6/11 - A Boy and his fish

[backman]

Maiden voyage east on Skipjack with Jackson and an old fishing friend Mark as well as his 13 year old son Joe.

Leaving at the gentlemanly hour of 5 AM on a grey overcast day with a light east wind we reached the grounds on Regal Peaked Golf Ledge before 7. Setting up in a small fleet we found scattered whales and birds everywhere. The early bite was slow; only a few knockdowns before we arrived. We moseyed into the life and joined a small wagon train circling, circling, circling, looking, looking and more looking.

Ahead of us a bird pile low on the water; shearwaters and storm petrels; a buddy boat had first pass, nothing, we crossed after him, nothing and worked out and over. About 5 minutes later we found a raft of sitting shearwaters and I swung the spread through them.

Bam - short right bar got clobbered and screamed out. We strapped Joe into the harness, all 100 pounds of him and game on. Jackson and Mark held on to him while I got the boat oriented down sea in the 2-3' chop. The fish was in backing, not a big deal, and we got back to mono in short order. I was hoping for a slot fish when it went into backing a 2nd time; still no big deal as it didn't seem to be doing much. 3rd time into backing after 10 minutes I knew we had a good fish on. the line angle was flat; it was staying high and just swimming against us, steadily taking drag.

To my surprise Joe was hanging tough and not conceding a thing as the fish took line against him. We got back to mono; then the fish took off on a steady 50 or 100 yard run. 15 minutes in I expected Joe to give up and hand off at this point. A bluefin is a daunting fish for anyone and a run like that has broken other peoples will before.

He still hung tough; getting feet and losing yards, but refusing to give up. Time to change the game. With the fish high i decided to chase it bow 1st and made a series of more and more aggressive turns to port; putting the fish at 10 oclock, just ahead of the boats direction and time and time again cutting it off and circling in front of it.

We got back into mono after a couple large circles; then started to tighten the loop. Joe continued to fight for inches with the fish and wait for me to get the boat up on the fish, allowing him to quickly gain a few yards. While I had my doubts; this was no longer a game; I was determined as were Mark and Jackson - we were getting this fish for Joe.

The circle tightened; fish staying high. 45 minutes into the fight; Joe was exhausted but kept cranking each time I'd get in front of the fish. A couple times I bumped past idle up to 6 knots to allow him to gain 10 or 15 yards.

Line up high; wake and pink glow to port; fin, shine - "there it is - BIG fish!" as it rolled on the surface 30 yards out. Close to an hour; Joe was tired; but the fish was on its side. I got even more aggressive, circling dangerously close to the line. The fish was beat; now just to get the last 20 yards. It went down but didn't run. Mark was helping on the lift, Joe was 2 handing the crank and Jackson was keeping the line off the tabs and I spun tight circles forward and back to keep the fish close.

10 yards - Joe refusing to lose; 5 yards; bad shift on my part; fish crossing under the transom; Jackson shoulder deep off the corner to dig the line clear; 5 '; crank; Jackson grabbed leader; fish rolled on its side; big fish, trophy fish; Mark hit it with a gaff; no reaction; Jackson got another one in. I came down; boat in neutral rolling in the cross sea as I maniacally rigged up the harpoon; sloppy square knots from dart line to main line, no time for tape; Jackson rolled the fish - eyeball open - dart - game over!!!!!

Then the minor madness of converting from gaff hold to tailrope; gaffs out fish dropped back and high 5's all around. A 13 year old's 1st fish - an hour plus on the rod. 77 1/2 or 78" in the boat; 76" gilled and gutted back at the dock. Easily a 225# fish for his first tuna! What a moment!



My GPS track shows a 2 mile curlicue with 12 circles. Nuf said....

[simonsez1]

Great story, great read! Congrats to the boy! 13 yrs old and his tuna cherry broken!

[GreenPondEd]

Poor kid is probably hooked for life.
Great story.

[Poop Deck]

Love these stories! Thanks for sharing.

[SaltyDog]

nice fish LB! Next step for the kid...Atlantis....

[silver sided]

Poor kid is probably hooked for life.
Great story.

He will be hooked!

[silver sided]

Poor kid is probably hooked for life.
Great story.

Another victim of the tuna bug for sure!

[sharkdiver]

Nice work, nice first trip.....nice first fish!!!

[capbob66]

Another victim of the tuna bug for sure!

That Kid is done hooked for life great job congrat's!!!!!!

[chumtini]

Heard the play by play on the ray-d-o. Young Joe will never forget it, EVER. Nor will Dad. Well done gentlemen.