CR Tuna on Saturday! Pictures added

tracker · 08-13-2006, 07:11 AM

Well The CR Dogs were out howling at the Tuna again on Saturday! I thought I had a charging problem with my auto battery switch, so I was behind the pack as we all headed out. Battery problem was nothing it turned out! I think Keywest was the first to call "Fish On" and soon the tuna were hitting the deck all over the fleet. I found the guys shortly after "Keywest" got his fish, DSC is a wonderful thing. It was not wide open, but consistent. I think I had 12 in the box when a non-ifisher that I had met at the dock, called me in on another bite further north. We put another 12 onboard before calling it a day. A Big thanks to Ghostrider for the call. I think we may soon see him posting here.
Husband and wife tuna newbies got a double dose onboard! First tuna and good strong seasickness. Husband worked through it but I did hear the wife say never again. But what did she do as soon as the fish were lined up agaist the boat for the glory shot! She took a picture and emailed it to her co-worker. She may not go again but as the sickness of the sea fades in her memory and the memory of the tuna gets bigger we may find her out there again. Good job to Randy and his wife Dianne, whoops no I mean Hellen, well hel- I thinki it was Kathy. ( You had to be there and see this old memory lost captain try to remember her name) Yes thats it, Kathy. A real trooper, she never asked me to take her back even after hearing Keywesy say he was headed in with a very seasick passenger. I did get a look but that was it!
Thanks to my crew for a great day! Hope pics to follow. I forgot all image catching devices so am dependant on crew for the pics!

So here is the smiling crew after a long day on the water!

Just a note, never stand next to the through hull fitting for the live bait well when it has been used as the bleed and icing bucket all day!

8knots · 08-13-2006, 08:30 AM

Heard you and Ghost Rider on the radio and heard Key West, Bernie and Tom also throughout the day. We started in the area where most of the boats were and then went west and fished a spot by ourselves. Had one quint and several triples. It was never a consistent bite. We would find some feeding birds and get hit hard and then troll another 1/2 or more and get hit hard again. Ended up with 33, would have been 34 if one crew hadn't thrown one bullet right past the bleed bucket and into the blue in his exhuberence. He sure got razzed. We sure had a fun day!

retaliate · 08-13-2006, 08:51 AM

nice work! thanks for the report, how was the ocean? any pic's?

Nordic Sun · 08-13-2006, 09:56 AM

Great Job Todd!!!!

I needed to rest my crew for this Saturday, you know how us old guys need our naps!

Bob

skein · 08-13-2006, 10:01 AM

8knots, I take it the new ride is working out pretty well. Got any pics? What does it feel like to sleep in and not have to leave 12hrs earlier than everyone else? :grin:

Skein

8knots · 08-13-2006, 05:22 PM

Back from the carking party. I don't know if 52 is old or not, but I was whupped today. But leaving at 5:30 is one heck of a sight better than 1:00 in the morning and getting out to the fishing grounds in two hours made me giddy since it used to take four hours. The new to me 25' whaler handled the confused seas yesterday extremely well. I am happy with her. The 9'6" beam makes for a stable fishing platform. She would like some new 4 strokes on the back end instead of the 15 year old Mercs. The Mercs like running fast and they like the fuel. Yesterday's trip was 126 gallons. Ilwaco fuel was now up to 3.56 per gallon.

I snapped a few pictures with one of my crew's cameras, but most of the time I was too busy handling things and keeping the boat on track...my bungee autopilot wasn't quite able to hold us on track. I saw some mighty fat halibut back at the dock from a certain multi-hull boat. Maybe that is supposed to be a secret??

CToy · 08-13-2006, 07:23 PM

Tracker,
Thanks for the guide going out. We stopped fishing about 1pm with 21 fish for the two of us. I did not bring enough ice. Ten fish apiece was plenty. Back at port at 2:30 PM.

CToy

tracker · 08-13-2006, 07:30 PM

That was a good first trip Ctoy! Glad I could break up the waves for you. Nice talking to you out there!

Smoked Salmon · 08-13-2006, 08:07 PM

Sounds like all of you had a great trip! I toiled away at work, banking a few more fuel bucks, waiting patiently

for the OTC.

Plus I haven't finished canning the last batch of tuna.

O Tshawytcha · 08-13-2006, 09:35 PM

Man I hate landscaping!!! :tongue:

Way to get 'em boys!

GRIFF

Something Good · 08-13-2006, 11:08 PM

Had a great time running with the CR pack Saturday. Sounds like everyone found some fish. We boated 37. Found 62.5 degree water at 51x16. We'll do it again next weekend.

CATCH AND EAT · 08-14-2006, 06:47 AM

Had a great time out there Saturday fishing with the pack. Had Royalfish and Second Season on board as crew in pursuit of tuna and fun. Ran past the spot where Keywest dropped gear and put our gear in only to hear Dean radio double and then a quad.

We turned the corner and headed back in toward his numbers and began picking up fish one by one doing some figure 8's on the way to pick up fish.

We decided that 15 fish in the box was a decent score for the day plus the ocean was sporting up a bit so we trolled to within 5 miles of the Halibut hole to try our luck. Gotta hand it to Second Season, that boy knows how to halibut fish.

He fished some macheral bi-catch out of a dumpster for bait and man did that stuff work great. His first fish was as kamloops coined the phrase a "ping pong paddle" of about 20 pounds. He set up another bait for us and it hooked up with a big guy for Royalfish of around 45 pounds (guess). Then I said Treb, you gotta get one hooked up for me now, it is getting late and I want to get over that bar before she gets rock'n to much. Next thing I hear is "I'm getting bit!" "Whooooooooaaaa!!!!!"

He said it is a big one.

Well okay then, I begin to crank on the supposed beast and really feel nothing. No head shake, very little resistence, not even sure there is anything there. I reel fast to see if that would wake the beast and still the same thing although I can tell there is something there. I'm thinking black cod or sable fish, something along those lines.

I have had more fight from an anchovie fishing live bait for tuna.

As the reel filled with line I finally see color.

Get the gaffs boys, it is a decent fish. Treb gaffs the fish and brings it aboard Cool Cat where the beast desides it really is alive and thrashes the deck with blood and slime. I think he also gave a thrashing to Trebs forearm as he was holding it for quite some time afterwards.

Once subdued the fish measured 54 inches on the boat and later before I butchered it I remeasured the beast at 55 inches. The tail span was 15.5 inches. I have not put it on a fish calculator but I am guessing between 65 to 70 lbs. If someone could tell me what they believe it to weigh in at I would sure appreciate it. The fish is bigger than I would generally keep as I have stated in the past but was pretty close so we went ahead and boated it. Meat looks great and will try it out tomorrow night.

Fun day out there with good crew and a great fleet of boats.

Hey Thuan, dude you have got this tuna thing down brother!

royalfish · 08-14-2006, 07:09 AM

Kudo's to Capt Bernie and his Kool ride. A great time had by all. I don't think Bernie remembers in the excitment of bringing that big flatie on board, second season had a tough time lifting that monster, so with a little assistance on the gaff, like my two hands, the beast literally flew out of the water and landed on the deck much to everyone's delight.

It was really fun watching C & E reeling air and then seeing the rod bend, than more air, than bend, air, than color. Bernie's eyes went from a question mark to whoa baby, let's get two gaffs for this monster.
Second Season, It was great fishing with you. You da man for Hali's, let's do it again.
Thanks again Bernie and Kool Kat rocks

Good luck in the tourney this weekend

pnwcoast · 08-14-2006, 07:15 AM

My chart says 55 inches live weight is 82.1 lbs.

bajadan2000 · 08-14-2006, 07:17 AM

Quote:

I have not put it on a fish calculator but I am guessing between 65 to 70 lbs. If someone could tell me what they believe it to weigh in at I would sure appreciate it. :

Here is a scanned version of a chart I keep on my boat. Not sure where it came from or how accurate it is. Just use it for reference.

Bernie,

By this chart a 55" halibut will weigh around 82# if properly measured.

On my boat we measure the fish from the tail to the nose. Not sure how you measure. If you measure from the tail to the swivel on the rod end of the leader the weights may be off a bit.

Dan

CATCH AND EAT · 08-14-2006, 07:27 AM

Measured it to the center of the tail to the tip of the nose. 82#'s

Wow! Had no idea is was that big. Thanks Treb, or is that (TRED BARTA)

SecondSeason · 08-14-2006, 07:50 AM

Well what can I add other than thanks to Bernie and Kevin for the great day in the tuna grounds. I never new what it felt like to ride a live one with that much "vibe".

As for the Halibut WoW Big Bait Big Fish. Only remember Green butts shouldn't be dead yanked into the boat with out a 410 in the back of the head.. :lurk:

Thanks again Bernie. What a time now I only hope that next week the weather holds so I can recreate the crime scene on my boat.

Thanks

Treb Barta

royalfish · 08-14-2006, 08:27 AM

Hey Treb,
I forgot about that wild ride you took on that tuna. Has anyone else tried to subdue a wild fish by straddling that flopping machine between your knees. Second Season was enjoying the ride till he spoke in a very high pitched voice. Said he could have suffered a serious injury of some sort.

Thanks Bernie for helping me cark those fish, really appreciated the pointers on the belly meat.

8knots, that was me you were talking to at the dock while we were unloading. Think you said you were in a Whaler. Way to go on the tuna for you guys. Look forward to seeing you again.

fyshndad · 08-14-2006, 08:35 AM

Something Good forgot (or didn't want to) to tell the whole story

Come on Thuan Spill the beans or I will and I think I can paint a very good picture

CATCH AND EAT · 08-14-2006, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Hey Treb,
I forgot about that wild ride you took on that tuna. Has anyone else tried to subdue a wild fish by straddling that flopping machine between your knees. Second Season was enjoying the ride till he spoke in a very high pitched voice. Said he could have suffered a serious injury of some sort.

Trouble is I think Treb was enjoying it.

SecondSeason · 08-14-2006, 08:48 AM

yeah baby.... if i could package it with that much movement I know for a fact it would sell at certain stores. I would be able to up-size my boat for sure with the money that product would bring in. R&D said that it might be hard to keep that much wiggle going after the knife in the back of the head. Oh well...whats a guy to do.

Report on the arm: One bruise from the big butt. Guess that ok now as I thought a 60pounder was kicking my butt.

Report on knuckles are little stiff from the beating that tuna tail gave me on the deck to.

all fun aside that was real fun!

You guys eating tuna hearts think thats where the macho stuff is. Try riding a 25lb tuna fresh without a stab mark. Now that is macho.

8 Seconds before the fall of the blade.

fyshndad · 08-14-2006, 09:30 AM

I belive this chart came from an Alaska tide book
I have one if anyone wants a copy I can email it to you

Hank
fyshndad@aol.com

Something Good · 08-14-2006, 09:37 AM

I thought I heard Cool Cat had 41 tuna! Congrats on the nice buts Bernie. As for you fyshndad you can make fun of my episode

all you want but you'll have to find another ride out.

fyshndad · 08-14-2006, 09:54 AM

Ok Thuan I will be nice

I sure did enjoy the trip
My only wish would have been for the Capt'n to have been shall we just say A lil more AWAKE

It wasn't until we were almost in before I got to see your real personality and I must say I think you are a great guy and a real trooper for getting us on the fish and keeping us on them.

I do hope to get another invite so as to get to know you better

That was the 1st trip I have been on that we hit so many triples and the 1st trip that I coulndn't keep track of the tuna count

A wonderful day of tuna fever indeed
Thank you

FDB · 08-14-2006, 09:56 AM

Sounds like you had a great day, I cant believe you forgot all your image catching devices, especially uyou of all people!

CATCH AND EAT · 08-14-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

I thought I heard Cool Cat had 41 tuna!

Thuan, I said 41 for the Benefit of Tracker. He likes to hear those high number call outs. So whatever he calls out I just multiply by 2 and it sure is funny how quiet the radio gets when a person does that.

I think it is the quietest you will ever hear Dave be. :grin:

Just ribbin ya Dave.

tracker · 08-14-2006, 12:22 PM

Have no problem with the ribbing. I know I get kind of excited out there!

:blush: But when that excitement goes away you wont find me out there. Just love the challenge of finding those beasts in the huge ocean and then beating anyone at all as far as numbers go. Man aint this tournament going to be great! Talk about excitement! Just was talking to my friend in California and I said I would call him if I placed in this thing! He said I would not have too since he was sure that he would hear me yelling!

tracker · 08-15-2006, 08:09 PM

ttt