your greatest tuna trip memory

[FASTWATER]

Well I have caught huge bluefin up to 700#, yellow fin up to 200# but the most fun and greatest time I have ever had was off the mouth of the columbia on our last el nino year!!! Mark Charlton who runs the Rubysea out of Warrenton is a good friend of mine and mid september of that year he called me up and asked if I was interested in helping him out for a three day trip,DUH!!! Well all iced down and heart a pumpinWe were off with a couple budds from his church tuna virgins might I add, so the 1st couple days were your usual tuna days good daylight bite with a straggler here and there in between the rest of the day. Well the 1st couple days we had been tacking Northwest and fishing had slowed down so I suggested that we head back to where we had started the 1st day so Southeast we headed> weell 22 miles straight out from the columbia I was in the wheel house and I look over too my port side and bamm tuna frothing everywhere, and I mean the biggest albacore I have ever seen 40 and 50+ pound hogs everywhere, snapsnap, snap their goes the short lines busting 400# gangen line 200# mono leaders like it was 10# test and every other line on the boat just stretched to the max, well this went on to the point of Mark looking up at me and saying well Mister I have had enough, the look on his buddys face was priceless they could not believe we were actually going to stop fishing!!! Anyway I have been on wide open all day bait bites tuna fishing before and after but to me this day with one of my best friends and most beautiful fall days I have ever seen was the greatest memory's I can remember and that is what gets me through these rainy winter days, thanx Mark with all my heart!!! PEACE ON EARTH

[thehunt]

Tuna fishing although the fishing I have done the least, is by far my favorite. I have been only about 20 trips but every one is fun and exciting. My favorite has to be my first. It was the first time I witnessed a 4 hour bait stop and have yet to see a bite that good. I hooked up in seconds on my first bait and after 15 minutes on 15 lb test landed a 32lb. The fishing was as fast and furious as I have ever seen. One after another guys hooking up and others scurrying up and down the rail to give them room. I was a deadhead that day so I spent my time gaffing, icing, and getting hookups as often as I could. The rush of jumpers, blue water, birds and bait are something every fisherman should experience. Thanks for this thread, I love walking down memory lane. I think I will go look at some old photo albums.

[bait boy]

To say I've had some awesome trips would be an understatement. but the one that really stands out in my mind when asked is... A CR trip with Andycoho, Wootersen, and the coowner of the boat Roger.. It is your average Tuna day with most fish coming on a variety of mexican flag feathers. So, were dealing with a quad all on rods and Im waiting for someone to get free to come gaff the fish I'm on and in that beautiful crystal clear azure water I look below my fish and see some of my first free swimmers.. It was a sight to behold to see that many 30-40 lb fish swimming that close together and just out of reach. That was my breaking point for troll fish.

Now I gotta get me some more of that Gucci gear so's I can cast that swimbait or chovie a country mile.. :smile: :grin:

[skein]

Great story. I've fished with Mark (and little Mark) and I think they could make a trip to a wading pool be memorable. At least they would leave ya laughing. :grin:

But my most memorable tuna was the first one in my own boat - just DipSea Diver and I. We were working on nothing more than what we'd learned at the TA meetings and didn't know if we were doing it right or not.

We trolled and trolled, wondering where the fish were. The ocean is pretty big when you're just driving around hoping something will stumble across your offering. In fact, we had all but given up and decided we weren't doing it right and just weren't going to catch anything that day.

Then WHAM!!! The starboard rod went bendo and the reel screamed like a banshee. I mean it was real (reel?) pain.

First time I'd heard the reel go off like that, first time I'd seen a tuna rod buckle, and first bullet for our boat. Can you spell "elation!"

Then of course there's the double we hooked up about 5 minutes later....

Skein

[Reel Creel]

One time last summer we ran in to four pods of Dolphins. For me sometimes the sealife shows are all it takes to make a good day great.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Well I have a lot to choose from but I would probably say the first time I took my son 55 miles out. He was 11 years old and we were prospecting in early July.
We were the only boat out there and we got into a pod of spinning dolphin. What a sight. They were jumping and flipping and playing in our wake. It was better than Sea World. We didn't catch anything that day but it was a lasting memory. My son colored a picture of our boat and us and the dolphin jumpung around the boat. A memory that will last his whole life and mine too.

[djchaser]

Well for me my most memorable trip isn't about what we caught. I was part of Team Just Keep Fishing in the tournement last year and on our trip back in we got to watch two Humpback whales put on the most amazing show I have ever seen.I truly felt lucky to have been there.

[Pilar]

Has to be summer 2001 on the 'Puffin' with Jon and James. We went way out to TUNA! Town and beyond on a solo and it was my first big pile of fish. Prior to the trip it was 10 fish max.

We fished hard, James and I and Jon drove. We each ran our corner of the boat concentrating on getting the gear cleared and back into the water. It was an all day deal. Handlines and rods, singles mostly but doubles and triples. Somehow we found time here and there to cark and ice. Jon was yelling at us to stop fishing and at this point I realized we had a big pile. I think James and I said maybe four words all day. We practiced our art and worked in perfect synchronicity without saying a word.

We ran in to Depoe from 60 miles out. We arrived about dark and later found out we had 3 gallons of gas left in the tank. The cleaning station was closed so we went to the CG side of the bay and cleaned our 39 TUNA! on a sheet of plywood under the headlights of a pickup. James would bring them up from the dock two at a time and Jon and I cut and bagged. Finally at 3 am James seemed to be done. He announced "Hey I found another cooler!" Jon and I looked at each other with crossed eyes. "and it's empty" James added.

When I think of Kazillathon trips this one stands out. Now when the fish start to pile up I think of cleaning fish in the dark and think of getting back in. Doesn't always stop me from plugging the boat however.

There have been many TUNA! trips and I can honestly say they were all special some way. Just seeing the coastline as a purple line on the horizon and the blowhole creature show and killer sunrise in your wake make it something you want to do again.

[hrspowr]

July 4th this year!

My first TUNA! trip on my own boat. I had spent the last few months rebuilding and refitting an older Formula. At last it was time! My wife and I took the trip by ourselves... She has never done much fishing.

We headed out to numbers MarkMc had posted the day before and before too long the first rod goes "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.............."

I will never forget the look on my wife's face when I handed her that first rod.....



We had to make it a short day, we were expected at the neighborhood block party later that afternoon. Imagine their supprise when we showed up with 14 fat Albacore and 20 beautiful crab!



I never would have attempted this without this site and the input from the Masters!!

Dan

[skein]

Awesome pic, hrspwr. That rod says it all. Looks like your wife has the death grip on it, and is gonna win that battle no matter what!

Skein

[tracker]

I would have to second the whales we got to see and the one overnight trip where we had the military playing games and the great big moon that night. Priceless. Often it is not the tuna we catch but the other things we see out there that we remember!

[pnwcoast]

My first TUNA! trip with LQQKASTER, Zodiac Fisherman, Woody and Tracker "Tuna Warrior" early July out of Depoe Bay.
What a fine boat and a great team to get hooked up with for my first time.
Oh and the outriggers going off and the stand up rods bent over hard with fish on, and doubles and the triple, oh man what a great trip!
Hope to get on board again this year for more great fishing.
To be alive is to hear reels screaming on the "Just Keep Fishing"

[tracker]

You have a ride if we can get "hooked up".

[pnwcoast]

Count on it!

[backlash442]

Lots of great memories. First trip on my boat, tournament fishing, Central Ca. runs and albies to 60lbs., fishing out of my local harbor and getting tuna which doesn't happen very often. One thing they all have in common was good friends. Very special. It's not the same going out for rockfish or salmon.

[Nalu]

First Tourney Day was hard to beat.

Looking past the breaching whales to Trackers boat was awesome.

I've been there with whales breaching before but...

The whole tourney day, from the shotgun start, to the hours of fishing, (and only a little catching), porpoises playing, to getting halibut as "consolation" prize for those aboard, to the whales....

How can it get much better than the sun getting close to setting, with a bunch of people tuna fishing for charity, and only 2 boats witnessing a life affirming spectacle of beauty......and we're all there because of I-Fish.

I've had bloodier days, but I can't say better.

[bait boy]

That was a pretty awesome sight to behold!!! pulling in and handing off our 2 Tuna, cleaning butts on the back deck of the Sea-J...

Good Times!!!

[Mr. Fisherman]

There were so many quality trips it was hard to pick one but passing on the Tuna thing to my son without catching one was priceless.
I was also changed for life on the overnight trip on the Minaki, I love that boat and the company was excellent.
This vision of the sun setting just makes me smile every time I see it...

Then there was the trip with Woody and Sea Gypsy when we went South to Heceta Banks when everyone else went to Tuna town.... Sweet success and we were all alone. The first trip with the new outriggers and the pucker factor return through the thick fog. Listening to the ****** radio show and having large fich break 300# terminal gear. It was deffinately a trip to remember. Here is a pic of the 1st victim...



Just for clarification the victim was the Tuna, not Woody

It sure is hard to narrow it down to just 1 trip.

[CAPT KUJO]

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS



NOTHING LIKE A BLOOD BATH ON THE BLACK ROCKET!

CAPT KUJO

[tracker]

I cant say that it was a good part when we were done watching the whales and you lit up those two bad boys on the stern and left me in your wake! :depressed: I guess we had a more lesurely trip back in! More relaxing for sure. We had no reason to hurry in and weigh in anything! Still a great day! :grin:

[Seelicious]

Most memorable tuna trip…has to be the first one we ever did. The Sweet Louise is headed west for the first time following the Butcher (my tuna sensei) out to the 125 line. We arrived to find warm, blue water that none on the SL had ever seen before.

We deployed our gear, which was interesting to say the least with all rookies, and after only 2 minutes the first rigger popped and the 4/0 began to sing…picture 5 guys standing there looking at the reel not knowing really what to do…that was us! Finally, we grabbed the rod and eased the drag up…our first tuna…caught by a buddy from Idaho. Fishing was outstanding that day…we had doubles, triples and landed one quad…watching the Chinese fire drill when 5 rods went off and we were not sure where to start was entertaining for sure! We ended up with 20 fish and thought this is “easy”…but then the coil went out on the port engine and we did not have a spare…45 nm back to Garibaldi on one screw at 9 kts…that was a long trip in! We learned there was more to this game than just fishing!

The reward for the long trip was a dolphin show like none I have seen since…hundreds of dolphins in every direction playing and crashing the surface. They were jumping straight up out of the water…spinning around…seemed like they were 10’ in the air! This went on for a long time as they followed the boat east. The crew of non-salties was amazed by this…and so was I! We saw a variety of other marine life that day as well…what an eye opening experience!

The same crew went out a day later and caught another 15 fish in 2 hours…having so much tuna from the first trip, we released all 15 fish! People at the dock and those we later told the story to, thought we were crazy for letting them go…I was sure glad we did not have to cark anymore tuna!

That day pretty much changed my life…like the rest of you…I just can’t get enough!

Peace and happy New Years!

SL

[Nalu]

Tracker- I specifically left that part out. I will admit, cranking up two new motors and heading to shore at 40 knots was the final topper for the day. :grin: I did have a bit of a grin looking astern and asking the crew if they could still see the "Just Keep Fishing".

[tracker]

Oh! Oh that hurts! My 35 miles an hour was good but................. Was great that the water lets us come in that way.

[8knots]

They have all been pretty darn good, haven't they? Even the ones where you fish all day with only a few landed. There is something memorable about each trip.

My first trip in 2001, solo and out 50 miles. Had 6 jigs, three Penn 500's and 25 pound mono. The ocean was a lake and I was fishing in t-shirt and shorts. I caught 10 before realizing I did not have enough storage capacity or ice. The thrill of having two fish on and trying to gaff by myself will always remain a highlight. I was smiling for days.

[Woody]

It's pretty hard to decide. I've had some great trips with great people over the last few years.

Was it?;
My first Tuna on the Sea Jypsea with my son Andy.

Shrimping with Pilar last year.

Back to back trips with Tracker over 4th of July weekend last year.

Heading South when everyone else went North, on the Sea Lion with Mr. Fisherman and Sea Jypsea.

I think the winner would have be the live bait trip I took in '04 with CDJ356, Threemuch, and Taylors Viewpoint on CD's boat, the Mercenary. We had a pretty decent TUNA score that day on the live bait. Fighting those hogs on light gear was awesome. Then, looking into the water to gaff your fish and seeing free swimmers darting back and forth under the boat was pretty incredible. That alone would have made it a memorable trip. But then, on the way back, we ran into a school of hundreds, maybe thousands of Humboldt squid finning on the surface. We stopped and caught a bunch of those on just about anything we threw out. Wow, what a day.

[KeyWest]

2005 was my best tuna experience year hands down. The Albie numbers weren't as high as 2004, but I had an opportunity to fish Venice, LA for a couple of days in February that started the year off right. Flat calm weather, 75 degrees, and lots of tuna:

Venice Day 1:


Venice Day 2:


Work had me in Atlanta most of the summer, so Albacore fishing off Oregon took a back seat. I was back in September, however, and really began learning to fish live bait. The best trip ever was the second day of Tracker's overnight trip off the CR. He called us in on some fish, we shut the boat down and never moved until the boat was full - about an hour and a half of pure pandamonium. There was never a time we didn't have a tripple on (there were three of us fishing). The water was flat calm, crystal blue, and the moment your anchovie hit the water, 2 or 3 tuna would literally bust out from under the boat and fight over the poor thing. We also stopped for a limit of halibut on the way back home. :smile:

CR Albies:




I'm looking forward to a great year in 2006 - although I don't believe a Venice trip is in the cards. There isn't much left there after Katrina.

[FASTWATER]

Keywest some of the boats are back in action and the tuna bite has lite up all ready in Venice one of my buddy's is fishing with Capt Ellis this week and had a good report from him last week of lots of yellows over 100# already showing if I get time off in Febuary I hope to head down!!!PEACE

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

Ive had plenty of awesome memories offshore.
I lost my albinity aboard Cap'n Dan's mighty Searay, baitboy was also aboard the same day. Believe we surpassed the 60 mile mark.


Been fortunate to have spent many a good times aboard the "Just Keep Fishing"
Here is one of the first tuners to hit the deck of "Just Keep fishing"

Here is a shot coming back into the Ilwaco Channel after our overnighter. The ride in was amazing, glassy seas all the way in.



Another amazing trip was the Overnighter aboard the Minaki. There were a few drawbacks, but overall the trip was amazing.
First livebait caught tuna.

Swordie Candy.. Need say more.


Bent rods 4 life!

[Mr. Fisherman]

Dylan, it is too bad we didn't get a pic of the rig that got spooled... the 18" squid with the light stick... That was sword candy in my opinion

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

Ray, Hope your ready for round #2. We'll document the whole thing thru video!

[kamloops]

Round 2

[tracker]

As Dylan has stated you would have to go out in the late afternoon and not fish albies all day. You are just too tired if you fish all day to then fish all night. Just does not happen for very long.

[jigmaster]

In Oregon...a Tuna Trip on the "Tin Cup" with "Kenai" His s..t is tight ...Thanks Mike ......YOU CAN TRUST THIS SKIPPER AND HIS EDWING....

[HiouchiMike]

Taking my son on friends drag boat. Never had tuna onboard. No gaffs just fish picks. Lost lots of gear and landed over 100 albies from 5pm launch at Brookings til next morning troll dwon to Crescent City.

[FASTWATER]

Now those are some hog albies!!!

[HiouchiMike]

Hang on and pick your tuna