Nothing but heart break (and broken gear)

[Parapapam]

For us we caught nothing but heart break today....

The first fish hit about 45 minutes after the morning slack. This was my buddy's second tuna that he had ever fought. So despite warnings about high sticking it.... well you know the ending. Broken rod right before we reached for the leader and we drop a 70+ inch fish.

After a long slow day we wait for the second slack.

At exactly 12:55 BOOOM. This is a big fish. It explodes across the surface for 20 yards and the battle begins. I knew it was a big fish when runs 2, 3, 4 and 5 peel off 50% of the line on my Penn 50. I have my strike set at 24 pounds and I am adding enough hand pressure to wear off the finger prints on my finger tips.

We get it to the leader and it breaks off cleanly above the knot. (note to self... change the freakin line more frequently you dumb azz!!)) Estimated size was 80 to 85 by an ex-pro (striper swiper) we had with us. All I know is that it was the biggest fish I ever fought.

Besides the obvious (don't high stick and change the damm line) there were a few other lessons learned today. When you clearly see the orange bar but you only see the top of the fish and not the white belly... the fish is still vertical, not in death circles and therefore still green. When your brain tells you the fish has at least one long run left (or more) listen to your brain and not your desire to end the fight by horsing it. Stop 'em or pop 'em.... well I popped 'em.

Heart breaking to lose two fish over 70 and 80 inches at the boat. But we couldn't have kept them anyway....

Mike

P.S. My son Alex thought it was funny how I went airborne across the boat when the line snapped. And yes my chin is bruised from the reel. Luckily, I have a hard head.

[Animal 1]

Sorry,Mike.

[kitebuz]

Ouch, but at least you saw some action. Your heartbreak could have gone like mine today - engine troubles at the ramp - only 1 of 2 eventually starts. Troll out to fishing ledge on 1 engine w/ only a few marks on the sounder to show for it, and 1 Mola sighting. Turn around, and finally hammer the single for the last 10 miles back to Scorton to try for some bass (or blue), but nada. Didn't see a fish of any variety all day, & that was the 1st time I have made it to CCB all season.

The really sad part is that I was still just happy to get out on the water...

The bay seemed very quiet today - was working w/ a buddy boat (who had problems of their own), but neither of us saw any action. Wish we could have made it past the point...

[SaltyDog]

Did you fish East or Stellawagon?

[Parapapam]

Did you fish East or Stellawagon?

Stellwagon.... far way away from the crowds who were on the SE Corner. I hate crowds!!

One other tidbit that was strange... we practically ran over a Mola at the enterance to Sandwich Marina. Not a big one. But I wasn't expecting one in the canal.

Mike

[parmentj]

Too bad Mike, but at least you were getting them to chew. Sounds like stellwagen was the place to be, out east was dead.

[scurge]

Too bad Mike, but at least you were getting them to chew. Sounds like stellwagen was the place to be, out east was dead.

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT IT WOULD HAVE TO SPEED UP TO GET TO SLOW SHUTOUT WED THURS SUN THREE TRIPS IN A ROW FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THAT BITE!![FOUR YEARS] THINKING OF MOVING THE BOAT TO THE BAYSIDE.

[bankrat]

For us we caught nothing but heart break today....

The first fish hit about 45 minutes after the morning slack. This was my buddy's second tuna that he had ever fought. So despite warnings about high sticking it.... well you know the ending. Broken rod right before we reached for the leader and we drop a 70+ inch fish.

After a long slow day we wait for the second slack.

At exactly 12:55 BOOOM. This is a big fish. It explodes across the surface for 20 yards and the battle begins. I knew it was a big fish when runs 2, 3, 4 and 5 peel off 50% of the line on my Penn 50. I have my strike set at 24 pounds and I am adding enough hand pressure to wear off the finger prints on my finger tips.

We get it to the leader and it breaks off cleanly above the knot. (note to self... change the freakin line more frequently you dumb azz!!)) Estimated size was 80 to 85 by an ex-pro (striper swiper) we had with us. All I know is that it was the biggest fish I ever fought.

Besides the obvious (don't high stick and change the damm line) there were a few other lessons learned today. When you clearly see the orange bar but you only see the top of the fish and not the white belly... the fish is still vertical, not in death circles and therefore still green. When your brain tells you the fish has at least one long run left (or more) listen to your brain and not your desire to end the fight by horsing it. Stop 'em or pop 'em.... well I popped 'em.

Heart breaking to lose two fish over 70 and 80 inches at the boat. But we couldn't have kept them anyway....

Mike

P.S. My son Alex thought it was funny how I went airborne across the boat when the line snapped. And yes my chin is bruised from the reel. Luckily, I have a hard head.

does your regulator have a dark blue hull? I think I was close to you yesterday.

[kitebuz]

One other tidbit that was strange... we practically ran over a Mola at the enterance to Sandwich Marina. Not a big one. But I wasn't expecting one in the canal.

Mike

Might have been the same one we saw. I am wondering if the 3 large marks I saw on the sounder were also molas...

What were you fishing - livies, troll, jig?

[Parapapam]

Bankrat, yes my Reg does have a dark blue hull. But mine is safely put to bed for the winter. I was on my buddy's 29 Everglades Pilot House. The pilot house is a nice touch on cold mornings.

Kitebuz, the mola was inside the canal directly (30 feet) outside of the enterance to Sandwich Marina. We were doing a lot of different things. We tried casting and jigging (bluefish and dogs on the jigs...). But mostly we were trolling bars and ballys. The two hits came on bars. A black early and an orange at noon.... pretty classic pattern.

Slack tide (or very close to slack) was the key for us yesterday. That and staying away from the Circus. Other than slack we saw fish every 30 minutes to an hour... up and down quickly, not in great numbers.

Mike