SPOOLED - Any ideas?

Longfin · 09-16-2002, 01:07 PM

Fishing on the Hookum sunday out of Depoe Bay we were 35 miles NW and found beautiful blue water and cooperating fish. Were about ready to call it a day had 9 large 20-30 pound albacore and were trolling to the east heading home when our middle rod up high on the rocket launcher started screaming. We were fishing this pole about 90 to 100 yards behind the boat way beyond the other 4 lines. the metal head tuna jig was slammed by something and when I got the pole into my hands the fish was still stripping line. While my two fishing buds were bringing in the other lines I told them we better chase this one but we didnt and 900 feet into the spool the line broke at the backing. This fish did not give me one chance to get him headed the right direction with 50 lb. spiderwire. It was like a freight train. We headed home with something to think about all winter. After considerable deliberation we concluded it was probably a big tuna (50+). We had just boated our biggest one of the day a few minutes earlier at about 30 lbs and we saw active large fish finning in the area. Any other ideas? One guy at the cleaning station thought it might have been a blue shark. I dont know but Ive never had a shark run 600 feet without stopping.

corrirod · 09-16-2002, 01:16 PM

So far the Blue sharks I've caught all dove to the bottom but didn't really run anywhere, even on my salmon rod.

I think we're going to all have to start bringing some heavy gear so we can figure out what these Phantom fish really are! That or treat every "screamer" with extreme care and try to get a look at him.

Deepslayer · 09-16-2002, 01:41 PM

Maybe it was "Bill"!!!!! :shocked: :shocked:

Longfin · 09-16-2002, 02:09 PM

Were definitely going to use heavier gear on the far back pole from now on. This fish did not sound it was going straight out away from the boat. I thought at first it might be bill but didnt see five lost poles streaming thru the water. Any other ideas? Bluefin? Mako? or?

Popeye · 09-16-2002, 02:16 PM

Rod,
Like I said in one of my other posts, I'm bringing out my Penn International bluewater rig next trip (hopefully Sat????) they say they'll be done with the new gear by then

Bruce

MasterCaster · 09-16-2002, 02:39 PM

"I thought at first it might be bill but didnt see five lost poles streaming thru the water. "

Oh that was good!

thanx for the laugh

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

Pilar · 09-16-2002, 03:46 PM

Are we up to 5 rods now?

Is this fish white and have a peg leg stuck in its mouth?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"...This is what ye have shipped for, men! To chase that white whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of earth....What say ye, men, will ye splice hands on it now?
I think ye do look brave.", Herman Melville, 'Moby Dick'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great quote Moby .. thanks for letting me borrow it.

[ 09-16-2002, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

wak'm&stak'm · 09-16-2002, 08:00 PM

You guys crack me up.....Bill will be a legend for years to come.

Hamachi · 09-17-2002, 02:57 AM

You guys shouldn't be trolling less than 80lb on a 50 class reel for this very reason. Probably a bluefin or much bigger albie - I've seen them in the 70lb class off Morro Bay.

Even if you're only into 20lb albies you want to troll with the heavy stuff.... if that jig fish comes unbuttoned it takes off with the whole school following it. :depressed:

One thing for sure - it wasn't a blue shark.

Uglygreen · 09-17-2002, 05:10 AM

That day I lost the pole with Pilar, I would have at least had a chance. Shakespere tidewater 5.5' rod with Penn 6/0 senator with 80# mono and 130# leader on the Tuna Jig. This is the same rigging we use to tame Sailfish / Blue Marlin in Zihwatanejo, and Yellowfin up to 200 lbs. If the darn rodholder didnt snap. (Note: that problem has been fixed) I know that the drag might have been too tight or the line might even have been wrapped around the tip of the pole, but funny thing... We were already slow... A fish had hit another one of the rods several seconds before, I had cut the throttle, and we were at maybe 2-3 MPH when the rod holder snapped on the other side of the boat. Wouldnt think a tuna could do that at that speed. On the other hand, we never heard the drag make noise, but we were all looking at and focused on the other pole with a fish on, and might have missed it. Hard to figure.... Hmmmmm?

At least you still had the pole at the end of the day...

UG

Pilar · 09-17-2002, 07:21 AM

We had the gear too. A 4/0 with 450 yds of 80# tuffline. Yellow ugly stick tiger.

Fish-on pole holders are a poor second to rocket launchers and must be backed up by a strap tied to the boat.

If 'Bill' does do the yank and crank show we will have at least enough time to see him jump. What should you do if you get hooked up? Chase the fish?

Should I bolt a chair to the deck?

Uglygreen · 09-17-2002, 09:49 AM

I wouldn't bother about the chair... Just make sure you have a belt / belt accessories. As far as chasing the fish, I wouldn't think so. Never had to chase down the Sails or Small Marlin down south.

But obviously, if you are runnin out of line and cant turn the fish, that may be the only option.

I do have a pict of an 1,100 pound marlin that took 27 hours to land on 100 lb mono gear with a 9/0 Penn senator. Don't think well be seein one of those up here. Couldnt bear to kill another fish that size anyway, would have to release it.

UG

tady · 09-18-2002, 09:13 PM

I have two thoughts on what may have spooled you. If you saw large fins around I would suspect a Sword fish, not a Marlin. Sword fish seldom jump when hooked and they can strip off 50# like a runaway train. From what I have read they do exist in the waters off Oregon. A very large Blufin (100+ lbs) would be my second guess.

Tady

Bstnwaler · 09-24-2002, 06:13 PM

I don't know if you have furbag problems on the tuna grounds up in Oregon but down here in California we do...two weeks ago one of the crew of REEL ADDICTION hooked a fish that fought normal for a few minutes then took off on a reel screaming run..lucky we had heavy gear and it was a small bag because it surfaced 75 or so yards from the boat..we got back one gill plate from the tuna..

Pilar · 09-24-2002, 08:01 PM

OUTRAGE!

Welcome stranger. You sound like some of Kurt's former teammates. Tell us more about the Ocean down your way.

PeterMac · 09-26-2002, 09:07 AM

UG,

That sounds like a story that happened about 4 or so years back out of buena vista?

Coincidence?

PeterMac

Sensei-san · 09-26-2002, 09:32 AM

The clue is that the line was further back. It was probably a bluefin. Bluefins will not take trolled lines easily. They are easily spooked by the boat. Most of the boats that boat bluefin in the SF Bay are getting them down deep. Like 100-200 feet deep, fishing as if they are fishing for yellowfin tuna in Mexico. The other technique is to slow troll or fast troll with the lines way back. But you have to be the only boat on the water and it has to be flat. One good practice to do going out to the grounds is to always put out a couple of lines way back when you hit the warm water. One with a big feather and one with a Marauder or Rapala. But if you hook one you will have to back down to get it.