Hardnose

Winter brings high winds and hardnose (blue runners). High shoal, on the North side of St. Thomas, is a known spot for night fishing. Testing the depths with a bottom line we found the perfect spot of sixteen fathoms. With dad at the engine and me on the bow we spun the boat to face into the wind, and ran up a few yards. The boat bucked slightly as we steered directly into the wind.  Dad paused the engine and like clock work I tossed the anchor. 

Feeling the bow twist and lurch I tied the anchor rope and confirmed it was set.  Sitting at the stern with the bucket of sand and fresh bait dad started chumming. Positioned close to the bow I readied myself and spot for a hopeful night of action. 

Cutting semi frozen squid into one inch pieces I made enough bait for the first hour of fishing.  

Securing two pieces on my double hook bottom hand line, I slipped on two finger guards and dropped the baited hooks into the water. The monofilament ran through my fingers as it raced to the bottom.  Squeezing my fingers together I paused the lines descent for three or four seconds and waited to see if anything at that spot was interested in my bait.  Releasing the line again it continued its drop to the bottom.  As the weights bounced on the ocean floor I quickly pulled upward anticipating a bite. True to my expectations I felt the definite tug from a fish and pulled up fast and hard to sink the hook. Hand over hand I started pulling the fish upward. About three yards from the bottom a second fish grabbed the other bait adding to the tug of war.  

Every fish has its own unique pull. Trigger fish has a firm left and then right shake of its head.  Hard nose has an up and down with a constant pull, grouper fights the first few seconds then becomes dead weight, silk are aggressive little fish and tug like a bigger fish and do so the entire way. 

Guessing correctly I announced having a strawberry grouper and hardnose. I continued pulling them in and my guess was confirmed as I lifted them into the boat. The brilliant red grouper and silver hardnose was a good start for our night of fishing.

Unhooking and placing them in the nearby cooler I readied the hooks again with fresh bait.  Throwing the weight and hooks first I quickly threw out all the line and wrapped up a few fathoms on the spool to avoid a tangle (bird nest) and to spot check for hardnose on the way down. Hardnose will leave the ocean floor to follow the chum line and it was my job to find them. 

Pausing midway I held the line and waited.  I was about to let it go down further when a hardnose held on. One on each hook.  Excitedly I told dad I found these at eight fathoms. As I worked them in Dad confirmed his float line was tight at six fathoms.  

It’s official “THE HARDNOSE ARE HERE”.  Dad kept them close with the chum. Hand over hand we pulled them into the boat. It did not take long to fill our coolers.  

Wrapping up our lines and packing the fish with the ice we brought we called it a night.  Dad tossed the rest of the chum, feeding the fish knowing we will be back tomorrow night.  We pulled up the anchor and drove to the bay below our home. It was my job to wake up early the next morning and to sell our catch at the local market. I welcomed getting a couple hours of sleep in hopes of fishing again tomorrow night.

Here is a little video of Stanley Berry’s catch of hardnose.