Creekin' like Clockwork

 We had a couple days of good weather here in Virginia Beach, so we got ready and charged to the deep. You could say it was a success.

We had two on the boat that had never caught a billfish, as well as a newcomer to Team Smoke Show, Hannah Drake. With four years of Marlin experience under her belt, Hannah ran the pit while Meghan and I traded off running the boat. We fished with the fleet, but no takers early on. Luckily they headed in around 2:30 and the bite really turned on for us. 

We caught three, and lost two -- one of which we hooked was a free swimmer that came in with Meghan’s first white marlin. Unfortunately it really wanted a tinker mac, but we didn’t have a live one bridled yet. However, we did have a live squid, so I ran the circle hook through it and tossed it behind the boat. While I went to bridle the mac, I heard the clicker sing, ran back, dropped back and hooked Larry’s first marlin. The next fish we saw tracked our bait for a few minutes then ate, I happened to be on the rod for this one and kept it for my first marlin citation of the year. Had another eat on my rod again but came unbuttoned after a long drop back, but that’s Marlin fishing. 

 

 

On Sunday we charged again and brought Billy to try his luck at catching a Marlin. It was slow going until Meghan noticed a fin that wasn’t a shark while she was at the helm. She put the boat in perfect position and the left flat popped and it was off to the races before anyone could drop back. The fish turned and smoked the right long. This one never jumped and was taking line pretty quick, I put Billy on the bow and chased it down for the release. Hannah leadered the fish for a few photos and it was let go. Not bad -- two trips and three people in the Creek!