James, Les, Marty.....Royal Star Tuna Photos !!!

[Mark Mc]

OK here ya go. There are quite a few...I'm gonna put them in 2 or 3 posts at the top....might take a while.

#1 James with 248 lb Yellowfin

[Mark Mc]

Reserve for more


Les pinned to the rail....







Mag Bay sunset

[Mark Mc]

Marty...

[Boatdog]

Holy Moo Cow Batman!!!

[Mr. Fisherman]

More more more!

[CATCH AND EAT]

It is painful to view posts like this. Although I love this kind of pain. More please.

[Hookset]

Now that's a fishing trip of a lifetime!! Wow, those tuna are impressive, I want some of that!!

Was this a long range tuna trip out of San Diego?

I'd like to read more about all the particulars....logistics, required tackle (you or they provide), license, expenses...

What a perefct way to start a new year. Congratulations on a spectacular trip!

Gregg

[bassin]

I want to go next year. Great job guys.

[Spoonplugger]

WOW!!!!

[id. painter]

loss of wording .
id. p.

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

Absolutely Killer!!

[wthr4d]

they certainly do loose that chubby football shape when they get bigger dont they!!

paul

[jacksalmon]

I know that someone will know the answer to these questions, so please fire away. I was just curious about how many pounds of filets these guys ended up with or what might be an average number of pounds for some of these long range trips and how much it costs to get the filets prepared by the crew of the long range boats. I think I saw somewhere that the trick to getting the fish home is to rent a trailer and ice the filets down regularly for the trip home. What kind of trailer are we talking about and how much does that add to the cost of the whole trip? I am just trying to get an idea of how much additional cost one could expect to pay to go on one of these. I can figure out on my own the cost of an extra freezer in the garage to keep the filets once you get home. Thanks for info provided.

[tracker]

Well lets see! Hog and Keta had to get a bigger trailer than they took down because it weas too small. And I remember they said they took 5 days of constant carking to get the job done. Not sure the crew does anything more than get your tag on it and get it stored below. You take care opf the fish when you get back to the dock. There are canneries there that will process the fish for you and I am sure hog will chime in here soon and fill in the gaps.

[Seelicious]

WOW!! Those are amazing fish!

Great pics & hats off to you guys for an awesome adventure!

The "A-Team"...could be front runners if they enter the tournaments...the early line from Vegas has them at 3:2

[FINZ]

That would be a trip of a lifetime.

Thanks for sharing the updates and photos!!!!!!

[blubeast]

Amazing....

great pics... thanks for sharing.

[KillerBeee]

That just blows my mind! Fantasy Island stuff for sure. One day when I grow up I'd love to catch one of those.....
Beeeeeeee

[5-Cents]

Sushi as far as the eye can see!

[Metal Manipulator]

OH MY - my arms hurt just thinking about it. I don't care I want to go. :grin:

[Booja 1]

Jacksalmon,

Some of the boats have the RSW system which means the fish come back to the dock as if you caught em yesterday, real fresh, while other boats have the brine freeze deal where your catch comes back as popsicles. The Royal Star has the RSW sytem so no thawing of fish beforehand is necessary. The amount of fish one keeps is entirely up to you as the average size of fish kept on these trips have been around 150-160lbs. Most guys on our trip kept maybe 2 fish and donated the rest. If you want to donate your fish, they come right to the boat so you don't have to mess with em. Another option is to have em filleted and vac sealed, around .75/lb. They put em in 1-2lb pkgs. When you catch a fish, you tell the deckhand if you want to take the fish home or have it processed same day or the next day. They mark the fish by clipping the fins accordingly. Figure on 50-60 percent of meat off a whole fish.

Just one fish when they are this size is a whole lot of meat, but I'm sure you have or will have a whole lot of friends once they hear of your success.

BTW, rumor has it that Keta already has a 230, 243 and 270 onboard...............and the bite continues.........

[Freakwater]

Just awesome guys!

BTW, rumor has it that Keta already has a 230, 243 and 270 onboard...............and the bite continues.........

Hope he gets his 300#er!

Freakwater

[tomictime]

SHOCK & AWE..for sure

Let's rent the whole boat next time...please.... :smile)

I am thinking I need to get in better shape, much better shape...

JD

[wthr4d]

okay the question I have that I dont hear anyone asking is how much do I have to save up to afford a trip like this?

Paul

[Mark Mc]

How important is it for each of your kids to attend college?

Seriously though, the trip prices are all published on the web. The big variable is the gear. The way to keep the cost down is to rent, and borrow as much gear as possible.

If you start putting together your own collection of 50-sized lever drag reels, and all-roller rail rods, and filling them with 130 lb hollow core spectra, it gets into the multiple-thousands real quick.

[wthr4d]

so with a 10 day trip running around $4k, how much does rental gear cost?? (its not on the website from what I could see) Also am I right in calcualting that with a 10 day trip and a 50% yeild of meat, youare looking at well over 1000 lbs of meat coming home with you?

paul

[OSUfishing]

That will definately make a lot of fish tacos. Truely a trip of a lifetime, congrats guys!!! A trip like that has been on my list to do before I die, and to see those pictures makes me want to change it to trip before I am 35!!! Might have to throw in the big boat, big fish dvd tonight,just for good messure. thanks for sharing!!!

[Hooked on Fish]

My God, I had no idea the Tuna got to be so big. These are awesome pictures. Thanks,

[HiouchiMike]

I want my kids to finish college so I can go. The big question is how long the best ever YFT cow bite will continue? Maybe they can put education on hold one semester. No, wife would know.Better yet, save 20 buck a day,rent rods and 1 year from now. Ooheee
Best photos I have seen of epic bite. Thanks Marc Mc for efforts.

[Booja 1]

This year the 10 day trips were of course off the charts and not to say it won't happen again next year or the year after, but just to put things in perspective, the cow pasture isn't so generous most years. Sure they get some but usually a 125lb fish is a good one on a 10 day trip. For the best shot at these trophys, a trip of 14 days or longer will put you in the zone. Our trip was basically a 16 day trip, called a fly down fly back cutting off 6 days of travel to and from San Diego. Keta is presently on a 15 day trip. They stopped in the area we fished off Mag Bay which is a 2 day drive from SD, fished for a couple of days then proceeded to go 2 days further. Now that's 4 days of straight traveling coming home uphill but the upside is they WILL plug the boat. To consistently have a shot at the bigger fish, a longer trip is encouraged BUT it does mean more time off from work, longer travel distances, more expensive, longer time on the boat. Just some things to consider. I think folks will have a different mindset after this year and might lead some to be dissapointed if they don't get a fish over 200. This year is going to spoil all of us badly.......... :smile:

[Salty Walty]

Watch out Popeye there are some new cowboys in town.

[Freakwater]

Curious when you guy planned this. Did you book it recently knowing this was a bomber year? Or was this a year in the planning?

Thanks,
Freakwater

[Booja 1]

Well we were very fortunate in that our trip is an annual charter, we knew the chartermaster and he allowed us on his trip otherwise you have to go on what they call an "open" trip. We asked to go on this trip Dec 2004, as usually the same guys go every year so you have to get lucky to get onboard. We just got lucky fishing turned out to be as good as it is. We knew at least 6-8 guys on the boat before the trip and that's always a plus, everybody on this trip is well seasoned and very very helpful and forthcoming if one has any questions. I'm sure with the 10 day trips being so successful, they will be filling up quickly, you obviously never know how the following year will be, you just book it and make the best of it..............

[Flush Release]

From the RRIII 1/27/06

Report: The boat is now at Hurricane Bank they arrived there Thursday at about 6;00 in the morning and the fishing has been GREAT! We are hitting nice schools of 120- 275 lb tuna.

Today's top fish/ Anglers so far is a 275 lb tuna caught by Kirk Agnitsch he is followed close behind by Ed Schhenstra now has a 270 lb and then we have Lee Putman who not only has a 270 to tie but also has a 243lb and 230lb under his belt.

They have also had about 20 wahoo on Thursday and another 16 today so for those of you who were crossing their fingers for some tasty Wahoo looks like you'll be getting some.

[HOGGEMIN]

As Booja1 stated some of these trips are book anually and are filled up for years and they do offer a waiting list. If someone should have to cancel. The trip Keta and I are doing next Nov. through Charkbait is already filled with 4 on the waiting list. To answer a question about gear rental Lee got use of a 50 wide 2 speed for free but I don't know how much gear is for rent. the new top shots were incredably cheep on the Red Rooster III. and gear wasen't that baddly priced. As Mark stated when U are supplying all your own gear it can really add up just ask me how much I have spent in the last year.......... :blush: :blush: :blush:


Well James, Les, Marty Looks like U had the most awsome trip and I am very happy more guys got to get in on this fishery I am hooked now and will try to do this every year.

[Duckwheat]

Where is this at? And how much does it cost to go?

Duckwheat

[El Shaddai]

Thanks Mark for posting the pics for us.....we have another 10-15 fish pics to post once we get all our pics together....and Les' (the biggest) is yet to come...

Like anything else, you can do the trip on a shoestring or do it right....the average cost will be around 6K per person...this will cover the trip, processing, tip, gear rental, the flight down and a few cold ones.....most of the trips are out of San Diego.....ours is a private charter so we have a lot of pull with the skipper...we did a fly down AND fly back option from Cabo....which saves lots of travel time....we ended up with over 4,000 pounds of YFT on the whole....we donated most of it to a mission....we ended up bringing home 500 pounds vac sealed...

Loosely speaking we were fishing Lucentia Bank....south of Mag Bay and north of Cabo....this fishing is great....a total adrenalin rush...but it's not for everyone....after 10 days on the boat I was ready to see my family and I talked with them every day on the phone....so I have my fill for now....or should I say until next year... :grin:

[Hanapa'a Time]

Again, well done fellas

Another epic LR

Someday

[northriver1]

Six bills, that is some serious coin. But as they say, tuna; priceless. Looking forward to seeeing the pictures and stories.

[Smily]

Wowwwwwwww Great job on the pics. I specially love the pic with the gaff job where none of the gaffs are in the loins.

[Reef Diver]

Absolutely Awesome
Congrats
Note to Self: Must save some Serious Coins
RD

[Mark Mc]

Two last pics of our salty dogs....just to keep us drooling....

Mr James


Mr Les a.k.a. Booja1 a.k.a "Big Rice"

[El Shaddai]

For those of you keeping score at home....count the number of gaffs in each fish....the picture angle does not do Les' fish justice...it was much bigger than mine....I have never caught a 4 gaffer....I'm aimin to fix that soon.... :grin:

[Marty]

Anybody notice James pinned to the rail behind the pic with Les???

[Freakwater]

All right... I'm signed up for the RRIII 10 day trip next Nov. My question is in all the pix everyone is wearing the low rider gum boots. Are those Avets? Do you have to have these to be cool? Can you land a YFT without them? I'd hate to show up and be "That guy with the knee-highs".

Freakwater

[Booja 1]

The reels are Internationals,,,,,,,and heck yes you have to wear exactly them kind of boots or else you won't get bit. :grin: They are just the reg xtra tuff deck boots rolled down a skosh,,,,,,it ain't no fashion show out there and nobody will care what you are wearing....unless you cut somebody off who is on a big one, :smile: then they will notice for sure. Way to go on jumpin in on the Rooster.......

Yeah James was hooked up AGAIN,,,,,,,and Marty was the one responsible for finding the biters down deep hooking and landing the first fish of this school and starting the bite that saw 16 fish landed with 12 of em being over 200. One of em being the 324lb monster that was easily the jackpot on the boat,,,,,,,whatta fish.........

[Sublime]

Truely Awesome, Mark!

[Hanapa'a Time]

James, Les has that look like "that's only a three gaffer" Buddah head/big rice power

Your turn this year John

[El Shaddai]

Let's just say after seeing Sato and Nishi get 4 gaffers I was relieved to see Phillips...a hakajin (sp.?) get one as well...if it was all bhudda heads in the jack pot we would never live it down....

[Hanapa'a Time]

Rice power, eeeetaaahhh :grin:

You'll get one

Lee(Keta) has been putin' some #'s in the boat too

When's your next trip???

[northriver1]

Is there a secret society out there that I need to belong to? I hate to be on the outside looking in.

[El Shaddai]

This fall....3 amigos again....this time a bit further south...

[Big Billy]

How many gaffs did you start out with and many did you end up with? Incredible pictures, turning green while writing this WOW

[Mark Mc]

ttt, just to get us through.....the next 60 days.

[Chromaflage]

So, there is a dark side to Yoda.

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

Long range cows DONT count

Small boat standup giant tuna fishin rocks