Big Bluefin today?

[oibfisherman]

Heard through the grapvine that the Deacon Blues was hooked up to monster bluefin earlier today...just wondering if they ending up getting him?

[Wabostyle]

No.. He popped him off after like 3 hrs....

[Capt_John]

I swear (not to anyones' fault), but their has to have been more broken off fish, pulled hooks, failed crimps, etc. this season up in MHC for everyone than ever before. What gives?

[birdhunter]

We have broken off 6 fish this year, four in the past week!

[clt_capt]

I swear (not to anyones' fault), but their has to have been more broken off fish, pulled hooks, failed crimps, etc. this season up in MHC for everyone than ever before. What gives?

I was kinda wondering the same thing... Are the fish bigger this year? are folks being more aggressive in getting them to the boat quickly???

[dknott77]

Out of all the pulled off fish, honestly, who will vouch for rigging that tackle,,,hooks will pull ALL THE TIME,(that's a given), especially under a LITTLE bit of heat(40lbs.), take that or leave it, but crimps should never ever pull,EVER...Just my 2 cents,,,,,,

[WAHOONBOX]

I swear (not to anyones' fault), but their has to have been more broken off fish, pulled hooks, failed crimps, etc. this season up in MHC for everyone than ever before. What gives?

IN THEORY...AND THEORY ONLY....THIS IS JUST AN OPINION FROM A GUY WHO NORMALLY CATCHES HIS FAIR SHARE BUT IS ONLY 4 FOR 5 THIS SEASON....HELL I AM NOT EVEN GETTING THE NUMBER OF BITES I FEEL I SHOULD BE RECEIVING.

I HAVE MIXED IT UP WITH DIFFERENT LURE HEAD COMBOS...GONE SPLIT BILL....MAYBE A SPANISH DEPLOYED ....PULLED A MULLET HERE AND THERE....RIGGED UP A NICE NON-DIGESTED BUNKER RETRIEVED FROM A PREVIOUS DAYS DEAD-ON-DA-DECK FULL BELLY AND STILL NO LOVE

I HAVE HAD ONE PULLED HOOK IN 21 DAYS OF FISHING AND THEORY TELLS ME THAT I HOOKED THAT FISH MAYBE IN THE HEAD OR BACK AREA, ...FOR AFTER 30 MINUTES ON THE CRANK, THE BALLYHOO CAME BACK STILL ATTACHED WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE TO IT....WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAPPEN IF THE TUNA HAD TAKEN IT IN HIS MOUTH

MORE THEORY TO NUMEROUS FLEET MISHAPS:

THE SWITCHING OVER BY MANY CREWS TO A NEW STYLE/BRAND HOOK....I AM NOT GOING TO GET INTO A ARGUMENTIVE CHIT CHAT ABOUT WHICH BRAND NAME HOOKS EITHER ......BUT THE MUSTAD 11/0 HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME FOR 10 YEARS NOW AND I AM NOT ABOUT TO CHANGE TO BRAND X JUST BECAUSE OF SOME FANCY NAME .....MANY CREWS SWITCHED TO A NEW HOOK BRAND AND NEVER EVEN TRIAL'D & ERRORED THE HOOK!.....THEY JUST WENT COLD TURKEY TO BRAND X BECAUSE OF MARKETING HYPE....

I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FINE HONE A HAIRPOINT TO THE BIZNESS END OF MY HOOK.......THAT ALONE GIVES ME A CONFIDENCE FACTOR AND GOOD HOOK UP RATIO AND I CAN ACHIEVE THIS WITH A MUSTAD 7691

LOST FISH BECAUSE OF UNDERSIZED EQUIPMENT....I SEE BLACK FACED REELS OUT THERE.....I SEE 50'S...I SEE 80'S WHICH I FEEL IS STILL TOO SMALL FOR THE COMMERCIAL GIG....I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY THE NMFS DOESN'T IMPOSE A REEL SIZE MINIMAL LIMIT FOR COMMERICAL BFT FISHING.....THEY PLACE RESRICTIONS ON EVERYTHING ELSE! WHY NOT PUT A REEL SIZE RESTRICTION...SHIT, THEY SHOULD PUT A RESTRICTION ON BOAT SIZE/OR/CLASS THAT CAN BE USED AS WELL FOR SAFETY REASONS ONLY....BUT NOOOOO....AS LONG YOU GOT THAT PERMIT YOU CAN BE A COMMERCIAL BLUEFINNER....BOAT SIZE OR CLASS DOESN'T MATTER

MORE THEORY :
THE DRAG SETTING AT THE TUNA'S STRIKE IS EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW AND THEN TOO MUCH DRAG MAY BE APPLIED LATE INTO THE BATTLE.....

DURING THE FEW KILL SEASONS I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN DURING THE CAROLINA SEASON....I DOUBT I HAVE EVER WENT ABOVE 45 LBS AT ANYTIME DURING A FIGHT AND HAVE LOST MINIMAL FISH ONCE CONNECTED....BUT THERE AGAIN, WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW. NOT MUCH.

ANOTHER THEORY:

ECONOMIC PRESSURES.....WHAT DO I MEAN BY ECONOMIC PRESSURES?

QUIET POSSIBLY, SOME FISH ARE LOST(BROKEN OFF) FOR THE LACK OF CHANGING OUT CRIMPS EACH DAY, CHECKING AND CLEANING, OR REPLACING THE FLUORO....OR CHECKING AND REPLACING TOPSHOTS AND MAINLINES EACH DAY....IF A CREW IS IN A FISHLES$ DROUGHT ....IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THEY BECOME GUNSHY AT SPENDING.

WITH EVERY PASSING DAY OF NO FISH IN THE BOX, ECONOMIC PRESSURES BUILD. AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO...

EQUIPMENT CHECK: EXAMINE YOUR CRIMP CONNECTION AFTER JUST 24HRS DOCKSIDE FROM A BLOWDAY.....THE
CRIMP WILL BECOME CORRODED WITH EL NASTY CRAPO AND BECOME VERY WEAK.....SAME GOES FOR A 340 SAMPO INLINE SWIVEL

MORE THEORY:

HOW ABOUT JUST PLAIN BAD LUCK? I DOUBT ALL LOSSES ARE JUST PLAIN BAD LUCK...BUT WITH SOME PEOPLE BAD LUCK BECOMES YOUR PERSONAL SHADOW.... AND THAT PERSON IS DOOMED

TEAM SPIRIT:

A GOOD POSITIVE ATTITUDE BETWEEN CAPTAIN AND CREW EVEN IN THE TOUGH TIMES...THIS MAKES GOOD CHARMA.

A CAPTAIN SETS THE TEMPO FOR HIS CREW...HIS ACTIONS SET THE STANDARD FOR HOW HIS CREW IS GOING TO PERFORM......A GOOD BFT CAPTAIN IS REALLY A 5 STAR GENERAL RUNNING A BATTLEFIELD TANK.....AND HIS ACTIONS REFLECT DIRECTLY UPON HIS PLATOON OF PIT SOLDIERS.

BE A REEL LEADER....BE A PROFESSIONAL.... ACT LIKE A PROFESSIONAL...YOUR ACTIONS OFF THE BATTLEFIELD WILL ALSO REFLECT UPON SUCCESS ON THE KILLING FIELD....PROFESSIONALISM IS CONTAGIOUS ....AND WHEN IT SPREADS.... SUCCESS WILL BECOME ABUNDANT..... AND PUT MEATNDABOX.


BUT HELL, WHAT DO I KNOW? .....NOT MUCH REALLY....I AM JUST A GRUNT PLAYING VEGAS......SOMETIMES I HIT A 21 BLACKJACK ....AND SOMETIMES I ROLL CRAP.







OH....AND WHY AM I SITTING AT THE DOCK AT 6AM?

Conditions at 41036 as of
(5:50 am EST)
1050 GMT on 01/24/2009:

Wind Direction (WDIR): SW ( 230 deg true )

Wind Speed (WSPD): 25.3 kts

Wind Gust (GST): 29.1 kts

[Custom Canvas]

Dang sorry to hear about that!!!

I know Jay and Winslow were giving it there all.

As for WHY all the pulled hooks See above post cant be said better that that!!!!!!!

[JB2C]

Been more lost fish than I can ever remember. Maybe everyone has gone down in size to try to get the bite. It's been tough, esp earlier on, just to get a bite. Which usually makes guys go down in size on leaders and hooks. Without any reduction in the drag. My guess on alot of the pulled hooks is a hook size that's too small. Yep, hard to beat that 7691 11/0.

Would be interesting to hear from those that have pulled a hook this season as to what their drag setting was at the time, and if the fish was way out or pretty close in to the boat. Other's opinions??

Can't agree with the undersized equipment thing. I've caught a few on a 50. I get nearly as much drag on my 50 as on my 80's. My 70 can put out nearly as much drag pressure as my 130. It all depends on what you've done to the reel and how you use it. Standup with a 130 isn't very doable. And some guys like to fish standup. And they do it very well. Horsing em in with 50-60lbs of drag isn't the only way to get the job done.

Don't agree with the boat size thing either. But that's because I fish a small boat! What about the northern guys that fish a 28' or 30'er? Full time fishermen. Should they be excluded because of boat size? One of the better ones from up north will be down next season fishing a 30'er. He's been fishing them over 25 years. Should he be excluded? You just have to pick your days. Which has been tough this season with this wind. I'm sure there are some mid-size boats that went out on a day they shouldn't have. At what size would you make the cut-off? 30'? 40'? 50'? I'm sure there are some 28'ers out there that are more seaworthy craft than some 32'ers. Do think they should put more effort into enforcing the safety equipment regulations though. For all boats.

As far as drag, I haven't figured that out yet. Alot of guys push the lever up when the fish gets close and goes into the spiral. We try to leave it at strike all the way if we can. When he's out with alot of line, the line can absorb shock from a sudden move. Close to the boat with little line out, there's less shock absorber. So more drag and less shock absorber equals more pulled hooks. My thinking anyway. Sometimes you don't have a choice. And you don't want the fight to last too long either. Just have to find the balance.

Everybody has a little different method. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. If you're in the ballpark with your junk, then alot of it has to do with putting in the hours on the water with a hook in the water. Alot harder to do with a smaller boat. Esp this season. Just glad to see more bait in here. Now if the wind will lay out for the last week of the season...

JB

[WAHOONBOX]

HORSING THEM IN WITH A 130 ON 45 LBS OF DRAG AIN'T REALLY A BAD WAY BRO

LIKE I SAID ....NOT LOOKING FOR A SHOUTING MATCH HERE...I JUST STATED AN OPINION AND NOTHING IS DIRECTED TO ANY MEMBER PERSONALLY.... ....AT LEAST MY OPINIONS MAKE SOME GUYS POST UP MORE OFTEN

I SEE SMALL BOATS OUT THERE THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO BIZNESS BEING OUT THERE.....IF YOUR "SMALL BOAT " IS A QUALIFIED AND SAFE BOAT THEN FINE....GEEZZ.....I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT WELL EQUIPPED AND SAFE BOATS .....



I THINK IT WOULD BE COOL TO SEE A COMPARISON CHART ON BFT PRICES BY COMPARING THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES:

50, 70,80 VERSUS 130....

AND PROERLY CORING A FISH ONCE IT'S DECKED VERSUS NOT CORING AT ALL OR HALF ASS CORING ONCE IT IS DECKED ....

HOW ABOUT MINIMAL ICE DOWN ONCE IT'S DECKED VERSUS SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF ICE ON IT ......

A STAND UP FIGHT VERSUS THE SWIVEL ROD HOLDER FIGHT.....


HOW ABOUT CATCH ONE BFT EARLY A.M. AND CONTINUE ON FISHING FOR #2 ALL DAY....WILL THAT FORCE A DOLLAR DROP PER POUND ON THE ALL DAY DECKED FISH WHILE YOU SEEK #2?


I WONDER WHO GETS THE BETTER PRICES HERE ? OR DOES ANY OF THE ABOVE REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

I HAVEN'T A CLUE