Gyros Gyros Gyros...Hold the Lamb, No Tzatziki Needed!

[Capt Josh]

SteveD, Bogii, and Hector joined Ben, Steve2, Herk, Sue and i aboard the 54 Viking REEL EPIDEMICH this weekend for an offshore tuna hunt. We raced out to where i found the larger fish from last week but after glassing in the gyros for over an hour it was apparent that the fish had moved on. Instead of putting the marlin jigs in we opted to keep moving, stopping every 15 - 20 mins so that i could put some time in the binos again in hopes of finding those beloved pterodactyls in the distance. After burning up a few hours and a few hundred gallons of fuel i finally hit the jackpot and spotted the tell-tale whirling mass of madness on the horizon - about 8 miles away.

We hammered the throttles and pulled up on what appeared to be the same school of spotted porpoise that held the larger fish we hammered the week before. First new JT Special Archer bar that hit the water got demolished as Steve put it up the rigger and off to the races we went. We pounded the school for over 3 hours and time and time again the bars came crashing down, Hector was in his glory as nothing makes the Margarita King giddier than an orgy of tunas coming over the transom.

For some reason the larger fish had left the mammals and fish of 20 - 40 pounds were all that remained. The full moon may have been to blame. After filling the fish box we decided to move on, hoping that the bigger models we were seeking were hunting out here somewhere. Back in the gyros i went and we covered another 60 some-odd miles before giving up on the ozone and heading for the Rock instead.

Despite 85 degree, cerulean blue water that awaited us at Corbetania Rock there wasn't much lurking to get excited about. We pulled the marlin jigs around as i studied the sonar but after an hour of looking it was once again apparent that we needed to make another move. I talked to SteveD and he was keen for some dorado action so we raced north of Sayulita where time in the gyros saved us again. I managed to locate a flock of birds from a looooong way away, racing up to them and deploying the baits it didn't take long to realize they were working a large school of mid-sized dodos. We had some fun with the leprechauns on light tackle for the remainder of the afternoon before retiring to SteveD's house for some fresh sashimi and BBQ.

The next morning we went looking for seaturds and more dodos, but the bite was certainly not what it was the afternoon prior. We managed one small dodo and blew 3 shots at sailfish before the call of the airport check-in counter beckoned us in. Just as we were reeling in Ben and i spotted a 300# blue marlin free-jumping just outside the buoys giving us hope that the beasts are coming sooner than later. There's certainly enough bait out there to keep them busy, and if i know this place we're only a week or two away from the chit really going richter.

Good times with great friends! We might not have killed the monsters this time around but we certainly worked hard and enjoyed the payoff. The new Archer bars were spanking the tunas and i know that it's only a matter of time before i find those bigger models again.

Roddy, thanks for all the Legend lures you sent we'll no doubt be hammering the blacks and blues with them by the next moon.

Z-Man sent us a hell of a care package too and we'll be busy testing all of this new stuff over the next few months between Mexico and Madeira. If all goes well Bermuda and Kona too!

Herk and Sue thanks again for taking us out there on the new 54 it's always a pleasure, and the mango pie sure helped me pass the hours by behind the gyros!

Counting down the days till we get the new 63 Weaver SALTY in the water...till then we are, as usual, madly off in all directions and undeniably excited about whatever lays ahead!

[Capt Josh]

This is what leads to success more often than not!

[Franticpace]

There were a few times I was ready to pull back the throttles and ask you where the hell you thought we were running to, but to my surprise, you picked out those birds from amazing distances with the gryos. A good time amigo. As much as I would like to think I owned the Reel Epidemich, I just drive. Thank Fred for his generosity in letting us use the boat. See you on the grounds soon enough, I KNOW you willl see me!!

[Capt Josh]

See you on the grounds soon enough, I KNOW you willl see me!!

Post up some pics of the paint job!!!

And GRACIAS to Fred if you're reading!!!

[Agitated88]

I love that series of shots...catching fish, fillets on the transom while still catching fish, and then gaff'd fish looking at his brother already in the freezer bags while catching still MORE fish!! I'm surprised I didn't see someone on the swim platform reeling/gaffing/filleting all at the same time! You guys are a machine!!!!

[Albatross32]

Awesome report Josh! We run a 35 Express Henriques out of Cape Cod MA and last year the Capt and I fully committed to always having at least one of us in the tower with the binocs while inshore Tuna fishing or Canyon fishing. Its amazing what you can see from up top with a good pair of binoculars. Saved many a day for us.....

Thanks for taking the time to post all of these great reports and pics....

-Brian

[Franticpace]

I love that series of shots...catching fish, fillets on the transom while still catching fish, and then gaff'd fish looking at his brother already in the freezer bags while catching still MORE fish!! I'm surprised I didn't see someone on the swim platform reeling/gaffing/filleting all at the same time! You guys are a machine!!!!

SWIM PLATFORM????

[aloharob]

Man...those conditions just looked intolerable...sunny, warm and you must have had all of 6 inches of wind chop on top of a 2 foot swell at 10 seconds (at least that's the way the pictures look). And great fishing too. What a *****!! Not sure how you make do

Sounds like another nice PV trip for the usual crew. NICE RIG too.

[lilharcher]

Rob,
What's up buddy.......good to see you here on SF.

[chamackO]

what's up with the lobotomy on the first YFT?