I posted this in the NE section, but also wanted to share for you guys in the BOX world.
Well today I went on a tuna charter out east of Chatham today on the Tammy Rose, with Capt. Eric and crew. It was a nice little birthday present from my parents. Still looking to pop the tuna cherry. Crew consisted of me, my dad, my brother, my cousin, my fathers friend, and giggyfish. After a late start(I suck with directions) we are on our way to the grounds at about 4:15. Arrive on scene about a hour and a half later. Deploy the spread. Long, mid, short bars on port side, way way way back ballyhoo, long, and mid squid bars on starboard side. After about ten mins. of trolling, we get a swirl on the long port side bar. Didn't come tight. Drop it back, jig it, crank it, drop it back. Nothing. Thats alright, that is as close as I have come to seeing a tuna, so I am happy. We troll around for about another twenty mins., with nothing going on. Capt. Eric calls lines in, and we make a move. And what a move it was. We get on scene and deploy the rigs. This place looks like the promised land. Birds, whales, and wait, what is that off the port side???? This place just EXPLODED. About a football field worth of tuna busting on top, about a hundred yards ahead. We are on perfect course to intersect them. We get up futher, and in what seemed like 2 seconds, all hell broke loose. Port side long goes off, and port side mid goes off. The two mates run over and set the hook, and we are tight to both fish. Hold on one second, while they are on port, the starboard side mid bar gets crushed, and I slam the drag to strike. Three on, three fish on. Wait one second there. Whatthefuckjusthappened? A fourth bar, the starboard side long bar gets crushed also. What was that. Ya, we have a quad of tuna hooked up. This may not seam like a big deal, but all six of us are tuna virgins, just to give you an idea. NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE, BUT FOUR HOOKED UP What went on next was pure pandimonium. Under his rod, over his rod, move left, move right, untangle that line. get behind him, hug the transom. It was crazy, and I have to say that the mates handled it perfectly. First fish to the boat was giggyfish. His fish got the gaff and was brought into the boat to be kept. A very fat, nice 58" tuna hits the deck, to be later placed in the cooler. Estimated weight was about 120 pounds. Next up was my cousin, whos fish was 56", and tagged and released. My father was next, and his fish also went 56", and also got the tag and release. Last up to bring their fish in was me, and I landed a very nice 58" tuna. Implanted the tag, and off to swim another day. We just hooked up and landed all four tuna. Not bad for everyones first tuna experience EVER!! After taking a look at the carnage left on the deck, with rigs, blood and still a tuna on deck, we all took this in for a min. Capt. Eric then informed us that we were his first charter ever to hook up a quad and also land it. Not bad for our first tuna experience. Start sorting everything out and lines back in. About forty mins. later, the way way way back hoo gets bit. Wait, he's off, no he's on, off, on, crank, crank, crank!! It finally came tight, and it was my brothers turn to fight the fish. This fish was fighting like it was a bigger one then the ones we ran into prior. After about a thirty five min. fight, we get color. Leader it and bring it in for the tag. Taped out at 58", but fought like a much much larger fish. Five anglers down, one to go. Lines go back in, and we are on the troll again. Before ten o'clock, we had five tuna to the boat. Not to bad at all. A couple hours go by without a bite. It is my dads friends turn on the next fish. We are trolling by some dolphins, and as Capt Eric is telling us that he hasn't been pulling tuna out of the schools of dolphins like in years past, all of a sudden ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! Hooked up, hooked up. Get the harness on and get on this fish! He put a good fight to it, and had it to the boat in about twenty-twenty five mins. Fish came in and measured out at 60". Tagged and slipped back out the door. 6 for 6, and we all got to fight a fish. Throw in the quad, and that day could not have gotten any better. Great captain and great crew, couldn't of done it without them, obviously. If you would of told me we would of gotten six fish today, I wouldn't of believed you. Everyone was having such a great time. It was awesome. Big thanks to the captain and crew for such a great day on the water. I am itching to get out there again, and can't wait to. Sorry for the long story guys, but this feels like the best day that I have had in a while.
Epic journey you just took us through...congradulations on getting the first one, addictive bastids they are...theres no going back now....your soon to become a tuna junky. Theres nothing like spending a day on the water with family and friends, throw in a 4 for 4 on the quad and you have the makings of the stuff derams are made of....I love it when a plan comes together
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