Canyon Runner NC Bluefin 4/6 - More Giants!! More Keepers!!!

[Canyon Runner]

I really can’t understand why my guys our out there all by themselves when the fishing is as good as you can ever experience - but such has been the case the last few days.

In the last three days they released at least 35 bluefins over 73”. On Tuesday the fish bait in the water on our 48 Viking was engulfed by a 91” 450 pound Bluefin that was fought for 3 hours, tagged and swam away nicely. They then spent the rest of the day jigging and popping captuing another 7 bluefins with an over and under to take home and 5 bluefin over 75” to 80” that were tagged and released.

Meanwhile, our second charter fishing with Capt. Denis Ednee of the A-Salt Weapon did non-stop battle with 70-80” fish during the 3 hours while Capt. Mark was hooked up to the 450 pounder. They release 7 of these fish for their days total.

Capt. Mark DeBlasio estimates we tagged approximately 50 bluefins over 73” thus far this season that all swam away nicely so it will be very interesting where these fish show up. (We tagged well over 100 yellowfin last summer and got a bunch of returns back already and funny enough all these fish swam east).

While we are fully booked on our boats there are plenty of great boats available so please call Pirate’s Cove Marina – 252-473-3906 – and get yourself down there. It just doesn’t get better than this at any point of the summer off so you owe it to yourselves to enjoy it.

[keithj]

Canyon Runner, I'm interested in hearing more about where your tagged yellowfins ended up. Would be cool if you could post that info up in a second thread.

Thanks,

Keith

[bobdu11]

The bite down there out of Oregon Inlet is truly Epic. You guys are tearing up the big fish. I'm wondering how much longer do you think these fish are going to be around. They usually start migrating north with the stream around Mid April, but with their departure comes the YFT, the Big-eyes start making a really good showing here shortly and the billfish are already cruising around the area.
How long does the Canyon Runner stay in Pirates Cove ?.....Bob

[Canyon Runner]

I'll get a thread going at the beginning of canyon season on the yelllwofi once we have all the info.

We are leaving Pirate's Cove at the end of April to start our Striper trips out of NJ.

I think the bluefin will be around right into May but I doubt it can stay this good - nothing can stay this good for that long.

[bobdu11]

Wow...May is such a great time for OI.....YFT are in full force, big eyes are jumping in the boats...the Blue's show up in decent numbers, Wahoo are just south on the 280 rocks....but I can understand wanting to get the boat home...Congrats on your great season down there !....Bob

Still Think'n

[Fishfinder]

Congratrulations to Capt. Mark and the Canyon Runner Crew and the other charter boats . Looks like the bite is as hot as it gets!

Capt. Joe Shute

[marlin magnet]

Great Report and I have a question. Years ago, 15+ perhaps, the strategy to catch the big BFT's was big gear and quick catch and release times. I guess the point was concern over the fishes ability to recover and put less stress on the fish. Now, tackle and techniques have changed and some of these battles are 3+ hours, what do the experts say about recovery?

[gustoIV]

if you take the time to swim the fish till they are kicking hard they will have a much better chance of survival then just cutting off as soon as it gets to the boat. As for the tackle a good angler can get a fish to the boat in relatively short order on the new lighter jigging gear but it isn't easy and does take practice and yuo must push your tackle to its limits.

I have had 600 pound fish take up to an hour on 130's and 400 pounders take the same amount of time on 80's. It really depends on the angler and the time put in to revive the fish. You might have to swim a fish for more then 30 minutes for the best results.