7/29 - Please bring banana's on Skipjack

[backman]

another new tuna fisherman on board; another yellow surprise pulled out of the backpack at snack time and another tuna cherry popped.

My fishing history w. banana's:

1997 - owner pulls out a banana on the ride out - we go 2 for 3 on white marlin
2001 - crew pulls out a banana at sunset in Hydro - next morning we land a 200# big eye.
2007- new fisherman comes out w. myself and shocks me and the other crew by pulling out a banana in Pollack rip and chowing it down. 15 minutes later we are doubled up in 150'; the beginning of a 5 or 6 for 9 day.
2009 - new tuna fisherman/ banana comes out about 9 AM, hooked up by noon.

Neat day today as we had 2 experienced and 2 rookies on board. One rookie is a really hard working dock staff at my marina; I was thrilled to take him offshore for his 1st trip and really wanted to get him a fish. The other kid is a friend of my daughter's from somewhere in the midwest who talks about 3 pound bass and 5 pound walleyes. he just wanted to see a tuna.

Typical crappy day on the Crapper; fog, lots of bait, but scattered life. We saw fish twice; saw a couple bird piles but w/ 200 yard visibility couldn't find and stay on life. The word on the radio was grim, sloow pick w/ no obvious pattern.

We were marking the most bait in 300+' and worked a 5 mile stretch in and out 300-400' back and forth/nothing.

Radio call of a fish in 192'; decided to work inwards, trolling over every sitting bird I saw with absolutely no rhyme or reason than working to a random old mark 2.44 miles away where I once caught a fish. Very scientific and highly analytical approach.

Out of no where - bzzzzzzz. On a 30 of course. Rookie. Got him belted in after a couple false starts and with Rob coaching and me helping w. the boat he stayed tight; hung tough into end game. Got color 2 or 3 times; eventually ha him go past my 18# strike drag on a 30 to perhaps 20-22# drag and he whipped the fish. Came up once on its side; took off 10 yards; he pulled it up a second time and it lay there for an easy double gaff. 20 minutes to color; 25 minutes to the boat. Give the kid another banana because he did a great job!

[dunn6253]

Glad to here the Skipjack isn't scared of no yellow colored fruit. Nice job on the fish. What did the guy from the midwest think of a bluefin compared to a 5 lb. bass?

[Bearboat]

Fun report, Larry.
Way to grind it out and get rewarded.
The fog really cuts the enjoyment for me.

[GRBW1]

Next time, Cap'n willing, I'm gonna bring a whole damn banana tree. And I hate bananas.

Good job.

[Deep C]

Yellow Death On Board:

1979- Mad dog sail bite going on we were skunked til we found them and disposed of them...

1983- Customer broke one ou... 2500psi steering hose blew with only 15 pounds of pressure...
1983- Customer came out of ship store with one. Stepped on boat. Three bilge pumps started back siphoning. Almost sunk at dock.

1984- Customer broke one out... I smelled smoke . Brand new stainless steel custom riser blew hole in it and set boat on fire.

1984- Some one tied one to my car. Up on US1 a car crash... Car spun through crowded parking lot, glanced off tree into back lot and nailed my car!

1992- Wife ate one and got pregnant later that day with my daughter.


1998- Wife eating one outside. Attracted bee, got stung. Almost died from allergic reaction.

1999- Daughter ate one. Went for bike ride, crashed and 7 stitches...

2001- Friend brought one aboard my old Dusky... Boat sunk that night at dock...

2003- present: We have not caught a single billfish on any day after mention of them by name...

[Albiemanmike]

Yellow Death On Board:

1979- Mad dog sail bite going on we were skunked til we found them and disposed of them...

1983- Customer broke one ou... 2500psi steering hose blew with only 15 pounds of pressure...
1983- Customer came out of ship store with one. Stepped on boat. Three bilge pumps started back siphoning. Almost sunk at dock.

1984- Customer broke one out... I smelled smoke . Brand new stainless steel custom riser blew hole in it and set boat on fire.

1984- Some one tied one to my car. Up on US1 a car crash... Car spun through crowded parking lot, glanced off tree into back lot and nailed my car!

1992- Wife ate one and got pregnant later that day with my daughter.


1998- Wife eating one outside. Attracted bee, got stung. Almost died from allergic reaction.

1999- Daughter ate one. Went for bike ride, crashed and 7 stitches...

2001- Friend brought one aboard my old Dusky... Boat sunk that night at dock...

2003- present: We have not caught a single billfish on any day after mention of them by name...

That is rather ominous but I say Hogwash......It's only food start bringing them every trip and kick the curse once and for all.

[joeksr]

[QUOTE=backman;614902]
My fishing history w. banana's:

1997 - owner pulls out a banana on the ride out - we go 2 for 3 on white marlin
2001 - crew pulls out a banana at sunset in Hydro - next morning we land a 200# big eye.
2007- new fisherman comes out w. myself and shocks me and the other crew by pulling out a banana in Pollack rip and chowing it down. 15 minutes later we are doubled up in 150'; the beginning of a 5 or 6 for 9 day.
2009 - new tuna fisherman/ banana comes out about 9 AM, hooked up by noon.
QUOTE]

Gotta ask. 1997 to 2001 4 year dry spell..
2001 t0 2007 6 year dry spell ?.
2007 to 2009. Better, 2 year dry spell.
Leave the bananas on the dock.

Yellow Death On Board:
1992- Wife ate one and got pregnant later that day with my daughter.
...

Deep, Hate to disagree with ya,
But, Nobody gets pregnant from eating bananas.
I think there is a whole other biological process involved.
I know you are the master of all things "wet", but, Pregnancy is not banana based. tequila maybe, Not bananas.

[Deep C]

That is rather ominous but I say Hogwash......It's only food start bringing them every trip and kick the curse once and for all.

Facts is facts... No science behind these incidents but over and over not just on my boat I have seen a black cloud follow the monkey food... I'm not tempting fate any more than need be...

There is a reason from scientific angle though for poor fishing for various species. On a molecular level the oil from that plant resembles a fluid exuded by BFT when dispersing eggs that keeps predator species away. Mere cc or so in mass of water perhaps a kilometer square keeps them at bay. Could also explain why the bft don't seem to have the same adverse effect. CC in that amount of water could translate to a trace amount for close proximity effects in slowing a bite. Especially if handled before touching bait. I know I have witnessed difference with baits rigged by someone who had sun tan lotion on his hands versus clean hands...

Joe the yellow one didn't knock her up but that day she had one and somehow I made it past the firewall...