Hunting Tuna with the Webmaster and the SWAT Commander. Sunday 9/21

[Badbeat]

Got a second invitation to go hunt some Tuna again with Jeff aka Webmaster and Arthur aka Wingnut. Hell yeah I'm in! Phuong aka Blackwater will also join the hunt.
Arthur and Phuong met at my pad at 1:30am, loaded all our gear in my truck and drove to Dana Point Harbor, the launch location at 3:00am and met up with Jeff.
We put the Kolo in the water and got a couple of scoops of lively Anchovies from the bait receiver. We got Chovies instead of Sardines because the Dines were humongous, like 12 inches and bigger. Jeff says it's cool, he likes Chovies better for Tuna anyway.

Off we went, Phuong and I hit the bunks while Jeff and Arthur took controls of the Kolo and head South for the 3 hour ride. Jeff informed us that we will be fishing in U.S. waters only.

Here are the photos all taken by Wingnut.
Jeff will add a video from his Go Pro later. Try not to laugh when you see it. It was a circus out there.

Just leaving the harbor. Phuong and myself.


Good morning Captain!


Jeff and Arthur set up for the troll while Phuong and I were still snoring.


Swells were flat, weather was good, the fish will be cooperating, an awesome day awaits us.


The Commander and the Captain.




Now let me tell you that there won't be very many fish porn. We were too busy catching FISH!

Phuong and I were still dreaming when we heard a lot of commotions up on top. We got up, put our boots on and went up on deck.

Jeff and Arthur were both hooked up and yelling at us to get your #@&*! lines in the water!

Apparently, after trolling for a couple of hours with no luck, they spotted a nice sized kelp paddy and slid up to it, threw out some chum and got immediate boils. Put their lines in the water and were bit instantly.
Phuong and I baited up, tossed it out and we also hooked up. All four of us were on at the same time. It was pure madness for the next hour or so as the Tuna bite went just about wide open.



Wingnut were killing them with the light line and gear.


We were stumbling over each other and stepping on bloody fish laying all over the deck. The sounds of their fins thumping sounded like rumbling thunder.






Most of the Yellow Fin Tuna were small between 10-20 lbs. But the action was fast and furious.




Arthur was a little hungry.


Blood splatter everywhere.


Well, by the time the chaos settled, we had almost 4 limits of Yellow Fin and a couple dozens Skipjacks which Jeff says makes great Lobster bait.

We looked around and what started with only 2 or 3 boats in the area when the bite first went off to an armada of boats. I counted THIRTY FIVE boats all around the area, even a couple of big cattle boats came to crash the party.

Jeff and Arthur decided to pull the plug and go to try and look for some Yellowtail and Dorado.

After a couple of hours ride we got to the spot and located a small kelp paddy. We slid up to it, looked down and saw fish going every which way under it.
Threw out our lines and hooked one little Yellowtail after another. You would shake them off, bait up and drop it down and get hit instantly. These were all tiny ones that Jeff and Arthur call Fire Crackers. Hey, I didn't mind and they were fun to catch. We kept fishing the paddy for awhile hoping for a Dorado but no such luck.
Commander Wingnut managed to hook up with a nice Bonito and another YFT. I caught my first ever Yellowtail.



My first ever Yellowtail. No bigger than the Yellowfin Croakers I catch in the surf.


Phuong relaxing during a break in the action.




We killed it and were done by noon.








We made our customary Pho stop on the way home, yummy, Pho is life!


Thank you Jeff for inviting us to fish on your boat. For your kindness, the breakfast burritos, for filleting the fish, for your knowledge, for everything.

Arthur, thank you for letting me tag along. This was my best fishing trip out there, period!

Phuong, it was great chatting with you and catching up. Your mom is going to be totally happy with all the fish you're bringing home.

What a great trip, we are blessed for the experience.

Hope to see everybody this Saturday at the HG6 event!

Binh aka BadBeat

[webmaster]

Awesome report Binh. It was an absolute pleasure fishing with you guys. Here is the video:

[murrieta angler]

Sweet session guys!
Nothing like waking up to the sound of chaos, as the fish are coming over the rail...
Sorry you didn't find the Dodo's. They are out there, just need to know where to look...
Look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday!
Robert
<><


p.s. Very nice report Binh

[troublehook]

Tuna massacre, you guys killed it.
Thanks for the Tuna Binh, my turn this weekend.

Sokha

[DockRat]

Hooking up again. Great pics.
DR

[5150fishn]

Tuna carnage! Nice!!! Congrats on a great trip out on the big blue with good friends!

[blackwater]

First of all, I want to thank Jeff for editing out of the video, me at the rail barfing while fighting a fish.
Man, I haven't been out on the big blue in a very long time and it got me good.
Well, at least I caught a few before I went down for the count.
Besides not having seaworthy legs, it was a great trip. Thank you Arthur for the invite, Jeff for your generosity and hospitality. Binh for driving us to and from the landing.

Hey Jeff, those homemade Tuna in the jars were delicious!

[FrankyG]

Damnn Niceee none stop action you guys killed it!

[Tunaslam]

Outstanding guys, Jeff is a fish magnet!

[bachiboy]

First of all, I want to thank Jeff for editing out of the video, me at the rail barfing while fighting a fish.
Man, I haven't been out on the big blue in a very long time and it got me good.

Now that's a serious "bitter-sweet" fishing session! Being sick is miserable, but at least you guys were catching fish in the process. Just glad you got out there and put a line in the water again!

Great report and awesome tuna slay guys! Way to go!!!

Don