cbiegel
10-16-2009, 04:45 PM
So, on last Friday (10/9/09) my friends and I were able to get out tuna fishing. We were pretty happy to be on the water because if you remember our aborted trip this summer it’s not a sure thing.
We had a great day with two fish on. The first I hooked at about 70 ft jigging a big (14 or 17oz I can’t remember) Norwegian style cod jig with beefed up swivels and a heavy single hook 5 minutes after we set the anchor. Let me just tell you how sweet it is to feel a tune crash a jig! Sure it’s great to get one on live bait or a trolled lure but to feel the first take is something else. I felt a hit and struck with sharp hook-set. The line went totally slack and just as I was about to start cursing the fish took off straight for the bottom almost jerking the rod out of my hands which would have taken $2000 worth of gear (that wasn’t mine) down with it. The fight took about 40 minutes and we landed a fish in the 130 lb range (over 50”).
The second fish came on one of the live mackerel which is probably good since it really could have gotten away with the rod. Its first run took ¾ of the spool on a Penn International 50 and that’s with the rod completely bent and the Capt. backing the boat down. This was the start of an hour and forty five minutes of blistering runs and frantic boat movements. At one point we had the fish within 20 feet of the boat but it took one look at us and effortlessly dove down to sulk at 100 feet for 30 minutes. It’s kind of cool to see the fish you have hooked on the sonar. Unfortunately we just weren’t able to put enough pressure on the fish with only the Penn 50 so it eventually chewed through the leader just as the Capt was getting ready to stick it with the tag. He estimated it at 300 lbs and since we’d already harvested the first fish we wouldn’t have been allowed to keep it (hence the tag) so I don’t think any of us who got to fight it were too upset that it got off at the end.
The ride out with a beautiful sunrise.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1131.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1131.jpg)
The fight is ON!!
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1170.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1170.jpg)
It’s so cool to get your first glimpse of the huge animal you’ve been battling.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1138.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1138.jpg)
On the gaff and harpoon but still not in the boat. Take a look at the jig in its mouth. Same thing I use for cod fishing with beefed up hardware.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1146.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1146.jpg)
Safe in the boat! The rope is from the harpoon. It was pretty cool to see them use it. Much safer than gaffs only.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1147.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1147.jpg)
Not huge as far as tuna go and a little smaller than last year (150 lb last year) but I can assure you I was pretty happy with this fish.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1187.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1187.jpg)
A little snack for the way home. It’s not the Toro…that came later!
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1192.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1192.jpg)
The ride in was nastier than the ride out and getting worse all the time.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1201.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1201.jpg)
All in all a fantastic trip and one that has become an annual thing. If any of you guys are ever in the Gloucester MA area I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Capt. Gary and the Tunahunter. I hope everyone enjoyed the report.
We had a great day with two fish on. The first I hooked at about 70 ft jigging a big (14 or 17oz I can’t remember) Norwegian style cod jig with beefed up swivels and a heavy single hook 5 minutes after we set the anchor. Let me just tell you how sweet it is to feel a tune crash a jig! Sure it’s great to get one on live bait or a trolled lure but to feel the first take is something else. I felt a hit and struck with sharp hook-set. The line went totally slack and just as I was about to start cursing the fish took off straight for the bottom almost jerking the rod out of my hands which would have taken $2000 worth of gear (that wasn’t mine) down with it. The fight took about 40 minutes and we landed a fish in the 130 lb range (over 50”).
The second fish came on one of the live mackerel which is probably good since it really could have gotten away with the rod. Its first run took ¾ of the spool on a Penn International 50 and that’s with the rod completely bent and the Capt. backing the boat down. This was the start of an hour and forty five minutes of blistering runs and frantic boat movements. At one point we had the fish within 20 feet of the boat but it took one look at us and effortlessly dove down to sulk at 100 feet for 30 minutes. It’s kind of cool to see the fish you have hooked on the sonar. Unfortunately we just weren’t able to put enough pressure on the fish with only the Penn 50 so it eventually chewed through the leader just as the Capt was getting ready to stick it with the tag. He estimated it at 300 lbs and since we’d already harvested the first fish we wouldn’t have been allowed to keep it (hence the tag) so I don’t think any of us who got to fight it were too upset that it got off at the end.
The ride out with a beautiful sunrise.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1131.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1131.jpg)
The fight is ON!!
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1170.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1170.jpg)
It’s so cool to get your first glimpse of the huge animal you’ve been battling.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1138.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1138.jpg)
On the gaff and harpoon but still not in the boat. Take a look at the jig in its mouth. Same thing I use for cod fishing with beefed up hardware.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1146.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1146.jpg)
Safe in the boat! The rope is from the harpoon. It was pretty cool to see them use it. Much safer than gaffs only.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1147.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1147.jpg)
Not huge as far as tuna go and a little smaller than last year (150 lb last year) but I can assure you I was pretty happy with this fish.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1187.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1187.jpg)
A little snack for the way home. It’s not the Toro…that came later!
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1192.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1192.jpg)
The ride in was nastier than the ride out and getting worse all the time.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/th_IMG_1201.jpg (http://s680.photobucket.com/albums/vv165/cbiegel/?action=view¤t=IMG_1201.jpg)
All in all a fantastic trip and one that has become an annual thing. If any of you guys are ever in the Gloucester MA area I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Capt. Gary and the Tunahunter. I hope everyone enjoyed the report.