Thursday, June 18, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Time for Tuna on the Skiligal!
Back in February 2015, the day started very early for me at
this year’s Miami International Boat Show.
My 53 year old bag of bones was up at 2:30am checking equipment and
preparing for the drive to Miami from Jupiter FL in heavy traffic. My old
camera man and best buddy Wayne and his lovely wife Susan put me up while I was
filming in south Florida. After leaving Wayne’s early that morning I met on the
docks of Biscayne Bay for our sea trial and filming of the new Sea Chaser HFC
line of boats. After which I filmed the interiors of the Miami show and of
course product displays and interviews at both the Suzuki Marine and Sea Chaser.
Then, off to film more of the show. By the time I had filmed everything we set out to do it was near 9pm. I heading for the shuttle bus to take me back to the rental car for the hopefully less than three hour drive back to Jupiter. Normally this is like 45 minutes to an hour or so. But with the Icelandic type winter we had experienced, it seemed everyone in Canada and the USA was in Miami during February 2015. Traffic was horrible.
Then, off to film more of the show. By the time I had filmed everything we set out to do it was near 9pm. I heading for the shuttle bus to take me back to the rental car for the hopefully less than three hour drive back to Jupiter. Normally this is like 45 minutes to an hour or so. But with the Icelandic type winter we had experienced, it seemed everyone in Canada and the USA was in Miami during February 2015. Traffic was horrible.
Arriving finally back at Wayne and Susan’s in Jupiter I had
fixed a tall cocktail and put on some Jazz piano, The time was near midnight.
So, the day filming started at 2:30 am and only started to end at midnight.
This is a fairly typical shooting schedule when featuring events. Needless to
say that producing and filming television shows for nearly 30 years now,
weather I am 25 years old or 53 like I am now, these long days do wear on you.
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| Filming Jupiter FL |
While I was sitting in the shuttle bus after filming all day
I had struck up a conversation with a nice fellow named Abbott Byrd who was sitting
next to me. Turns out he was from Virginia as well and turns out he also owns a
sportfishing charter business in Oregon Inlet North Carolina called “Skiligal Sportfishing”. Well both of us were pretty exhausted after the Miami show that
day, but we enjoyed a real nice chat and he invited me to fish with them. I of
course told him we would love to and we had just featured the Outer Banks as a
part of our 25th anniversary specials during 2014.
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| Oregon Inlet Fishing Center |
Three months pass and the Tuna are running off the Mid
Atlantic! Hey time to go film them while they are here so I call up the Skiligal
and see about filming a Tuna feature. The report was good, the fish were here,
but so was the weather and the inlet is always a bit sketchy. Hair raising may
be a better way to define the entrance to Oregon Inlet. One of the most
dangerous Inlets in the world with high surf and a bottom that changes more
than a new born baby.
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| Villas at Hatteras Landing |
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| Cookin at the Villa |
So we checked in to the Villas and prepared for what would be a fantastic film off of the Outer Banks.
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| My beautiful wife Donna, "Ms. 11" enjoying the Villas |
4:30 am was our meeting time on the docks at the fishing
center. On inspection of the Skiligal my first impression was that this was one
well maintained charter boat. The captain and crew were very professional and
the boat had every amenity you could want. These people were on their game and
I was very much looking forward to filming and fishing.
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| 4:30am Oregon Inlet Fishing Center |
The wind was howling fairly decent added to the fact that
the tide was almost out plus it was a full moon with an east wind. This all
meant possibly treacherous conditions getting out of the pitch black inlet.
The
captain informed us of the conditions and told everyone to remain seated until
we were safely out of the Inlet. Now you can do the math and quickly see why
the inlet is so hazardous. Let’s see, eight foot surf in maybe seven to 10 feet
of water with a boat that maybe draws close to four feet and an inlet with an
ever changing sandy bottom. Once a boat is slamming down the backside of an
eight foot wave, then you are in the trough in some extremely shallow water.
Having a 50+ foot boat with full gear and heavy load slamming down on the
bottom of the inlet floor is something every captain, and crew, want to avoid.
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| Cabin of the Skiligal leaving the inlet |
The Captain was very cautious exiting the inlet taking time
to negotiate each wave and considering water depth at every turn of the wheel.
We had made it out of the inlet and the engine roared as it
winded up to full cruising speed chasing the dark away into deeper depths as the
cloudy horizon broke and the fresh smell of blue water filled the cabin. A sigh
of relief from everyone that now there was a wide berth between the ocean floor
and the hull of the Skiligal.
Next came a different kind of roar, not from the engines but
from the sky above, it was if someone dropped a large bucket full of water that
pounded the decks of the Skiligal. Heavy rain and wind did not slow this charter
down on bit. We cut and flew through waves like a yellowfin chasing a Sea
Robin.
Arriving at the fishing grounds our extremely capable first
mate worked the rods as best as anyone I have ever seen. A sure foot and steady
hand with knowledge of the sea as if it was enough to call the Tuna to the
stern. The confidence of the captain and crew made for a sure bet that we would
have Tuna in the boat, and we did.
These were not optimal conditions for Tuna fishing. There
had been several moving fronts previous and of course we were fishing right in
the middle of one. Thunder storms were all around us and rain came and went
throughout the day as if challenged by indecision. The first fish did not come
right away and the skunk is always something that is always necessary to get
out of the boat as fast as possible. The other caveat is the general rule that
if yellowfins are not in the boat by 9am, you have missed the morning bite.
However on overcast dark dreary days like these, the morning bite can stretch a
lot longer due to low light levels keeping the Tuna near the surface longer.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
First Yellowfin Tuna on and we are excited! We fought this
30+ Pound Tuna for a while with the confidence of knowing the WE! ….…. Man and
his machinery, ingenuity, intelligence, strength, knowledge of the sea, and
nicknames such as Ahab, have just about conquered this impressive speedy beast
of the sea, the Yellowfin Tuna.
Not so fast………………………………….
Now, just as the Yellowfin Tuna is at the stern here comes
another speedy but larger monster of the sea, the Hammerhead Shark who is
looking for a Tuna breakfast! He got it!
So, the first Tuna that would have gotten the skunk out of
the boat was eaten by a Hammerhead shark right at the stern of the boat. I
think in a way, this could be considered a catch and release. Or maybe at the
very least a catch and feed.
The next two Tuna came rather quickly and we successfully
landed both fish and they were in the 30- 40 pound range. We all were defiantly
happy to have some fish in the box! The time was nearing noon and two more
knock downs but both were throw backs. The amazingly fast mate had all lines
straight, back in the water with fresh baits on all rigs.
You know I have found I can learn more about anything,
especially fishing, by listening instead of talking.
Our first mate was talking to one of our guest about his lifetime
experiences fishing for Tuna and what he has learned.
“Tuna are tricky. You have to give them something close to
what they are feeding on. If the Sea Robins are in abundance and that is what
the fish are feeding on, you better be fishing with a bird or it will be a
skunk day. Tuna have huge eyes and when they are following prey on the hunt for
something like a Sea Robin, they will cruise underwater sideways just under the surface following the flying
Sea Robin. The second that Robin lands back on a wave KAAABBOOOOOMMM!!! Surface
explosion!! That Tuna is waiting for that bird the moment it lands on the weave….GULP!
The Tuna have that type of speed and
timing.”
You know, you can learn a lot from listening to a good first
mate.
With each passing wave the sky seemed to contrast from light
to dark, our deep blue water excursion seemed to be coming to a finale. WAIT! Never
fear, more Tuna are here! We landed another in the 35+ pound class and the fish
box was looking a lot better. After another hour, we lost what did seem to be a
good size Yellowfin. Our mate said it had to be in the 50 pound class of fish.
Well, you can’t catch them all and we had a good day under not optimum conditions.
It was about that time to secure the rods and prepare for the journey back to
the docks.
With the levelwinds at rest and secured for another day the
engines revved up to cruising speed and our westward track was rolling forward with
a following sea. A following sea, east wind, and shallow inlet. My mind
recalled the stories of mountain climbers who have climbed mountains such as
Mount Everest or the Eiger. Getting to the top may seem like the Pinnacle.
However one must remember, you have to get back down!
The size of the surf in the inlet looked like mountains to
me! Heavy east wind all day made for some exciting surf in the inlet. The
captain gave due warning that everyone must remain seated while navigating through
a truly treacherous area. I use the word “area” because with the daily moving
sand bottom it is difficult to call it a channel. The low tide, east wind, and full
moon combination was nothing to take lightly. Unlike the early morning when it
was pitch black, sitting in the cabin we could not see the surf. But now in
daylight, we can see what the captain has to deal with.
This crew of the Skiligal no doubt can take on these
challenges with ease. What a great operation. A fantastic well maintained 52
foot well-oiled offshore fishing machine!
Safely back at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Back dockside
the fish were cleaned, pictures were takin, and one fantastic offshore journey
will now live on forever in our memories.
You can have these memories too!
If you want an exciting, safe and successful offshore experience,
contact the Skiligal today. Even on a low tide, full moon, east wind and super
shallow inlet….This boat catches fish!
Now, who would have thought that the long 22 hour day of working\shooting
at the Miami International Boat Show would have ended up three months later putting
JBO TV offshore filming for Tuna onboard the Skiligal.
Had I known that, I would have worked even longer.
NOTE: Look for article in upcoming July issue Coastal Angler Magazine, we have some great Tuna recipes for you and one special one from the owner of Skiligal Sportsfishing Abbott Byrd. Don't miss it!
LINKS:
Tight Lines and Godspeed.
Jim Baugh
JBO TV
Author of Hooked and “AFTERMATH”
Monday, June 8, 2015
Coastal Angler June edition is now out! Check out Spadefish tips and recipes JBOTV column
In stores now! FREE!! June 2015 edition.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
JBOTV Joins Citizens For a Better Eastern Shore (CBES) for a Sea Side Clean Up! Thanks to All!
15 self-proclaimed “Bay Huggers” joined TEAM CBES to tackle coastline debris in Oyster, VA as part of the Chesapeake Bay Foundations 27th Annual Clean the Bay Day.
In
two hours, volunteers collected 980 pounds of refuse found in The Nature
Conservancy Living Shoreline project, as well as wild marshes and waters
circling the seaside hamlet, part of the Bay watershed.
Catch
of the day trash, included bottles, cans, cigarette butts, plastic,
undergarments, and waders.
Boots
off to all our stellar volunteers! Some came as far as Wachapreague, several
CBES Board members and our ShoreLine News Journal Designer joined in as did the
chairman of the Northampton County Board of Supervisors.
CBES
Zone Captains Courtney Van Clief and Margaret Van Clief, lead the Clean the Bay
charge, keeping us focused and watered. Extra special thanks to Margaret CBES
Board Member, as well as TNC new Outreach and Education Coordinator, for
connecting CBES with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s project. It was her
coordination and enthusiasm, which helped make 1,500 ft- a quarter mile- of Eastern
Shore coastline cleaner!
THAKS TO ALL THAT DONATED THEIR TIME AND CAME OUT TODAY!!
Help make the Eastern Shore better every-day join CBES today!
(757) 678-7157
Monday, June 1, 2015
Time for Tuna!!
Jim Baugh Outdoors is filming offshore this week for two great deep water shows featuring Yellowfin Tuna. Stay tuned as we will be posting on location reports on Social Media. Shows will broadcast in September and online in July.
While we are offshore filming this week, we just got word that the Coastal Angler OBX, Coastal Virginia and Eastern Shore edition of the magazine will be delivered in stores. Be sure to pick up your free copy!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Jim Baugh's "Hooked & Aftermath" novels receive more five star reviews
Many thanks to everyone who have reviewed and enjoyed both Hooked and Aftermath. The kind reviews have been overwhelming and yes, the screenplay is in development now. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, hopefully by late fall or after the new year the project will be completed. The screenplay is based on both books and is busting with humor, and all the blessings that come from the Magnolia Tree.
Thanks again everyone. Tight Lines, Good reads and good eats!
Godspeed,
Jim Baugh
April 27, 2015
By John Tiger
Format:Paperback
I just finished this book and it is fantastic. It's written the best way a story can be told, so that it captures the reader and won't let them put it down. Jim's life and adventures are compelling and uplifting; as the stories are told in these pages, the reader is drawn in and can easily visualize what's happening and even picture themselves in similar situations. Totally believable, funny (at times hilarious and borderline nuts!), Jim's adventures in his everyday life make us want to know him personally and hang with him. For sure, there would never be boredom! It's funny, while one of the take-aways is that while Jim Baugh has had a great time in his life, the other is that he has worked hard for his fun. As a long-time boating magazine writer and publisher, I only wish I could write this way. Loved it and will definitely look forward to reading more from Mr. Baugh!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
On Location in St. Mary’s County Maryland!
WOW! What an arrival! It has been around 20 years since our
last visit to this beautiful waterfront area. On arrival the sun was shining,
the fish were biting, and the fryer was hot!
I checked into the new Island Inn and Suites on St Georges Island and immediately
fell in love with the accommodations. What a GREAT view of the Potomac ! This place is on an island so you are waterfront
on BOTH sides of the facility. Right next door, actually in the same parking
lot is an awesome seafood restaurant called the Ruddy Duck. If you like fresh
seafood, this is the place. What can I say, just arriving I was happy as a duck in water.
Our first filming for Rockfish started early the next
morning. We are currently fishing the trophy season and yes we have already
caught a trophy. A Fat 41 inch Rockfish
only to be followed up by a slot fish. The second Rock landed was a robust 38
inch fish. Hard to throw that big of a Rockfish back, but we did. For our first
day of fishing that morning we hooked into one more monster but could not get
him to the boat. The weather turned, and then it was time for the ride back to
port.
Captain Phil and his son provided a great charter and we so appreciated
the captain for putting s on such big fish. We are hoping for a return trip
later in the week to film more Striped Bass.
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| 41 inch hog!!! |
JBO TV has been filming many attractions in the St. Mary’s
County area, one of which is the Potomac River Maritime Exhibit. This is a must
see while here as well as the lighthouse and welcome center. Did you know that
there is a German U boat sunk right within sight of the Piney Point Lighthouse?
The exhibit at the center is fascinating and we filmed some great footage of
the exhibit for JBOTV.
Well only half way filming on this trip and I think I found
“Nirvana” for my beautiful wife Donna. Yes, a Bed & Breakfast Winery. How
Cool!! We visited Woodlawn and it really took our breath away. A gorgeous
historic B & B featuring their own wine called Slack. We tasted some and bringing a couple of bottles back home.
Excellent stuff!! This place sets right on the Potomac
and it is just gorgeous.
Woodlawn B & B & Slack Winery
Woodlawn B & B & Slack Winery
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| "Donna we are waiting for you" |
We still have some days left filming, back on the water
tomorrow and we are filming more cooking segments today at the Ruddy Duck. Lots
more to come! Hey check this out..
Paddleboard Yoga!
Now here is something hat the ladies will LOVE, and quite honestly I had never seen this. Get ready for... Paddleboard Yoga! This was some serious fun and the ladies were very nice to let us film them. A great way to spend an afternoon on the water, just o much fun!
St. Mary’s Website.
Everything you need to know in order to book a trip here is right there. Book
now while we are still early in the season. The fishing and the weather are
just getting better everyday!
You could not find a better place to fish out of and bring
the family than St. Mary’s. Loads of attractions, rich in history and awesome
access to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay .
A must visit!
More to come,
Godspeed.
Jim Baugh
JBO TV
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| Point No Point lighthouse |
Check out a couple of our recent videos, the new Sea Chaser
in Miami at IBS
and one of our new soundtracks for JBOTV. Enjoy. JB
The new Sea Chaser HFC Below
Mermaid Bay
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