Rarely have I made the run down from Richmond without some glitch-- Blown tire,winch problems,starter or tilt motor failure,and of course the most common problem-- The weather man. Once I even had a "new" water pump die at the Rudee Bouy.
Fully prepared,I left Richmond with my two younger sons, at 0230 full of anticipation as to what we might find at the Canyon,after Still Thinking's weekend report. In the water at OC and ready to head out at 0430 we were seduced into a change of plans by several boats at the ramp --- indicating catches of Bluefin and Yellowfin at the Fingers.
So started at the Fingers , and were entertained by big bluefish going airborne trying catch the trailer squid on the spreader bars.( interesting that they didn't attack a single lure with Ballyhoo). Worked the area hard thinking there might Tuna around the Blues-- Nada.
Decided to troll toward the Canyon-- and had a single knockdown about a mile from the fingers- didn't come tight. Sterile water for the next ten miles.
At the tip of the canyon, Sam was popping the flat line out of the clip for a lure change when we had another swing and a miss. While Sam was expressing his frustration (in language that no 16 yo should use in front of his father-although the reverse happens frequently), the dolphin came charging back and swallowed the same purple feather/squid strip. Mark made quick work with the gaff and we threw the skunk off the boat! Nice Gaffer.
It's now 1100 and we are hearing Seduction and Eva K talking about the good Tuna bite going on all morning-- that has just shut down. For the next 5 hrs we worked the north wall ,south wall ,mouth, lobster pots and all around one very large whale with no takers. Lots of sharks--one very large hammerhead that we got right up on,
Around 1600 and with most everyone else headed in we decided to head back to the Fingers to see if we could at least find some big Bluefish to give the boys a tug. 1700 ,Trolling aimlessly across the mouth of the fingers( yep -- my fishfinder has stopped marking anything but the faintest bottom trace.) we are startled by an explosive hit on Don's B/W minibar-ballyhoo followed by another knockdown on a B/W islander-hoo.
The fire drill is on. Mark 's on the first rod. Sam refuses to take the second rod-- as they have decided that they want me to have a chance( It's my birthday). These fish are smoking and sure not pulling like bluefish. On my rod with spectra I can really feel the head shaking which I don't recall on prior fights with tuna and I don't feel the telltale tail-struming of the line. In no time I realize we are in trouble-- Too many lines out, no one really running the boat, and someone talking about what Tred Barta would do!! Sam's doing his best to clear lines ,but Mark is already tangled and my fish is on it's third run . I'm trying to figure out what I've got on and how to tell Sam how to position the boat, but I can't figure any maneuver that would help me and not hurt Mark's chances. At this point I just want to see these beasts- after all we already have some meat. Maybe we passed over some structure and got into some AJ's. These are definitely NOT BLUEFISH.
Now I'm tangled too and all efforts to uncross lines are conflicting with efforts to keep on the pressure. Mark's fish pulls off, but despite the disappointment, he recovers quickly to lend Sam a hand, and I am now gaining. The Islander chain is in view and with several more cranks the unmistakeable body and finlets of a tuna at least 4 ft long. With hands on the leader and the tuna starting to circle just feet out of gaffing range, the fish surges aft and somehow tangles the line that I'm tangled in, with the outboard. IT'S GONE. Immense Disappointment followed by self- recrimination and then a bunch of finger pointing at and from every direction.
While I thought it was a large yellowfin(as did Mark) Sam was sure it was a bluefin and wasn't sure it was as big as I thought( Which really hurts considering that Sam is the one given to exaggerating size) Oh well, truth is that even with leader in hand it was not close enough for final id , measurement,or the grill.
Tangles undone, lines out, and feelings repaired, we tried to reproduce the successful factors that lead to our hookup, but I think we were trying to be too scientific and forgot to be "aimless" .
Finally gave up at 1800 , Back in Richmond 2030. All that travel time-- lots of time for reflection. I enjoy charters, and they often put me on fish better than I do, but there is nothing more gratifying to me than doing it myself-- my boat my crew etc.Bonding with my boys,staying out late, Gorgeous day, Big ending, no disasters, turtles sharks Whales and enough screaming drags to make me want to get backout as soon as this sore skeleton permits. 55 years of fishing and I got as excited as my kids . Maybe that's the point.
On the way home Sam told me he was sorry that he hadn't been able to get me a birthday present. WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING? Never had a better one.
Well I've got to go do some research on new fishfinders. Hope to try again Fri or Sat. Bob

One of the best writeups I've ever read on here......outstanding day my friend....nothing like screaming drags and screaming kids....good job ....now get back out there and getem again !......Bob

great job. You had to enjoy the weather and a beautiful day out with your boys reguardless.

Great story, wish i was there.

One question, how did you get from Offshore to Richmond in 2.5 hours?

I need a faster boat.

That was really good reading. I had the Tuna Fever for awhile
now. After reading that it's 10 times worse. Making first trip with new boat
soon.

Ray

Great report!!
Tight lines.
Dave

good job injoyed reading
thanks

Great report and congrats.

We almost ran over some lines of a Fountain, if that was you, we apologize. Totally our fault not paying attention to the road while recovering from a multiple hookup.

Great report! I love reading theses stories. Yours was one on the best I've read. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Kent

Hey Mike -- Yeah that was us and our wwwwwwb bird/green machine-- perfect opportunity for me to try a different trolling speed. It was good to see you out there and hear that you were so full of fish that you didn't feel the need to deep drop for tiles. We haven't met, but it felt reassuring to be that far out with other boats that we feel we know from the board. Glad you had a big day. looks like Saturday is shaping up to be our next best opportunity.
BTW I heard you talking about marking bait along the 100(?)f line at 50 feet. This was at a point that My sonar had given up in anything over 100ft for the third time and was pretty much useless even at the Fingers .Ive sent it back to lowrance three times now. So I'm ready to move on. What fishfinder do you run, and how do you have your transducer mounted? (I'm on a trailer) Thanks/ Bob

Sorry those fish didn't hit the deck...you'll get 'em next time. Still sounds like you had a great time!!