9/24 Peaked Hill - 1 for 3

[Reel Pursuit]

Our original plan was to run south for another day trip but the wind forecast did not look too favorable. Instead, we decided to run thru the canal and hit PH. We arrived just after sunrise. Didn't find much life but put lines in began trolling. After about an hour we start to see more signs of life - a whale here and there, marking some bait. Things are looking up. Then we start marking some fish and about 10 mins later, the left long goes off. Hank made good work of the fish and we get him boatside, 2 gaffs and he's over the gunnel. A nice fat 46" fish. We clean up and put lines back in. About an hour later, the right long goes off really hard. And it's a 30W. I push the drag up to strike and he's still taking drag fast. We're getting spooled so I go past strike and it doesn't even slow the fish down. To make matters worse, the rigger clip didn't release right away and the tip of the rigger is pointing in a direction it shouldn't be. Finally it releases but the fish is like a freight train. Getting way down on the spool and I try to slow him down by applying more pressure by hand. Big mistake. A loud crack!! and the line snaps.
We re-group and get lines back in and start over. We decide to put the 50 in the long with the bally (most likely to get hit) and the 30 in the gunnel with a bar. Sure enough, another knockdown and the fish goes for the rainbow bar on the 30W. Unfortunately he came unglued after about 2 minutes. No error or screw ups, it just happens.
Picked up at 3pm and steamed home under some pretty smooth conditions.

[twofinbluna]

There are some very big fish around now- far too big for 30s- so I would be careful in those areas. My guess is that is the reason for those two lost fish.

[Col. Kurtz]

We were out there today as well and unfortunately didn't get to PH until after the slack- missed the bite by maybe 10 minutes.

So much for believing that the W winds we've seen all week would push the bait up onto the W edge of the bank or out east!!!

The bird and whale activity was insane today, even more so given the lack of fish on the surface. We had tons of fish marked down deep, but just couldn't coax anything up...

[Reel Pursuit]

I agree completely. If it was up to me I'd run nothing but 50s and 80s but I have to fish what I have access to.

[Parapapam]

Good job Pete!! You are eating well tonight. You got the adrenaline rush of a big fish and you learned a thing or two.

You also go out on a day most stayed home....

Great trip!!!

Mike

[Col. Kurtz]

We were out there today as well and unfortunately didn't get to PH until after the slack- missed the bite by maybe 10 minutes.

So much for believing that the W winds we've seen all week would push the bait up onto the W edge of the bank or out east!!!

The bird and whale activity was insane today, even more so given the lack of fish on the surface. We had tons of fish marked down deep, but just couldn't coax anything up...

I forgot to say- Great job! Right place at the right time!

[edgewater_245cc]

nice job pete. i heard you guys had a good day. save that big one for next weekend. be nice to see the fish stick around like they have been.

[twofinbluna]

I agree completely. If it was up to me I'd run nothing but 50s and 80s but I have to fish what I have access to.

Some of the fish that are showing up are dressing 600-650 so we are talking 130 class reels, with 80s as a minimum (but not ideal). If you are a pro and know what you are doing, you do everything right at the time, and have a little luck, you may be able to take an 800 to 900 pounder with a 50 or 80, but there is a reason that people targeting big bluefin use 130s. My guess is that even the best light tackle guys will lose 8 out of 10 of 800-900 pound fish on 50s. On 30s I would guess close to 100% of fish that size will be lost.

[SaltyDog]

Glad to see you got out Pete! Lets plan a sword trip for late next week.

[Reel Pursuit]

I'm in Mark if we get a weather window.