Out there in the thousand-fathom waters, even the most elegantly designed boat would not be any good unless it raised fish. A “fish raiser” is a competitive boat that somehow convinces large predator gamefish to strike at the fisherman’s bait. Veteran charter fishing Captain Ernie Doshier, a resident of Ocracoke Island and member of Tideland EMC, explains the mystery of a fish raiser. There is something about the hum of the engine, the wake from boat, the churning of the props through the water; the big fish are curious to come up and find out more. But those curious fish are confounded by the decoy school of rigs presented by the outriggers, which dip different lures or baits off the side of the boat to simulate many
You don’t want to miss RV Hodge’s insider tour of an 84-foot custom sportfishing boat from Jarrett Bay Boatworks.
Working on the “flare” at Jarrett Bay Boatworks
A mahi mahi
tasty snacks. This is called trolling, and it continues until, in the deep blue water of the Gulf Stream, the streaking shadow of a billfish — perhaps a sailfish or marlin — is seen below. Once those big fish begin to rise from the depths, the outriggers and rods work together to tease up a bite. Several lines trail the boat. Some lower on the deck trail a short distance. The boat’s mate manages these rods, while the captain watches the higher, longer lines trailing in the distance. “Fish on!” is the universally engaging call that means the objective of the Carolina Flare has been achieved — and the fight to reel in a prize-winning fish ensues. If the hooked fish is ready to engage, the angler will climb in the fighting chair and, for an endurance battle, harness up to conserve energy. The big fish will often jump into the air and then plunge down, trying
Jarrett Bay/Scott Taylor
Fish raisers
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Jarrett Bay
Materials for building boats have changed since the Vikings of Scandinavia or Lapitas of the Pacific Islands took to the open seas in wooden vessels. Although the Carolina Flare is often still made with wood, it is strengthened and sealed with carbon-fiber saturated in epoxy resin. Fishing technology has advanced as well. And the power that propels these boats, in particular, has increased in profound ways. “I remember when 18-knots was a fast boat. Now, you’ve got to go at least 40-knots to be considered fast,” RV reflects. RV explains the natural limits to speed. “Weight, horsepower and safety limits speed,” he says, “and Jarrett Bay overbuilds for safety.” New building materials were employed to save 40,000 pounds in weight to give one of their latest creations, a monstrous 90-foot behemoth, the fighting edge in competitive fishing tournaments. The massive boat screams from port toward the best fishing grounds with diesel engines so powerful they can match the speed of some much smaller and lighter vessels. Now the reel work begins.
Jarrett Bay/Luke Pearson
Built for speed
Near Cape Lookout
to drag the boat with it. In the Gulf Stream, visibility can be up to 50 or even 60 feet down. The fish’s every move, thrash, pull, dive and jump is visible from the bridge. Pulling in the big one is a thrilling experience for anyone, but it doesn’t take landing a trophy fish to make a memorable trip. “If your clients have had a good and enjoyable day on the water, that’s the bottom line,” Ernie says. “If you happen to get a shot at a billfish — and then are lucky enough to catch one — that’s a bonus.” Carolina Country Contributing Editor Gordon Byrd is a veteran who works for UNC Pembroke. While not working or writing, he spends most of his time with family and church.
Editor’s note: Jarrett Bay Boatworks Co-founder and President Randy Ramsey is currently Chair of the UNC Board of Governors; his relationship with the article’s subject matter, as well as the author’s employer, did not affect reporting.
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