"The Hook-Up!" Fishing report Chatham.

[stew]

I am very confused. Maybe my lack of posting on here has lead to an understatement of how good the tuna bite in Chatham has been this year. The troll bite has been off the charts for me and we have caught just as many fish per trip as last year. And no one, not even myself would have predicted this many slot fish available to the Rec. angler. Maybe my focus on my face book page has been a mistake but the "real" time aspect of posting fishing reports and pictures on that media has overshadowed other websites for sure. It has been alot of fun and the I-Phone makes it really easy. It helps that the fish have been staying closetoo. As far as tagging tuna and survival rates I can tell you we have tagged and released well over 50 juvenile bluefin tuna with x-tags and all of those fish have lived post release for weeks and months. The data that these tags have shown is that the vast majority of released tuna will live if handled correctly. I thought that we all knew this by now, but I am sorry that you haven't followed the "Tag-a-Tiny" program or Dr. Molly Lutcavage's work. I am too tired to get into a debate about this when I have spent the better part of the last 5 years out there tagging with the scientest, attending meetings, and fighting this very issue so strongly. I know they live post release because we have proven they live post release with PSAT\X-TAGS. These tags cost $4000 a piece so you can imagine the amount of effort that goes into this project. The very first psat tag that was ever placed into a juvenile bluefin tuna was done onboard my boat, the "Tammy Rose", by Dr. Molly and her team back in 2006. Not a feeling or a wonder but a fact. When you tag a fish and 11 months later the tag pops off and gives you data of where the fish has been it makes you feel good that you know the fish has lived. Got to go to bed because I am fishing in the morning. No offense taken and no offense given. Just how I see it from my bridge. I have always said that if we were face to face, and not posting under screen names and other things then these conversations would go very differantly. That is why I have not been on the boards as much this season. Good luck. Capt. Eric

[LadyB]

The jury is still out on the Chatham bite. I guess if you want to troll up 60" tuna on splash bars with a few keepers thrown in and go 2 for 4 you can call it whatever you want. The truth is the tuna fishing in Chatham is not off the charts. If you take into consideration years past it actually stinks and has for the last few seasons.

[dafareast]

Stew,

I appreciate the detailed response and clarification. My main issue with the study ("tag-a-tiny") is infact implied by it's title; the fact that these fish were tagged 5 years ago and were smaller, juvenile fish. The fact of the matter is, many are still fishing the same gear as they did in 2006 (maybe an upgrade from the 30 lb class to 50 tackle but nonetheless, disproportionate to the growth of that class of fish). Hence, fish caught today are suject to longer fighting times and coincidently, higher levels of stress. I agree that these juveniles have a low mortality given the fact they were somewhat overpowered by the gear, as well as the natural enhanced durability characteristics that many species possess during developmental/juvenile stages. I would like to see a more updated study done; admittedly, I cannot disagree with your study of reference which is in fact "good news". It is also comforting to hear that there is a seemingly large class of younger fish filling the void.....who farted? was it Molly?

DFE

[stew]

Lady B, I thought we were talking juvenile recreational fishing not Comm fishing? Big differance, right? I am all good with this but haven't see you out east very much so far? I am sure for what you're after this "bite" is not for you. But for the Rec. and sport angler it has been very very good. Close to shore, lots of fish, easy trolling, so I am calling it like I see and the way I see. It's not about big fish for the Rec. guys right? As far as the tagging data we have tagged fish from 46 inches to 72 inches with the pop up tags\x-tags and they live. I have had hour long fights and we have tagged them, swam them ,and released them, and they have lived. What more can I tell you. Is there mortality, yes but it is no way near what some people want to portrait. Good luck. 2 for 5 today fish everywhere. Capt. Eric

[stew]

After a tough week, losing my aunt, attending services, and our computer system crashing at the shop, it felt good to get back on the boat and be at the helm of the "Tammy Rose". We steamed out at 4 am and it was a great ride down the sound and I headed to the numbers where the bite was yesterday. We set up and found some bait and a couple of whales but it was slow. One boat went tight and then the fleet set up. I will never get it why people troll n to s instead of in the trough. I found that I couldn't move so we reeled everything in and steamed back up to the north and set back up on the numbers. I then spent the rest of the morning watching boat after boat go tight around me. It was crazy, I just couldn't get a bite. I know of atleast 10 fish caught in my general area and almost all of them were fishing my bars, and we hadn't even gotten a sniff. We pounded the numbers and soon it was time to go. We packed everything away and started the 1:45 ride home with that little black and white critter dancing on my transom. We got 9 miles to the sw and a friend said he could see me coming at him and he had tuna fish all on the surface. I looked and we were in 70 ft of water and I was like yeah right, probably bluefish. I looked over to my satrboard and there was my buddy with the biggest "bluefish" in the history of the world jumping out of the water. I throttled down and dumped the boat into neutral and started barking orders. "Wake up everybody!!! Get four rods, Get the chatham splash bars, Get the riggers down, and make me a sandwich because there are TUNA JUMPING EVERYWHERE!!!!! So now we stert scrambling. Schools everywhere.... which one to go after? We started trolling and I could see the bluefish on the fish finder and I was worried that we would get attacked. Sure enough first fish... yellow eyed monster short left rigger. UGHHHH!! Cleared that one and started a wide turn when a tuna crushed the right long rigger, Chameleon Splash Bar, and started dumping line. By the time my mate Chris got to the rod we had pulled the hook. Nooooo!!! Back on the troll we go. Now the other boats have found us. We bait this school perfectly and we get a fish up on the Red Iquana short left. All over it but he misses the hook. Chris goes to tease him and then another fish eats the right short rigger, Big Black Hawk Splash Bar with 13 in sguid, new bar for me this season that has been kicking butt. He jumps onto that rod just as the rigger clip pops and the line starts to peel off. Meanwhile another fish is trying to eat the Red Iquana bar again. Almost doubled. We get the angler into the harness and he settels into the fight. In about 12 minutes we get color and I am thinking slot fish. We get the fish at the boat and Chris trys to turn him on the leader just a little too hard and he gets over extended and he pops him off the leader. Gone!!!! We are just not having a good day. I throw the gaff back into the rod holder and run back up to the bridge. "Set them out!" I yell down as I swing the big Henriques around at another pod of busting fish. This time we get the spread out and in 5 mins the left short rigger, Red Iquana splash goes tight. Nice fish and I know he will be in the slot. We get him to the boat, leader, gaff, tailrope, game, set, match!!! It ony took 10 1\2 hours but sushi is served. I kicked the skunk in the *** and threw him overboard. We fished for another 15 mins but the fish started to go down and it was already way late into our day so we packed it all in, again, and headed home. Pulled one out in extra innings but a win is a win. The fishing is good and the weather is fine. Call if you want to go fishing with us. Thanks. Capt. Eric

[striper1]

Sounds like you are having a stellar year, one to remember. Good for you!

[johnnywalker]

The Hook Up T!