Wide of the Cape

[Liberty]

Troy, Daryl, Franko and I headed wide out to heavy tackle grounds offshore the Cape on 21/5.

We trolled in challenging conditions for some hours with nothing to show - no bait, no birds, no dolphins, no temp gradients. Impossible to pick current lines, seas were way too big.

Just generally un/exciting. Unexciting fish. Exciting conditions.

At one point, for something different, we did try for a deep (450m) drop but the drift was a serious challenge. We had moved 200m sidewards before we hit bottom - with 3 kg of weight.

Back to trolling in big seas...

You can imagine the excitement, when some hours later ... the first rod went off - then rod #2 - then rod #3!!

Unadulterated mayhem.

We had 5 lines in the water plus teaser, so with the whole crew all hooked up, I had to slide down from the tower, pull in the remaining lines, strap on waist harnesses to unadorned fishers (that's way too much man touching for my liking) and clear the decks.

Finally, back up to the tower, and take control of the engines ... leaving the only honourable duty to call in ... Triple Hookup!!

The boys did very well indeed with all 3 Yellowfin boated around the 40kg mark.

From the tower, I could see the fish weren't your average Yellowfin, and was having a great laugh as Troy gaffed the first one (singlehandedly) and then went to pull it aboard. He nearly ended up overboard, when he realised this was way more than he had bargained for. Of course Franko and Daryl (while still hooked up) first thought this was great fun ... until they realised, they were next!!!!

Many, many laughs later .. 120kg of yellowfin was boated and the lines reset.

Isn't this what fishing is about?

Great friends, the ocean, hope, expectations, challenge, laughs and memories. And a new recipe for our best fish dinner ever ("Blackened Ahi").

Long may this continue.

Cheers!

Nigel
Liberty III

[ooglie74]

Great Day out.
Had great fun going out with frankoo again.
Plenty of laughs.Great pictures also.

Cheers Troy

[jtpython]

Nice effort boys and it is a great pic you boys are happy as . Great sized fella's too
Fish that is
JT

[TREVELLY]

That's the amazing thing about trolling - goes instantly from nothing to everything all at once.

They sure are fat fat yellowfin.

Three from three - great result too.

Thanks for sharing

[Midnight]

Nice Yellafin Nigel! Good stuff!

Try the Samoan Oka recipe, beautiful!

Hoping to find some of those down here soon.

Cheers,
Myles

[blue fin]

AWESOME!!!

Troy, Daryl, Franko and I headed wide out to heavy tackle grounds offshore the Cape on 21/5.

We trolled in challenging conditions for some hours with nothing to show - no bait, no birds, no dolphins, no temp gradients. Impossible to pick current lines, seas were way too big.

Just generally un/exciting. Unexciting fish. Exciting conditions.

At one point, for something different, we did try for a deep (450m) drop but the drift was a serious challenge. We had moved 200m sidewards before we hit bottom - with 3 kg of weight.

Back to trolling in big seas...

You can imagine the excitement, when some hours later ... the first rod went off - then rod #2 - then rod #3!!

Unadulterated mayhem.

We had 5 lines in the water plus teaser, so with the whole crew all hooked up, I had to slide down from the tower, pull in the remaining lines, strap on waist harnesses to unadorned fishers (that's way too much man touching for my liking) and clear the decks.

Finally, back up to the tower, and take control of the engines ... leaving the only honourable duty to call in ... Triple Hookup!!

The boys did very well indeed with all 3 Yellowfin boated around the 40kg mark.

From the tower, I could see the fish weren't your average Yellowfin, and was having a great laugh as Troy gaffed the first one (singlehandedly) and then went to pull it aboard. He nearly ended up overboard, when he realised this was way more than he had bargained for. Of course Franko and Daryl (while still hooked up) first thought this was great fun ... until they realised, they were next!!!!

Many, many laughs later .. 120kg of yellowfin was boated and the lines reset.

Isn't this what fishing is about?

Great friends, the ocean, hope, expectations, challenge, laughs and memories. And a new recipe for our best fish dinner ever ("Blackened Ahi").

Long may this continue.

Cheers!

Nigel
Liberty III

[ozassassin]

Guys that is one great result there, well done.

Eric

[Liberty]

Nice Yellafin Nigel! Good stuff!

Try the Samoan Oka recipe, beautiful!

Hoping to find some of those down here soon.

Cheers,
Myles

Thanks Myles.

I have worked out the secret to gaining "Leave Passes". Find a great recipe for whatever you caught that day and impress the hell out of the wife!



Cheers
Nigel

[Bull]

Thanks for the great report and top photo of you guys living the dream

Bull

[Midnight]

Yeah Nigel,

I always got a smile from the wife when I was going Marlin fishing, if I mentioned we might catch a Yellowfin. The wife loves sashimi and enjoys making Oka, which I love with a cold post fishing beer.

How was the "Blackened Ahi" Nigel? I just found a recipe for it, sounds great!

Cheers,
Myles

[Vitamin Sea]

Excellent stuff

Would have been going off on the deck!

Cheers

Bill

[Horse]

A top read and great fish. I think Francos grin tells the whole story.

[Sandman]

well done bloody jealous

[Liberty]

"Blackened Ahi" ... Blackened is Southern cooking (ie seriously deep South, in the Bayou of Baton Rouge in Louisiana). Ahi is Hawaiian for Yellowfin .. so we're a bit mix and match on cuisine, but what the hell it tastes fabulous.

It is a bit spicy, but damn it goes well ...

http://www.soulfoodandsoutherncookin...na-recipe.html

Recipe for Blackened Tuna

Recipe Ingredients:

2 Tuna Steaks, 4 to 6 ounces each, 3/4 to 1 inch thick
1 stick melted butter
Blackened seasoning (see below)

Recipe Instructions:

First start with a little prep work. Prepare blackened seasoning and set aside. Next heat your cast iron skillet over high heat for about 10 minutes until very hot. The bottom of skillet will be ashy white when ready.

Rinse your tuna steaks and pat them dry with paper towels. Dip one tuna steak at a time in the melted butter ensuring both sides of fish are covered with butter. Remove from butter without sitting fish down and sprinkle fish on both sides generously with seasoning, patting by hand. Repeat this step for the second piece of tuna.

Place fish in cast iron skillet and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, turning over once halfway through cooking. Pour 1 teaspoon of melted butter over the top of the fillets initially and another on top of the fillets when you turn it over at the halfway point.

Special Notes: If you decide to blacken more than two tuna steaks, be sure to wipe your cast iron skillet (caution its very hot) clean before coooking. Also, be sure your stove ventilation fan is working and in proper order, since blackening tends to create plenty of smoke.

Famous Blackened Seasoning Blend

Recipe Ingredients:

1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground dried thyme
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Recipe Instructions:

Preparing the blackened seasoning is easy as pie, just combine and mix evenly all the ingredients including paprika, garlic powder, thyme, onion powder, cayenne pepper, basil, oregano and black pepper.

This is enough seasoning for a couple pieces of meat, so store your extra in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until ready for reuse.

Go for it.

Best fish I have ever had at home.



Cheers
Nigel

[Captain Incredible]

Franko is one of a very few top shelf blokes I respect and admire. Well done, as always your gentlemanly and inclusive ways have done fishing and fishermen well- and cheres to all the other blokes on the boat as well.
Keith