WWWWWWB = WTF - ????

[C-Duck]

OK, tuna season has hit high gear quickly from Hatteras Canyon to Hudson Canyon. That means the tuna tournaments are upon us as well. We fish several tournaments, but personally have never done the OC Tuna Tournament...Why?, here's why...every hump and bump within 100 miles of OC is covered by boats (that is not the problem, you'd expect that) with everyone fishing the infamous Way Way Back or WWB (this is the problem). I am told that some guys will dump 3/4 of an 80 wide...that is an ass load of line behind a boat...and all you hear all day long on the radio is..."...watch my way backs...hey centerconsole, turn to your port, turn to your port, turn, turn...you mother f%#@&*...."

Now when you are not in the tournament, to listen to all this is somewhat entertaining, I will admit.

But I say what gives? The definition of way back on our boat may be 150 yards. To expect someone to be able to avoid a line out 400+ yards seems a bit much to me. Sure it is inconsiderate for one boat not to respect the other boat's spread when manuvering, but is it not also inconsiderate if someone has lines out hundreds of yards???

I am sure I will hear, "...well the ONLY way to consistently catch big bluefins is to fish slow and WWB". I call BS on that. Two years ago, we were fun fishing during the OC Tuna Tournament, mostly by ourselves on the Porkchop, becuase for some reason no one thought any fish were there and everyone was fighting up on the Hot Dog or Hambone. The radio chatter was some seriously classic stuff. I believe the limit at the time was two "overs" and one "under" bft. So everyone in that tournament was fishing WWWWWB to get their two over fish, maybe get an under, and then head out to the canyon to finish their 5 fish limit on yellowfins or eyeballs, etc.

Well we put out our typical "tuna spread" which we troll at 7 knots and nothing is out futher than 75 yards I'd bet. We caught a double header of "over" fish (104# each) and a yellowfin. Sure luck plays into all of this too. But I guess what I am trying to say is...Are WWWWWWWWWWB lines really necessary? Do you really believe that you will catch more fish that way? Bigger fish? Or perhaps you are just following a fad?

Sound off...(but don't act like I just ran over you WWWWB...)

Curtis Campbell
Reel Estate Sportfishing
Ocean City, MD

[Big Jay]

Depends on the conditions. I agree with you. I tell this story all the time.

Back about 5-6 years ago we had a "super secret spot" that produced BFT's for us every year. We trolled nothing but GM's, feathers, cedars and some daisy chains. No more than 50 yd's from the boat.

Then last year, we caved into the whole lobster claw debacle. Low and behold, our SUPER SECRET spot was about .75nm off the claw.

During the early morning hours, we run our WWB no more than 100 yds. Simple as that. No need.

As for the fleet? I REFUSE to fish near the fleet. Simple as that. BFT are finicky, no need to fish an area with 90 boats droning over their heads.

[snowranger]

Curtis, I think some boats take way back fishing to the extreme and it is a royal pain in the ass to manuver with a way back and around boats with way backs. That being said, it works. It may not be necessary, however, I can tell you every over I have caught in the last 4 years (on my boat and others) has been on a way back. Might not be 500 yards, but at least 200.

[MAKO19]

400 yards is alot. Our WWWWB is maybe 200 yards MAX. but I am tempted to run one further once we get an 80 Tiagra on board because hands down it produces and I don't care what anyone says. This is a great thread for Capt. John of Caveman Sportfishing to reply to. First word of advice would be to get the heck away from the fleet. Not sure why these people would be fishing WWWWWB in a fleet when the object of the WWWWWB is to get the bait way away from the boat.

[LONGFIN2]

It doesn't work at all. If you're going to fish the OC Tuna Tourny don't use the wwwwwwb at all never no sir

[92 feet down]

200yds. MAX for us. Works like a charm.

[mako1]

We fish our WWWWB's around 600 to 700 yds back....works great for us.

[Big Jay]

400 yards is alot. Our WWWWB is maybe 200 yards MAX. but I am tempted to run one further once we get an 80 Tiagra on board because hands down it produces and I don't care what anyone says. This is a great thread for Capt. John of Caveman Sportfishing to reply to. First word of advice would be to get the heck away from the fleet. Not sure why these people would be fishing WWWWWB in a fleet when the object of the WWWWWB is to get the bait way away from the boat.

Didn't Capt. John recently say that he doesn't fish his WWWB's as far as he used to?

You are spot on about the fleet. Fishing WWWWB in the fleet is like spitting in the wind.

[marlinrojo]

Way backs do not work at all. I fish all my rods with the swivel at the rod tip. So I have two at 30 feet, two at 20 feet, and two at 10 feet. When not tournament fishing I sometimes and two more rods and put on 50 foot leaders But still Swivel at the rod tip so the fish can't see them. Works Like a charm for me and I normally outfish the fleet

[NightHeron]

The people happiest with wwwb is tackle shops please dont ever stop. This is a problem every year this will be the same this one too. Some people consistantly produce this way why would you ask them to stop. No offense to anyone but we all fish differently. Just so you know i dont run any WWWWB but i dont fish that often anymore. Only times are tournament and in fall. I try to stay busy making lures so you can fish.