This past September we had another fantastic time filming a segment for our television show, Adventures In Fishing with Capt. Ray Kelly. I had previously made arrangements with Capt. Chuck Griffin of the charter boat, The HOOKER II to film Marlin, Tuna, King Mackerel, and Dolphin fishing, depending on what was biting and the weather and sea conditions when we arrived. It's always a gamble when you plan filming 3-6 months in advance. This is our fourth year of production and God has been good to us -- only three shoots have been cancelled due to inclement weather. Charleston, SC is a beautiful city with much history. There is so much to see and do that I strongly believe it's worth a trip for anyone. I had also heard that the fishing was fabulous, and was looking forward to both the angling and the sightseeing that we planned to do while we were there.

We stayed at the DAYS INN PATRIOTS POINT in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The accomodations were great -- a nice clean hotel with a large pool -- and were only ten minutes from the Wild Dunes Yacht Harbor where I was to meet Capt. Chuck at 6:00 AM the following morning. As soon as we checked in, I took a ride to see The HOOKER II (I always check out any new boat that we will be filming). When I arrived at the marina, she was at the dock and was a beauty -- a 39' Key West Sportfisher. She was shining, spotless and very impressive. She looked like a real sea-worthy boat, but the question would be whether the boat and Capt. Chuck could put his anglers onto some fish. The filming was also going to be quite different than others because we were to have two female anglers catching the fish.

I arrived at the dock the next morning at 5:45 AM and met Capt. Chuck. He introduced me to his crew, mate Larry Henebery, Capt. Eddie Langeland and the two beautiful anglers, Ellen Little and Lynn Gould. I was glad he had taken my suggestion about trying to get children or female anglers to be on the show. Today you are seeing more and more female anglers and many of them are setting new IGFA records. I know we'll get a tremendous amount of postive comments about this particular show. I don't want to sound chauvanistic but our male viewers will enjoy watching two southern belles catching fish.

Capt. Chuck and myself were on the bridge as we sailed away from the dock in the dark. As we headed out of Charleston Harbor, the sun rose and you could tell it was going to be a beautiful day. Capt. Chuck headed to his favorite spot about 25 miles into the Atlantic. He set the outriggers and explained that they would be using a downrigger, planners and flat lines, some of which with teasers. Larry and Eddie rigged up the baits of choice which were frozen ballyhoo. A total of 7 lines were set as Capt. Chuck trolled The HOOKER II.

Within five minutes the right rigger was hit and Eddie gave the rod to Ellen. She fought the fish and reeled it to the boat. It was a 4' barracuda. Eddie landed the fish and quickly released it. Not two minutes later, the line on the planner was hit. The rod was quicly given to Lynn who also reeled in the fish fairly easily. This time it was a small King Mackerel. I said to Chuck "three more fish and we have got the segment filmed". Chuck said not to worry -- that they would catch alot more fish than that.

Just when was battling the next fish, the skies suddenly opened up and it started to pour. I felt bad for her but she stayed with it. Before she landed the fish Ellen was also hooked up again. A double in the pouring rain. And then it appeared -- a beautiful rainbow on the horizon. Lynn landed a small dolphin (mahi-mahi). Ellen landed a false albacore. Both girls were soaking wet. The sun returned and the rainbow disappeared. Truly amazing!

The girls had hardly enough time to dry off before another fish was hooked. It was one fish after another. Ellen and Lynn took turns on the rods but the fish were getting larger. I decided I had plenty of film so I took a turn on one of the rods. It felt like a good fish and gave me a nice fight. I reeled it to the boat to find it was a nice King Mackerel.

The action was unbelievable. The King Mackerel were averaging 10-15 pounds and then Blackfin Tuna started to hit (both King Mackerel and Blackfin Tuna are great eating). Tuna are a powerful fighting fish. Lynn caught the first one and you could see she was struggling to land it. The waters around the boat were boiling with baitfish breaking the surface -- truly a sight to see. Any angler who has witnessed this phenomenum will agree that your heart starts to beat faster and the adrenaline really starts to flow. You know that the bait that you have just set out will be hit at any moment; and that is exactly what happened.

The right flat line was hit and taken from the reel so fast it was hard to capture to moment on film. Ellen was quick to take the rod. She loves fishing and gives the credit to her fiance, Eddie for teaching her everything she knows.

As Ellen reeled in another big King Mackerel, a bigger fish rose from the depths, ate the King Mackerel and also became hooked. This fish almost took Ellen right out of the fighting chair but she held on and fought the fish for an hour & fifteen minutes before getting it to the boat. We wondered what it was; a Tuna? A big Barracuda? A big King? Maybe a big Amberjack.

Capt. Chuck had predicted a big King or Amberjack. He was right. It was a monster Amberjack. As Larry tried grabbing the mouth of the big fish, I was amazed at the size of it. I had once caught a fifty pound Amberjack in Florida and this one was much bigger. Larry stuggled to lift the fish into the boat so that I could get a good shot of it, and when he did the Amberjack was almost as long as Larry himself!

Ellen yelled out with joy and said it was the biggest fish she had ever caught. It was frightening to look at it. Larry quickly put it back in the water and the big fish swam away. Capt. Chuck said it was the biggest Amberjack to date on the HOOKER II. He estmated it to be 80+ pounds. Ellen was exhuasted and the sweat was just dripping off her. She was just as wet as she had been when it rained earlier. This was truly the highlight of the trip.

Capt. Eddie took over the wheel. Capt. Chuck came down from the bridge and explained the use of planners and downriggers and as he was doing it the planner line was hit and he made it look so easy reeling in the fish. It was a King Mackerel but before he could land it a large baracuda bit the fish in half.

Capt. Chuck landed 1/2 a King Mackerel. He explained to the camera that this was quite common this time of year and how it was an example of the food chain in the area.

Another show filmed and it was going to be a fantastic show at that. I knew that when I returned to New York, I would hardly be able to wait to start the editting and re-live the action again.

As you can see, The HOOKER II is a fish catching boat with a knowledgible and experienced captain. Capt. Chuck can be reached at (803) 884-6696 or call us at (516) 929-6711 and we will make your arrangements for you. The fishing is fantastic in Charleston, SC. I'll definitely be fishing there again and I'll be on board THE HOOKER II.

Visit Capt. Ray at his website http://www.adventure-fishing.com or drop him a line at [email protected]