Guam Bluewater on ONO

[The Codfather]

The Captain:
23yo Merchant Marine Officer, currently Navigation Mate aboard a US Naval supply tanker in Guam. 10+ years experience commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf of Maine. Have rods, will travel.

The Vessel:
'ONO'
19' 2009 Micronesia Marine Pilothouse, built in Saipan. 140hp, 150nm range. My first boat, and all the heartache and heartbreak that goes along with it.

The Mission:

Fishin

[The Codfather]

First blood onboard the ONO.

Friday ran down to the southern end of the island at a brisk 35kts, got down there just in time for a huge tuna blitz. No other boats.

For half an hour I could only run two rods. Pull one, wrestle the tuna into the boat, and the other would already have one on it. Caught over a dozen 4-6lb skipjack and two 10lb YFT. Kept the YFT and the two largest skips. 3" Blue/White daisy chain with a 4" purple jethead was the magic #, followed by a 4" blue/white jethead.

Bite shut down and I left, headed up to the FADS with no success. Got a marlin strike on a Blue/White Williamson Cavitator running off the long rigger. Drop back, and nothing. Next time MISTER!

Keep one, throw one back, and give one away.

I know there are some other Guamanians here...

[Jer]

Welcome aboard!

[Wireman]

Nice report. Thanks

[FAT CAT MX]

Thanks for the report. That's a very interesting boat you've got there. Does it have a V'd bottom, or is it flat?

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Thanks for the report. That's a very interesting boat you've got there. Does it have a V'd bottom, or is it flat?

I've been toying with the idea of building another one and that just might be the new design

Mike

[BlueH20Boss]

i really like the arched hartop....it creates vents for some ventilation and that flat boxy center would be a perfect place to mount a spotlight for those early runs. Nice setup, and tight lines.

Kevin

.....edit* i said all that thinking there was glass in those windows, but there isn't ! Even cooler. I love open hardtop boats like that, reminds me of a shortened eastern shore crabbing boat. Sweet rig

[The Codfather]

i really like the arched hartop....it creates vents for some ventilation and that flat boxy center would be a perfect place to mount a spotlight for those early runs. Nice setup, and tight lines.

Kevin

.....edit* i said all that thinking there was glass in those windows, but there isn't ! Even cooler. I love open hardtop boats like that, reminds me of a shortened eastern shore crabbing boat. Sweet rig

The top is really unique, and the ventilation is pretty good. Had it out in 8' steep swells today and barely got any spray. Its a V-hulled craft with big strakes. There IS glass in all windows except the aft two you so can stick your head out and see. I've been in some really uncomfortable boats that were hard to see from, but this isnt. Its a winner. The arch does a good job of shipping water and creating standing room, but I cant mount rod holders off it.

[The Codfather]

You cant' catch Yellowfin inshore, they said. You have to run out to the banks, they said. I guess you'll show me.

After going 0/3 and watching my slip mates come back with up to - 200! lbs of mahi a day, I was getting kinda stressed. Nobody likes losing. These guys fish for a living and I fish for fun, so they kinda need it more and I wouldnt even know what to do with 200lbs of fish so I wasnt too jealous, but I was getting sick of wasting gas and walking past the gangway empty handed.

Trolled north to Orote Pt, fished in the shadow of the cliffs for wahoo, rounded the point and instantly wished I hadn't. A north sea hits the reef north of the harbor and makes for some large, steep waves that roll down the breakwater and past the point. Doing 8kts in 10' chop isnt fun. Waves with a period of 4 seconds feel like jumping of a 1st story windowsill every 4 seconds. Coming off a crest and just falling into the trough like it's a hole in the ocean. No spray, but its very hard to keep my balance, and I dont have alot of time to be messing around on deck, cause the waves will knock the boat off course and before I know it I'll be running over my own lures. I have to get everything set-up and free of problems BEFORE I round the point.

Followed the breakwater north, about 100' off in 300' of water. Halfway up the shotgun (way back lure in the middle) (think of the spread like a W) takes off and starts going sideways. WAHOOOOO! I turn the boat side-sea and AWAY from the breakwater, throttle down the idle and grab the rod. Because I still have to steer to keep us heading in one direction and the lures from tangling, and I cant stand up in this sea I sit in the rotating drivers seat. Planting my feet on the deck gives great leverage too. Somehow the hoo gets to the boat without tangling the other 4 lines, and as it gets close I take the cover off the gaff and hang it on a rod. Holding the rod with one hand a quick scoop and the thrashing stick of teeth lands in the boat. Average sized, 13lbs.

A pass through that area again and Im on my way back north. Hit the reef and decide that I've had enough of the incessant pounding so I turn the boat around, head on back south. SAME SPOT I got the hoo the shotgun takes off again. With 12lbs of strike drag even the hoos cant make the reel do more than rattle. It was whining like a jet engine spinning up. After I slammed the throttle and whipped the wheel over the place the boat in the stable position beam-to, I picked up the rod and marveled at the fish's cease-less ability to remove line from reel. A rock? Possibly, but Im not moving that fast. A Giant Trevally? Reef donkeys dont move that fast. A sailfish or marlin? It hasnt started spazzing out yet. A 60lb wahoo? Possible...

I came to my senses and put the full 24lbs of drag on the reel to the fish. Now the rod was starting to be hard to hold. Next time you go to the gym, take a 20lb barbel and hold it at arms length. For 15 minutes. Without a harness, thats what it feels like. I still got good leverage from the massive rod belt meant for 25-50lbs of drag, and sitting down. The fish certainly wasnt going anywhere. Finally it slowed, and then stopped, leaving me with just a few hundred feet of line on the reel. Where is this thing? Its got to be hugging the rocks, and deep too. I still wasnt far from the breakwater, and I didnt want to lose this fish to a coral head. I put the beef to it and started to gain line. 10 minutes later the fish was still no-where to be seen.

Color behind the boat! Oval...and yellow! Yellowfin Tuna! A good one too...exhausted from the first long run, and not having any chance to recover, the fish slid alongside where I quickly put a gaff in its head. Bled and on ice. 16lbs, actually about average but what a strong fighter, I was a bit tired and my arm hurt!

Nothing else that trip. Tried for the Chamorro Triple, 'Wahoo, Mahi and Tuna' but its wasnt to be. Tomorrow is an afternoon trip back to Orote, but this time I got a guest! At least if I dont catch anything I got someone to listen to me *****.

The rest of January is going to be pretty barren. ONOs getting laid up and having some Outriggers put on along with some minor stuff. I gotta start getting ready for marlin season in May. Hopefully I get out for a night trip for swords too. I need a bucket harness, custom 50lb standup rods and reels, a drift sock and some other small things. (Outrigger, GPS card, extra fuel tank)

[SeaBiscuit]

Another fine installment in the Codfather chronicles! Congrats on the wahoo and yellowfin. Still lures only?
Good luck with the boat upgrades and keep on catching and reporting!
SeaBiscuit