Catching ringtail and mackerel on the open ocean

Josh started reeling and the pole took on a nice bend. “Oh yeah this is a big fish! This is a big fish! I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get this in myself!” said Josh.

I watched him fight the fish while Lori recorded him. This all started with a desire to again experience the thrill of fishing mahi and amber jacks from my youth many years ago. But at that moment I realized watching Josh battle this fish provided me with greater joy than battling a marlin would have, so many decades ago when we caught mahi after mahi after mahi, instead of a marlin. Whether Josh landed that mackerel or not, the thrill of feeling that pull of a legitimate saltwater fish stays with you. It draws you back.

I learned quick that two knee replacements take away your sea legs. The Atlantic wasn’t cruel that day, it was what captains called “decent.”

The day before, Captain Dave Tully called us into the boat’s cabin as the sky started to turn dusky and told us that his 53 foot sport fisher could handle the seas and that it was doable but the waves where really strong and he was available tomorrow. We said, “so are we.”

“Where did we get such intelligent people, Captain Jarrett?” he asked Captain Jarrett Peek. This trip started out with Captain Jarrett, but the transmission on his boat failed and his new 44 foot Yellow Fin wouldn’t be delivered for a couple of weeks, so he set us up with his friend Captain Dave Tully, who willingly delayed his vacation long enough for us fish blue water.

Josh landed a bluefish shortly after he lost the much bigger fish, and Lori recorded the whole thing. Shortly after, up came another bluefish. A short time later Josh started pulling in a fish he said felt bigger. Josh felt the fight of the fish epic. I feel it took just under three minutes to land a large ringtail. “That’s the largest ringtail I’ve ever seen,” Captain Jarrett said. “You ever see one bigger, Captain?” he asked Captain Tully. “I don’t recall seeing one bigger than that,” Tully responded. “It’s a big ringtail.” Captain Jarrett felt that redeemed him from accidentally bringing a banana on the boat. Bananas are bad luck on fishing boats. Captain Jarrett also owns an electrical contracting business, and when we rescheduled the morning prior, he grabbed a few things for a lunch. He got busy and didn’t eat his lunch and forgot about the banana. Captain Tully spied the banana before Captain Jarrett could toss it overboard and the ribbing began. “I’ll never live this down,” he told me.

I got in the chair and reeled in a couple nice Spanish Mackerel. A wonderful day at sea just off shore from the famous Fort Peck of the Civil War siege of Fort Peck. In fact, at times we fished over a wreck of a sunken Confederate war ship from that battle. The name of Captain Dave’s boat is the Wild Rover III, named after the Wild Rover, the only ship to escape the Union naval blockade from that siege. A lot of history in the Kure and Carolina Beach area.

Jarrett explained that May through September provides the best fishing in the area. Six hours in shore trolling trips sometimes catch 160 fish. We didn’t quite catch that many since we were a little early - the end of March. Captain Jarrett showed us a picture of an 875 pound bluefin tuna that he caught last summer from the same spot we fished.

We put Josh back in the fishing chair and right off he found himself in a battle with a large Spanish Mackerel. He battled that fish for five minutes until the line tangled with another and the fish got pulled off. Josh finished off the trip with another bluefish.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have come to both the worst and best time of the day because the trip is over,” Captain Tully called from the helm. “I’m going to run in along the beach to finish off your cruise.”

An amazing fishing trip; it was an amazing day. The kind that the memories stick with you for along time.

If you’re in the Carolina Beach, NC area and looking for great fishing, check out Captain Dave Tully and Captain Jarrett Peek. You’ll be happy you did.

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