Lifestyle
2016 Father/Son Trip
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The second annual father-son Cat Island fishing trip just wrapped up, this time with the welcome addition of duo Matt and Henry Thornton. Our repeat visit to Hawk’s Nest Marina on remote Cat Island in the Bahamas included plenty of fishing, snorkeling and participating in the 2016 Billfish Blast Fishing Tournament.
The leading boat in the fishing tournament was Karma, taking first place with 237 points. The tournament fishing was slower than normal this year, with no boat landing more than one or two on a given day — and a majority of the boats returning to dock without a billfish. Here is a photograph of Matt Thornton tugging in a Blue Marlin on the Old No. 7.
Another highlight of the trip was a two day, two night excursion to the uninhabited Conception Island, Bahamas. After a 45 mile crossing from Cat Island, the Old No. 7 anchored off-shore. Conception Island is a state protected park and wildlife reserve in the Bahamas. We spent two days and nights exploring the reefs, creeks and off-shore potential of this remote island. The Lil’ No. 7 flats boat allowed us the freedom to explore the beaches for fun swimming spots in the tidal flats.
The Lil’ No. 7 flats boat allowed us to explore the tidal flats.
After returning from Conception Island, we took a rest day to regroup, clean laundry, organize and take on a few minor provisions. The kids took off on bikes to the Hawk’s Nest pool and beach for some swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkeling. Their new local buddy, Jesse, and his mother DJ took them to snorkel and feed the smaller decorative reef fish that live among the reefs and rocks along the beach.
Another excellent trip has been added to the boat’s log file.
A special shout out to the crew of the Old No. 7 (Captain Jamie Ralf, First Mate Dane Ralph, and Mate Travis Ralph) for a great experience.
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LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Cruising out
Cruising out
Andy Hyslop, Henry and Matt Thornton cruising out to the fishing spot off Devils Point.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Multiple Snapper
Multiple Snapper
Henry Thornton showing off his multiple hook up of red snapper.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Bottom Fishing, Deep Dropping
Species
Snapper
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LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Bottom Fishing
Species
Snapper
Tuna Tower Time
Tuna Tower Time
Tyler and Spence enjoying some time atop the tuna tower.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
IMG_1618
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Cat Island Bone
Cat Island Bone
Austin's patience pays off on this bone. A stubborn school of bone required multiple casts and fly offering before hooking this fish.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
The Windhams
The Windhams
The Windhams enjoying the Hawks Nest pool.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Snail Collecting
Snail Collecting
Ford Musselman and the boys were collecting snails along the beach breakers.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
73 Lb. Wahoo
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Wahoo
Ford — Digging Deep
Ford — Digging Deep
Ford was working hard to bring in his 73 pound wahoo.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Wahoo
IMG_1441
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Tom's First Bone
Tom's First Bone
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Little No. 7
Little No. 7
Little No. 7, just back from a scouting mission on Conception Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Conception Creek
Conception Creek
Looking up into the tidal creek of Conception Island. This creek went back as far as the eye could see.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Between Fish
Between Fish
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Spencer's Mahi
Spencer's Mahi
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Mahi Mahi
IMG_1314
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Returning to Dock
Returning to Dock
The boys wouldn't miss a bow ride our or back of the marina each day. A great place to spot sharks and stingrays.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Prior to Launch
Prior to Launch
The boys of the 2016 Cat Island trip just prior to leaving from Louisville aboard the Tornton jet. Thanks to Matt and Henry for getting us down to the island!!!!!
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
The Crew
The boys striking a pose outside of the "Fish House West". Cat Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Flying Tuna Fish
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Tuna
Tyler's Tuna
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Tuna
Storm Forming off Columbus Point, Cat Island
Storm Forming off Columbus Point, Cat Island
This photo shows a typical summer storm forming over Columbus Point on Cat Island in the Bahamas. We were able to troll around the edge of the storms this day, while still hooking up with mahi-mahi, tuna and one sailfish.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Cliffs Along Columbus Point
Cliffs Along Columbus Point
This is a view of the cliffs just to the west of Columbus Point — Cat Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Dane's Bone
Dane's Bone
First Mate, Dane Ralph, enjoying a rare bone on a fly.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Exploring Coral Heads
Exploring Coral Heads
Dane is returning on deck of the Lil' No. 7 after exploring another coral head for hog fish.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle, Spearfishing
Exploring Coral Heads
Exploring Coral Heads
Austin Musselman and Dane Ralph, out on Lil' No. 7 in search of coral heads with good fish activity.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle, Spearfishing
The Beach at Hawks Nest Marina
The Beach at Hawks Nest Marina
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Spencer's Victory Tuna
Spencer's Victory Tuna
Spencer lifts his tuna to the skies after bringing it aboard. Check out mother natures hologram on the belly of the tuna.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Tuna
Ford's Monsters Wahoo
Ford's Monsters Wahoo
Ford worked hard reeling in this monster fish. Weighing in at 73 pound, this fish filled the fish box and provided countless pieces of sushi to lead into our Ashbourne Farms grass fed steak dinner.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Wahoo
Ford's Monster Wahoo
Ford's Monster Wahoo
Ford worked hard reeling in this monster fish. Weighing in at 73 pound, this fish filled the fish box and provided countless pieces of sushi to lead into our Ashbourne Farms grass fed steak dinner.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Wahoo
Ford's Monster Wahoo
Ford's Monster Wahoo
Ford worked hard reeling in this monster fish. Weighing in at 73 pound, this fish filled the fish box and provided countless pieces of sushi to lead into our Ashbourne Farms grass fed steak dinner.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Wahoo
Conch Penis
Conch Penis
Austin trying the island delicacy of a conch's penis. A bohemian tradition.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Conch Penis
Conch Penis
Eli trying the island delicacy of a conch's penis. A bohemian tradition.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
On the Hook in the Bahamas
On the Hook in the Bahamas
This photo shows Old No. 7 anchored off shore of Conception Island, Bahamas. Conception Island is a state protected park and wildlife reserve in the Bahamas. We spent two days and nights exploring the reefs, creeks and off-shore potential of this remote and uninhabited island.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Creek Cruising in the Bahamas
Austin is exploring the a tidal flat creek in the Bahamas, in search of pockets of bonefish.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Tom's First Bonefish
Tom's First Bonefish
Austin put Tom on a school of bonefish, and after several close attempts, hooked up with this beauty.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Tom's First Bonefish
Tom's First Bonefish
Austin put Tom on a school of bonefish, and after several close attempts, hooked up with this beauty.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Austin Musselman's Bonefish
Austin Musselman's Bonefish
This bonefish was taken deep into a tidal flat in the Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Matt Thornton's Blue Marlin
Matt works hard bringing in his Blue Marlin during the 2016 Bluefish Blast fishing tournament — Cat Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Marlin
Little No. 7
Little No. 7
This photo shows both Old No. 7 and Lil' No .7 at rest after a long day fishing. Hawks Nest Marina, Cat Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Lure Selection
Lure Selection
These lures were drying off after a long day searching for marlin.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle, Trolling
The Crew
The Crew
The boys took a rest from play and fishing to pose for this picture.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Spence's Tuna
Spence's Tuna
This was the first fish we pulled aboard during the 2016 Boys trip in Cat Island, Bahamas. This tuna provided plates of sashimi, seared tuna stakes and the leftovers worked into one of the best lunch tuna salads we every tasted.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Tuna
Spencer's Tuna
Spencer's Tuna
This was the first fish we pulled aboard during the 2016 Boys trip in Cat Island, Bahamas. This tuna provided plates of sashimi, seared tuna stakes and the leftovers worked into one of the best lunch tuna salads we every tasted.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Tuna
Tuna Time
Tuna Time
This was the first fish we pulled aboard during the 2016 Boys trip in Cat Island, Bahamas. This tuna provided plates of sashimi, seared tuna stakes and the leftovers worked into one of the best lunch tuna salads we every tasted.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Trolling
Species
Tuna
The Crew
The Crew
The crew of the 2016 Cat Island Father/Son fishing trip take a rare break from their play to pose for this photo.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
LIfestyle
Bonefish
Bonefish Release
This is a great example of what to look for when scouring the flats for bonefish. Subtle movements and color changes in the water will reveal this elusive and sought after sports fish.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Austin Musselman's Bonefish
Austin Musselman's Bonefish
This fish was taken exploring a new creek on Cat Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Flats Fishing, Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
Austin Musselman's Bonefish
Austin Musselman's Bonefish
This fish was taken exploring a new creek on Cat Island, Bahamas.
LOCATION
Cat Island, Bahamas
Fishing Method
Fly Fishing
Species
Bonefish
