UPCOMING WEEK

Im at Hatteras working on the Ferry and so far so good concerning my back... And its good to be back. Its a lot of fun! Its a lot of fun! I dont see me doing any fishing this week, but next shift I will be bringing some tackke!

Next week when I get home, I will be looking to run some fishing trips... I am open for business on May 30 and 31, plus June 3 and 4. Please call me if interested. Missing work has put me in a dilemma and I need to earn some money... And I promise you, lack of fishing, improving health, and eagerness to please my clients will result in 100% effort to not only catch fish, but flat out murder them. Im looking for some MONSTER catches. For Real!

****June 1 & 2 are booked****

NC Fishing Citations

Reminded of the 17-18 lb Bluefish that recently escaped by the boat, I thought somebody out there might be interested in seeing a list of the NC Saltwater & Freshwater Fishing Citations that I have managed to collect in my fishing career. It all started with a 66 lb Amberjack that at my clark spoon on June 24, 1988....

Salt:
Amberjack, Shark, Barracuda, Crevalle Jack, Tilefish, Sheepshead, Red Drum, Black Drum, Dolphin, Sp Mackerel, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Bluefin Tuna, Sailfish, White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Sea Bass, Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, At Bonito, False Albacore, Triggerfish, Porgy, Red Snapper, Grouper, Spot, Sea Mullet, Pompano, Gray Trout, Flounder, Cobia, Striped Bass and Speckled Trout

Fresh:
Largemouth Bass, White Perch, Bowfin, Blue Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Chain Pickerel, Redfin Pickerel, American Shad, Hickory Shad, Flier, Green Sunfish and Pumpkinseed

What a Nice List..... I can't concentrate on conquering the Freshwater list.... In order to finish off my salty quest, I needed that Bluefish. The minimum weight for Bluefish used to be 17 lbs. I caught quite a few 15 and 16 pounders, but since they lowered the minimum, a 15 pounder is hard to come by... As far a Tarpon goes, I've caught plenty in Florida, but never put in the effort here in NC to catch one. Seems like I would have bumbled into one over the past 25 years, but I never managed to get my hands on one of the few that I did encounter! That leaves 2 tough ones! First, there is Bigeye Tuna and you pretty much have to be in the right place at the right time and get lucky... Off Oregon Inlet.... A couple years ago a boat right beside me pulled it off. Five strikes and Five Bigeyes between 150 and 225 lbs each... While we hooked baby Blackfins...My number never came up. Finally, a 3 lb Croaker in the 21st century off NC is like finding a Unicorn... But I did catch a 2 lb 10 oz Croaker 3 years ago on a jerk bait casting for Puppy Drum.... So who knows... I always promised my beautiful ex-wife Meredith if I ever caught them all, I'd quit fishing.

May 21 Cleared to Return to Work

The worst period of My Life is coming to a close and I am about to return to my old job and my old life.... Hopefully, I wont fall into any of my old bad habits! The Downward Spiral that started on Dec 19th, accelerated on March 1st has run its course and slowed to the point that I get get back on and attempt to start this thing spinning in the right direction. Upward!  Back to Hatteras. Back to the Ferry. Back to being a Fishing Guide. This period of my life will never be forgotten..... I've had a great Physical Therapy crew over at Beaufort Physical Therapy. Ive had the steroid injections. I've got the education.. I so am ready to get out there and try and see if I can do this without hurting myself! Bring on the Ferry. Bring on the Fish.

Also, I haven't told my Legion of Fishing Followers..... On May 16th I had the worst possible thing happen to me... I missed a golden opportunity to land a 17-18 lb Bluefish. Oh Lord, it was a Citation Opportunity of a Lifetime. I sightcasted to him from the Tower with a bucktail and he grabbed it. I watched the whole thing from above. I battled him for 45 seconds... Unfortunately, he was never hooked, just had a mouthful of chartreuse hair. Finallly, on a jump he ripped the hair out and I watched him swim away, spitting out globs of hair as he hauled ass.... I was absolutely devastated...... After 24 years of chasing the dream of catching all the NC CITATIONS..... After collecting 570 Total NC Citations for 33 species.... only 4 species to go and Bluefish is one of them.... It was just as bad as Dec 19th.........It was just as bad as March 1st.........

May 16 Bluefish Frenzy & Missing Cobia

Capt Chris took BJ Swain out today for a Cobia/Bluefish trip and he definitely fulfilled half of the promise. Last year, I took BJ, and we caught 10 Cobia on bait and lost a monster... It was a great day, 10 out of 11 on Cobia bites!! This year, everything is different... From my back to the fishing! So here's how it went...... The boys actually caught a net full of Menhaden so things were looking good for bait fishing. However, they decided to go sight casting first and unbelievably, they found 12-15 Leatherback Turtles and every single Turtle was cobia-less.... Two years ago, finding a Leatherback Turtle in May or June off Beaufort Inlet was an automatic Cobia.... This year, it just aint happening... The crew did find a monster school of Chopper Bluefish off Cape Lookout and they hammered them... Casting into a 1000 Bluefish that weighed from 7 to 10 pounds each, you couldn't miss. It was awesome action and they threw all the junk on my boat that nothing else would bite, and it was a bite on every cast! Between the Turtles and the Bluefish, the day slipped away. They finally tried bait fishing late in the afternoon and caught one measly Shark. Another terrible Cobia day in a terrible Cobia year.... Total Catch for the Day: 15 Bluefish from 7-10 lbs and 1 Sharpnose Shark

May 12 Happy Mother's Day and a Largemouth Bass on the Fly

Today I was catching food for my pets (an Oscar named Napoleon, a Bluegill named Little Sid, a Pumpkinseed named Jeffrey Dahmer, and a Algae Eater named Jeremy) and I nailed a spunky Largemouth Bass on my 3wt fly rod and a popping bug.... The aquarium fish are pulverizing misquitofish and mummichogs. The Oscar gets bigger every day. Total Catch for the Day: 1 Largemouth Bass


Also, Tomorrow is my FINAL STEROID INJECTION. Hopefully, this little chapter of my life is nearly over. I know things may never be the same, but I certainly hope that I will be deemed WELL ENOUGH to return to work.....

May 11 Sheepshead of the Century and Giant Bluefish in Shallow Water

Miss Jennifer went out today with Capt Chris at the helm for some sun and some excited yelling and screaming... I rode along as an observer and potential date in the running for Jennifer's charms.... At times, I thought I met my long lost twin sister. Other times I wanted to spank her with a feather duster... She managed to cast to a catch 3 Chopper Bluefish from 10-13 lbs and lost another. The highlight of the day was the HUGE Sheepshead that attacked a swimbait on the Shoals. Right before we landed the FISH of the YEAR candidate, a 100+ pound Sandbar Shark came out of nowhere and grabbed the Sheephead. Punched out a bite that took half the Sheepshead's body. The remainder weighed 12 lbs. Half a Sheepshead and it was still a NC CITATION.... We also found an 80 lb Cobia in 2 ft of water at Cape Point. The first bucktail almost bought him a ticket to Beaufort, he followed it all the way to the boat and did a headstand on top of it.... Not bite though. Then after he lost interest and continued his trek, he turned the bucktail down again. Then another different colored bucktail. Then he ignored a swimbait.... Pissed off now, I rigged the harpoon and called in Capt Columbo, who was nearby... However the Cobia slipped into the breakers and entered the "Eastside" and disappeared... Total Catch for the Day: 3 Bluefish from 10-13 lbs and a * * *15 lb Sheepshead* * *  

Capt Marty's Day

Physical Therapy is going great! My last steroid injection is monday. Hopefully I will go back to work on May 22nd.... I've been out catching misquitofish to feed my Oscar, my Bluegill, and my Pumpkinseed. The Pumpkinseed is named Jeffrey Dahmer. He is a sick cookie to say the least. These fish love misquitofish, pinfish, shrimp, and stonecrabs. I have company right now. Another Bikini Girl. As soon as she finishes her breakfast she thinks she is going on a nice little boat ride and get some sun.... In reality, she is going out on a hardcore sightcasting for Cobia, blood and guts fishing mission....

May 8 Blazing Spanish Mackerel

Capt Tugwell Jones sailed the Top Water Boat today and reported "every cast" fishing for 1-2 lb Spanish Mackerel. Action packed casting top water plugs for Chopper Bluefish. Finally, a carefully presented bucktail that was expertly delivered to a 25 lb Cobia..... The problem was, the Cobia wasn't interested. Also, a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately again, there is no picture and the words elude me, but the crew reports a 8-10 lb Flounder rose off the bottom in 4 ft of water and smashed a top water plug. Swam back to the bottom and after a 30 second tussle, the flounder shook the hook out of his mouth!  Crew on drugs? Lucky flounder? Is this the truth? We'll never know! Total Catch for the Day: 30 Spanish Mackerel 1-2 lbs and 3 Bluefish 10-12 lbs

May 7 Chopper Bluefish & Wild Turkey Hunting

Capt Chris Chadwick took the Top Water Boat out today and thanks to Capt Chris Kimrey (Custom Saltwater Taxidermy and Mount Maker Charters) we caught 10-14 lb Bluefish on top water plugs in 1-4 feet of water. Awesome sight casting and top water action... I'll have to check with the Captain for a count... Also, its worth adding that Capt Chris Chadwick picked me up this morning at 4am and allowed me the honor to join him on a Turkey Hunting Expedition. Unfortunately, the Turkeys made Turkeys out of us by not showing up.... Turkeys or Cobias, Im not sure which is more annoying. I had a blast though. I found some bear tracks and followed them far enough to find a big pile of Bear Shit! And I can definitely say that this Bear did actually shit in the woods! I also saw my first Fox Squirrel. I also saw a beautiful Painted Horse with one blue eye and one brown eye. Cool. Pictures from today's adventure will be posted after tommorrows adventure! Thanks for everyone's patience with my horrible fishing reports and my horrible Marty's Life Reports. To those that propelled me towards my early demise.... Sorry, yall need to try harder. Capt Marty is on the comeback trail... Total Catch for the Day: 6 Bluefish up to 14 lbs

Captain Marty Notes

A HAPPY PICTURE TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

Here it is the month of May. My back is better, I hope. There is little pain, just numbness in my right big toe. I have one more steroid injection and a couple of weeks of physical therapy. Hopefully, I will return to my job on May 22nd. Fishing hasn't been great off Beaufort Inlet. It seems the motherlode of Bonito, and possibly Cobia, have slipped by us. Its too early to tell about the Cobia, but Capt Rick Caton did see 70 in a couple of hours off Rodanthe two days ago. So, it definitely appears the first big wave has not only passed Cape Lookout, but Cape Hatteras as well....

Some of the other things that have been bothering me seem less important now... My back and getting back to work has definitely been my #1 priority. I've had support, both personally and professionally from a few good friends. Keeping the Top Water Boat running at least a few trips. Bending and lifting and pulling are going to be my challenges moving forward. Raising my tower.. I may have to consider a change of fishing styles and a change of boats in the near future. I hope not, but if I do, I had a great run in the Ocean. On the Shoals and Wrecks...

Capt Marty has a new prospect lined up too. Another Bikini Girl possibly. Definitely a water lover and a boat lover. And a "aint scared of a bikini" body! Its about time that I find that balance that I've searched for since the early 90s.... Too Good.... Too Bad.... I hope that I've had enough bad luck. Maybe I'm due for something really good to happen to me. Also, hopefully someone will help me to a Citation Bluefish in the next couple of weeks.... And a couple of Cobia. I'd like to put some meat in the freezer myself..

Capt Chris is here and I'll be home until at least May 22nd, so I am open for business. Capt Chris is perfectly capable of leading a successful sight casting charter. Call me at 252-241-8350. Open May 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21

May 5 Cobia Strike Out #1

Capt Joe took a trip today. The wind was a little higher than normal and all the Menhaden schools disappeared overnight. Make for a tough day. After a 50 mile ride looking for bait and looking to sight cast in poor conditions, the crew finally settled in at Cape Lookout with some old bait and gave it their best try. Looking at the fleet, there was very little happening. The boys did lose a 15lb Cobia under the boat after a brief battle on light spinning tackle and a plastic jerkbait. They also caught and released a 7 lb Sharpnose Shark. Tough Day.... Total Catch for the Day: 1 Sharpnose Shark

May 1 Bonito, Spanish Mackerel, & Bluefish

Bob Becker was on it today. 2 Atlantic Bonito out of a fleet of nothings. Lots of Bluefish. Killed a few and released a bunch. Then we ended up in a Mackerel flurry to the east. We also saw the first Cobia of the year. A small one that hauled but when we fell off a wave before we could fire away... We also saw a grown Leatherback that had NO escorts... Weird. Total Catch for the Day: 12 Spanish Mackerel, 2 Atlantic Bonito up to 24", and 30 Bluefish

Apr 29 Chasing Bonito

Tuggy and I went for a little boat ride today. He did all the work, I was an observer. We chased the Bonito schools around for a while. They were under great pressure and they never stayed up long enough to get a good shot at them. Unless, you were in the right spot at the right time. Unfortunately they were not keying on structure today at all. Made the whole operation a crap shoot. Actually, trolling was a better bet and the few I saw landed were caught by trollers...... Anyway, nice to get on the water. We did manage to catch 30 Bluefish while casting and jigging. Neither of us ever hooked a Bonito. Total Catch for the Day: 30 Bluefish

Apr 23 Spinal Injection #2

Lots of people in my "outer circle" are not doing good. Lots of them are clearly doing it to themselves... Others are just getting blindsided by doctors and other "real problems". It is a very depressing world right now. I never thought I'd have to worry about anything other than a crumbling relationship with a girlfriends (and I'm going back 20 years, no one in particular) OR which way to got out of Beaufort Inlet, east, south, or west! Then, a month ago, I got a MRI result that was a life changer. In one day I went from an over grown adolescent punk to a middle aged man with a bad back.  Its all about the Back now. Steroid Injections, exercise, stretching, and physical therapy. I HAVE GOT TO GET OVER THIS!!!! I am trying to avoid surgery. I miss fishing. I miss the Ferry. I miss being happy. I feel an attitude change coming and the depression that I've been hiding is being pushed away by anger and fear... I HAVE GOT TO GET BACK TO THE WATER. I am sorry for all of you that love to follow my reports. I am very focused now on getting it back together. I've had my dose of KARMA and I'm done with REGRET also. There is an old saying, "When Life Kicks Your Ass, Make Sure It Kicks You Forward..."  Not sure where I read that, but that's my new attitude. I had a steroid injection today and my physical therapist said I was moving my toe better this morning.... Physically, it was a good day and tomorrow is going to be better...

Apr 17 Killing the Cownose Rays

Capt Tuggy sailed on the Top Water Boat today and it was too windy and sloppy for the Shoals where the giant Red Drum schools reside... So, only looking for big fish, he took the best game in town and caught 6 Cownose Rays from 25 to 35 lbs. Honestly, blindfold a fisherman and the consensus will agree on one thing......  Cownose Ray kicks a Red Drums ass... No comparison. A 35 lb Cownose Ray on 10# spin requires a chase and several circles around the boat at the end of the game... Total Catch for the Day: 6 Cownose Rays up to 35 lbs

Pics Some Fishy some not, from Washington DC

I had to get away, so I went to DC and saw a Baseball Game and a lot more......

Apr 11 Steroid Injection Today

41 Days after I suffered my Injury, I finally began treatment today. A Steroid Injection into the area of my Bulging/Herniated Disks and Blown Disk. My back feels great and hopefully I will soon be back at work and back on the water. I'm afraid that some things will never be the same. The phone call that I recieved on Monday March 26th was a world changer... Right up there with Dec 19th when Robin drove herself over to the Hospital... I didn't have no Crystal Ball. Those 2 days changed my life and things will never be the same. But, like Steve Austin who became the 6 million dollar man (Remember that Show!) I can rebuild myself. Bigger, Faster, Stronger.... so far bigger, damn steroids!!! Don't worry fishing fans... I will be back. As soon as the Doctors says "Go For It"...... Come On Cobias, they better come quick. In the meantime, Im headed to Washington DC to recooperate. Besides, I might already have the next "bikini girl" lined up!

Apr 7 White Perch Revolution

Two Buddys invited me along to watch a Pond Fishing guarantee become THE TRUTH. Best White Perch fishing in the World? Not sure.... In North Carolina? Not Sure.... In the Central Coastal Area? ABSOLUTELY.... Two dudes casting and it WAS EVERY CAST, caught a White Perch for 90 minutes straight. I looked over some of the ones kept this morning and counted 18 NC Freshwater Citations. Many were released. Two seperate loads of them were hauled away. My cooler had 39 White Perch in it. My Aquarium has 4 White Perch in it! Including Citation-sized brutish twins named Stacy and Tracy (The Mills brothers), and sexy little gals named Robin and Ashlyn. Honestly, they are a little too big for their new home. I plan to release them soon to the Mung Hole. Hopefully, they will get it on and start a breeding population of delicious White Perch just across the street from my house. It was tough to watch fishing this good. I got to participate with instructions and moral support. I love to be the Fishing Guide when instructions such as "Hit the Water with your Cast" results in an immediate bite! Before yesterday, I had never caught but 1 White Perch in my life! Honestly, I never fished for them, and never fished alot in "Perch Water". I know they are great eating and hard fighting. First cousin of Striped Bass, that says enough right there.... Total Catch for the Day: 80 White Perch up to 1 lb 4 oz and 2 Longnose Gar up to 8 lbs  

Apr 3 Great Weather & Great Fishing

It was a beautiful morning. Capt Christopher Columbus (not really!) sailed the Ocean Blue on the Top Water Boat. On the first cast of the day Shane caught a 40 lb Cownose Ray on my first cast with a bucktail. There were so many Rays, in fact, That they effectively hid the Red Drum schools, if they are still around??? He did report tens of thousands of Cownose Rays from the Cape Lookout Bight to the Cape Lookout Shoals. Capt Chris did a quick change of plans and ran a few miles east and we hit the fishy motherlode. Vertical jigging brought fish on every drop. Nice Fish. Bluefish from 1-3 lbs. Gray Trout up to 21". Black Sea Bass from 12" to 17". Albacore were a cast away. He did catch one off the bottom that really fooled him.... The first Pinfish of the year caught on my Boat, was also caught on a stingsilver jigged over the wreck! The boys also saw a big (10-15 lb) mystery fish on top. Had to be a Chopper Bluefish. Whatever he was, he wouldn't bite... All in all, a great day of fishing. They didn't leave the dock until 11am and from 1:00 to 4:30, we were flat out bailing fish! Total Catch for the Day: 5 Albacore up to 10lbs, 2 Gray Trout up to 3 lb 8 oz, 15 Black Sea Bass up to 3 lbs, 60 Bluefish 1-3 lbs, 1 Pinfish at 1 lb and 1 Cownose Ray at 40 lbs 

Apr 2 Injection Day

Today is the day that I have my first Steroid Injection into my Back. Hoping for the Best. Im tired of being crippled...  This really couldnt have happened at a worse time. Why not January?

MEGA MILLIONS

My life has been a cake walk.... I was a 46 year old that never had to grow up.... I found a career where I could fish 100-200 days a year... I chased pretty girls.... Got my feelings hurt a few times, but hey, that's life..

Then I met a girl that I really fell for... In August, my life couldn't be better. Fishing was good. My girlfriend was the prettiest and the sweetest thing ever... We had some BIG NEWS!!!

Then came Hurricane Irene... Robin and I got dealt a horrible blow to our plans.... Shark Island got blown down and Fishing was a struggle from that point on.....

By Christmas, for a whole bunch of very complicated reasons that were No Ones Fault, my relationship fell apart

By March, my Perfect Bill of Health was shattered by a MRI that showed some major Back Problems. 30 days of Pain and a threat of Paralysis on my Right Leg.

ALL THAT BAD NEWS.....

Well, tonight it ends baby! Tonight I'm all set to win the MEGA MILLIONS drawing! I'm getting ready to WIN THAT $500 MILLION..... THAT's 500,000,000 DOLLARS

March 27 IT WAS A BAD DAY

Okay, here goes. About 30 days ago, I was blindsided by an intense back pain... Nothing I hadn't experienced before and it always lasted 2-3 days and went away..... Well, this time it didn't. I didn't let it stop me. I went fishing a few times. I caught a few Shad, I caught a few Red Drum.... In between, I saw 2 Doctors. Both assumed a Muscle Sprain, but as I explained myself, them nor I could figure out why it didn't go away.... Finally, on a whim, I had an MRI.... I also got prescribed Predisone that made me feel great! So great, in fact, we were catching 40 lb Red Drum on Friday... Then Chris and I were headed to the Neuse River on Monday.... My phone rang.... My MRI results and with it my 46 year old youthful exuberence and reckless way of life came to a grinding halt..... I am the proud owner of 2 BULGING DISCS, 1 HERNIATED DISC, and 1 UNKNOWN MASS that is pushing against a BUNDLE of NERVES that evidently controls my right leg.... Surgery Recommended but I opted for Steriod Injections and Physical Therapy. With no improvement on my leg, I'll be looking at Surgery regardless. But I'm holding off on that.... Doctor's orders---Rest and no lifting heavier than a coffee cup... I said "Hey Doc, guess what I was doing Friday, beating down the Ocean for 60 miles. up and down a ladder in the breakers, lifting and tossing 6 big ass Red Drum." He shook his head and said, I should be paralyzed right now, please don't do it again.... So, Capt Marty is on the shelf. No more worrys about a broken heart. I got a broken back. Im lucky. Im sorry. For those affected, I am truly sorry... I will come back better, lighter, stronger. I cant believe the way my life has changed since Dec 19th. I really thought the Bonito and the Cobia would be my escape.... Looks like a big fat NEEDLE in my SPINE will get that job though... Anyway, So long for a while.... Capt Marty is on the Shelf!

March 25 Catching Bait

With visions of a 50 lb Flathead Catfish swimming around in our head, Chris and I went to the Mung Hole and collected a few Bluegills to use for live bait... The fish weren't nearly as festive as the day before, I only caught one on the fly. Also, the Bass were window shopping, but not buying. The few Bluegills that are headed to the Neuse River with us all fell for the Roostertail Spinner. Total Catch for the Day: 8 Bluegill

March 24 Beaufort Freshwater Grand Slam on Fly

Freshwater Fly Rod action in Beaufort is fast and furious this morning, all on popping bugs.... If you don't mind small fish and I don't.... Im just glad that my back is allowing this today! My best fish of the day was a 14" Largemouth Bass that I caught and then discovered a dead battery in my camera. I ran in for lunch and a new battery and caught another slam and got the pictures for proof...... WOW! Anyway, I do love those Bass and Pumpkinseeds on the 3 wt fly rod. There was lots of surface activity this morning and I'd get 4-5 strikes on every cast. Needless to say, it was good day to be an amateur fly caster! Total Catch for the Day (so far): 28 Bluegill, 4 Pumpkinseed, and 3 Largemouth Bass

March 23 Sightcasting to Red Drum

Mission Accomplished. Chris, Joe, and I found Giant Red Drum by the hundreds. It wasn't always easy. They were shifty. Boat pressure had them on the run. But we cast enough swimbaits and Bucktails at them to score 6 NC Citation Releases. We also found a few thousand slot Red Drum but we didn't get to that party fast enough. I honestly could've thrown my cast net and caught 100, but we couldn't get a bite out a few thousand panicky Red Drum.. That's all we saw except for a few 100 lb Sharks. No Bluefish and no Albacore was disappointing.. Total Catch for the Day: 6 Red Drum up to 46"