FIN HUNTER 3-17-2011 Report

[Fin Hunter]

Lit out at 0455 this AM, moon just about full gentle NW breeze about 15knts, yuck. I hate fishing out of here on a NW'er. The swell made for a longer run than I like. Throw em over at 0800. Temp is 69.4, water is blended dirty, again yuck. About 30 min's into the the rt short comes down and the Tiagra is growling steady and deep. More pull than a black fin, probably a FA. Nope to my dismay our first YFT of the year, Yippee. Not a bruiser but about a 30lb'er, the 3rd caught out of MHC this year so far that I know of. Drill the area for a spell, no bait, guess it was a free range tuna. Off, down the beach we go in 4-6' NW 1.5 knts current. Finally after 2 1/2 hrs the planer comes tight, man on the reel just stops cranking, I see the rod tip bounce and go limp, he's gone. Just then the bridge pole goes off. Well you missed him, I got his butt. He got a chilly willy right next to the tuna. Got down to the 390 line after a bit and called down to clear the mess and get out the jigging rods. Got up wind, drop em down about 150' and start at it. The first guy made about 4 pumps and it was on, second man drops getting jiggy with it and he is on. Man these guys were having a ball. Caught about 12 AJ's in one drift and said let me know when you have had enough and want to go back on the troll. WE"RE DONE let's go back to the troll. Worked down the beach to the 340 line when the water cooled off and made the turn back up the beach picking up another hoo on the way. It's 1230 the wind switches to the N and falls out. This one was way cool, planer trips, crank crank, nothing there. I see the planer at the surface I look back to the bait and a 40lb hoo airs out and crashes the planer bait. SHANK HIM AND BAG HIM. Put em back out and the rt short comes down and is screaming. Out of the corner of my eye I see a huge bust and a splash, the fish aired out and I missed it. Could it be the man in the Blue suit? It sounded and the man on the rod couldn't gain on it, taking drag. Lets go get it. Well dog gone it it's only a 60lb hoo. Getting close to the end of the day, managed to scrape one more hoo and a gaffer dolphin to finish out a meat slam. Was a pretty quite ride home, the crew slept to the inlet. Don't know why. GOD I LOVE THIS JOB!

[gottaflylee]

Congrats Rick, very cool and great job on getting on some fish in not the best of conditions.

Please do my old eyes a favor and place a paragraph or 3 in your next report so I can read it easier...just busting your chops, you know that I will fish with you any time, any where...

[clt_capt]

Nice day Rick - Gotta love a meat slam any day. Hopefully your stray tuna is just the leading edge.