An Electric Reel That Fits in Your Pocket

We all have days on the water that are just perfect.  The ones where the weather, the bait and the fish all cooperate and all you have to do is reel em’ in.  Since I’m stuck in Puerto Rico waiting to fly to some other island, I figured it would be a great time to share one of those days with you.

My good friend Brian called to invite my girlfriend Meghan and me on a dolphin trip out of Sebastian on his 31 Contender.  We made plans to arrive at his house around 05:00 and we would leave from there.  Meghan is a fish slaying machine and an excellent diver, but despite her experience pulling on near shore kings, inshore reds and even pickin bugs on a ledge, she had never made a blue water trip.  It turned out to be her lucky day!

We clear the inlet around 06:30 and headed east.  Seas were 0-1ft and we headed into the sun around 40kts thinking of the fish that will soon be hitting the deck. 

Running to the sun

As usual in the routine, about 30 miles out Brian and I start to ready baits and get everything rigged so that we can go lines in as soon as we stop.  While we are bouncing with the bait on the deck, not paying attention to anything over the gunwales, Meghan shrieks, “Weedline!”  We were all admittedly doubtful of her claim to have seen a weedline that we didn’t see, but much to our surprise, as we turn around, we can see that there is a weedline.  This is no normal weedline either.  As far as the eye can see there is a hard defined rip with weed and bait all over it.  We knew it was going to be a good day.  

Brian’s dad Bill made a comment about how nice it is to have someone who is paying attention on the boat while Meghan celebrates her contribution with a ridiculous dance.  (Girls on the boat are a great thing)  Bill drives up on the rip as we put out the lines.  I don't even get my hoo 100ft back before it gets nailed.  I give some line for a few seconds, think about how happy I am that I was paying attention and then slide the drag lever on the Tiagra 50w to strike and start reeling.  The line comes tight and the nice dolphin that thought it had an easy meal shoots skyward.  I yell for Meghan to take the rod and enjoy watching bring her first dolphin to the boat.  She makes short work of the fish and after a quick photo, he heads for the cooler. 

Meghans first dolphin

We get the lines back out and troll for another 10 minutes before the outrigger pops and a dolphin begins the show.  Once again, we make Meghan grab the rod and bring another dolphin to the boat.

Gaffer gets the gaff!

She also reeled in the next one, and the one after that. It was non-stop action all day and we loved it.  Meghan’s first offshore adventure was a huge success and we had tons of fish for dinner. 

I see fish sammiches

I would like to have more days like this, but I’m not sure that they would be as special if there were insane action all the time. Either way, we fish every chance we get and keep trying to have more of those incredible days.