North Carolina: Back Breaking, Boat Drenching Albie Chasing

by | Salt Water

Albie Video

It’s a cold Fall morning on the coast of North Carolina and we’redrinking coffee and watching the sun climb out of the ocean,illuminating the eastern sky in a brush stroke of orange. The windis blowing steadily out of the northeast, ripping through us with ashiver before streaking out into the ocean, where it once filled thesails of Blackbeard the Pirate.We’ve gathered here, as many fly fishermen have, because massiveballs of bait are gathering just off shore. Above the bait, giant flocksof gulls climb high into the sky like clouds of smoke rising out ofthe rough water. Below, some of the fastest fish in the ocean, the falsealbacore, are preparing their attack. Our goal…be there when thisoccurs.My world revolves around trout, literally. Born and raised in theheart of the Rocky Mountains and working as a guide for more than tenyears now, I view changes in the year as hatches, not seasons. Myclothes, car, and even carpet are magically full of tiny trout flies,making it dangerous to walk through the house barefoot – and my dog,is named after a fish ”Hucho”. I’m now completely certain that there is nohope for me returning to a life that does not revolve around trout.With this said, I find it strange to be such a fishing bum…yetcompletely out of my environment here. I’m not a complete saltwatervirgin…but I have a lot to learn.Fortunately, I’m riding in the bow of a boat owned by Seth Thompson,a Colorado native that traded the streams for ocean surf years ago. Aweekend warrior with a sixth-fish-sense that is borderline scary…aninnate ability to find fish; you’re either born with this, or nevergain it. I do my best to scan the horizon for busting fish or tightlygrouped birds, but we’re usually already in pursuit by the time I spotanything. Seth prefers a “run and gun” style – hammering down thethrottle at the sight of busting fish, a crazed “oh s__t, hold on” backbreaking, boat drenching, sprint to the fish. Then its cast, cast, castand the fish either disappear into the abyss…or you hook up…with theFalse Albacore! Now, I know it doesn’t mean much for a three weightsporting, 18 inch trophy trout bragging, flip flop wearing mountainkid to comment on fighting a False Albacore…but you can’t arguewith the stats. When you connect with the “Albie”, your tied into oneof the fastest fish on the planet…averaging 75% muscle and clockingin at nearly 40 mph. One of the few warm blooded fish, thesetorpedos have retractable dorsal fins that allow them to obtainspeeds that make other saltwater speedsters look like finless trout-tards from the local hatchery. Ok, you get it, they’re fast. Butthere is more to the Albie than its speed. The chaotic, slashing,top water burst…frantic bait sprays…and just the sound of fishcutting through water…is enough to tantalize anyone’s senses. Attimes the feeding fish push so close to the boat and the carnagebecomes so intense that bait are actually thrust onto the floor of theboat, where they thrash wildly in a state of panic…it is momentslike these that destroy trout fishermen forever.I’m home now, where the thermometer seems to be stuck on 20 degrees,milling through hours and hours of footage. The bait sprays arebeautiful and the reels are screaming nicely, but what really standsout while reviewing the shots is the unity between the group of fishermen.Between hookups and running to busting fish, people are laughing andhigh-fiving, swearing and telling jokes. It reinforces the notionthat the catching is just a minor part of the fishing experience. Ifeel fortunate to be part of the crew.

8 Comments

  1. jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    RA .. killer fish tale and video! you got some amazing shots (spraying bat, bait underwater, albie jumping out of water etc..) and i love how you tied it all together with each member of the crew … you guys were DEFINATELY LIVING THE DREAM! now, after i see that i wish i made it down … obviusly, i missed out on a killer trip with a fun saltwater crew …

    ps. the saltwater guys have such a subtle way about them huh? i love the shot of you laced up to the albie on the boat and seth giving the finger to the camera guy … only in the salt! ya just don’t see that on the trout streams .. steelhead rivers, maybe .. but trout streams .. no. gotta love the salt!

    ppps .. looking forward to the release of the final “bird chasers” albie film .. will be keeping an eye out for it on your website .. later brotha! great work down there! .. next year, i am DEFINATELY coming down! .. you and seth and the boys should come up to my neck of the woods and chase the ablies, bonito and bluefin with me next summer .. seriously, think about it .. would be a blast!

    pppps .. to anyone out there reading .. RA is producing an Albie film called bird chasers .. will be available in time for this years fly fishing festival .. you can find out more about the full length video on RA’s website http://www.fishwithra.com

  2. waterwhippa on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Sick stuff fellas…nothing gets the heart pounding like seeing the machine gun fire and bait fleeing for its life. I liked the casting into traffic analogy, that pretty much sums it up. Great vid!

  3. joey on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Really killer video….What a fun game to be in. I have never fished for albies but from what I have seen and heard, I will have to chase them next time I am on the East Coast

    j-

  4. gilly09 on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    RA- Another piss-ah flick!

    Big fan, keep em’ coming!

  5. Boz on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    God I love those fish! Good work capturing the ablie experience. Nothing like watching those little tunny ripping through bait, images like that never leave your mind.

    Sounds like a Flies and Fins/RA Beattie collaberation could be in the mix for 2008 when I spoke with Jeremey last night. That would be killer. If you guys make it to Maine you should check out some of the waters I fish all summer…Big Rapids, dramatic scenery, and some of the states finest landlocked salmon fishing. I could help put you guys over fish in some spots that get virtually no fishing pressure due to acces and heavy whitewater. June-July= epic Caddis hatches… keep me posted.

  6. FatTire on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Great story RA. I tell you, its hard to put in words the feeling you get when you chase down busting albacore, make the cast and get the hook up. There is not a more satisfying feeling. And to do it with a clan of pals like we had makes it that much more special. Great job on the video. Can not wait to see it on the Fly Fishing Film Festival.

    Jeremy..there is always next year. We have already commited to it. I think that a trip to Maine needs to happen.

  7. jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    boz .. if the collaboration does come to frution .. you and your guiding services are gonna be a HUGE part of the equation !!!!

  8. jeremy on November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    seth .. exactly .. ra and i have already been tossin around the idea of a trip/project in maine .. you are definately comin and gonna be a part of it, if it happens! … just try not to give people the finger on the rivers here in maine 🙂 … when you are on the fresh water, you will have to revert back to you colorado trout fishing roots and be a gentlemen .. don’t worry, we will hit the salt too and there will be plenty of swearing and waves crashin’ over the bow, bone jarring stuff, launches over waves in my boat and livin’ like pirates with fly rods .. i go pretty hard core in the salt brotha .. no seets, no nothin .. just a rope to hang on to .. can’t wait to get you on board …