Today was supposed to be a day off for me. But with the tuna bite going off like it was September I had to be OTW. I called Mike C to come down and get into this action. I told him it would be worth the trip.



Now genius that I am, I had 7 hours sleep in 2 days. I went to dinner with a buddy last night expecting to end up home in bed early to be well rested for today. As things never go as planned we closed the "establishment" we were at around 0100 and I got to bed around 0200. At 0500 Mike C rings the doorbell and say GET UP!!!! I am REALLY draggin butt at this point but in a relatively short amount of time I hit the floor and get a move on.



We splash at Sandwich and go to the prior days hotspots. It's snotty and rough even with a mild forecast. Stories of charter boats getting tuna on bunker spoons fill the airwaves so we figure its going to be a good one.



We get on fish quickly and soon we have one in the boat and several shots at more fish. We call in the buddy boats and we all work hard in the slop for the fish we got. Around 1000 the bite is dead and there is nothing to do but wait till the afternoon bite to start. I rack out on the bow while Mike C blind casts and rigs gear.



Finally the afternoon bite gets moving and we are back at it. Everyone is hooking up. Seeker on the troll, and the rest of us on plugs. We end up with 2 more fish giving us three for the day so far. I switch boats and jump on Capt Mike Mathews new rig and run him in for the money shot. I REALLY like running the boat from the tower. Capt MIke drills with the popper and I watch from above as the fish piles on and we tag and release another fish.



I switch back to my boat with Mike C and now the fish are pushing and VERY picky. Mike and I try allot of stuff and find that Albie Medicine is the cure for the picky fish. we sneek up on them and give them a does of the Medicine and they like it. Once we had their number we had several more hookups 1 more fish to the boat, a pulled hook and two braid breakoffs.



I was pretty upset about the braid breaking, since we really didn't know why......until a bit later. As it was getting later we sneek up on one last pod of BIG pushing fish and Mike C and I let fly with the Medicine. No dice! Then the fish turn around and come right at the boat giving us the PERFECT shot. I drill and a big fish piles on the Medicine. The 950 Penn is SCREAMING and Mike C gives chase. This fish looks big but most of the fish had been around 40-60#. I work the fish for around 15-20 mintues and don't sem to be getting anywhere with him. Then he comes up and porposes in front of the boat and I see why. He's BIG!!!!I keep pulling on him but the line just comes off the spool due to the fishes weight. At 30 minutes I ask Mike for the small fighting pad because the "boys" we getting bruised pretty good from the rod butt. I keep pulling and the fish just keeps pulling back. I know if the fight goes over 30 mintuse on this heavier gear its at solid fish.



Now a reminder, I'm living on no sleep and I REALLY am not up for the "EPIC" battle today. My back hurts, my groin hurts and I just want this over with. Mike C offers both encouragment and ridicule to keep me on my game. ROund and round we go as the fish circles the boat. I gain on one half of the lap, he takes on the other. This is getting old FAST. I start palming the spool and Mike is not too happy about it. I want to land this fish or loose him, I'm not doing the 2 hour bit again. This is now and up and down fight and the fish is just plain heavy.



Finally after 45 minutes the fish is on top and I'm getting him close. Mikes ready with the gaff and when the fish is close he gets the perfect head shot. GAME OVER!!!! and we WIN! THe fish is in the boat and I'm smoked. We have no camera but the fish is a slob, especially for spining gear and a popper. The tape shows 60" on the dot. We call it a day and head for the ramp. Just for kicks and to get a better idea of the true weight of the fish we wee playing with we swing by Buzzards Bait and Tackle. These guys treat me right with eels and they have a big digital scale. The fish draws allot of attention and the shop is loving it. With take a pool on the fishes weight and the fish goes on the scale. The weight 121.75# !!!!!! Not bad for a spinning rod and a fresh water popper



Final tally for the day 6 tuna landed a few lost and a TON of good shots. The lures of choice, Salty's Needles, Tin and the big'un came on Gold Albie Medicine. The rod was a ST Croix Premier Saltwater Series rated 20-40#, the reel was a new Penn 950 SSM with 50# braid and 50# flouro. A side note to the lost fish, we noticed that the leader on the big fish was longer than usual and it JUST reached past the tail. I think the others that broke off in the braid were getting beaten up by the tail above the leader. I will be adding a few feet to the leaders from now on.



Overall, a long tiring day witha great outcome. Mike C did a great job with the boat and the gaff. AS always he is the perfect teammate.