we got a few gags, plenty of bass and big aj's.  Capt. Greg got his cobia again today, with several other bites.

spring nor'easter

I'm over all this wind.  I  anchor up, chum, change baits and wait for a bite all summer long.  I love the fishing out of MHC, but am not wild about being stuck tucked up along the beach staying out of the wind......or maybe it's because yesterday I was waiting for the bite and didn't get it......but Greg got his......and so did Chris.   Little better forecast today.

Things to do other than fishing

In addition to playing with the monkeys, the fishing ain't bad, they raised 20 sails today on the Dragin Fly, getting ready for the Papagayo Tournament this weekend. 

Another blustery day on the ocean today, but we did catch some full grown sharks and one keeper cobia.

After the blow...

....dolphin fishing fell off a little offshore, but the bottom fishing has been on fire.  Limits of nice gags and big bass, scattered amberjacks and sharks.....also some big sharks on the beach, Capt. Greg and Capt. Chris each hooked and landed BIG tiger sharks while cobia fishing......few of those around.