It appears that June is going out as hot as in came in.  Since my last report the billfishing continued to be good here in MHC and we have been fortunate to release another blue marlin, a couple of whites and sailfish.  With any luck July will continue to bring more mahi and wahoo , and the billfish bite will remain good through the summer as it did last year.  July and August also bring more tournaments to the area and we are currently open for the Barta Billfish Tournament  which is a great family event and we are looking for two more anglers to join us at the Pirate Cove Billfish tournament in Manteo.  Pirates Cove is a great release tournament  held when the white marlin fishing is at its best on the Outer Banks.  The parties are also famous themselves….
Summer also brings great half day and three quarter day fishing for Spanish and King mackerel.  These are great trips for a family looking for a day on the water or for those looking to cut their teeth in the offshore fishing game.  Our last two half days brought limits of Spanish mackerel with bluefish mixed in.  The kings are starting to show in good numbers at some of the wrecks and reefs off the beach and the fishing will only improve as fall grows closer.  Many do not realize that fall holds some of the best fishing here off Morehead with wahoo and sailfish being the main staple but the mahi and tuna are not that uncommon.   In my opinion it does not get much better than 10 wahoo and a couple of sails on a cool fall day.
For more information about the tournaments or open days for the remainder of the summer  or fall please visit our website or contact Capt. Shane.
Brad Burton
www.secondtononecharter.com

With the Big Rock behind the Fight N Lady I finally have a chance to compile some pictures and do a quick write up of the past two weeks.  After a busy week of preparing for the biggest Blue Marlin tournament on the east coast the events started Saturday morning as we left the slip with a boat full of ladies that thought that 5:00 only came once a day.  With a lot of current where we were fishing things started out slowly but as the day wore on Capt. Shane found some better water.  Around noon a nice mahi attacked the left teaser then switched to the flat line and began pulling drag off the Tiagra 80.  With everything clear and our lady angler in the chair the battle began against what would turn out to be the winning mahi for the ladies tournament. 
 
Saturday night brought on a great time at the Big Rock party that was paid for ten fold Sunday morning making me very glad I had completed all my rigging Saturday afternoon in preparation for the Monday’s big show.  With lines in at nine Monday morning spirits were high as we set the spread for that million dollar bite.  Around 10:30 I see a bill swatting the left teaser, realizing it is a sail or white marlin I drop the circle hooked dink on a TLD 25 back in time for Shane to jerk the teaser away as I stuck the bait in front of his face.  With a few seconds of drop back the circle hook found its mark and we were “hooked up” on our first white marlin of the tournament.
 
Tuesday brought more good fishing for us as we released another whitie and a sail for 450 points with two more days of fishing.  Unfortunately that was the end of the billfish action for us last week as the drama that surrounded the 51st Big Rock went on with out the crew of the Fight N Lady.
 
As luck would have it our next charter was Sunday after the last day of the tournament and the marlin were chewing!  After a dozen gaffer dolphin we worked out to the deep in search of  something with a bill.  Less than ten minutes after setting the dredge we were hooked up to a pair of white Marlin.  Within an hour of releasing the pair of whites Shane noticed a shadow under the right short rigger.  With grace the blue marlin sucked the sea witch down and disappeared to the deep until I pushed the drag up and he hit the surface greyhounding, dumping the Penn 30 as he went.  With a thirty minute fight and six inches of water in the cockpit and we had the leader on a frisky 300lb blue.  Despite the great marlin fishing, my favorite fish of the day was a 30lb mahi that I hooked on the circle hooked dink and handed off to a 77 year old gentleman.  It was a great battle on the TLD 25 that brought as much excitement as the blue marlin for the crowd from up-state NY.
 
Monday’s fishing was just as good as we caught 20 big gaffers and released a sail fish.  We also had a stud blue marlin appear on the teaser while we were fighting a couple of mahi but he faded off showing us no love.  The rest of the fleet also had great marlin fishing yesterday with the stand out being Capt. Thomas Woods on the Dancin Outlaw with 3 blue marlin and a white.  That kind of fishing is certainly note worthy and what makes Morehead City such an outstanding fishing destination.
 
We have Sunday open and a few days next week so do not miss this great opportunity for some of the the best marlin fishing on the East Coast here in MHC.  
 
Brad Burton

I know it may sound like a broken record but the fishing continues to be red hot here in MHC.  We fished Saturday and Sunday of this past week and had great fishing each trip.  The mahi fishing leveled off a bit but we still returned with 20+ each day and handful of wahoo.  Saturday the wahoo caught me a bit off guard as I had been using mono leaders for the mahi fishing.  The result was several lost fish due to bite offs until I could change over to the piano wire leaders.  With the wire leaders and the planner rod down we spent the rest of the day chasing the speed demons in the shallow water as the boats that pushed out to the deep found great billfishing each day.  It looks like everything is falling in place for another great June of meat and marlin fishing.
 
This week brings rigging and more rigging as we prepare for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.  I spent today making hooksets and rigging our marlin plugs as well as building wind-on leaders and new top-shots.  The rest of the week we will be cranking new line on the 130s, restringing the outriggers, setting drags, and checking the flying gaffs for their date with the money fish.  We have a charter Friday, then Saturday is the Lady’s Big Rock and Monday is when the real game begins.

 

Brad Burton

The Mahi fishing continued to be world class last week here on the Crystal Coast!  We were able to fish Friday thru Monday and each day we returned to the dock early with a box full of gaffer mahi.  Everyday started out with 5 doz ballyhoo rigged on sea Witches or small chuggers and at least 15 “dinks” and very few if any lived to tell the tale.  One of the most memorable times was Saturday when we had a fish on every rod and the rest of the school was trying to tear the teasers from the outriggers.  For the next 15 minutes I was gaffing fish, unsnapping the swivel, putting on a dink, dropping it behind the teaser and handing it up to Shane for him to hook a fish and hand it back down.  To say the least the partys’ got their fair share of cranking each day and often ended with everyone looking at each other as line pulled off the reels as no one wanted to fight the final fish of the day.  Monday brought our first half day of the year and to be honest it was a nice change of pace.  With momma wanting to see the lighthouse and the horses on “Shack” we pointed it up the beach and found good Spanish fishing all the way up to the lighthouse and gave momma some pictures of the ligthouse and the rest of the family some Spanish to pull against.  All in all it was a great weekend of fishing aboard the Fight N Lady with plenty of memories and meat to go around.This Friday is the last day we have open until after the Big Rock  so if you are interested please contact Capt. Shane for details on how to get in on the May massacre.
 
 
Brad Burton
Fight N Lady
Mate
www.secondtononechartercom

The Mahi fishing is at its best right now in MHC!  We were able to make it out several days this past week and returned early each day with a box full of mahi with some yellowfin and wahoo mixed in.  In addition to the great meat fishing we were also to release a white marlin on Wednesday that put on a great show behind the boat and we had a blue marlin do a little window shopping Friday before fading back into the deep.  The mahi have ranged in size from 5-35lbs and often come in waves with multiple hooks being very common.  I have even been able to practice a little Costa Rica bait and switch with circle hooks to get a better feel for them.  With most of our bigger fish coming off the teasers they have taken a beating and are starting to show the battle scars that give them character and more appeal.
 
Sadly, a strong nor’easter has blown into town and it looks like mother nature has given the mahi a reprieve for the next several days but hopefully things will settle down by the weekend.  It looks like we have next Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday open so it you would like to get in on this nonstop mahi madness contact Capt. Shane for details. Thanks to the groups that joined this past week and we look forward to seeing the rest of you while the fishing is still red hot here on the Crystal Coast!
 
 
Brad Burton
Fight N Lady
Mate
www.secondtononecharter.com

This past week brought some of the best “gaffer” mahi fishing that I seen in my short time as a mate.  The wind plagued us again this week and only allowed us to get out Friday but we were able to make the most of it.  With 20-25kts winds out of the SW the seas were a bit sporty to say the least but our party was rewarded for the rough ride by nonstop action.  By 11am we had completely filled the box with gaffers ranging from 10-30lbs.  With the box full, we broke out the 80s and the plugs looking for a blue marlin but the crowd was exhausted and opted for an early return after about an hour.  The total gross weight from the fish cleaner was over 500lbs so to say these guys had some meat for the freezer is an understatement.
 
On another note, we have 4 guys looking to blue marlin fish this Wednesday and are looking for one or two to help split the boat.  Our next open day is Saturday and I believe I have two guys that would like to do a make up and are looking for four more.  After that, it looks like next Tuesday is one of the few open days remaining before the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.  If you would like to join one of these groups or reserve the boat for your party contact Capt. Shane to reserve your spot.
 
Brad Burton
Fight N Lady
mate
www.secondtononecharter.com

Spring fishing continues to pick up on the Crystal Coast and May looks like it is going to bring the fishing that makes this area legendary.  We were only able to make it out Friday then mother nature turned on the fan and blew us out for the weekend.  Friday brought  good mahi and wahoo fishing for the fleet as well as a blue marlin.  Our crowd for Saturday opted to reschedule when face with 25kt winds but the boats that endured the rough seas again caught a load of mahi with a few wahoo.  There were also  two blue marlin released by the fleet.  Due to a cancelation we now have Saturday and Sunday open so if you are looking to get some fresh fish for the freezer or maybe do battle with a once in a lifetime blue marlin the time is now and weekend spots are going fast.  

Thanks for your time and again if you know of anyone who would like to be added to the list or if you would like to be removed please let me know and I will be glad to make the necessary changes.

 

Brad Burton

Fight N Lady

Mate

www.secondtononecharter.com

Spring fishing has turned on here in MHC!  Due to an unfortunate scheduling mishap we missed Thursday  but we were able to pick up Sunday.  Friday we steamed way up the beach to the 900 line chasing a finger of hot water that was rumored to hold tuna.  The tuna again remained elusive but we did find a few gaffer dolphin and a wahoo.  Friday’s fishing wasn’t red hot but we picked at them all day and finished up jigging AJs over one of the wrecks.  Not completely satisfied with Friday’s haul Capt. Shane looked at the Sea View provided by fryingpantower.com and decided to start Saturday by heading down the beach to the 300 line to intercept a pocket of water working its way up from the south.  The long run south paid off right off the bat as we were in the gaffer mahi before I could get the spread out.  All day the mahi fishing was non stop with only a few times where I was able to get the entire spread set.  During the mahi madness the left long rigger pops out of the clip but no one home.  A short drop back and the rod begins to bow and line comes off the reel.  A short time into the fight the fish starts jumping and we realize we are hooked up to a billfish.  After a short fight the Fight N Lady releases the first billfish of the year for the MHC charter fleet; a spearfish.  After the release, the mahi continued to chew and we were treated to a 5 foot mako shark on the planner rod as well as a nice 30lb wahoo. 

With the body of warm water working its way up the beach we ran straight out Sunday and were again greeted by mahi as soon I set the spread.  In the first hour we probably had ten gaffer mahi in the box when the chopper bluefish attacked us with vengeance.  They left no bait or teaser untouched and when the smoke cleared we had seven choppers to add to the mahi.  With plenty of meat in the box we decided put out the dredge and look for another billfish.  Although we were unable to pull off a second billfish for the weekend there were a few caught including the fleet’s first blue marlin released by Capt. Cameron Guthrie on the Impulse.

To sum it up, it was great to finally have good weather and good fishing return to the Crystal Coast.  Tomorrow brings an oil change for the Fight N Lady and a trip on Friday.  As of now we still have the weekend open so contact Shane for your shot at the mahi and another billfish.

Brad Burton

Fight N Lady

Mate

Well, it is Monday night and my girlfriend and I just finished up some Amber Jack tacos and a few Coronas in preparation for the big basketball game coming up.  Yes you heard that right I am eating Amber Jack!  I know what you are thinking but let me tell you, I could have told you it was Mahi or Wahoo in those tacos and you would have been none the wiser. 
 
Unfortunately Mother Nature conspired against us this week and the trips we had booked were blown out and the nice days we could not put a party together.  However, if you will not fish with me I will fish without you!  I was able to make it out Tuesday and Sunday of this past week on two different private boats.  Tuesday I freelanced for Capt. Daryl on the “Fishing Partner” a beautiful 50′ Jarrett Bay.  The troll started out slow but we ended up with a handful of mahi and a nice wahoo.  With a couple of young guys on board we pulled out the vertical jigging rods to give the boys something to tug on.  On the first drop we were on the Amber Jack and it was non-stop action until everyone’s arms were worn out.  Yesterday I fished with a group of guys from my hometown and enjoyed a true “fun trip” for me.  If there was grass on the right long I could tell someone else to shag it while I drank my beer.  We started off the day with a mahi, a blackfin and a handful of kings when we got the call from the “Fishing Partner.”  Daryl had just gone 1 for 2 on blue marlin and another center console was hooked up to one.  With the thought of blues just offshore of us we worked to the deep and replaced the sea withes with Ilanders, Ilander Pros, and Black Holes.  We spent the remainder of the day looking for a big bite that did not happen.  On the way in we stopped over one of the wrecks to do alittle jigging and the AJs did not let us down.  We jigged AJ’s until we lost most of our jigs busted a rod.  I am telling you, those things are a ton of fun and can make a jigging reel scream like a 130 during bluefin season and a rod do a full horseshoe. Though things were  alittle slow yesterday the marlin were a great sign of things to come and we saw tons of blackfin chasing flying fish as we were jigging yesterday afternoon.
 
Thank you for your time, and as always if you wish to be removed from our email list or know of someone who would like to be added please let me know and I will make the necessary changes.
 
Brad Burton
Fight N Lady
Mate
 
www.secondtononecharter.com