It was gorgeous weather and we caught 4 white marlin. Not a bad report and good way to finish the Labor Day weekend….except that the billfish bite is crazy. Before hurricane Earl ran through, fishing was great with the top boat releasing 57 marlin in a single day. After Earl, it has not slowed down a bit. I think 57 still stands. Boats reached into the 60s this weekend but on overnight trips. For day trips, the highs were “only” in the 40s. Decent numbers of blue marlin, roundscale spearfish, and sailfish are mixed in with the hoards of white marlin making for some interesting slams.
We started just south of the Norfolk Canyon in 500 fathoms. That is where we caught our fish. The fleet (Ocean City, Virginia, and Oregon Inlet) were 15 miles SE of us around 1000 fathoms. We saw fish right away and ignored the calls on the radio (please turn right, we have 6 hooked up…stuff like that) but when we had a lull, I could not stand it and had to make the run. We got there to see an armada of sportfishermen going backwards with marlin jumping all over the place. It was an impressive sight. We promptly missed about 6 fish. The afternoon bite was slower but what a morning they had. The weather looks good all week. I expect they are catching them right now. Might be a good time to just take off work and see if your favorite charter guy has an opening.
Check out these reports and they do not show it all. At my marina, Inlet Station, there are a couple of 20 flag boats right now.
http://ocsunsetmarina.com/fishing_report.php
http://ocsunsetmarina.com/fishing_report_detail.php
http://www.fishpiratescove.com/fishing_report/
http://www.oregon-inlet.com/journal/article.cfm?article_id=2529
http://www.virginiafishing.com/FISHING%20REPORTS/September/September%2006.htm
