Run in with a Commercial Boat

[Marty]

Fished with James on the El Shidea Saturday out of Garibaldi and ended up with 26 fat ones in the warm water 50 miles out. Lots of jumpers, birds, rips and more fish than I have ever seen in October and I think they will be around for another couple weeks if the conditions let us at em again. We were in the area of 45.55 and 124 50 to 125. Water at the edge was 58 and got as warm as 59.5.

We were fishing in the area of a large live bait boat (the kind that chum live bait over the side and then guys in the racks jackpole the tuna over the side). Anyway, after reading other posts about these guys trying to ram us sporty's, we were a little concerned when the 90 footer started matching our tacks. We dodged left, they turned left, we went right, they came right after us. We hooked a fish and had to stop, but the commercial boat kept coming. The guy on the bridge either waved or gave a 'salute', so I waved back............they kept coming. Got to within 50 feet.....put on the brakes and came out to the bow of their boat and yelled "Do you guys want any live bait?"..........We kinda looked at each other and told them it was nice of them to offer, but we didn't have a live bait tank. They called back "no problem we have some 5 gallon buckets to put the bait in". Well an offer that good can't be refused, so we pulled up behind them and they passed over a bucket of the 'kind' anchovies about 6 inches long and cured..........and the bait was so hot we lost a lot of them from jumping out of the bucket. We talked with the skipper for awhile as they were all from San Diego and knew people that we knew. Super, super nice guy. They had 3 guys in the rack and one guy chumming. We watched them pull away from us about a 100 yards.......start chumming and hauling tuna over their heads. We moved away ourselves and found a single jumper........tied on some salmon hooks, dropped 4 baits in the water and all 4 rods go down at the same time. I think we ended up only landing 5 or 6 on the anchovies as they died real fast in the 5 gallon bucket, but way cool to be 50 miles from shore and have something like that happen. Makes me want to have a live bait tank on board for next year.

Just thought I would let you know that you can't always judge a book by its cover.

Marty

[Chromaflage]

What a story, Marty! Based on the reports this year about the commercials being aggressive and seemingly territorial, I would have been a bit nervous about them coming up on ya. A question, though - why do you think they didn't call you on the radio?

That would have been something to see. Glad you got into 'em!!!

CrF

[Spindrifter]

Nice Marty. Glad to hear you got into some fish. Good to hear that your ****** experience was a great one. I for one cringe every time someone posts about a close encounter offshore....goes to show that there are good and bad in every group

[Chrome Bumper]

Can you post the name of the boat?

[Mr. Fisherman]

It is good top read a report like this Marty... once you try live bait everything else is "just filler".
Get setup, you won't regret it.

[ron m]

Nice! We already knew lots of commercial fishermen were good guys, but I wouldn't have expected them to offer live bait!
ron m

[Hoghunter]

Hey Marty, great story. Too bad you didn't have a live bait tank. How was the water out there. It sure was flat at the bar that morning. I seen you guys crossing the bar sometime around 7:30.
By the way I'm Jeff the guy you talked with at Big Tuna Marine on Friday night when you were looking for the moorage spot.

[Marty]

Hey Jeff, I want to thank you for helping us out at the marina Friday night.............couldn't of done it without you. The water was really nice outside and got better as the day progressed. The southwest push started about 4:30 or so and we took off about then. A little bumpy on the way in.........had to slow to 20kt. and at about 12 miles from shore it was a 35kt. glass off.

The name of the boat was the Millie J (I think) ...........a big white boat...........and if anyone sees them in Illwaco (they were heading in at dark to offload), please confirm and maybe even get the cannery they were offloading to, as I would like to thank the skipper again for the gesture and ask about hitching a ride next year. What a hoot to be able to toss albies over your head for 14 hours a day!!!!

Marty

[SPAZZ]

wow, I bet that was an eye opener.
I am glad the just wanted to help ya.
congrats-Brian

[Hanapa'a Time]

Great report Marty

I saw James headed North Friday evening. Noticed the bleed tank on the back and figured he was makin' a run Saturday. I waved as he passed us

[El Shaddai]

Jeff thanks again for the assist Friday night...

[Hoghunter]

Marty and James, your more than welcome. Glad you were able to get Saturday and get into some Tuna. I wish that I would've been setup and ready, as I would've loved to make it out with you. Maybe next time.

I'm going back down this weekend to chase some nookies. But the forecast for Sunday and Monday is starting to look like last Friday and Saturday.

[Onokai]

What a sweeeeeeet story. Glad to hear it. Mark

[RODACTION]

That is a good story, I thought it was going to be one of those.........they tried to run us over storys that gives you a chill.

What a great bunch of fishermen !

[fishboys]

"You can't judge a book by its cover" Comes to mind. Funny how this seems to fit on this forum

[Salty Walty]

Nice Story Marty. I am surprised your crew didn't offer to spell the guys in the rack for awhile.

[BaitStop]

There is a baitboat called the Millie G. It was built by Dick Gaydosh an excellent sportboat skipper that ran the New Lo-An out of Pt. Loma Sportfishing many years ago.

[Marty]

Walt.........it really did cross my mind about jumping ship for a new learning experience in the racks. It would be fun to take a trip with a good guy like that, as that style of fishing will eventually go the way of harpooning whales. Not many people can claim they fished the "racks"

Marty

Baitstop..........thanks for the info and you are right it was the Millie G., but I thought the name of the skipper was Jack something. My mind is going.

[BaitStop]

Dick sold the boat a "few" years ago. Who the new owner/skipper is??

[Mark Mc]

Vessel Name:MILLIE G USCG Doc. No.:554731Vessel Service:COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELIMO Number:*Trade Indicator:Fishery, RegistryCall Sign:*Hull Material:STEELHull Number:004Shipyard
and Address:JERRY A TRUSSLER
*Year Built:1974Hullyard
and Address:*
SAN LUIS OBISPO CALength (ft.):53.4Hailing Port:SAN DIEGOHull Depth (ft.):9Owner:MILLIE G FISHERIES INC
4252 BONITA RD 353
BONITA, CA 91902Hull Breadth (ft.):18.3Gross Tonnage:75Net Tonnage:41Documentation Issuance Date:April 17, 2006Documentation Expiration Date:May 31, 2007

[Onokai]

There are getting to be fewer of these bait boats out there. Fishing the racks is a very productive way to get tuna. Its an art forn to itself. Takes skill as a skipper to keep the boat in postion as there are many factors to keeping the fish at the back corner deck. A friend of mine here in Humboldt bay makes bait for some of these boats on there way up north on some years depending on where the fish are. He also has taught a few local boats how to fish this way. It would be super to try out a trip. Not sure my back is young enough any more for this. The tapes/dvd ( I have the vhs) Tribute to tuna show this fishing in its heyday. Mark

[Mark Mc]

I just did some quick math....

The lift pole is 10 feet long. The butt end goes on a cup similar to a fighting belt. Say you hook a 20 lb fish. If the pole is straight out when the fish is hooked, and the guy grips the pole 3 feet above the butt (so this is the pivot point) the initial pull on the fish requires (10/3 x 20 lbs) or 66 lbs of lift. As the pole swings overhead the load becomes progressively "lighter."

But it's basically like picking up 60 lbs over & over again.

It would be interesting to see the prevelance of back injuries to career bait boat guys (if such a statistic existed).

[Freakwater]

Originally Posted by Onokai

It would be super to try out a trip.

Coolest part is you get to wear a helmet! :dork:

Freakwater

[BaitStop]

That's why the bait boat fleet was characterized as "wooden boats & iron men" in the old days.

[Onokai]

Originally Posted by Mark Mc

I just did some quick math....


But it's basically like picking up 60 lbs over & over again.

It would be interesting to see the prevelance of back injuries to career bait boat guys (if such a statistic existed).

I have spent the last 30 plus years moving boxes of clay that weigh 50# each-8-10 tons a year. That has taken a toll on my back .#60 fish over and over sounds like a young mans back to me. If anyone wants to get into shape for this trip come on by this winter and pack a few tons of these lite #50 boxes for me. I can schedule a 6 ton drop off-thats only 240 #50 boxes. Heck they are 10# lighter than all those fish you will be lifting
As far as potters with bad backs its about 98% on my unoffical poll. Mark

[crabbait]

Say you hook a 20 lb fish. If the pole is straight out when the fish is hooked, and the guy grips the pole 3 feet above the butt (so this is the pivot point) the initial pull on the fish requires (10/3 x 20 lbs) or 66 lbs of lift.

That would only be true of the fish were already out of water, right Mark? I think they get a significant bonus by getting the fish really moving upward while they are only exerting pressure on the "wet weight" of the fish. Let's not forget that the tuna is also providing propulsion by swimming as he is being lifted. By the time the fish breaks the surface they should already have the velocity to continue onto the boat.

[Mark Mc]

Geez Crabby, let's not over-analyze this

I highly doubt that the guy gets any appreciable help at all from the fish. That would be uh...."accelerated suicide" .

[Miss B Haven]

Originally Posted by Mark Mc

Geez Crabby, let's not over-analyze this

I highly doubt that the guy gets any appreciable help at all from the fish. That would be uh...."accelerated suicide" .

Mark- have you ever seen the films of the guys poling 200-300 YFT over the rail? The accelerated suicide statement is so appropo.

[Onokai]

While we are on this topic-I have access to a dvd which is from a tuna tagging run with live bait out in the pacific in 2003 from the ittc??Its got great footage of hundred's of Big eyes and bluefin and yellowfin getting poled in and tagged and released. It also has underwater footage of the lure hits as well . Its something I cannot loan out but can show at the convention if theres any intrest. Mark

[skein]

"If there's any interest..."

Uh... yeah, Mark, I think we could drum up some interest. How 'bout 300 guys foaming at the mouth, hollaring "play it again, Sam."

Bring it!!!!

Skein

[HOGGEMIN]

Yes Mark bring it maybe if I start jonesing for more TUNA I might have to drive down and watch it at your home.............

[Onokai]

Mike Pm sent. Mark

[Onokai]

[QUOTE=skein;1302451]"If there's any interest..."

Uh... yeah, Mark, I think we could drum up some interest. How 'bout 300 guys foaming at the mouth, hollaring "play it again, Sam."

Bring it!!!!

OK I'll line it up to bring.
Now how about some rabbies vaccine for that foaming at the mouth outbreak. I can get some from my vet but 300 does is way to many for him to pass out-we may have to work together to get enough vaccine for everyone. I'm worried that tuna fever may also present and that as of yet has no cure only gets repressed for a brief few scant months of a year. #300 guys foaming at the mouth and also infected with tuna fever may merit the health Dept stepping in?? Mark

[Booja 1]

Originally Posted by BaitStop

There is a baitboat called the Millie G. It was built by Dick Gaydosh an excellent sportboat skipper that ran the New Lo-An out of Pt. Loma Sportfishing many years ago.

Dick Gaydosh,,,,,boy that's a name from a few years ago, he sure was an excellent skipper as is the current owner/operator of the Lo-An, Markus.

Onokai,,,,,I think you have it abit backwards. You gotta start grinding on some 200lb YFT to get your back/body in game shape just to move all your materials around at home for work. Catch a few big uns, then you'll be throwing that 50-60lb work stuff all over your shop.

[BaitStop]

The "Millie G" tied up in San Diego.

[El Shaddai]

I believe his name is Jack Webster...

[Marty]

Yep, thats the boat............how did you acquire a picture of it?? Just happened to have it on your desk.

James..............that is his name......good memory, as my memory has filled up with fish scales and only works when the tide is out or I am 50 miles out.

thanks again for the ride................

Marty

[Foreel]

Mark I've done some calculations...you're making a lot of stuff to sell....gotta to pay for fuel these days...

[BaitStop]

I have a website which I will post later that has many old & recent bait boat photos. BTW here is a photo of 1 of my personal favorites, 1 of the best looking modern bait boats, the Karen Kristie:

[Mark Mc]

The Portuguese bridge......is the sign of a true sea boat.

[BaitStop]

Here you go lots of old & new bait boats, enjoy!



http://wwwtest.astoria.k12.or.us/gal...Name=Baitboats

[fyshndad]

Its something I cannot loan out but can show at the convention if theres any intrest. Mark

CONVENTION???? WHERE WHEN?????