Sorry for my tardiness on reporting. Also, the lack of pics as my camerman (AKA Dad was too busy fishing or sleeping through the yellowfin bite, LOL)
Fished a private 36 hour charter on the Big E two weeks ago. I told myself I was going to stick with the iron at our bottom fishing locations for 2 reasons. I needed to work on my jigging techniques, and I did not want to contribute to potentially watching red snapper float and feed flipper.
I need to add that we had a full boat (most were bottom fishing with bait), and that the crew of the Big E worked very hard to properly vent the red snapper that were caught. I only saw a handful of floaters during the 2 days.
First stop, a platform in 300' wd. First drop with a brand new 300 gr Flat Potroast jig from Eastern Tackle (Daiwa Saltiga Surf Spinner with 80 lb braid on a 200lb Hopper rod). WHAM!!!!!! I get hammered. 15 minutes later, I have a 50+ lb AJ on the deck. 5 drops later I get slammed again, and in my effort to keep it out of the platform, I crank the drag a little too much (30+ lbs) and pull the hooks.
Second stop, platform in 650' wd. Get slammed by 2 UFO's (I believe they were monster AJ's) on consecutive drops. Did NOT crank up the drag (which in hindsight, I probably should have done), and each fish made it back into the structure and cut me off. Lost 2 of my potroasts (Jim, I'll be ordering more soon!!!!!)
No other bites at this platform (even by those using baits).
We head to the floaters, and upon arrival right before dark are greeted by a massive school of yellowfin crashing baits all around. I grabbed my Popping (Saragosa 18000F with 65lb braid on a 100 lb FTU rod) outfit and Mr. Shibuki, but do not capitalize. 4 or 5 yellowfin caught on diamond jigs before they shut down at dark.
Fished all night and caught around 18 - 20 blackfin alternating between my casting and jigging (switched to a 300 gr hammered chrome first drop jig) outfit. Around 4:00 AM the yellowfin showed up. While I did not catch any jigging, I got slammed on my casting gear. Over the course of the 3 hour bite (one of the best bites I have seen on the Big E), I put three (3) 60 lb fish on the deck, mixed with another 6 blackfin. I also lost another 5 yellowfin due to various reasons. I pulled a couple hooks after I decided NOT chase the fish around the boat, but beat them into submission. I lost a shibuki to a cut off in the braid. Lost a second shibuki when, like a dum dum, I did not check or re-tie my mono leader to the swivel and it broke at the knot. A third shibuki was redered almost useless when my last yellowfin (a very angry fish) broke off the lip during a 100 yard, suface crashing run that would have made a marlin envious.
While Dad slept through the yellowfin bite, he did magnage a dozen or so blackfin fishing a 200 gr chrome first drop.
I also helped my Dad's client to several blackfin and a couple nice yellow fin. But in the process, he too donated my last remaining shibukis to the fish gods. ( I have to be fair though. I later noticed the rod he was using had a cracked ceramic rod tip that ate up the braid)
I lost about 45 mins of fishing time with no casting lure, or I think I would have increased my totals.
After the bite slowed a bit, Raul decidded we would troll. 5 minutes into the troll we hook a small blue marlin (on a purple marauder, LOL). The novice angler didn't get the line tight and the fight was shortlived. No other hook ups while trolling, but we added some skipjacks while casting to them from the bow on the troll.
As we headed back to shore, we made another stop at another 450' wd platform. Tried with the iron, but had no luck. Several others caught some good 60-80lb AJ's on live hardtails (blue runners). 1 snow grouper was caught along a few throwback red snapper.
All in all, we had a decent trip. I think a total of 27 yellowfin made it to the dock, but with only a few of us (deckhands included) having the proper casting tackle, we could not adequately take advantage of the amazing bite.
We saw no signs of oil, and hopefully it will stay that way. Only time will tell.
helping all guys keep things out of their asses...aka prostate cancer research
Nice catch! Those potroast jigs of Jim's sure do the trick in just about any shape...that is a great color to use.
That must have been painful to see 4 shibuki's not come home. However, they sell lipless shibuki's so I hope you didn't throw the one with the broken lip away. Of course, compared to the money spent on everything else...its not that bad.
After the first 2 were lost due to frayed braid, I was sick to my stomach. But when I lost the other 2 to yellowfin, it was much easier to swallow, LOL. The tuna were clobbering the shibukis. Still, I think we came back with 70 - 80 lbs of clean yellow fin steaks. At our local grocery store, yellowfin was selling for $22.95/lb. I think I made a decent trade . Still, first thing I did when I got back was order a few more shibukis. And will get a couple more, plus some more potroast jigs when my next expense check comes in. I need to post a pic of the busted up shibuki. they tore it up pretty bad. Maybe I can rig up a replacement lip to give it some wobble.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Lost 2 of my potroasts (Jim, I'll be ordering more soon!!!!!)
Reply With Quote
. Still, first thing I did when I got back was order a few more shibukis. And will get a couple more, plus some more potroast jigs when my next expense check comes in. I need to post a pic of the busted up shibuki. they tore it up pretty bad. Maybe I can rig up a replacement lip to give it some wobble.
