What a lucky day...

[maritime23]

Finally got out east on Thursday to do some fishing, believe it or not it was the first time I had been out there in over a year. Was taking Dan "the Squirrel" Soell with me, Dan is a 13 y/o who just lives to fish, if there's fishing to do Dan's ready. Dan has never been tuna fishing so what better time to go...What was I thinking this was the first time I fished for tuna in a while and I'm sure I had some bug to work out, but what the heck... Let's go! Left Saquatucket at 4:30 and head out not sure where I was going to start but from the reports I was reading was probably going to head north and give it a go. Cleared the harbor and hit pea soup fog and I knew right away it was going to be an interesting day. Slowly made my way down the the back side of Monamoy and just as I was rounding the tip I noticed one of my rods was doubled over ????? somehow it was left in free spool and all my line was following me, things fixed and we are back on our way. Headed for Crab Ledge and arrived to find dog fish all over the place, so now what fog was too thick for me to start running around. Picked some numbers off the GPS that I had fished a few years ago and that's where we would give it a go. Lines in at 6:30 and hopefully the spread looks good cause I can't see a thing, went to check the drag on the last rod and it was "FISH ON", (LLR Widowmaker) we hadn't even set Dan up in the belt yet. So it was absolute kayos on the boat, got things settled and Dan begins his fight, 45 mins later we put a nice fat 55" fish in the boat, high fives and smiles for every one but it's time to get back to work. Set the spread out and troll for about an hour and "WHAM" Right Long Rigger takes off.. Now it's my turn settle in and start the battle and after a 40min fight we bring up a nice fat 64" boat side..tag and release. I am totally awestruck had only been fishing for a short period of time and we and we have already boated 2 fish. Took a few moments to gather ourselves, get a cold drink and it was back at it. The day could have ended here and I would have been a very very happy guy, got Dan his first fish got one myself and the boat was running perfectly. Trolled around for about 2 more hours and move out to a different set of numbers that were pretty close but things were different no bait on the scene and thing just didn't feel right. Turned and head back to where we started, told Dan we would give it another 20 mins and then call it a day, hit our numbers and "WHAM" Short Right Rigger gets absolutely crushed it game on again. Dan belt up and starts to fight the fish, line is dumping and he just can't stop this beast. Bump up the drag on the 50's and slow things down and start gaining back what we lost. Goes back and forth for about and hour, what Dan gained the fish took back... the poor boy is beginning to tire. At about the 65-70min mark he just doesn't have any more fight and I take over the rod, battle for another 30 mins and we boat a nice 70.5" fish....tag and release, game over day over. Head for the dock with smiles as big as can be fog lifted so it was a nice ride home, a little more tired than we started but well worth it.

Maritime23

[garonmailman]

nice work

[dexy1]

Great story!!

[Verbal]

Great story! The only problem is that he'll never want to fish for anything else now!!

[giggyfish]

You ruined that poor boy he will never be the same. Congratulations

[ryan c]

You ruined that poor boy he will never be the same. Congratulations

so so true.

[storm petrel]

[striper1]

Excellent story and lucky kid to be able to have that experience this early in life! I am sure both of you won't soon forget it.

[Albiemanmike]

Awesome story good on ya! Wish I had someone like you when I was a young lad that took me out tuna fishing although I guess I am glad I didn't as i would have been ruined like this poor boy now is. He is going to be knocking down your door to go again real soon!

[maritime23]

I would gladly take this kid fishing again, just to see that great big smile again!!

Maritime23