Tuna virgin questions!

[Snakebite]

If I was offered an open seat on a trip to tuna town, what would be expected of me in the way of contributing? I could assume a lot, but would appreciate some education here.

[bait boy]

Your share of gas and ice, a good attitude and being able to cope with seasickness(if you get seasick at all). Check with the seat provider on required gear if any. must of us have been bitten hard enough we could outfit 3 boats with our gear. Knife wielding skill is always handy but not neccessary... food and drink for the day and maybe a snack to share?

[Reel Creel]

Dont Go !!!!

Life wont be the same after that day...

[San Anita]

Thats good for the first trip. My favorite Doc Hos usually make me breakfast, buy and load the ice, pack my lunch, do all the bloody work, polish all my crome , wax my boat and buy me new rods and reels. Of course after they finish a tuna trip they want to do all this to go again.
Just kidding, Good question, A tuna trip can cost a total, espically with fuel costs going up and depending on boat type $250 to $400 split between the tuna slayers. I have burnt as much as 100 gallons of gas in one trip, actually that was the trip Bait Boy was on, and dock prices are no bargan. Ive never had a complaint and they keep coming back, you will enjoy.
Bill

[tracker]

Attitude! Attitude! Attitude! That will go a long way in cementing a trip for you the next time. Because you will want to go again. Like has been said jump right in with any work you see going on. Don't sit there because you don't know what to do. Watch a tuna being carked then start on your own. If you mess it up, don't worry! You tried and on my boat that is worth a lot. Fishing for tuna is a team sport more than any fishing I have done. Work together!

[Bait O' Eggs]

Depending on if the boat you go on has a drinking problem or not will affect the biggest expense, which is fuel. :tongue:

I know for me it around 40 to 60 gallons for a long day tuna trip, I like to fish 3 but 4 is not out of the question. Ice prices have not spiked up like fuel, (knock on wood) and I usually take around $40 in ice.

The hard cost which are split for me would be around $50 for fuel depending on how much we burned and current pump price, and another $10 or $15 for ice.

Show up late and you will probably find a trailer in the parking lot and no boat I wont wait for you and if I did, you wouldnt want to be around me the rest of the day anyway.

If you get sick, I will feel bad for you, but I will not return to dock unless your heaving convulsions endanger one of the other crew that still wants to fish, and if I can still see land I will assume you can swim that far. Puke over the rail and dont make a mess in the boat. Suck it up and either fish puking or go find a corner to be miserable in, hopefully the radio drowns out your moans. If I get sick, I hope you dont hurt your neck when the boat does the immediate 180 and heads for dock

I have a plank and am not afraid to use it, it only takes a couple minutes to install.

Bring a sharp knife, their will be some carking to be done when you get back to dock. Dont forget the gallon ziplocks for fish.

Dont expect me to rush back to dock so you can meet the wife/girlfriend/significant other (scratch that last one, if you have a significant other you wont be on the boat with me anyway ) for gift shopping and antiquing. I know I like to leave dock before it gets lights, and I have been known to come in after the sunsets. The new radar justs moved up dock time, and may have extended the days length on the other end so you had better bring a lunch, or plan on eating what we catch if you get hungry.

Every boat has their own routine, I know I will have enough gear and tackle for the boat for all, the crew loves to bring their own stuff. Most of the stuff that comes on my boat that isnt mine, is way nicer than my Penn Senators That doesnt mean I like to fish your gear, or even think its an advantage to fish your gucci gear. I will have mono top shots on to an exact length. I can look at how much mono is left on the reel and know where the gear is in the spread. If you dont have the same, I wont know if your lure is 80 feet of 150 feet behind the boat Your braided line will blow laterally in the wind more than my mono topshots and your fancy rod/reel probably just cost me 30 minutes of fishing time as we cut the sleeves off the sweater we just knitted.

I dont plan on sleeping during day, I know there is a couple hours of running time getting out, its dark and cold and damp, you didnt sleep well last night either because you were partying at the turn around, or you were just plain anxious to get out and couldnt sleep. If you want to sleep, remember I may or may not see the crabpot we are about to run over. One of those commercial ropes in the prop may ruin both yours and mine last day on this big rock. I will be just as tired as you are, suck it up.

Bring drugs on the boat and I will throw you overboard, no questions asked. I wont be drinking beer, and neither will you, so dont take up valuable room with something we are not going to be using.

Expect to have some fun, be very tired, and expect to start looking at salty boats for sale not long after the first trip. :tongue:

[northriver1]

DO NOT forget the extra set of CLEAN jeans and T-shirt for the ride home. Your wife or friends will thank you for your kindness. Tuna has its own smell one you are soon not to forget. If you have a back brace bring it and use it. Tuna fishing is fun but long and very exhausting. It will be a great experience but it can be alot of work.

[KillerBeee]

I just loved what you had to say BOE! That was awesome. It pretty much sums up how I feel every time I take someone on a trip!
Well spoken!
Beeeeeeee

[Snakebite]

Hey! Thanks folks! I was mostly concerned about how much $$$ I was going to have to save up as I'm on a tight budget (my little skiff trailor can attest to that if it could talk). I've proven to be puke proof with over 100 trips out on the pond in a variety of vessels and conditions (OK, I thought about it once after watching others get sick and inhaling diesel exhaust fumes at the same time, but I decided it wasn't worth it). I'm a bit marginal on gear . I've carked my own dock bought tunys and have several sharp knives, and I'm very good at keeping them that way! I have a ton of boating skills and make a great team player, and I have Marine survival training to boot. Safety is not to be scoffed at! So, I'll have to start saving my pennies and keep my ears on when the tuna water heads our way. THANKS!

[Pilar]

R.O.F.L.M.A.O!!!!!!



Roy, you are the man. Gotta remember what that plan was like. I was there once but somehow got domesticated.

As a kindness to the new guys I have decided to take only one at a time. This is so I can surround them with first rate experienced crew to learn from. I may not be so keen on Virgins this year as I am interested in turning the typical trip as practiced by so many into something new.

Your first day at sea should not include a sunset followed by a sunrise. So I will most likely miss the guy wandering around the lot looking for Roy's trailer. And I'll miss the last light trip back in. What was said by all regarding costs is relevant and obvious to the quality people this group attracts.

Bottom line is talk to the host and get the dope on what you need to do and what to bring and expect.

On my boat anyone hungry for saltwater fishing knowledge or who is TUNA! curious is welcome unless we are doing the bleeding edge overnight thing. Prolly best to go to the experienced guys for that since we are all doing something new when spending the night on big blue.

Great thread. Bait of Eggs you forgot to mention fire fighting skills specializing in homemade fish smokers.

[Hooked on Fish]

Wow BOE, well said. You can fish on my boat anytime. We only have one small difference: I agree with everything you say, and I take a firm stand on all of these with my fishing trips. However, if the wife wants to go shopping, I can assure you I'm headed back to the dock. :grin:

[Mark Mc]

Remember folks...and we go through this every year...it is technically illegal for a private boat owner to require payment (for gas or anything else) as a condition of going on a trip. It must be voluntary. Now, as has been said many times, if a person doesn't contribute he may not get asked back again.

Don't shoot the messenger; I didn't write the law.

Stay out of court & out of jail.

[kamloops]

That's perfect.

I would add;
1.) Don't ask questions to the captain at 3am in the Ilwaco Channel.
2.) Never dissappear when the boat backs into the slip, if you need to use the faculities hurry back to the boat, grab a mop and start scrubbing something, anything...
3.) When you bring gear, stow it away somewhere, nobody needs to trip over gear bags strewn about the ship.
4.) When the boat backs into the slip get your personal gear off the boat quick. The captain is just as anxious to
go home to mama as you are, maybe more so.
5.) If you don't like the way the captain fishes, get your own boat and gear. Don't question the skipper about the
"tuna boil" you spotted at the back of the boat. If the captain was back there and I.D.'d your tuna boil as a bunch of stupid sunfish, no need to yell at him.
6.) Don't pick up the radio and answer if you hear a hail, and most important "DON'T TOUCH ANY ELECTRONICS" UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.

[Boatdog]

That was some classic stuff there, BOE!!! And it's all so true.

Suck it up and either fish puking or go find a corner to be miserable in,... If I get sick, I hope you dont hurt your neck when the boat does the immediate 180 and heads for dock

Thanks for the post

[CATCH AND EAT]

Roy Lots of good stuff here and especially the one about getting back early to go shopping or have a diner engaugement. Sorry, not going to get invited if those stipulations are put out prior. A change of cloths is a must if you are riding back home the same day. I think Ragnar said "tuna cloths are forever".

I've taken a 2 tuna rookies out and expained how things work. Usually not a problem. Important thing is to listen. I don't usually stay out all day like BOE because I like to cross a flat CR bar with the incoming but there are days when the ocean is awefully nice and it is tempting to stay to play.

Tom I thought Ilwaco channel was your favorit conversation peice.

[Salty Walty]

I liked this one best;


5.) If you don't like the way the captain fishes, get your own boat and gear. Don't question the skipper about the
"tuna boil" you spotted at the back of the boat. If the captain was back there and I.D.'d your tuna boil as a bunch of stupid sunfish, no need to yell at him.


I was on a trip with a newbie who swore that a piece of bull kelp was a Sea Otter. "It looked at me! It did! I saw the head move!" "Turn the Boat around, I have never seen one." Hello, We are 35 miles offshore. Sea Otters are Coastal Creatures.

[Flush Release]

If I was offered an open seat on a trip to tuna town, what would be expected of me in the way of contributing? I could assume a lot, but would appreciate some education here.

Your first trip, as you will find out is going to be the least expensive no matter how much you contribute.

It's when you dump 30 or 40K into the addiction that follows is where it get expensive

[Triple C]

I wish it was only 30 or 40k
Like the man said be on time, ready and willing
to help with the associated costs and clean up
after all the fun. They are also right about
never being the same afterwards. How many more
days til tuna time.

[tracker]

I second don't talk to the Captain while in the Illwaco channel negotiating it in the dark and fog! An exception is it is alright to yell out about any obstructions you may or may not precieve. Since I am half blind and deaf, sometimes input is welcomed! When leaving there I have all hands take up positioons fore and aft, port and starboard and watch out!

[id. painter]

Bring humor and exciement, wide eyes ,,, listen and learn. , pitch in where you can .
Upon return from my first tuna boat Capt. experience , eight fish and two guys ,,,, Pilar looks at me as I limp up to the cleaning table . " you, my friend, are now broken "he says "you will walk with a limp forever "
The handicap of actually knowing what its like ....
id. p.

[kamloops]

Absolutely, more eyes the better, crab pots, tow boats & tows, fog horns in lousy weather, channel obstructions but no questions. The only question I want to hear is "can I put on my life vest?" the answer is always yes. Or what's that chain doing in front of the boat? sigh....

[Just A Little Chrome]

As a guest on board I reach to do everything I can to chip in, want to learn everything I can and help to ensure saftey as much as possible by staying alert. I pitch in for gas and most of all I jump at the chance to help clean up at the end of the day. But man I can't tell you how many times I have seen people scatter to this or that at the end of the day without helping in the clean up. Gotta go........

I have new rules for the jet boat that will carry over to the Hewes Craft. When I am capt.

1. I set the schedule and I am inflexible. Including return time.
2. If you schedule a trip with me (recent jet trip) and you call the night before to cancel because the weather forcast is for rain on a fly fishing trip to the Clackamas :shocked: you will never be invited again period. As I recall this same person has been after me a long long time for a trip.
3. Yes I will glady accept donations for fuel.
4. No I will not come in off the Willamette of Columbia to pick you up after your token appearance in the office. And I will not drop you off early.

It's amazaing how little people understand what goes into this boat thing. Not complainig but my advise is that passangers give it all they got cause they 1, didn't have to buy the boat in the first place, do not have to maintain the boat, do not have to store the boat.....and on and on and on......

Wow that felt good.

[kamloops]

Scott

You are the official Captain of that craft.
My all time fav. and most used.
"I got a party to go to in Portland at 6:00pm"

[FASTWATER]

Don't do it man! Stay a Tuna virgin as long as you can!!!PEACE

[Metal Manipulator]

When you yell out obstruction give the location 1:00, 2:00 etc and the distance in yards. Just yelling out Crab bouy with out a location when it is at 2:00 and 200yds makes the skipper jump with out reason.

[TROPHY1]

Feel free to ask ahead of time approximate expenses. They can vary greatly from boat to boat. The Bigger/heavier the boat the more fuel may be used. My 24' Trophy on a Dark to Dark or 50/60 mile out trip can burn 80gal + ice + trailer fuel and I have a 275-300 day. The more guys on board helps the cost yet lowers the fish take home.
A short day on a light boat may only have half the cost. Flat day on a lighty boat works good - heavy boat on a choppy day works better. It's ALL GOOD. It's great you ask now and can plan ahead. No matter what the shared expense is You can go alot and never make one maintence payment.
Enjoy

[crabbait]

Tell the skipper what you see, not what to do:

"Log at 10 o'clock!" not "TURN RIGHT!"

Let the skipper decide how to react.

[Billfisher]

I was on a trip with a newbie who swore that a piece of bull kelp was a Sea Otter. "It looked at me! It did! I saw the head move!" "Turn the Boat around, I have never seen one." Hello, We are 35 miles offshore. Sea Otters are Coastal Creatures.

That WAS a funny one! I only remained silent 'cause the guy can give me a Mohawk for my next haircut if I laugh too hard!

[Tacklebuster]

I guess I take a slight different approach.
I try to make the fishing trip a little bit different of an experience than a private has at boot camp. I really like taking people that have little to no experience in the salt. I like to stay pretty flexible cause I want them to have a good time with lasting memories. If it is myself and a few "regulars", I like to go all out. I say that but you really don't go all out cause the "regulars" that I fish with are cut from the same mold as me. I try to be less of a drill seargent and more of an instructor when it comes to salt water virgins. I want them to have a great experience, not one that is intimidating. I do have an open discussion the day or so before to ensure we get all the details discussed. If all parties agree, it's time to go fishing

You know you have a winner and potential regular when the guy shows up half an hour early, jumps in with both hands helping with the launch and pre fish warm up for the day. Doesn't feel they have to try and strike up a conversation when things go quite for awhile, and works hand in hand with the skipper at days end when it's time for the real work to begin without being asked or told to do so. Guys/Gals like that are hard to find.

Fish on

[OceanBlue]

You know you have a winner and potential regular when the guy shows up half an hour early, jumps in with both hands helping with the launch and pre fish warm up for the day. Doesn't feel they have to try and strike up a conversation when things go quite for awhile, and works hand in hand with the skipper at days end when it's time for the real work to begin without being asked or told to do so. Guys/Gals like that are hard to find.

Fish on

Oh, we're not so hard to find.

[ron m]

The boat is mine and I'm the captain, but I give the crew a chance for input unless it's a decision that has to be made immediately or one about which I feel strongly. I want it to be fun for all of us, sometimes I get a kick out of a newbie and their reaction to a fish, sometimes even more of a kick than if I get the fish myself.

There is a wide range of capability in what crew brings and a wide range in eagerness to do things, also a wide range in what they are willing to contribute for expenses. That's not surprising, there is a wide range of people in everything. I guess if I wasn't retired and could only go on weekends, I'd be more likely to have a set crew, but 'cause I can go most anytime, I often post open seats. I've enjoyed meeting all the folks I've take, but of course thee are some I'm more eager to take some again than others.

It is a good idea to establish some things up front, like no alcohol or drugs on the boat.
ron m

[Bait O' Eggs]

Very few things I enjoy to do, I use the "laid back" approach doing. Must be my personality.

There are big boats to catch rides on, little boats to catch rides on and some boats in my opinion nobody should be catching a ride on

On each of those boats the level of enjoyment you will experience will vary depending on how you like to fish.

Find a boat and captain that suits what you want in a trip.

Sgt (big toe) Hulka

[tracker]

I have not been on a ride with BOE but I envision one of those Roman ships where the guys are rowing and another guy is cracking the whip to keep them going. "Crack" "Get your back into it boys, the tuna grounds are only 30 more miles."
:grin:

Seriously though, I bet he has more that want a ride than don't! He's the first Salty dog I met. And in Salty Dog fasion it was in the middle of the night in Depoe parking lot, while a bunch of us were talking (what else) fishing.

[Tacklebuster]

Very few things I enjoy to do, I use the "laid back" approach doing. Must be my personality.

I used to approach my passions (fishing and yes fishing) the exact same way. Hardcore, balls to the walls, etc. I loved it, problem was, my wife, and daughter didn't really enjoy it as much that way. It was when I backed off to a more laid back approach I noticed my family taking more of an intrest. Besides, I really like to take my daughters and wifes friends out. Their not really that much into the Captain Commando thing Besides that, I was in the Army once :grin:

In retrospect, I catch just about as much fish on the latter approach, meet more enjoyable people, and actually found I enjoy it more.

To each his own

[Woody]