Hell-en H Offshore Cod Trip, Sat. 12/15/07

[fishpoopoo]

what was the skipper thinking, going out on saturday? maybe i should have listened to bassmaster, who beseeched me not to got out on this trip.

we caught fish, but was it fun? i don't know.

boat left at 4 a.m. saturday morning for george's bank and came back at 8 p.m. none of us got any sleep on the way to the boat.

it was billed as an "extended trip," whatever that means.

in the morning, seas were about 5-10 feet, with the wind coming at you at a nut-chilling 15-20 MPH (20-30 deg F w/o the wind).

the wind, according to the skipper, was supposed to lay down by the afternoon.

it didn't happen. later in the afternoon, as a noreaster was creeping in, we had waves that were easily 15-20 feet in height, with the wind gusting to at least 30 mph. well before that time, i'm guessing half of the 50 or so fares got sick and called it a day, seeking refuge inside the boat.

i felt somewhat bad for a father and his whiny 10 year-old kid, who gave up earlier in the trip and were basically confined to the inside. i wonder what that father was thinking bringing a young kid like that on an ordeal like this. he said "the captain personally PROMISED him the wind would lay down." i made the mistake of sitting near the kid, he on me. thank God for Grundens.

how bad was it? the bow was buried on a number of times. we got banged around on the increasingly slippery deck like rag-dolls.

anyhoo, it was a steady pick if you were able to work at it. i fished every drift and managed about 30 fish for myself (22 inch min, no bag limit) and threw back another 10 undersized fish. mostly cod - no haddock etc. a few tinker macks brought over the rails. the cod were spitting up sand eels.

i was eyeing some guys who were consistently getting double headers. they appeared to be using chartreuse colored jigs and teasers. BTW, you needed at least 20 oz to stay on the bottom, any less than that you were wasting your time.

FWIW, the mates were awesome and very attentive to calls for "gaffs!" and were adept at fixing tangles. Kudos to them.

the 4.5 hour ride back was pretty uncomfortable, with the bow rising and dipping 10-15 feet, i felt like i was on a roller coaster. i hate roller coasters.

the cabin was freezing on the way back. everyone felt cold and clammy despite layers of dry warm clothing. we were never so happy to get back to the dock.

i don't honestly know if i had "fun," like i did with Captain Mike B. on the Ave Maria in prior fall trips (that was FUN!). sure, the thrill of the first fish was awesome and that kept me warm throughout the afternoon.

but it seems this trip was (literally) a trial of intestinal fortitude rather than a recreational pastime. and i am a winter party boat veteran. you had to prepared to deal with cold, violent seas, confinement in close quarters for 18 hours, motion sickness, even boredom. if freezing and getting banged around on the deck living through a mini version of "The Perfect Storm" is anyone's idea of fun, i'd have to say they're masochists.

after the trip, i was so beat up and exhausted i couldn't drive all the way home. i had trouble keeping my eyes open after i got off the dock at 8:30. Sorry Dave, I was so beat I didn't have the energy to swing by like I said I would.

i went, i fished, i may have gotten my money's worth.

was it worth the $195 fare, considering we didn't get an extended trip out of it? i don't know.

i think the captain made a big mistake to go out in this weather, and just about everyone i spoke with on the boat concurred.

anyhoo, hope you find these notes helpful.

my takeaways:

Don't rely on what the captain says. Assume he's wrong. If he says it's going to be okay, plan on the weather being lousy. Plan accordingly.

1). Don't, under any circumstances, bring young kids on these kinds of winter extended offshore trips. When your son is screaming "I HATE I HATE I HATE IT" and you're only 1 hour into a trip, you are in for a long day.

2). Take precautions for motion sickness. I don't think dramamine or bonine helped that much for the people who took it. the Rx transderm scop patch is worth every penny you spend on it.

3). You can't layer enough. Long underwear, fleece top and bottom and thermal socks are a must. So are Grunden's slickers!

4). On windy days, a hat / balaclava is a must have.

5). My Aquaskinz gloves acquitted themselves wonderfully on that trip. Stayed reasonably warm and dry, and even after handling piles of fish guts, my hands were surprisingly clean underneath. I'm definitely getting another pair!

6). Everybody is cold, sick and miserable. You're stuck there, make the most of it. Fish. It will take your mind off of the pain.

[DZ]

You my friend just experienced a "Cod Fish Trip from Hell". Planned one of those (February) for our fishing club many years ago - first time - last time. Glad you survived.

DZ

[RIJIMMY]

i would have shot myslef, I couldnt handle that!

[thortum]

The cod that you took home are going to taste EXTRA goooood!

[Rick Ackley]

Rough venture for sure. As Thor said, those fillets are going to taste extra fine.

[chris L]

ahhhhhh cod fishing in December . did that for about 7years every weekend dec through feb . man I miss the nearly being puked on .

[Gunpowder]

never tried a trip like that... rather just go for them from the surf off the cape this time of the year.

[niko]

i was on a similar trip about 10 yrs ago on capt johns. i saved my buddy from going over the rail. alot of people were bloodied from being tossed around the cabin. puke everywhere. a coastie on board went to the captain and asked him (with the agreement of most men, even the mates) to head for the nearest safe harbor and the captain declined. they lost me as a customer that day. 15 fts are no joke. i don't know how those guy's do it in places like the bearing sea.

[Rock Hopper]

Come on Benny, it wasn't that bad . We practiced our dancing steps all day And only half the boat .

You should have brought the Rampage top you have. It would have kept you warmer and dryer. I was actually a little too warm in mine at times but hey, better to be too warm than cold and miserable.

I felt bad for a lot of folks on this trip , especially Dave and two of my buddies who looked like they would have if they could. That kid was also miserable.

It was good seeing you and Hans....even though we didn't get to fish together because those yahoos on the starboard side didn't have a clue . If I would have stayed there I might have tore someones head off, especially after someone from that side stoled my brand new $25.00 jig with hand tied teaser. I had to move or there would have blood on the deck that wasn't from a cod

Anyway, it was probably a trip that should have been better thought out but as the Capt., if you didn't cancel it a 4Pm, your hard pressed to cancel it 4am- especially when all the fares are there waiting.

Had some of the cod last night, it was delicious. See you on the next one

Kadir

[fishpoopoo]

Hey Kadir, good to see you too.

I should have brought the rampage, but in the rush to pack it didn't occur to me to bring it. It would have been ideal for this trip.

Initially, the problem with the tangles with the guys who are on the other side of the boat (yes, lines drifting UNDER the boat) ... is that they didn't figure out that yielding some slack would be the quickest way to clear tangles. (That, and a lot of the fares didn't speak English as a first language). But, after a few tips from the mate, all I had to do was yell "Slack on the starboard side!" and it was much easier and quicker to untangle.

Sorry your jig was stolen. Hans had to drive us back most of the way. Apparently I was muttering in my sleep and Hans punched me in the ribs to shut me up on the way home.

[Rock Hopper]

Yeah, I hear you on the language barrier but they also had no clue that they needed 21oz. and not 16...plus all the boozing before the trip and the ride out probably didn't help matters.

To add insult to injury (literally) a CT State Trooper ticketed my buddy (who didn't fish at all because of being sick) for going 72 in a 65 . Talk about a bad trip for someone! I guess the trooper needed to make numbers for months end. Poor guy, he volunteered to drive since he slept more than anyone else and got a ticket for his good deed.

What a trip huh?

[fishpoopoo]

Ah, that sucks Kadir. Those NY state license plates are like neon signs in the congestion state. You guys were nuts to drive all the way back to LI after that trip! Glad you made it home safe.

p.s. I didn't lose a single jig that trip ... but all my teasers were destroyed by those toothy cod. Note to self: Have at least a dozen teasers tied for long trips.

[Rock Hopper]

Yeah, it sucks but what are you going to do...the cops says, "you can either plead guilty and send it in or come back and fight it..." with a grin on his face...J#$& #FF!

You should have asked me, I had so many different teasers to choose from....

[PaulS]

Sounds better than spending the day at the inlaws

[Saltheart]

Boat should not have gone out. Man goes over the side , he's dead. Engine trouble and maybe everyone is dead. Some Capts would rather risk killing their customers than lose the fees.

[Goose]

Thats nutts,not sure I could hang, transderm scop patch huh?

[fishpoopoo]

Tony,

Yeah, the transderm scop patch works wonders, PROVIDED you put it on a minimum of TWO HOURS BEFORE YOUR TRIP. It won't help you right before the trip or into your trip.

You could get 50 foot waves and you'd feel nothing with that patch. I would urge anyone going offshore to use it, and it's not that expensive (most insurance covers it).

[macojoe]

I have chatered a boat out of Glouster in January, 35 footer for 6 people I hope we have a great time!!

I gave up on them big chaters years ago, always to crowarded and with people that have no idea how to fish.

Glad you all got home!

[MikeToole]

I think the one point you missed is always check the marine forecast prior to going out and if it's changing towards the worst, then don't go. I mean check it just before you go, not the day before. I've made a bunch of winter trips and have never really had a bad one weather wise by just doing this and being willing to turn around and drive home if I'm not sure. I also usually don't make reservations until the last minute, if at all, so that it doesn't become an issue if the weather is changing and I decide not to go.

In many cases the captain is in a no win situation. If you got 50 people willing to go out it's really hard to say no especially if you think the weather will improve. Many of the people who go out on the Helen H drive 200 or 300 miles and will not be happy if you cancel a trip. Also the Captain can not be held responsible for people doing dumb things like bring a kid out on a winter trip when the weather is questionable. I know guys who don't mind getting all banged up, as long as they get to fish.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by MikeToole

I think the one point you missed is always check the marine forecast prior to going out and if it's changing towards the worst, then don't go...

Many of the people who go out on the Helen H drive 200 or 300 miles and will not be happy if you cancel a trip.

We checked on Friday evening. 4:15 p.m. was the go/no-go time per the skipper. He decided to go out, even though we had our misgivings about fishing ahead of a noreaster.

Since we were part of a crew that drove 200 miles to get there, we didn't get a chance to check the weather again online and nobody had a NOAA radio on them.

Trust me, if we showed up at 1 a.m. and the captain cancelled the trip, that would have been fine by us.

[Gloucester2]

Man o Man that sounds like a real kick in the nuts . . . The older I get the more I realize no fish is worth a kick in the nuts like that

[striperman36]

I would not have gone knowing the weather. Always check youself before you.
I have had good days and bad bad days offshore. Blizzards are fun. 10-15 swells are not. 2 100 qt's full of market, that's good. Bouncing out of the bunk is not.
There are alway trade offs. Never take anyone under voting age on something like that. It's extreme fishing.

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

i would have shot myslef, I couldnt handle that!

A Marker to the head!! It's winta fishing. The worst I've had is all of the above and add horizontal snow.
To thing people actually did that for a living continued to amaze me.
We, including me, can barely do it for 8 hours.

[fishpoopoo]

ah, i forgot to mention.

the helen h requires a credit card deposit for the trip.

you don't show up or cancel - you get charged $195.

my friend Hans booked the trip on his cc. if we all bailed, he would have been on the hook for several fares.

[striperman36]

What I have done is reschedule the reservation on another date I have never lost the deposit doing that.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by striperman36

What I have done is reschedule the reservation on another date I have never lost the deposit doing that.

good to know. will keep that in mind for the next trip from hell.

[striperman36]

I've done it for several years

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by striperman36

A Marker to the head!! It's winta fishing. The worst I've had is all of the above and add horizontal snow.
To thing people actually did that for a living continued to amaze me.
We, including me, can barely do it for 8 hours.

I think I'll just pay my $7 for some fsih and chips and call it a win.

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

I think I'll just pay my $7 for some fsih and chips and call it a win.

It tastes fresher!!!

[Bishop169]

I have to agree with Jimmy hard seas and booting yahoo's

I would rather pay the $7 and If i want fresh I will pay the extra $20 and drive to gloucester to the fish market

I miss fishing but I know when to hang it up.....

Ok where did I put my auger