Tuna

[TravisS]

I brought my good friend Bryan with me Saturday to chase some tunnies. Well, we left the Canal at 9:30 in thick fog and finally found fish around 11:00, but they were scattered and mostly pushing water. The schools were intially scattered, but started to show more and more. I heard several guys reporting multiple hookups. We moved away from everyone to give them space and found some fish pushing water, I wanted my buddy to at leqast hok up as he has never caught any tunas. I put him up front and eased in as he cast a silver sluggo in front of the fish. The sluggo was about 20' off the bow and a nice tuna blew up on it, I thought sweet, he is hooked up. I looked over but was shagrinned as there was no bend in the rod. I looked at the school adn back at Bryan to the sweet sound of a screaming drag. The battle went on for about an hour and a half before we saw any color. When I did, I was nervous about gaffing the fish. Let me back up, my buddy forgot to set his drag, so it was a touch and go situation which made things a bit more tense. After two hours into the battle the fish was nearing the end and we thought a dart would be best, as I had a harpoon in the boat. Finally got the fish under the boat and a solid shot drilled the dart deep into the fish, after that it was pretty much over. The fish was fought on a Tsunami rod, Penn 9500, and 65 lb PP with a 10' 60 lb fluoro leader attached with the slim beauty. The slim beauty worked nice as it casts better than other knots when you have the knot back in the eyes on longer leaders. Here are some pics...

[TravisS]

[glen]

Nice catch! Hope the clothes washed out OK!!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[TravisS]

[quote name='glen' post='12513' date='Aug 27 2008, 09:40 AM']Nice catch! Hope the clothes washed out OK!!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]





Haha, tuna blood never washes out..nor does the stink!

[eatfish]

Nice!!!! headed that way myself this weekend. also rigged with some sluggo's and gonna try some of the Hogy baits. we'll see. nice job sounds like a productive trip!!

[brothalan]

[quote name='TravisS' post='12510' date='Aug 27 2008, 09:24 AM']Here are some pics...[/quote]



[color="brown"]

Nice 1 1/2 hour fight ... so what about the drag real nice and you did not lose it

[/color]

[eatfish]

Hey Travis,



Skunked again, you want to show me how sometime? we can use my boat and fuel!!!! I'm getting better at spotting and finding them but I'm 0 for 6, that's a lot of gas!!

[TravisS]

[quote name='eatfish' post='12544' date='Sep 1 2008, 06:36 AM']Hey Travis,



Skunked again, you want to show me how sometime? we can use my boat and fuel!!!! I'm getting better at spotting and finding them but I'm 0 for 6, that's a lot of gas!![/quote]



I went all year last year without puttign one in the boat...only 2 hookups both broken off. Learning what to look for is something I notice most people need to learn...it took me some time as well, I was casting to fish when some dickhead flew up to me on plane over the fish and asked what we were casting to...



I would love to head out with you...but I have been very busy working on our camp in Maine...I hope to get one or two trips later this month or early Oct.

[TravisS]

[quote name='Alan' post='12542' date='Aug 31 2008, 09:15 PM']

[color="brown"]

Nice 1 1/2 hour fight ... so what about the drag real nice and you did not lose it

[/color]

[/quote]





Drag was great and smooth...the washers need to be replaced every few fish though on the Penn.

[eatfish]

I know there is a learning curve and I'm on it, and getting better, at least now I kind of know what to look for and how to approach. I've been doing a lot of research and watching. Saw a guy on a high speed troll put a huge school of fish down, ran right through the middle of them. the birds, as a group, rose about 150' and stayed, when the fish got organized again the birds were on the move. Pretty cool to watch, learned a lot. I'm putting my time in!!!! for a while, I kept thinking that everyone could just run up a catch one, but I'm learning that not catching one is the norm. I'm not going to quit!! early I spent a lot of time trolling SQUID bars with no fish around. Now I'm trying to jig with fish around, but I think that the next time out with fish around I'll be on the troll again with SQUID bars. The last trip to the SWC was on Sun morning, my crew was ambitious, wanted to be there at 0530, we were there in the 2-4' that quickly turned to 4-6' with the occasional set of 8'rs. When my wife started chumming it was time to go!! I'll be watching the weather and will probably play hookie and get out the next chance, see ya out there

[TravisS]

[quote name='eatfish' post='12561' date='Sep 3 2008, 08:23 PM']I know there is a learning curve and I'm on it, and getting better, at least now I kind of know what to look for and how to approach. I've been doing a lot of research and watching. Saw a guy on a high speed troll put a huge school of fish down, ran right through the middle of them. the birds, as a group, rose about 150' and stayed, when the fish got organized again the birds were on the move. Pretty cool to watch, learned a lot. I'm putting my time in!!!! for a while, I kept thinking that everyone could just run up a catch one, but I'm learning that not catching one is the norm. I'm not going to quit!! early I spent a lot of time trolling SQUID bars with no fish around. Now I'm trying to jig with fish around, but I think that the next time out with fish around I'll be on the troll again with SQUID bars. The last trip to the SWC was on Sun morning, my crew was ambitious, wanted to be there at 0530, we were there in the 2-4' that quickly turned to 4-6' with the occasional set of 8'rs. When my wife started chumming it was time to go!! I'll be watching the weather and will probably play hookie and get out the next chance, see ya out there[/quote]

Go EAST!! The bite has been much better on the troll out there. And DON'T follow the fleet...that should be a very very last resort. You want your own fish, they are out there just try different areas and pay attention to the tides and moon phases. Some guys keep journals to help figure things out, I am not that diligent.

[eatfish]

cleared my schedule for tomorow but can't put together a crew!!!!

[glen]

Just mention sashimi and they may change their mind! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[eatfish]

found someone to go, I can't promise anything but a boat ride I'm 0 - 6 so far chasing these fish. but I can't stop thinking about it. I've got it bad!!!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[glen]

Yeah I have only caught small tuna and they were a blast!!!

[TravisS]

My buddy was out yesterday and put 3 in the boat...he is out right now with another charter.

[glen]

mmm ....now you got me thinking about sashimi again! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[eatfish]

Travis can send you some of his <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> , out this morning, lots of blues, jigged and trolled, Blues!! heard af a few fish caught, on the SWC and near the BE bouy. Looking for the next weather window

[TravisS]

My buddy was on fish out there all morning... They had 3 blow ups but none of the hooks found their marks. I just called him though and he is hooked up as I write this, he has been on this one for 25 mins. Casting to tuna is a frustrating game!

[eatfish]

Yeah it is. I'll keep trying. Looks like the next shot may be an afternoon run early in the week, I'll have to see what happens with my schedule.