The calm before the gale: Bootle Bay 1/18/17-1/22/17

dzank

The "UpTick" crew flew into West End on 1/18 in perfect weather. After the five minute drive through West End village (still a mess after hurricane Matthew) we got to Bootle Bay and launched the Ocean Master for the quick ride up to Old Bahama Bay to put on fuel. The credit card machine to buy fuel worked but took over 20 minutes to process. Our last trip in December was cash only at the pumps. After fueling up we stopped on a couple of spots in 50' to catch some tasty lane and yellowtail snapper for dinner. Thursday greeted us with near perfect weather especially for this time of year and we ran north to Memory Rock as we had promised a couple of barracuda for the customs officer, Colby. . We then ran north of Memory and fished what the locals call the "feather bottom" in 25-30' as well as a wreck and did real well with the grouper and snapper as well as a giant AJ that ate a live yellowtail on a stinger rig. . We then ran down to the east of Memory to dive some conch for dinner and rounded up some conch as well as a few lobster for dinner.. The water temperature on the Bank was right at 74 degrees and was closer to 78 degrees offshore. Four other boats came into Bootle Bay on Thursday and scored some wahoo and a stud grouper. . . Quite the scene at Bootle on Thursday night with five boats in and everyone having a terrific time. . The weather was very good on Friday morning and when ran north again and ran into a nice bunch of mutton snapper on some shallow rocks in about 28'. . The winds began to blow later on Friday ahead of the storm. Two boats headed back across on Friday and two boats crossed safely on Saturday morning. As the weather turned snotty Saturday afternoon we put the Ocean Master back up on the trailer, did some maintenance and put her safely away in the storage building just in time for one of LaShanda's great closing night meals at the Lodge. We flew back first thing on Sunday as we knew the gale force winds were coming!! All in all a great trip although cut short by a day or so but that's how it goes this time of the year.

dzank

Sorry the pictures didn't post right side up! Moderator, can you correct?

Jupiter Sails

Awesome trip and pretty work on the muttons, can't wait to get back over!

Osprey45

WTG Dennis:applause

century7

Nice work on the snappers

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Flight Risk

Impressive trip! Thanks for your post.

:thumbsup

John McKroid

Nice Report and photos -- Thanks.

privateer19

thanks, great looking snappers

Gary M

Did you fly in to West End? Private plane?

Nice report!

dzank

Flew into West End on a charter.

area52

dzank wrote: »

Sorry the pictures didn't post right side up! Moderator, can you correct?

:rotflmao:rotflmao:rotflmao:rotflmao

Moscador

Hey Dennis,

I see you still have the touch! Awesome!

Now get back to work! ;-)

Wally Vidal

dzank

Thanks Wally!!

Plane Fish n

Dennis,

Great job buddy.

I just had another pilot take my Delhi trip next week so if the seas lay down, we are thinking of making a Bootle call.

I'll give you a call when I get back stateside. I'm in Mumbai, India right now but home day after tomorrow.

Love the fish and .... the grouper.... WOW..you have just given us some new ideas for different type of fishing when we go over.

Been doing a lot of fishing the past couple of weeks off of SLI and we scored some dolphin, kings, sails, cobia, etc. Friday, we jumped 2 sails and released another. Caught one gaffer and a small king so they are out there for sure.

Thanks for the detailed report.

Cheers

E

dzank

Sounds good Eric! Safe travels. The weather is supposed to improve mid week so maybe you can shoot across. Good luck.

Plane Fish n

Dennis,

We had a great trip to Bootle on 2-1 to 2-3.

Although Vida and Shonda weren't there, Linda and Warren took GREAT care of us.

We killed it on the bottom fishing.

Ended up with about 50 Flag Yellowtail, 30 over 5 lb trigger fish (Queens and Grays), 30 Mutton Snapper, about 30 Strawberry Grouper and a bunch of Yellow Eyes on the deep drop.

The Wahoo did elude us however.

Everyone got plenty of fish and our freezers are once again full!

I'll see you over there either March or May.

Cheers

dzank

Sounds like a very productive two day hop over to Bootle. Way to go! Hope you can make it in either March or May. I still owe you that Diet Coke! The "UpTick" crew plans on being at Bootle Bay on 3/7/17 and 5/20/17 for five nights on each trip. I'm working on dates later in the year. Join the fun.

Plane Fish n

dzank wrote: »

Sounds like a very productive two day hop over to Bootle. Way to go! Hope you can make it in either March or May. I still owe you that Diet Coke! The "UpTick" crew plans on being at Bootle Bay on 3/7/17 and 5/20/17 for five nights on each trip. I'm working on dates later in the year. Join the fun.

Well,

We might have to just do that!!!!

On my way to Shanghai tomorrow.

Talk next week.

How was Cabo?

Cheers

Osprey45

Dennis still want to get the Osprey into Bootle one day would love to do it while you guys are there, the march trip will not work but the may trip may be perfect.
Eric told me the channel is fine after the storm.
Only issue I see is power its all 30A right, I need a 50A

dzank

Right now Vida has two pedestals and each pedestal has twin 30 amp plugs. On pedestal is located on the long dock which is about 70-80 long and ends at the fish cleaning station. The other pedestal is located between slips 2 and 3. I generally keep "UpTick" in slip #2 when we are there and slips 1-5 are where most of the big center consoles go. The channel seems to be in pretty good shape from a debris and depth standpoint. I can investigate getting a 50 amp plug on the long dock if you would like. No big deal. Thanks for thinking about Bootle Bay. Cabo was great by the way, Eric! Osprey 45, remind me again on your draft? We will be at BB again (hopefully) on 3/7/17 so I can do a thorough check again on the channel. Since we cleaned up the channel last year and did some dredging for the shoreline I really don't give it much thought but we are running a 31' Ocean Master vs. the additional draft of a Viking for sure.

Osprey45

I draw 4'6" Eric said he saw nothing less than 5'2" at dead low which is great. A 50A on the long dock would be fantastic I was thinking of getting a reverse 2 30amp to 50 splitter but a 50A on the dock would be better, I know a lot of the big CC are coming with 50amp power now.

dzank

We are looking into either running 50 amp plugs or investigating the adapter cost. Maybe the best solution is for Bootle to simply have the twin 30 amp to single 50 amp adapter on site. We will see how it goes.

Osprey45

Marinco Reverse 2-30A to 50A "Y" Adapter around $400 bucks
MAR-RY504-2-30

dzank

The adapter to convert two 30 amp plugs to one 50 amp has been purchased. We are planning to fly in on 3/7/17 and will be bringing the adapter. It will remain on site at Bootle Bay in the event someone requires 50 amp power. Cheers!