Here it is: The Official Ifish Bill Challenge

Miss B Haven · 08-30-2002, 12:18 AM

First Ifish boat to catch a Billfish or ? off the Oregon Coast gets........... Jen - Help me out here! [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Let's figure this out guys. I'm ready. Been playing with the ho's and nooks long enough. Lets talk turkey (the other white meat, as opposed to Dorado or Albi or Crab or Ling or ......)

By the way - how many of you got to see the 600lb 14' Thresher that was taken at Buoy 10 last year? I was one of the privileged few to see it at Sturgeon Paul's. Awwwsummmm feeeesh.

Uglygreen · 08-30-2002, 06:03 AM

Officially - tuna are billfish

UG.

OceanBlue · 08-30-2002, 06:32 AM

Okay, then how about a billfish that actually has a bill?

sturgn · 08-30-2002, 08:04 AM

Keep this open till next summer, I am dedicating myself to offshore fishing only all next summer, and I will be bringing in a Billfish!

Miss B Haven · 08-30-2002, 08:10 AM

You're on ! I know Pilar is in too! I think he's w...w...w...working (dang that's a hard word to say) otherwise he'd be up to his bill (I mean nose) in this :grin:

Jen - We need a prize here !! I think everybodies fishing today

OceanBlue · 08-30-2002, 08:19 AM

Oh Yeah! You know it!

Threemuch · 08-30-2002, 08:37 AM

Any of you guys checked out the striped marlin success rate down in Southern California, where they actually get water temps that can sustain these fish?

Check out
http://www.marlinnut.com

and go to their trip reporter. I assume you guys will be targeting marlin, since a sword is a pretty rare catch anywhere, and I have never heard of a sport caught one anywhere on the west coast in the last 5 years. Plus you guys are surface trolling, and I think most swords are deep baited.

A laudable goal. It would certainly get you in the record books.

Uglygreen · 08-30-2002, 09:45 AM

Striped Marlin is the best bet... we need water temps above65 (preferably 70) for a decent chance if sucess. The latest good SST pic showes such water currently at the 126/45 area, an 80-100 mile run, Im willing to try that with at least one partner boat on the proper day, we need some whole sardenes or perferably macral if anyone is catching them, we sew the hooks into the bait and troll 10-12 mph with at least one large clone (10-12 inches) in the spread.

I know how to do this if anyone is interested in a long range pursuit...

[ 08-30-2002, 10:56 AM: Message edited by: Uglygreen ]

OceanBlue · 08-30-2002, 10:14 AM

Threemuch,

According to the information I've seen, a swordfish has never been landed in an Oregon port. However, they are here.
Check this out

Striped marlin, however, have been landed both here and in Washington. I don't recall who posted the link something like "unusual fish landed in Oregon" but I seem to recall counting about 6 marlin. Recently, while searching the internet for something unrelated (believe it or not) I found a news story about a marlin landed in Washington. I'll see if I can find both of those items again.

Uglygreen: Pilar saw a striped marlin jump when we were out on 7/7 tuna fishing. 25 miles out in 63 degree water.

That's what got the fever about Bill started...

Miss B Haven · 08-30-2002, 10:24 AM

You know, if you see them and can run up and throw a big fat live bait out there, they take it about 90% of the time (based on my experiance in Cabo). :grin:

Uglygreen · 08-30-2002, 10:54 AM

I can see the ******** on the SST pic... LOOK!

UG.

sturgn · 08-30-2002, 01:14 PM

Has anyone seen this boat?? I missed out on a chance at purchasing it by 1 day, may not have been able to, but I sure would like to, if anyone sees one like it for sale resanable please let me know! Its a 34' Crusader with a single deisel outfitted for commercial fishing, but that can all be removed and it sold for $27,000

avid · 08-30-2002, 01:33 PM

What was the asking price? How old was it? TIA

OceanBlue · 08-30-2002, 01:47 PM

Oh come on, Snakebite! Why go to baja where anyone can catch one? We wanna do it here, where no one catches them... Besides, they're here, just begging to get in the boat!

sturgn · 08-30-2002, 01:54 PM

Its a 1986 and the asking price was $27,500

08-30-2002, 06:31 PM

How about catching a fish with "Bill" on it? :grin:

corrirod · 08-30-2002, 09:55 PM

Sturgn,

I found a fixer-upper myself. 29ft. partially finished, and comes with an additional hull mold for a 28' similar design.

Want to get into the boat building biz? :grin:

OceanBlue · 08-30-2002, 11:06 PM

Miss B: Would that we could! If I remember correctly, I was hauling in a couple of charlies at the time, we had no live bait, but we did drive around for quite a while hoping to find Bill again. As you can imagine, the excitement level was extreme.

Uglygreen: I see marlin! They're everywhere! :grin:

OceanBlue · 08-30-2002, 11:21 PM

Ah yes, found it. It was Sturgn's post

[ 08-30-2002, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Pilar's Mate ]

Miss B Haven · 08-30-2002, 11:33 PM

Yep - still here, waiting for my partner to show. Long range boat huh ?? Is 200 mile RT enough ? The boat will do it, just not sure if I can. Sounds like an overnighter. I may be ready by next year. Gotta be one of those mirror days/nights out there. We got about 10 months to figure this out ! [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

I gotta get my flowscans installed too !

[ 08-30-2002, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Snakebite · 08-30-2002, 11:36 PM

Trust me, you folks do NOT want another El nino'
Just go down to Baja and catch one of those things. My Mother and step dad got a great one several years ago. Four people on the boat had to tag team the thing before it succumed to the gaff!

sturgn · 08-31-2002, 05:22 AM

Damn we could make a few Tuna Specials!! Totally outfitted just for long rough runs out of depoe.. Hmmmmmm sounds fun...

08-31-2002, 02:11 PM

corrirod,
What does it have for power and how much are they asking for it?

[ 08-31-2002, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

corrirod · 08-31-2002, 03:28 PM

Keta,

It has a new 460 Ford w/ Hurth trans., and he wants $16,500 for both the boat and hull mould.

I'd have to switch to motor to diesel though I think.

08-31-2002, 03:37 PM

You are right on the diesel. Gas and water don't mix. :depressed: I've seen the results of gas fumes in the bilge and a spark twice and don't want to ever see it again :depressed: .

sturgn · 08-31-2002, 05:52 PM

Plus I have a 460 and it sucks the fuellllll! Deisel lots better, plus simplicity is nice!

08-31-2002, 06:27 PM

Ah I can hear my 353 Detroit rattling now. Not fast (14 knots with a 4 knot current) but excelent fuel consumption. When we salvaged her (from 60' on the bottom of Clarence Streight) my boat had a big block chevy for power and a Velvet Drive reduction gear. I did some work for a gill netter in trade for the 353 with a Twin Disk reduction gear.
We striped all of the interior and wiring out her and cut half of the cabin off (damaged from the sinking). Then we built and installed three fuel tanks, rewired her and put in hydraulics and a pot puller. Not a looker but she fished.

Three years later when I got the money to put a new house on her we hauled her out and put her on blocks. A week later a large spruce tree blew down and centered my boat :depressed: 8' hole in the bottom of the starboard side and 5' hole on the port side. 3 smashed bulkheads and two smashed fuel tanks (50 ga alluminum tanks).

A week after that I shattered my left leg and ended up stuck in the bung hole of Oregon! Or is the bung hole Lakeview? :shocked: