BigBendFishing.Net

Almost two years ago to the day, Wolfeman (aka “Bagataway”, aka “No Good Mornings Nazi”, aka “The Pink Shirted Zima Drinking Pedicure Guy”) ended a run of Marine’s Dream trips out with keeper cobias just a single trip shy of double digits. The details of that nightmarish trip can be read here:

http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpBB3/vi ... 5&p=220228

His ending the run hit hard, especially since he actually hooked two keeper cobia and even had one boat side, losing a MONSTER cobia to a broken gamakatsu hook.

I could lie and say that I was a good sport and said, “Aw, shucks, let bygones be bygones”, but well… that didn’t happen and he caught grief for the failed mission for two straight years.

Well, folks, it takes a LOT of energy to give a man grief for two years, so growing a bit weary from the work it took to dish out the abuse, I threw him an invite to end the cobia curse this past week. Not completely a surprise, he jumped all over it.

Thinking that Wolfeman needed some focused “encouragement” to land his first keeper cobe, I put this video together the night before the trip and shared it via facebook with him and numerous friends. Of the videos I've put together, think it may be my favorite to date!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0KZwVnXeDw[/video]

So we meet up at the lighthouse Saturday morning with a plan to get out early and exercise whatever patience was necessary to have him land a keeper cobe. I advised him that the solunar tables predicted 2 to 3pm as the peak time, but that I was hopeful we could get an early morning random bite or two and run back for the hill in time for afternoon college football.

Run out to 5 or 6’ waters beside the channel and start catching bait under slack tide mirror-glass like conditions. Then the Wolfeman curse starts trying to apply itself. Tide turns and starts RIPPING in strong. Coupled with an increasing breeze, our mirror-like conditions turn into white caps. Decide we better try and get on out and a ride that would normally take 30 minutes takes over an hour, and a rather “nautical” hour at that. Wolfeman curse – 1, keeper cobia mission – 0.

The random morning bite for which I hoped, it did NOT happen. Little signs of bait at our destination, no schooling mackerals, no jumping rays, no dolphins, nada… the force of the Wolfeman curse is feeling strong. Wolfeman curse – 2, keeper cobia – 0.

So we wait, and we wait, and we wait. Wolfeman asks if I really trust the solunar predictions, and I tell him, “Dayum skippy, I do!” as trip after trip I've found hot bites have coincided with the peak predicted times, give or take a half-hour or so.

Around 1:30pm. Our first hit and it’s a big one… and we’re 5 seconds late running to the stowed rod… and we’re instantly cutoff. Wolfeman curse – 3, keeper cobia – 0.

2:00pm rolls around and the bite starts turning hot. But our catching ratio does not. Two more cutoffs. Wolfeman curse – 5, keeper cobia -0.

Then we get a solid hit AND get the cobia off the bottom. Wolfe hauls it up long enough for me to eyeball it, and I tell him, “Dude it’s nice but bet it looks SOOO close to keeper size… bet it’s an inch short.” It sure fights like a keeper, but after 3 or 4 good runs we boat it… and… it’s not an inch short. It’s a ½” short. DOH!!!! Wolfeman curse – 6, keeper cobia – 0.

Not knowing if we'll catch another cobe, Wolfeman agrees we better take a few pics of his first landed cobia, short or not. The curse cuts him a break and saves him a rushed trip-ending run to the hospital, as he NARROWLY avoids the infamous injury known as "nuggets slap".
Here's Wolfeman eyeballing his just short cobe with a look at it's just short length that says, "You CANNOT be serious?!"
3:00 rolls around and we get another SOLID hit, and Wolfeman keeps it off the bottom through run after run… I spy it and make the call, “IT'S DEFINITELY A KEEPER COBE, WOLFE!”… and we get it boat side several times… and each time it goes NUTS when we try and bring it in… alligator-style death rolls and head-thrashing worthy of honorary Metallica band membership. Stomach churning visions of the 2010 broken-hook incident play repeatedly through my mind. Then the cobia makes one sweep by without violent thrashing, and I race my boga-grip at his gaping mouth… and… IT’S IN THE BOAT! THE CURSE IS OVER!

Multiple high fives commence, a few thousand pictures are taken, celebratory beers opened , and it turns into party time… Wolfeman commences to dancing… we’re drawing so much attention that the FWC naval destroyer vessel out of Carrabelle races over to check us and when we show them the catch an impromptu celebration takes place. This rush produced video (and it shows) tells the tale!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbxhn-L4kA0[/video]

Great trip, great story, great fish and the video says it all lol. ^ 5

I definitely had a great time. The slow ride out was a great opportunity to share great stories about growing up with self-sufficient and fearless fathers. Now, granted, John told 47 stories to my one, but when I was able to get a word in edge-wise I think I really contributed to the positive experience.

John was a great host as I've come to expect and I especially appreciated the pass on boat clean-up. Being that we stayed on the water about an hour and a half longer than predicted, my wife definitely appreciated me returning home to help with the 3 kids.

Another thing, I can honestly say I've had that many pictures taken of me, ever, and that counts my wedding. John sure does appreciate the old saying that a picture says a thousand words - but just in case, he's got a few thousand well-crafted words to go along with it.

Thanks for a great trip! Can't wait to do it again.

My next mission......Boat Record Cobia.

Oh yeah, it's on.

WolfeMan wrote:... John told 47 stories to my one, but when I was able to get a word in edge-wise I think I really contributed to the positive experience.... John sure does appreciate the old saying that a picture says a thousand words - but just in case, he's got a few thousand well-crafted words to go along with it... My next mission......Boat Record Cobia. Oh yeah, it's on.

No need for thousand word reply... just will say be careful of biting the hand that steers you to the cobia. Sure you appreciate there are others eager to up the boat record too.

All in love, just like the last 2 years of ribbing!

Great story BBG. Thanks for sharing.

I take it he did not use the specially prepared hook I gave you

Glad the curse was broken...

and the first video IS WITH OUT A DOUBT the best you have ever put together!
Welcome to the club Wolfeman

Good Story!!!

kewl

Great story!

bman wrote:I take it he did not use the specially prepared hook I gave you

Nope, Bman, but kind of wishing I had now!

Geez Louise, cover all the trip costs, provide multiple rods for his use as well as tackle, provide him with free snacks, colas, and celebratory beer after he failed to bring any refreshments of his own, clean his fish, dispose of his cobia carcass, and spend half of Sunday cleaning up the boat alone. Oh well, it's all good... actually so happy for Wolfe, I ordered him a little celebratory gift to commemorate the trip!

Man, BBG, with friends like that... And your gift is classic. Did you splurge for the $2,400 photo opp with the First Lady, too? I'm sure she'd be "proud" as well.

All kidding aside, congrats Wolfeman on your keeper cobe. They are a cool fish.

Holy cow...you're forcing me to defend myself here...I'll play along though.

I brought 2 of my own rods, and used them both.

I offered gas money and was declined.

I already thanked you for the boat-cleaning pass as my family needed me home.

Disposing of the carcass - you're right, I could have bagged it up and found a dumpster on the way back to town, but you seemed excited to start a fire, so why deprive you of that joy.

I appreciated the lesson in cleaning such a big fish, and I do recall helping in that effort as well - it was definitely a 2-man job.

You're going to give me a reputation here of being a cheapskate, unhelpful free-loader.

The snacks and drinks were an oversight. When I stopped to relieve myself on the way to the ramp I should have bought myself some H2O. Again, I did offer cash, and you declined.

Mental note, no more solo-trips with Kennedy - I obviously need witnesses to back me up for the post-trip assault that is sure to come!

Thanks again for the fish! (I also recall saying you could keep a couple bags of fillets for the effort in cleaning the fish - I was also declined there because you reported having lots already frozen.)

Better be careful wolfe, you're going to come across as ungrateful...

Oh, and, You didn't catch that fish, someone else did that for you.

J/K


Sounds like a successful trip, congrats on the catch!

Dang man, Did you need help reelign the fish in too??

Did you catch it on your rod or one of Kennedys??