On board the "TinaLouise"

[tiggere]

First off I want to thank Mark and Jeff for inviting me along on my first official offshore run for tuna...these two guys know their stuff and it was a pleasure to be able to fish with them and pick their brains for info...

Jeff and I headed out Saturday morning for the long drive down to meet Mark at the boat...we pulled in at the docks around 2 pm and stretched our legs for a bit after the 5 1/2 hour drive...We left and got checked in to the hotel then did some running around prior to going back to the boat to rig some baits...went and ate dinner afterwards then it was off to bed to await the 4 am wake up call...well at least they slept I was too darn excited to sleep...

4 am comes and the coffee's made...its time to whack and stack some tunas !!!...we start the morning with a pretty short run to the fishing hole and Mark puts me on the wheel while Jeff and him get the spread set...next is Mark installing the video camera (oh yes...there is footage)...Mark gets back on the wheel and says all right boys it time and WHAM...the short left rigger line snaps and line is peeling off the reel...I grab the rod and its off to the races...now here is where it gets interesting...I'm used to slowing down and fighting the fish while the other lines are being cleared...ummm...nope he speeds up...so this fish is still dumping line off the reel and Marks laughing at me and saying "You ain't got that thing in yet"..."Come on we got to get moving"...Jeff gets a harness for me and gets me setup...rod gets set in and I'm looking for the reel straps...hmmm...somethings missing here...no straps...gonna have to do this the ole fashion way...I slam the drag up to 3/4 full and go to cranking...and cranking...and cranking...this thing has pulled out quite a bit...we get it towards the back of the boat and Marks got me walking backwards towards the front so he get the fish on the side to gaff it..."We got leader !!!"...I'm assuming the fish heard us because thats when all hell broke loose...this thing goes crazy at the boat...Mark's screaming at me "BACK BACK BACK" trying to get me to go to the back of the boat as the fish is heading for the motors...we go around the motors and the rods that are still set...and it decides to go back to the otherside of the boat...we played peek-a-boo with that fish for 10 minutes or so...the last time it goes around the motors something gives...it ain't the fish and it ain't the line...its my arm...it over...I'm done...I have to hand the rod off...my arm just gave out...not just any ole gave out...the kind where you literally can't get anything below the elbow to function...so I handed the rod to Mark and he gets in a harness (with reel straps by the way) and proceeds to fight the fish for another 15 to 20 minutes...when Jeff finally gets a chance to sink the steel in her...BOOHYA...a 65 to 70 pounder slides over the side and into the ice...yes its true and when Mark posts the footage there is no where to hide...I had my A$$ handed to me by a tuna...

I did redeem myself on the next fish though...with the proper harness and the drag set to 3/4 full I made short work of him...Mark had taught me well on the first one so I knew what to expect when he got near the boat...chaos...pure unadulterate chaos...but the steel was sunk home and I still had ahold of the rod...

We are all sitting there watching the spread when something comes in at 100 mph and misses the short flatline and immediately does a 180 degree turn and slams it...now that thing turned on a dime and had the water churning...fins out of the water and all kinda commotion...no sooner the WB reel starts screaming and its on like Donkey Kong...Marks screaming to turn the camera on while holding a rod with his fish on it...a gaff in his other hand to gaff mine thats now on the leader and is backing up to do it himself...


The rest of the day was just as exciting as the first time the lines hit the water...at one time we had 5 rods going off...with only two coming tight and getting a free ride...there were two quad hookups and multiple double hookups...

Total for the day was 6 Yellowfins and one wore out crew...we got back to the dock and got everything cleaned up, packed on ice, and started the trip home...I walked in at 3:45 am this morning...so thats why this report is so late...darn if I didn't need an MEP !!!

Mark and Jeff...thanks guys for one of the best days I have ever had on the water...that was truely the trip of a lifetime...I sure hope I get the opportunity to go with you guys again...not that we could top this one...thanks again...now if you will excuse me I need to reapply the ice to whole left arm including the shoulder,lower back, and knees...but it hurts so good...

and here is what you have read all this to see...pictures attached...also note me holding up one finger...yep thats the one...the one that whipped me...

[calebw]

Great job on the yellow bellies. Can't wait to see the video

[clt_capt]

Nice catch

[Nauti Natured]

Pretty work! Great report ... where were you fishing out of? Thise yellowbellies are far and few between at my stomping grounds.

[offshore]

Johnathan

Glad you had a good time. Glad to have had you aboard the boat on Sunday.I watched all the video tonight and it came out great. We got all the fish on camera as well as the fights!! The first fish was definitely a fighter and wanted nothing to do with the boat. You had your first taste of Oregon Inlet fishing so I am sure you will be hooked. Nothing like fishing OI in a small boat you just never know what you are going to catch in these waters yet you can specifically target all the pelagic fish in one day if you wanted too. You will enjoy the Video when it is done. I cant tell you when that will be but I will let you know... Oh by the way sorry about the Sore back, legs, arms, that is the best way to learn. Quite a powerful fish and we just happened to get in a great size class of fish Sunday...... Mark

[WAHOONBOX]

"The rest of the day was just as exciting as the first time the lines hit the water."


COOL QUOTE THERE TIGGRE! .....GREAT STORY...BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!

[N2theBlue]

great class of fish....what did you think of the alutecnos? I've heard nothing but good things about them.

[offshore]

great class of fish....what did you think of the alutecnos? I've heard nothing but good things about them.

This is my third year with them on the boat. I am running 6-30w2s, 3-50w2s and now 1-802s on the planer rod. They have been fantastic reels. This winter will be the first time I will service them. Not because I have to but because of a change Alutecnos has made. They have started putting drag grease on their drag washers. The reels I have are dry drag washers. even though the drags are smooth as silk I am going to put new drag washers with the drag grease in the reels. I ordered all the 30w2s reels at the same time and every reel at 0 preset pulled the same drag all the way from strike to full drag. I did not have to reset the preset at all....Mark

[N2theBlue]

sweet....i know quite a few guys that use them for swords in south fla. Know a couple of guys who use 130's loaded with braid cause they have been dumped on everything else!

[offshore]

sweet....i know quite a few guys that use them for swords in south fla. Know a couple of guys who use 130's loaded with braid cause they have been dumped on everything else!

I am running 130lb JB hollow core on the 30s and 50s. I am running 200 jb on the planer rod.
I havent been to concerned about getting spooled tuna fishing with the 30s. I did have a 500-600lb Blue Marlin almost spool a 30w in about 1 minute earlier in the year!! We did manage to fight him for a little while til he jumped off. That reel was quite warm after a few gray hounding runs but the drag pulled the same when I checked it at the house later that day.Still smooth as can be...Mark