Are we Terminally Ill?

[Lucky Duck]

We have been to CCB, Stellwagen and Peaked Hill now four times this year in search of BFT. The first trip we landed a 63 inch, approximately 160 pound fish, the biggest of our career and passed acres of breaking fish in CCB on our way back to the canal. The next two trips we were skunked: loads of sandeels, whales, bass and blues, but only a few brief sightings of tuna with no hookups. Our fourth trip was yesterday.

We traveled 30 miles across the bay and another 15 plus to our destination. Again, loads of birds and sandeels, fewer whales and a fair number of boats for a weekday. We trolled for 4 hours without even a bluefish for our trouble. We saw one small boat with a BFT tied to the side, but no one else catching. At slack tide huge balls of bait surfaced with birds hitting them from above and bass from below.

Most of the other boats had left the area. I decided we should console ourselves by bringing home a striper for dinner and dropped a silver butterfly jig with immediate results. As I wondered if I should back off the drag that was set for tuna, the “striper” started to take a little line, then a little more line and finally a lot of line. I yelled for my husband to put on the fighting belt and turn the boat around for me because I was already down to the backing and we needed to chase.

One hour into the fight after seeing the fish come to the surface once (it was surely a giant of about 200 to 250 pounds) our new Saragossa 18000F seized up and would only turn half a crank unless the spool was turned by hand. We were certain we had lost the fish due to equipment failure. But….. My husband being the clever problem solver he is, managed to tie a loop in the 60 pound braid, tie that to the 80 pound mono on the Penn International 50, all while trying to keep the fish on, and while I drove the boat he managed to get the knot on the Penn spool and we were amazingly back in business.

By this time we had chased the fish 3 miles into shore and the dreaded lobster pots. We freed our motors from one and the fish from another but the ending is not a happy one.
Two hours into the battle the braid went “ping” and the fish was lost. Perhaps the fish was tail wrapped or foul hooked. Perhaps the line had been nicked on the boat or the pots, but the fish was gone and worst of all, probably would not survive after such a struggle. One day later I am not so sure my husband will either.

Anyway, here are a couple of questions for the more experienced:

Last year we upgraded all our tackle and were told by the Shimano rep that the Saragossa would do the job. My husband believes that, at least in part, the problem lies with the medium heavy Trevala rod (of note, it took him 10 to 15 minutes to bring the 63 incher to the boat using the Penn International last month). What do you use for jigging, reel, rod and line? How about line on the Penn International size reels? We have two of the International 50’s and also use 3 Schimano TLD 25’s, but I am now wondering if even putting out the TLD’s is such a good idea considering the size of these fish.

Is it possible I caught a bluefish or bass that was immediately eaten by a giant?

Is tuna fever ever fatal?

[Shark Bait]

great story and my hat is off to your husband for pulling off such a feet.

[keithj]

That's tough luck. I wish you guys had landed it. My guess is you had a tuna on all along that just didn't realize it had been hooked at first.

[muzzysix]

look its not a great story, its another typical yay-hoo story. "the one that got away" this is a prime example of what everybody talked about last week on using the appropriate gear for the fish you are after. now i know most of you are only out there targeting the smaller fish but guess what everybody a 130 to 200 pound fish is NOT small. these fish are not meant to be caught on spinning rods, if they were someone would have had the idea to do it 20 years ago. you have to be prepared for anything especially fishing where the next bite you get could be your fish of a life time. would you rather be the guy telling the story of how you decided to buy the right tackle and it paid off because you caught a 500 pounder or continue to tell the story of how you had another huge one and couldn't stop it again because your spinner didn't have the balls to slow it down. as for the lady asking the questions on this thread. no you will not die from tuna fever although it is very contagious. a 200 pound fish is big but not a giant. probably had a tuna on the whole time it just took him a second to figure it out. leave the tld's at home unless you want to catch cod or bass otherwise sell them and that chitty spining reel and buy more and bigger gear. good luck to you, i hope your next story is better than this one.

[Tuna Meltdown]

Great story and quick thinking on your husbands part to get that to work.

[Tuna Meltdown]

look its not a great story, its another typical yay-hoo story. "the one that got away" this is a prime example of what everybody talked about last week on using the appropriate gear for the fish you are after. now i know most of you are only out there targeting the smaller fish but guess what everybody a 130 to 200 pound fish is NOT small. these fish are not meant to be caught on spinning rods, if they were someone would have had the idea to do it 20 years ago. you have to be prepared for anything especially fishing where the next bite you get could be your fish of a life time. would you rather be the guy telling the story of how you decided to buy the right tackle and it paid off because you caught a 500 pounder or continue to tell the story of how you had another huge one and couldn't stop it again because your spinner didn't have the balls to slow it down.

According to you then we should all buy 130's? I know alot of people that would disagree and prove you wrong day in and day out about your spinning rod comment too.
Oh and I believe she said that they had given up on tuna and were trying to catch a STRIPER.

[muzzysix]

lets see i am done tuna fishing so i am going to drop a jig down and see what i can catch. oh my god a tuna ate it! i cant believe it! you are never done tuna fishing doing stuff like that. HELLO!!! and i dont recall saying buy 130s i said buy rods and reels bigger than what you would use for a striper.
oh yeah tunaburger check your outrigger clips because i would hate to read another one of your harrowing "how the big one got away" stories.

[AlloyToy]

Could have, should have, would have.......ya gave it your best at the time with what you had on board.......better luck next time. We all learn from doing, you're not alone....

20 years ago many of these big fish here on the Cape were caught on Penn Senators...and landed

[Tuna Meltdown]

lets see i am done tuna fishing so i am going to drop a jig down and see what i can catch. oh my god a tuna ate it! i cant believe it! you are never done tuna fishing doing stuff like that. HELLO!!! and i dont recall saying buy 130s i said buy rods and reels bigger than what you would use for a striper.
oh yeah tunaburger check your outrigger clips because i would hate to read another one of your harrowing "how the big one got away" stories.

I'm not even going to start a fight with some one who has been a member here for 3+ years and prior to this thread has only posted once. Your Quite an asset! Go on and keep lurking behind your computer screen.

[maritime23]

Awesome story kudo's to your husband for his quick thinking, I only have 1 question were you up on the bank or over at Peaked Hill?, If up on the bank and outside the 3 mile line(EEZ Limit) one can not take a striper as you are fishing in federal waters. If with in the limits then I say go for it and knock em dead.

Maritime23