Tun~a~lert

Pilar · 05-08-2002, 12:43 PM

Yeah, you heard me.

http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SS...washngtn.c.gif

In just 2 months it will be upon us. About the same distance as the Chicken Ranch. The limit is 25 each fisher, daily.

Dude! I never want to see that many fish in a pile again. Man, what a job processing all that fish.

So who wants to play 'make the reel sing' or 'sink the boat with fish' this summer?

Lets talk about methods, boats and gear. Maybe we can stop the nail biter going on about halibut hill by distracting ourselves.

The #'s for Tuna Town are
N45 00.000'
W125 00.000'

Don't sing it, bring it! :grin:

[ 05-08-2002, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

seasquid · 05-08-2002, 01:19 PM

Pilar, thanks for the link...I didn't have that one. We must be thinking the same, my lunch was a tuna sandwich.

I'll make a tuna run with you this summer -- I run out of Depoe Bay mostly for the 'core, but I have also been off of T Bay and Yaquina some as well. My experience has been you find them a lot closer to shore between Depoe Bay and Cape Lookout.

Is there anything better than a glassy ocean and a school of "jumpers?"

I run rods with a couple of handlines...I know they sound after you hook one, but it's not like I need to catch 100 of the buggers. I can get 4-6 rods out (plus handlines), and that seems to keep us pretty busy, especially as you know, when there is only two of you in the boat. I usually have someone on my bow ready to cast as well.

How about some skeward tuna, with pineapple, onions, red peppers, yellow peppers, cherry tomatos, and mushrooms?

ss

Pilar · 05-08-2002, 02:12 PM

Yes, Depoe Bay is the one. Just don't come back late, the cleaning station closes at 1800.

If this ever happens to you, break out te lanterns and head for the cleaning station on the guardrail on the CG side of the bay by the harbormasters office. It's 24/7.

BTW the charter dock wanted 'OUCH' $3 a fish to clean them.

kenai · 05-08-2002, 02:22 PM

Man, news like this I'm reminded of my dog today, Just happy to be alive on the planet.

Threemuch · 05-08-2002, 02:47 PM

Based on the reports in Socal, the tuna will be here soon. First albie landed 115 miles southwest of San Diego. Two months like Pilar said.

I run 4-6 troll lines plus boat lines sometimes. I can't wait.

What's your favorite color jig? I am torn between black and purple, and zuchinni. ALways have one of each in the pattern, regardless of light conditions. I have caught em on B&P in bright sunlight and on zuchinni when it was dark.

And you know you can't go wrong with Mexican flag. How bout that cedar plug? I have four and bring all my wife's nailpolish to "match the hatch"

Blood on the decks!

KB

seasquid · 05-08-2002, 03:11 PM

I had a commercial guy tell me about using Sassy Shads if you see a bunch of jumpers and no biters. He was right...I use just a plain herring looking Sassy Shad with a 4-6 ounce jig -- a lot like you would use for ling cod -- I was surprised how well they worked, plus if you happen to lose them for some reason or another, no big deal.

I also troll the traditional tuna jigs (zucchinis, mexican flag, and sky blue and white).

Geez, I'm ready to go now. Forget the halibut, bring on those little torpedos.

ss

Pilar · 05-08-2002, 03:17 PM

Red and White works in bright sun. Biggest fish to date for me came in on that, 32#. Zukers makes a silver head, Chartreuse and green that kicks it on a sunny day.

Black and Purple is my favorite by far.

We run 2 handlines 100ft back and 3 standup rods further back. Run your lines in a vee with the middle rod furthest back. Turn alot and don't stop when you hook up.

tailchaser · 05-08-2002, 03:50 PM

I have to admit, Halibut is cool, Tuna are in a class all by themselves. I've got one more trick that not many people use and that's when the wind picks up a little and it seems the fish aren't on top as much, throw some diving plugs out on your rod setups. We run five hand lines and two rods on the outside working a similar V-Pattern that Pilar talked about, but we've almost gone exclusively to large Rapalas on the outside rods. On some days it outfishes the jigs 3-1. Our top fish is now 48#, and we boated countless over 30#, and a dozen over 40 in the last year alone. I'm definitely going to try the sassy shad trick though.

tc

Mr. Fisherman · 05-08-2002, 05:25 PM

:grin: :grin:

:grin:

Hamachi · 05-08-2002, 07:12 PM

I'M READY!!!
Load the gear on the skiff, launch, head to the bait dock to pick up a few scoops of live 'dines. ...wait a minute, I'm not in Kansas any more... Do any of you guys use live bait? Is there any place to purchase it? There's nothing like getting a jig stop and throwing out a handful of bait and watching the water foam...
NOW it's time to fish.

So what's the deal? I'll be launching out of Westport. Do ANY of these NW ports have live bait?

God, I miss Mello Bros.

Tinman · 05-08-2002, 10:54 PM

What is with the handlines guys? Albacore rank among the finest fighting fish in the world...why handline them? Try 12 to 20 pound line and have a ball. They're not invincible on light tackle, in fact they are utterly predictible. One or two blazing runs, a short dash or two, then deep circling. Handlines? Please, somebody tell me why?

Pilar · 05-09-2002, 05:28 AM

Tinman, I agree about the size of the fight in the dog. Tuna are just awesome. Handlines are used with standup gear. It seems that the handlines always go off first, then the rods go off. Also if we leave a fish on a handline they keep striking and the school stays on the surface.

Once we get the first fish we circle and start stacking them up.

Threemuch · 05-09-2002, 05:41 AM

If you guys want to throw jigs at them, they will eat iron and plastic. VERY popular in california. And saltwater guys throw "fishtraps" or "swim baits", leave the sassy shad to billy bob the bass fisherman. Good source for these online is

http://www.tomcodtackle.com/

he has a description of how he fishes em at:

http://www.tomcodtackle.com/TipsAndTechniques.html

Go lighter than 4-6 oz on the head though. More like 1-2. You want the jig to flutter down. We cast one of these back on every stop, "on the slide" on salmon gear. What a kick, albacore on 17 pound line.

Loads of good info here.

http://www.batsford.net/tuna/

click on the tuna guide. It's SF bay area based, but everything still applies up here. I tend to agree about the hand lines, although I have run them. Plugs have their place, both cedar and diving, as do jet heads, birds, and I have told some of you about my chain teasers.

KB

tady · 05-10-2002, 10:06 PM

Hi all:

Looking forward to the Albies showing up. I fished for them quite often down on So. Cal. I am looking forward to trying out some So. Cal. Albie techniques out here.

BlueWater · 05-10-2002, 11:21 PM

Threemuch-
Thanks for the links. I was like taking a class in "tuna 101"
Hopfully we will be able to take them to school later.

BlueWater.

Oh, by the way Tady. Welcome to the Salty Dogs! Why don't you open a new post and tell us all something about yourself.

Matt H. · 05-11-2002, 06:49 PM

Pilar,

I would love to come out with you tuna fishing this summer =). Just name the time and place and I'll be there!

Matt