MARLIN & BRUISER BIGEYE - 2010 Pirates Cove Tuna Roundup Report

[buckeyetuna]

Just got back Sunday night from the 5th Annual Pirates Cove Tuna Roundup off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The weather was perfect and a variety of fish were caught.Congratulations to A-SALT-WEAPON, COUNTRY GIRL & HAPHAZARD who won all the Yellowfin Divisions. You can check out the final standings at www.fishpctournaments.com

There were some pretty awesome catches beyond the Yellowfin everyone was targetting. My brother-in-law was fishing with high school friends he graduated with 25 years ago aboard HAPHAZARD. One of his buddies, who had never been offshore before, caught 2 Blue Marlin on the first day of the Tournament. The released Marlin were estimated at 300 and 400 Lbs. See photos below. Other friends of ours fishing on COUNTRY GIRL, BI-OP-SEA and SEA TOY also caught billfish that day.

Our team was fishing on FIRST CRACK. Our best fish the first day of the Tournament was a 27 Lb Dolphin, which ended up winning the Dolphin Division. However, our big story started on Sat, June 5, the second and last day of the Tournament. After picking up a few more Dolphin in the first hour after lines-in, one of the clips goes off like a gunshot. The 50 Lb set up was screaming line like it had hooked a boat going full speed the opposite direction. Everyone figured a huge Blue Marlin had sucked in the ballyhoo/seawitch combo and we scurried to clear the lines and back down before being spooled. Even after clearing lines and backing down with waves breaking over the stern, the line continued to melt off the reel. Not much was left on the spool when line was finally gained again. After feverishly gaining line for the next 5 minutes or so, the fish took another run nearly spooling us a second time. After that the fight settled down to a tug-of-war where the fish would turn its head enough to gain some line and then turn the other way and melt it all off again. It was one tough Hombre.

For the first few hours of the battle, we did not think it was a Tuna as it took some runs on an angle unlike most Tuna fights. Our Captain, Barry, surmised that we had a Blue marlin that was either hooked funny or tail-wrapped. As my buddy, Dave, fought the fish, there was buzz on the radio about a couple of boats that had lost some huge BIGEYE that were hooked up about the same time as our mystery fish.

Dave spent 5 Hours and 30 Minutes on the fish before we saw the BIGEYE for the first time. Total fight time was 5 Hours and 40 minutes. To our surprise, it was hooked perfectly in the corner of the mouth. It was the longest Tuna fight any of us had been a part of.

In the 2006 Cabo Tuna Tournament, we had landed a 318 Lb Yellowfin on a 50 spooled with 80 Lb test in 4 Hours and 20 Minutes by taking turns with the stand-up rod in an attempt to always apply pressure and keep the fishes head turned ( A techinque clearly within the rules). In that Tournament we made it to the scales with13 Minutes to spare before being disqualified. However, in this Tournament we didn't have to Beat-the-Clock and Dave did a great job on the fish without putting too much pressure on the 50 Lb line.

When the BIGEYE hit the Tournament scale, it tipped to 233.5 Lbs. It was quite a day. Although we didn't do much in the Yellowfin category this year, we came away ith wins in bot the Dolphin and BIGEYE Division while setting a new Tournament Record for BIGEYE. See photos below. Can't wait for the WON Cabo Tuna Jackpot in November!!

[chumslicker27]

Great report and showing in the tourney.. congrats!!!!

[Playnhooky]

NICE JOB!!! One heck of a tuna there!!! WTG!!!

[bobdu11]

aweswome report and great fish....First Crack is always in the money in that PC Tuna Tourney.....Congrats again....Bob

[buckeyetuna]

Bob,

We were looking for you and your smiling boat. Hope you and the rest of the Virginia Beach guys make it next year.

[SeaBiscuit]

One fine looking butterball of a tuna fish! Congratulations to the angler and crew!
SeaBiscuit

[austin ensor]

awesome fish!!!!

[Agitated88]

Excellent report and pictures. Congrats on your crews success!

[buckeyetuna]

I posted this report on another forum and a member who has caught all Tuna species, including DOGTOOTH, states he believes BIGEYE are the toughest fighting of all Tuna. What do you guys think?