Tunaslam
08-15-2011, 09:23 PM
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1660.jpg
Myself with an unbelievable 80 pound Bluefin Tuna caught on 20 pound Izorline CXXX line, a 20 pound Blackwater Flourcarbon leader, 1/0 Mutu circle hook, Daiwa Saltiga 20 Reel, and a Cal Star 865L Rod.
Day-1-Departure
Fishing with private boater Ron on his 60’ Yacht, Salt Fever, on a 2.5 day trip 08-12-11 to 08-14-11, with his lovely wife Toni, and crew Lal, Glen, Todd, Vince and OJ!
We left Ron’s slip in Harbor Island San Diego at 5pm, Friday afternoon. We loaded up with 7 scoops of dynamite sardines in the rear tanks and another 2 scoops in the front tanks. Cleared the Point at 6pm, with the destination being 140 miles south to the tuna grounds.
At 7pm Toni heated up some incredible home made Chicken Enchiladas, Chili Verde Style, yum yum! Lal and I opened up some of our favorite Vino’s, I enjoyed an Inglenook Chardonnay, while Lal opened up a Honeymoon Viognier.
Day 2-Fishing
The ride south was sensational, as after 8 days of straight windy days, this week was very calm and the Tuna were on the chew, great timing on our part, for a change? Lal chose the tough 12:30 to 2:30am shift and I volunteered for the very difficult 2:30 to 4:30am shift. Captain Ron woke us up at daylight around 6am, where we were now 120 miles south of Point Loma.
Eagle eye Todd elected to climb to the crow’s nest and look for Kelp Paddies. He was only up there 20 minutes and spotted a good one. Ron slid up on it and we all cast out our baits. No biters? Oops not so fast, Lal gets bit and it’s a dandy Yellowtail. He’s using 40 lb. line and the fish has little chance. Ron makes a perfect gaff and we have a sweet 20 pound Yellowtail on the boat to start the day off:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1649.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1650.jpg
That was it for that Kelp Paddy, so we moved on. I was at the helm, as Lal spotted breaking Tuna off the Port bow, I turned the boat and we slid up on the tuna. Lal cast a bait and was bit instantly. Looks like it was going to be his special day? Toni gets bit next, and then so do I. It’s Bluefin Tuna in the 10 to 15 pound range. Toni with her Bluefin:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1651.jpg
Myself with my first Bluefin of the year:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1653.jpg
Lal with the hot stick with his first Bluefin of the year:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1654.jpg
We pulled a half dozen Bluefin off this kelp on the first drift. Ron took us back up to the Kelp Paddy and once again Lal gets bit, wow is he the hot stick? A bunch of new hookups and the color has changed:
Todd and I with Yellowfin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1656.jpg
We all landed a few more tuna, with most of the fish being Bluefin. The bite stalled and Ron ran us down the line where the fleet was bunched up at 137 miles.
It was time for breakfast and Toni fed us with huge Sausage, egg and cheese Burritos.
We never made it to the fleet, as we got a jig fish trolling. A decent Bluefin Tuna around 15 pounds, not often do they bite the feathers? Since the fish weren’t big, and they appeared to be very line shy, most of us dropped down to 20-pound line. Oh boy, I get bit, and this is no small Tuna, holy smokes, the spool of line is disappearing at an incredible rate of speed. With at least 300 yards of line out, and only 50’ or less left on the spool, the big fish stops. Then the big Tuna charges the boat, wow what a break, and I gain about 200’ of line, then the fish sounds.
A picture of me bent big time!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1657.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image008-Cory.jpg
I can’t budge the big tuna, as he laid on his side and did the thumb tail. Yikes, there he goes up to the bow, down to the stern, back up to the bow, back down to the stern. Three times around the boat, twice forcing me to put the rod way down in the water to avoid the line touching the hull. I get deep color, holy mackerel that’s a lot of fish down there. Get it to the surface; yikes it’s a monster Bluefin. Captain Ron can’t quite reach it in the bow; it does not like the sight of the boat and takes another long run! No way I’m going to land a Tuna that big on 20-pound line, something bad is going to happen?
I work and work the fish back to color, this time Ron sticks him, and yells for Todd to put another gaff into that big body. They both heave ho, and what an incredible sight at the size of this Bluefin Tuna!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image013-Cory80lbBFT.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1662.jpg
I can’t believe I could ever land a tuna this size on that light on line, a 1 in a 100 shot?
Glen, also fishing 20-pound line got bit just after myself. The big Tuna simply said no way your going to catch me, and broke the line after almost spooling Glen, after a valiant fight.
The bite was over, it was high noon, and we worked our way down to the fleet. Nothing seemed to be happening, so we headed east, where some reports of good kelp paddy action was taking place. Not to be for us. Trolled an trolled, looking for Paddies, 14 miles east and then a bit south to 14 miles west, nada. Never even saw a kelp paddy? It was now nearing 7pm, and Ron closed in on the fleet of 21 boats, which became 9 boats at dark. We set out the sea anchor at 139 miles. By midnight the entire fleet was gone?
I fileted up the Yellowtail Lal caught, which he donated for dinner. I also fileted up a Bluefin
Tuna, which became sashimi for appetizers. Wow that was tasty. Ron fired up the barbecue, and grilled up the Yellowtail. Toni prepared some rice pilaf, salad, and corn on the cob, is this a luxury cruise or what? Gad I could hardly get up off the table, it was so good? I’m stuffed, wow this is special!
We ended the day with 22 BFT, 6 YFT, and 1 Yellowtail.
Day 3-WFO
I served my 1am to 3am watch, while I enjoyed the CD Hangover that was fun? Hit the sack. Ron woke me up at 5:15 am; you have got to see the meter, we have a slug of tuna under the boat?
It was still pitch black, and suddenly the tuna were gone? I helped myself to the great hot coffee, and breakfast sweet rolls. As grey light turned to dawn, I tossed out a bait. The slimy green sardine hit the water and raced out, only to be inhaled by a 15 pound Yellowfin Tuna. Game on, and every bait in the water was bit. It was wide-open Tuna fishing. First Yellowfin Tuna, I caught three on 40 lb. then it turned to Bluefin Tuna. The Bluefin would only eat the light line. Vince was fishing 20-pound line and a big’n hammered him.
I looked up the rail and both Lal and Toni were bit. Then Glen and Todd were bit. Ron tossed out a bait and was instantly bit. I switched to 20 lb. and my bait was inhaled. Yikes these are bigger Tuna, my line is screaming out.
Everyone hooked up!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image024WFO.jpg
Todd and Toni both landed their Tuna after hard fought fights. They were 35 to 40 pound Bluefin. Lal landed his tuna, a 40 pounder. My Bluefin weighed 37 pounds after being bled out.
Lal with his 40-pound Bluefin:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1664.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1665.jpg
My 37 lb. Bluefin Tuna fully bled out:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1668.jpg
Glen and Vince with their big Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1672.jpg
Vince with a serious bend in his Rod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image029VinceBFT.jpg
The whole gang with their Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1669.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image031Gang.jpg
Todd with a big Yellowfin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image018-ToddYFT.jpg
What a morning bite, Tuna on the deck!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1673.jpg
The fish hold was almost full. Given the Mexican edict of no filet fish, we started catch and release, then decided to leave them biting to look for kelp paddies for Yellowtail and Dorado.
It was 9am and we were 142 miles from Point Loma. At 135 miles we came across the fleet working this area. The fish counts were good. We found a half a dozen Kelps which were empty, except for one which yielded six yellowtail rats and one 10 pounder.
OJ prepared his outstanding Deli sandwich special for lunch, Turkey, Ham, Salami, two kinds of cheese, tomato, lettuce on rye bread, with a kosher pickle, and potato chips.
It was a long ride home, with an enormous amount of water without a kelp paddy? The weather was special all weekend. Today we had about an 8 knot wind with plenty of popcorn, with little swells.
Dinner was tortilla soup, and chicken enchiladas, smothered in cheese, sour cream and mango salsa.
Day 4-The End
Most us were out for the night. Ron woke us up at 1:37 am, a mile before the US border. Enjoy some coffee and breakfast rolls, before the Tuna go under the knife as we cross the border.
From 2am to 4:30 am we had an assembly line going. I fileted the fish, Todd skinned them, the rest of the crew cut out the red meat and bones, rinsed and bagged them.
Took two of us to lift him!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image0402manbft.jpg
On the deck:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image039-80lbBFT.jpg
The big guy going under the knife:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1674.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image042coryBFT.jpg
More fileting:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1675.jpg
The results, plenty of fish to take home, eat and smoke:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1677.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image044filets.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image046filets.jpg
We ended the trip with 39 BFT, 16 YFT, and 2 Tails, plus we released 6 BFT.
We docked at 6am, I loaded up my gear and walked to my truck, oh darn, a flat tire? Called Triple AAA, put on the spare and I headed to work in San Bernardino. No idea how I made it through the day, a total zombie! Now I am writing my report in my sleep, enjoy!
Thanks again Ron and Toni ,what can I say, another fantastic trip on the finest yacht in the fleet. You work incredibly hard to put us on the fish, and go the distance, truly special.
Hook up!
Myself with an unbelievable 80 pound Bluefin Tuna caught on 20 pound Izorline CXXX line, a 20 pound Blackwater Flourcarbon leader, 1/0 Mutu circle hook, Daiwa Saltiga 20 Reel, and a Cal Star 865L Rod.
Day-1-Departure
Fishing with private boater Ron on his 60’ Yacht, Salt Fever, on a 2.5 day trip 08-12-11 to 08-14-11, with his lovely wife Toni, and crew Lal, Glen, Todd, Vince and OJ!
We left Ron’s slip in Harbor Island San Diego at 5pm, Friday afternoon. We loaded up with 7 scoops of dynamite sardines in the rear tanks and another 2 scoops in the front tanks. Cleared the Point at 6pm, with the destination being 140 miles south to the tuna grounds.
At 7pm Toni heated up some incredible home made Chicken Enchiladas, Chili Verde Style, yum yum! Lal and I opened up some of our favorite Vino’s, I enjoyed an Inglenook Chardonnay, while Lal opened up a Honeymoon Viognier.
Day 2-Fishing
The ride south was sensational, as after 8 days of straight windy days, this week was very calm and the Tuna were on the chew, great timing on our part, for a change? Lal chose the tough 12:30 to 2:30am shift and I volunteered for the very difficult 2:30 to 4:30am shift. Captain Ron woke us up at daylight around 6am, where we were now 120 miles south of Point Loma.
Eagle eye Todd elected to climb to the crow’s nest and look for Kelp Paddies. He was only up there 20 minutes and spotted a good one. Ron slid up on it and we all cast out our baits. No biters? Oops not so fast, Lal gets bit and it’s a dandy Yellowtail. He’s using 40 lb. line and the fish has little chance. Ron makes a perfect gaff and we have a sweet 20 pound Yellowtail on the boat to start the day off:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1649.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1650.jpg
That was it for that Kelp Paddy, so we moved on. I was at the helm, as Lal spotted breaking Tuna off the Port bow, I turned the boat and we slid up on the tuna. Lal cast a bait and was bit instantly. Looks like it was going to be his special day? Toni gets bit next, and then so do I. It’s Bluefin Tuna in the 10 to 15 pound range. Toni with her Bluefin:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1651.jpg
Myself with my first Bluefin of the year:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1653.jpg
Lal with the hot stick with his first Bluefin of the year:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1654.jpg
We pulled a half dozen Bluefin off this kelp on the first drift. Ron took us back up to the Kelp Paddy and once again Lal gets bit, wow is he the hot stick? A bunch of new hookups and the color has changed:
Todd and I with Yellowfin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1656.jpg
We all landed a few more tuna, with most of the fish being Bluefin. The bite stalled and Ron ran us down the line where the fleet was bunched up at 137 miles.
It was time for breakfast and Toni fed us with huge Sausage, egg and cheese Burritos.
We never made it to the fleet, as we got a jig fish trolling. A decent Bluefin Tuna around 15 pounds, not often do they bite the feathers? Since the fish weren’t big, and they appeared to be very line shy, most of us dropped down to 20-pound line. Oh boy, I get bit, and this is no small Tuna, holy smokes, the spool of line is disappearing at an incredible rate of speed. With at least 300 yards of line out, and only 50’ or less left on the spool, the big fish stops. Then the big Tuna charges the boat, wow what a break, and I gain about 200’ of line, then the fish sounds.
A picture of me bent big time!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1657.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image008-Cory.jpg
I can’t budge the big tuna, as he laid on his side and did the thumb tail. Yikes, there he goes up to the bow, down to the stern, back up to the bow, back down to the stern. Three times around the boat, twice forcing me to put the rod way down in the water to avoid the line touching the hull. I get deep color, holy mackerel that’s a lot of fish down there. Get it to the surface; yikes it’s a monster Bluefin. Captain Ron can’t quite reach it in the bow; it does not like the sight of the boat and takes another long run! No way I’m going to land a Tuna that big on 20-pound line, something bad is going to happen?
I work and work the fish back to color, this time Ron sticks him, and yells for Todd to put another gaff into that big body. They both heave ho, and what an incredible sight at the size of this Bluefin Tuna!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image013-Cory80lbBFT.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1662.jpg
I can’t believe I could ever land a tuna this size on that light on line, a 1 in a 100 shot?
Glen, also fishing 20-pound line got bit just after myself. The big Tuna simply said no way your going to catch me, and broke the line after almost spooling Glen, after a valiant fight.
The bite was over, it was high noon, and we worked our way down to the fleet. Nothing seemed to be happening, so we headed east, where some reports of good kelp paddy action was taking place. Not to be for us. Trolled an trolled, looking for Paddies, 14 miles east and then a bit south to 14 miles west, nada. Never even saw a kelp paddy? It was now nearing 7pm, and Ron closed in on the fleet of 21 boats, which became 9 boats at dark. We set out the sea anchor at 139 miles. By midnight the entire fleet was gone?
I fileted up the Yellowtail Lal caught, which he donated for dinner. I also fileted up a Bluefin
Tuna, which became sashimi for appetizers. Wow that was tasty. Ron fired up the barbecue, and grilled up the Yellowtail. Toni prepared some rice pilaf, salad, and corn on the cob, is this a luxury cruise or what? Gad I could hardly get up off the table, it was so good? I’m stuffed, wow this is special!
We ended the day with 22 BFT, 6 YFT, and 1 Yellowtail.
Day 3-WFO
I served my 1am to 3am watch, while I enjoyed the CD Hangover that was fun? Hit the sack. Ron woke me up at 5:15 am; you have got to see the meter, we have a slug of tuna under the boat?
It was still pitch black, and suddenly the tuna were gone? I helped myself to the great hot coffee, and breakfast sweet rolls. As grey light turned to dawn, I tossed out a bait. The slimy green sardine hit the water and raced out, only to be inhaled by a 15 pound Yellowfin Tuna. Game on, and every bait in the water was bit. It was wide-open Tuna fishing. First Yellowfin Tuna, I caught three on 40 lb. then it turned to Bluefin Tuna. The Bluefin would only eat the light line. Vince was fishing 20-pound line and a big’n hammered him.
I looked up the rail and both Lal and Toni were bit. Then Glen and Todd were bit. Ron tossed out a bait and was instantly bit. I switched to 20 lb. and my bait was inhaled. Yikes these are bigger Tuna, my line is screaming out.
Everyone hooked up!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image024WFO.jpg
Todd and Toni both landed their Tuna after hard fought fights. They were 35 to 40 pound Bluefin. Lal landed his tuna, a 40 pounder. My Bluefin weighed 37 pounds after being bled out.
Lal with his 40-pound Bluefin:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1664.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1665.jpg
My 37 lb. Bluefin Tuna fully bled out:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1668.jpg
Glen and Vince with their big Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1672.jpg
Vince with a serious bend in his Rod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image029VinceBFT.jpg
The whole gang with their Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1669.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image031Gang.jpg
Todd with a big Yellowfin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image018-ToddYFT.jpg
What a morning bite, Tuna on the deck!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1673.jpg
The fish hold was almost full. Given the Mexican edict of no filet fish, we started catch and release, then decided to leave them biting to look for kelp paddies for Yellowtail and Dorado.
It was 9am and we were 142 miles from Point Loma. At 135 miles we came across the fleet working this area. The fish counts were good. We found a half a dozen Kelps which were empty, except for one which yielded six yellowtail rats and one 10 pounder.
OJ prepared his outstanding Deli sandwich special for lunch, Turkey, Ham, Salami, two kinds of cheese, tomato, lettuce on rye bread, with a kosher pickle, and potato chips.
It was a long ride home, with an enormous amount of water without a kelp paddy? The weather was special all weekend. Today we had about an 8 knot wind with plenty of popcorn, with little swells.
Dinner was tortilla soup, and chicken enchiladas, smothered in cheese, sour cream and mango salsa.
Day 4-The End
Most us were out for the night. Ron woke us up at 1:37 am, a mile before the US border. Enjoy some coffee and breakfast rolls, before the Tuna go under the knife as we cross the border.
From 2am to 4:30 am we had an assembly line going. I fileted the fish, Todd skinned them, the rest of the crew cut out the red meat and bones, rinsed and bagged them.
Took two of us to lift him!
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image0402manbft.jpg
On the deck:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image039-80lbBFT.jpg
The big guy going under the knife:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1674.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image042coryBFT.jpg
More fileting:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1675.jpg
The results, plenty of fish to take home, eat and smoke:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/100_1677.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image044filets.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Tuna-2011/image046filets.jpg
We ended the trip with 39 BFT, 16 YFT, and 2 Tails, plus we released 6 BFT.
We docked at 6am, I loaded up my gear and walked to my truck, oh darn, a flat tire? Called Triple AAA, put on the spare and I headed to work in San Bernardino. No idea how I made it through the day, a total zombie! Now I am writing my report in my sleep, enjoy!
Thanks again Ron and Toni ,what can I say, another fantastic trip on the finest yacht in the fleet. You work incredibly hard to put us on the fish, and go the distance, truly special.
Hook up!