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More BFT's on the dock- we had 3 brought into the OIFC today.  1 was 78 inches, 1 was 80 inches and 1 was 65 inches.  There seemed to be a good number of fish hooked today, mostly in the 60-70 inch range.  The bites that occurred were between the Shark Hole and the Knuckle buoy.

I hung at the dock today as I worked at the OIFC to get my wheels back on after vacation.  However, many fishermen were on the water after BFT's and they had relatively good luck.  Dale McDowell, Jason James and Hector Mendez brought in the first and only BFT to the OIFC- a nice 78 inch BFT that is boxed up and will be headed to market.  For their catch, they have won the weekly $500 Bounty sponsored by Sloane Realty, Resort Brokerage and Consulting, Cooke Realty, Ocean Isle Beach Realty and Williamson Realty.  Thanks to sponsors and congratulations to Dale and crew.  They were fishing aboard their 23 center console Dalee at Lighthouse Rocks when the fish bit the downrigger.  My estimate is there were around 6 fish caught to sell today and at least that many released that were under the 73 inch mark.  Bites occured at the Knuckle buoy, Shark Hole, 15 mile rocks and the Lighthouse Rocks.  Stay tuned for more.....

I've dreamt it a hundred times and yesterday it played out just as I had envisioned.  Barrett and I left the OIFC aboard the Carolina Contender at 5:30am and headed offshore to the Shark Hole-- we had high hopes for Bluefin Tuna as I had landed an 84 incher there the day before and several other boats had bites.  We set out and lulled into a daze when at 8am the long top line went to screaming.  Barrett and I worked in tandem and within 20 minutes a 76 inch Bluefin tuna had been subdued.  At this point we were excited at the prospect for the rest of the morning- it was early and we were the only boat out there.  We reset and just knew they would bite- but they didn't.  We worked the Shark Hole area til 10am and then decided to go looking.  I pointed the bow to the West toward the 70' Hole.  We reached the hole by 11am and marked some good bait and there were birds, but no bites.  We decided we'd work to the North across the 65' hole area and then pick up and leave.-- still pleased with our catch.  At 11:30am Barrett starting bringing in the long line and I the downrigger when the other downrigger rod bent over and we were back on.  Again we played through our steps and 20 minutes later a second Bluefin- 80 inches- would come aboard the Carolina Contender.  We were both shocked and excited and knew we had done something great.  Of course, the limit being 3/day, we had to set back out again- vowing to only go for an hour.  I was cleaning the second fish on the deck of the boat when again the downrigger bait went off.  We looked at each other in disbelief- 2 fish in less than an hour.  I called back to land to my cousin Brian Aycock who jumped aboard the It Works with a couple of rods and rigs and headed out to us to give it a shot-- you don't get an opportunity like this very often.  Barrett and I did battle and this time we applied some pressure and I had the fish on the leader in 25 minutes.   I muscled him up and Barrett hit him with the gaff, which this fish was not willing to accept as the end.  The fish rolled straight up and put it in high gear, throwing Barrett to the rail- the first grip on the gaff slid up the gaff and luckily hung on the second grip.  The tuna turned under the boat and put a serious "offset" in the big gaff, but Barret hung on until I finally got the lip gaff in.  A third and final fish for the Carolina Contender- another nice 80 inch Bluefin and much fatter than the other two.  Meanwhile, as we were doing battle, Brian had set out and believe it or not, he hooked up too, in only a few minutes.  Barrett and I got the 80 incher on board then I pulled over the It Works where Barrett jumped across to help Brian with his fish.  30 minutes later after an intense battle, they boated a super nice 90 inch Bluefin-- Can you believe it!!!  By this time it was 2:30, the wind and seas were bigging big (5-7 foot) and we were slap wore out.  I plugged in Shallotte inlet and it was 17 miles away-- that is what I have been waiting for for over 10 years-- A world-class fishery right here in our back yard-- Not Morehead, not even Southport-- IT IS HERE! 
All Bluefin were caught on Horse Ballyhoo using either crystal colored skirts or pink colored skirts.
Anyway, my dream has been fulfilled and I'm very excited with the prospects for January.  Fortunately for us (I think) we didn't hook any of the super giants yesterday, but you've read the reports-- You might hook a 65 incher or you might hook a 110 incher, you just don't know.  By the way, I think it was reported but Brian Strickland and Bill Andrews brought in a 65 inch Bluefin to the OIFC on Tuesday to collect the "Bluefin Bounty"-- the Bounty will again start over on next Monday- thanks to sponsors of this $500 prize for the first Bluefin of the week to the OIFC- Sloane Realty, Resort Property Management, Cooke Realty, Ocean Isle Beach Realty and Williamson Realty-- If you are planning to visit Ocean Isle to try this fishery, these companies are ready with open arms.
So, that's my story, believe it or not.  These fish were caught on Dec 22nd- my birthday- and a fine gift it was and further proof that you just don't know.  These fish are on the move, but they are following bait.  Find the bait and you may well be near the fish.  By the way, the Bluefin were full of Grey Trout.  That means all your Grey Trout holes are prime time.  Lighthouse Rocks, 15 mile rocks, 390/390 and even closer inshore- we were fishing 59 degree water.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  I'll be off the water for a few days recouperating and working on a new dream to fulfill- although I've got to say my appetite has been satisfied.  What a day!
Also, not to leave Capt. Roger, Capt. Jon and Capt. Lyndon out-- they were covering the Morehead City scene on the ShowTime and landed an 78 incher- thus the fish are scattered up and down the coast-- you just got to get lucky!

Congradulations to Capt. Lyndon on his first Giant Bluefin Tuna. The 77" fish was caught out of Morehead City on 12/21 while fishing with Capt Roger and me. The bite didn't happen up there today & the weather is getting bad, so I guess we'll have a couple lay days just in time for the holiday festivities.  Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Stephen and Michelle Hunter of Asheville sent me this picture of last Sunday's 850 pound, state record bluefin tuna.  A big fish, no doubt, but the one Barrett hooked and broke off the same day down here would have eaten it like a sardine.  All I want for Christmas is a custom OIFC bluefin stand-up combo.  Happy holidays, everyone.

Bluefin on the OIFC docks- boated an 84 incher this AM while trolling near the Shark Hole.  There were a few other bites scattered between there and the Knuckle buoy.  Weather looks tough for a few days and then holidays, but we'll be back at'em after the holidays.  I think the fishing is going to get cranked up for the Bluefin, so be sure to stop by to get geared up.  I've got in a new shipment of Bluewater Candy heads- Crystal, Pink and other hot colors-- horse ballyhoo, harnesess, gaffs, our custom rods (which are really doing great for many fishermen) and much more.  Have a happy holiday and good luck for the New Year.

OK folks- touching base.  I've been pretty hard at the fishing now for the past week or so-- all this pretty weather is too hard to pass up on.  Early in the week we would tuna fish in the AM and then head off to King or Grouper fish.  We smoked the Kings a mile or so off the Tower one day including many nice fish over 25 pounds.  Pictured below is Capt. Lyndon with an estimated 38 pounder he caught and released.  We jigged bait at the Tower and then moved off a bit and caught the Kings 4 at a time.  It was a good time and nice to hear a reel go off after trolling countless hours waiting for that one big Bluefin bite.  The next day Capt. Barrett and I decided to do a bit of R&D as we again jigged bait at the Tower and headed offshore to 200-250 feet where we anchored and bottom fished around the Black Jack hole area.  We had a decent catch of Grouper, Triggerfish and lots of AJ's.  It's a fishery worth further exploration, but electric reels are a must.  Then I headed out for a Bluefin excursion to Morehead to fish the ShowTime while Barrett and Roger held down the Ocean Isle side.  We fished Tuesday and hooked up at 8am on the long top line- crystal colored head on ballyhoo.  The fish smoked off a couple hundred yards as Henry Gales and Ricky Danford cleared lines.  I backed the boat hard to the fish while Ricky collected line and within 5 minutes we were on top of the fish.  We then suited Ricky up in his Braid harness and he went to work hoisting the Bluefin into submission.  Within 10 minutes of Ricky hoisting and me circling the fish, the leader cleared the water.  I grabbed the leader and brough the fish to boatside where Henry laid the steel and the deal was done.  I have to say, it was a bit melodramatic.  Either we're getting good, this fish was wimpy, Ricky was super tough or a combination of all-- Also, I had visions of 100 inch monsters and this fish didn't quite live up to it.  Anyway, the fish measured 84 inches and dressed out at 285 pounds, which is 80% of total weight of fish.  We reset lines, but did not get another Bluefin bite.  And now I'm back at OIB in the OIFC looking at a pile of paperwork and the such that I so don't want to get in to.  I've got a charter tomorrow for Bluefin out of OIB on the MacMarle'n, so I'll report on how that goes.  Stay tuned for more and have a happy holiday.-- Capt. Brant

I just got off the phone with Bryan Strickland of Guy C. Lee and he has captured an estimated 200-250lb bluefin tuna.  He will be at the OIFC docks around 2:30 to collect this week's bounty.  I'll report more details and pics as they come in. 

And I just couldn't resist taking some sunset pictures over a slick calm ocean...

---Capt. Squid