After yesterday's disappointment with one on and one off, "Karma" was all over the "Tuna Fever" today! We had first time guests Rob and Ryan Sullivan out today. 10 year old Ryan hit the boat at 4am bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to rock. We headed out at 4am and the ride out was awesome. Lines in at 5:15 and it looked awful. No whales, no bait and lots of weed. We pushed out east and worked hard clearing the weeds. Around 8 something my buddy Kenny hooked up about a mile out in front of me. "Cool". Then Ken on "Glory B" hooked up about a mile to the southeast of me. "Go get em". I cleared all the lines for the 100th time and I felt good that we had a shot. I had to split two boats and turned between them when all of sudden the right short rigger gets inhaled! Rob saw the whole fish explode on the rig. We where tight! I had a blue Regulator next to me and I had to turn right in front of him because the direction the fish was running. The other Capt. was awesome and saw what was going down and he turned off to his starboard. I had young Ryan get on the rod in the rod holder and told him to reel. He was all over it. For a ten year old this kid is good! He MANNED up bigtime! I moved the rod to the stern rod holder and Ryan came to the stern and kept the fish tight while his Dad and I franticly cleared the other 4 rods. Once we cleared everything he was spent and wanted Dad to take over. He had done his job and kept that fish tight. Rob got in the harness and we spent the next 25 mins. doing the "Tuna Tango" as I spun "Tuna Fever" 20 times to keep the fish out of the props. Rob was all over this fish and he is a seasoned angler. When the end game was near I played the fish out for an extra 5 mins. and I had Ryan hold the gaff and I went for the leader. I had to get this fish and it was do or brake him off time. I got the leader and got the main line below the bar and I double wrapped him and got his head up and called for the gaff. Ryan came around me and placed the gaff in the water right at the fish and all I had to do was reach over and drill him! Rob got out of the harness and we got the second gaff into the tail and the rope was on him and he was ours! Teamwork all over the place and a father and son lifetime memory. I felt honored to have been able to get this done. The fish taped out at 65inches and easy 160lbs. No other bites for us but my crew was spent, back to the dock at 12pm. Not a huge bite today but way better than yesterday. I will be out east Fri-Mon than "Tuna Fever" is done and we start the "Tammy Rose" on July 27th. Call if you want to go because the season is getting booked up quickly. Congratulations to Ken Joy and the crew of the "Glory B" on their big fish today. It taped out at 74 inches. Nice job guys. Capt. Eric
As many of you know, my usual crew are my two boys. Ben (age 11) and Alex (age 10). Even though they are some what seasoned with about 25 tuna trips under their belts, they still are wide eyed excited at almost everything that goes on out there.
Congrats to Rob and Ryan!!! Seeing the whole show out there is an ubelievable experience. It is even more enjoyable when you see it through the eyes of a kid. Taking things like bubble feeds, breaches, tuna jumping, birds and sharks out of school books and playing the whole show out live and in person is a never to be forgotten experience.
It is one of those things that you will look back on when you are bouncing your grandkids on your lap in the rocking chair... I encourage anyone to bring their kids out with them as long as they are comfortable and safe with children on the water.
Good job Capt Stew!!! I know you understand what experiences like this can mean to kids. Cory is a prime example...
That is awesome Stew & Mike....glad to hear you're getting those young(er) kids out on the open water....that is awesome to have them in the middle of it!
As some of you know, I've got 2 boys @ 9 & 11 yrs, and I've been reluctant to get them in the melee on my small CC. Sure, there's room for them...but when things go nuts - well, you can't be Superdad 100% of the time....
Second thing is avoiding the sea sickness....any thoughts?
Hey Rich my kids are grown but they grew up on my boats. I remember going through the CC canal when my son was six moths old sliding from one side of the deck to the other and never waking up! And one time I had gone out to the fingers with my daughter and got caught in several squalls with her saying your not scared dad right? I said of course not (BS!) The more they are out there the more comfotable they will be. do half day scup/flounder trips and bring something to keep them busy in case the fish ain't showing any love. I have two grandsons that call me Boat Grandpa that will be with me soon-they are 5&3 I can't wait! Scotty.
Only my daughter gets sea sick... and not that often. Drifting in a chum slick isn't for her... My boys have never been sick. Well my middle guy got quezey during the OBMST last year. He went up top to clear his head and he was fine in about 10 minutes.
I don't really know how to fix a propensity for sea sickness. With some people it is just the way they are built.
Scotty's advice is pretty good if you can beat the sea sickness part. Kids love action. My guys were with me last week when we nailed a 63 inch fish on Skipjack (Backman). But they had fun bailing on 25 inch stripers this weekend with light spinning gear as well.
The key is to sacrafice your world for theirs.... Make them part of the action. Kids love to get involved. Assign them a rod that is theirs to watch and clear. Tell them that they have to watch the noon to 3 quadrant for birds and life. Let them catch/clear the bluefish.... Talk to them they whole time. Teach them about what they are seeing. If you have to get a book on the animals you see out there and read it before you go out, then you can be the "expert" on the water. I have to conduct an otopsy on every fish I catch. "Dad, is this the liver? Where is the heart?" Boys love that "gross" stuff.
But also, when they are done and bored... then you are done. Don't drag them through hours of misery or all they will remember is the misery.
Bottom line is it is an investment. If you cater to their needs and make it fun for them... even at the expense of your fun, then they will get "hooked." Invest several trips that are run at the pace they dictate and the investment will pay off. Kids naturally want to do the stuff that Dad does... it is pretty easy to get them addicted to the things you love if you start out think about it from their world view.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
.
