Author Topic: Blue Water Charters - Fishing Reports from Fat Girl (Read 91279 times)

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #100 on:** September 13, 2015, 10:59:56 PM »

After blowing one of my inboard Volvo diesel engines on the 1st of August it was decided that it was time for Fat Girl to have a complete refit.

We chucked out the inboards and with some modifications Fat Girl now sports a pair of Yamaha F250 Out Board Engines.

The whole boat has also been completely rewired and all the plumbing has also been redone, toilet, deck wash, fresh water and live well.

We also spruced her up externally and have redone the deck and the entire interior.

The GPS and Fish Finder is to be replaced with the all new Furuno 12" NavNet TZ2 Touch complete with a commercial class transducer. The system will come with the Max Sea weather overlays.
This will be the first Furuno TZ2 unit in Durban. I am awaiting this unit to arrive next month for fitment and am rather excited.

She went back in the water this weekend after 31 days of hard work and will be fully operational sometime this week.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #101 on:** September 13, 2015, 11:00:32 PM »

Back on her mooring

CLS · « **Reply #102 on:** September 14, 2015, 06:38:11 AM »

Very nice Mike, who she go with the outboards compared to the inboards ??, at least you now got plenty hatch space

REEFMAN · « **Reply #103 on:** September 14, 2015, 07:05:08 AM »

Good luck Mike!!

colin · « **Reply #104 on:** September 14, 2015, 07:37:44 AM »

she looks WOW

L Hooker · « **Reply #105 on:** September 14, 2015, 07:58:44 AM »

Congrats Mike

dugong · « **Reply #106 on:** September 14, 2015, 08:04:30 AM »

Congrats on the new power, did you move the fuel tanks back??

sardinella · « **Reply #107 on:** September 14, 2015, 08:20:50 AM »

Looking good, wishing you a bumper season with no downtime, only fishingtime

John F · « **Reply #108 on:** September 14, 2015, 09:57:13 AM »

Good luck for the season... feels good to be back, hey?

iNdlovu · « **Reply #109 on:** September 14, 2015, 11:18:54 AM »

Congrats and well done Mike. Good luck with the new power plants and wishing you a great season

Umpa Lumpa · « **Reply #110 on:** September 14, 2015, 11:28:07 AM »

Nice Mike
Pretty sure we spotted you exiting harbour yesterday and head South, we were heading back North after getting caught in the heavy rain and SW that was blowing. Was not close enough to see the changes.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #111 on:** September 14, 2015, 12:12:28 PM »

Thanks guys.

It was not me out on Saturday, I am preparing for my LGSC with SAMSA and still finishing of the last work that needs to be done.

It easy to identify Fat Girl out at sea, she will be the boat with the bent rods off the back

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #112 on:** September 14, 2015, 12:13:23 PM »

Quote from: dugongboy on September 14, 2015, 08:04:30 AM

Congrats on the new power, did you move the fuel tanks back??

No

dugong · « **Reply #113 on:** September 14, 2015, 03:19:14 PM »

Quote from: Capt. Hook on September 14, 2015, 12:13:23 PM

Quote from: dugongboy on September 14, 2015, 08:04:30 AM
Congrats on the new power, did you move the fuel tanks back??

No

Forward?? What size is she Mike, The reason I ask is that the ride will change for sure, the fore/aft balance will change and the cog is going to be much higher??
No tests yet?? should be interesting.......... I think the speed at wot will be better, planing time should be better and the fuel usage should be better.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #114 on:** September 14, 2015, 05:43:17 PM »

Quote from: dugongboy on September 14, 2015, 03:19:14 PM

Quote from: Capt. Hook on September 14, 2015, 12:13:23 PM
Quote from: dugongboy on September 14, 2015, 08:04:30 AM
Congrats on the new power, did you move the fuel tanks back??

No
Forward?? What size is she Mike, The reason I ask is that the ride will change for sure, the fore/aft balance will change and the cog is going to be much higher??
No tests yet?? should be interesting.......... I think the speed at wot will be better, planing time should be better and the fuel usage should be better.

Fuel tank is 900 litres and is mid ships and will stay there.

dugong · « **Reply #115 on:** September 14, 2015, 06:47:19 PM »

Let us know how the tests go, it will be interesting to see the difference, what size is she?

isivuba · « **Reply #116 on:** September 14, 2015, 06:53:21 PM »

Looks good Mike......not the same but looks good.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #117 on:** September 23, 2015, 08:56:37 PM »

Fat Girl is ready for the new season, and with the new motors pushing 500 HP at the back she runs superb and flies with a top speed of 35 Knots (65Km/hr), all SAMSA inspections passed and ready to bend some rods.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #118 on:** September 23, 2015, 09:11:43 PM »

Quote from: dugongboy on September 14, 2015, 06:47:19 PM

Let us know how the tests go, it will be interesting to see the difference, what size is she?

9.7m - 10.4m Total

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #119 on:** November 16, 2015, 10:14:28 AM »

OFFSHORE FISHING REPORT 14&15 NOVEMBER 2016
It was great to be back out on the water again after a long while. Saturday has a very strong SW west, the sea was big and it pretty much rained the entire day. We had 2 x 5hr Charters one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We ran light tackle and kept inshore in teh sheltered area to target Snoek, Tuna and Bonnies. On both trips we got Bonnies with the biggest around 3Kg which was great fun on the light tackle. I really hate being out in the rain getting cold and wet, but its still beats a day in the office.
Sunday was great conditions in the morning and the seas were flat, we ran out far North looking for some Dorado, Tuna and hoping for that elusive Black Marlin. All the way out we got nothing, and when we turned to come back I came in shallow and worked the ships which yeilded us Yellowfin Tuna and a Tropical Yellowtail, we also got a tiny Dorado of around 1Kg which we released along with the Yellowtail. On one ship we found a big school of Dorado and I tried everything but they refused to bite. As we got closer to Durban the SW started pumping harder and harder and the last 10km we decided to make a run for it as I saw heavy rain on the horizon. It was a good choice as we had just finished cleaning the Tuna for our guest when the heavens opened. Fat Girl is running awesome and it was a great feeling to pass everyone on the way in who used to pass me, those days are over, Fat Girl is a beast now and Rocks.