After 2 great trips for Tuna on the 1st and 3rd I'm on hold for the weekend due to a mysterious grinding noise in the lower unit when I turn the wheel. The boat has just over 100 hrs and is still under warranty, but I won't take a chance just because I want to fish.

Anyhow, we scored with YFT east of the 22 fathom finger on both days. The fish seemed to turn up their noses at the ballyhoo, choosing instead to annihilate the cedar plugs spaced 30 to 40ft behind the transom. The funny thing about it was that on the first day, we would see a large school of rays on or near the surface, which was followed by a hit every time. I will be sure to search for rays near the surface in the future.

The water temperature was just under 80 and we trolled at 6.5 to 8 knots. Aside from the mechanical problems on the second day, I was finally having success this year. I hope to be back out as soon as my boat is again ready. I look forward to seeing you all out there again. Why do the boat gods plague us when the action is this good?

Glad to hear you are getting into fish. any particular color of cedae plug? Sorry to hear about the mechanical problem.

Just when turning, sounds like the gimble joint.

Should not be a big deal even if not under warranty. Ask if water was getting in, that joint should not fail for a long time unless water was getting in, probably throught the drive bellow. If it effected the joint it then also might have got throught the seal and into the gimble bearing. Have them check that also.


Eric

Sorry to hear about the boat, but may be its a mirror problem and you'll be back on the fish right away. Thanks for the info on those tuna. We saw a school of rays around the Fingers too that weekend...never thought to troll by it.

One cedar plug was pink and orange and the other was green and yellow. Both were skirted. Good luck out there.

Thanks Eric. Hopefully it will be only a minor problem so I can get back to slaying tuna the way nature intended.

Thats too nice of a boat to be stuck on land getting repaired, in the middle of summer. Send the mech a case of beer.

I'm going nuts waiting for my boat to be repaired. I might be out of luck for a week or two. I hope it's a quick fix. I'll be sure to take care of them for getting me back on the water quickly if it's possible. This is the prime time for tuna and I'm missing it. Thanks for the compliments on the boat. Your Albemarle isn't a bad ride either.