Tuna is good

Pilar · 10-10-2002, 07:11 AM

But none for the last chance gang yesterday. Corrirod pulled one longfin to the boat with a pink and white Zuker.

On 'Pilar' we burned gas and punched holes in the Ocean. I also confirmed a few things I already knew about the Columbia River Bar. It is a changeable thing. On the low slack tide outgoing crossing we had a pretty bumpy ride just off step. No surprise there, it is often really bad from the middle to the end of the ebb and can persist for an hour or two after low slack.

The surprise was that it affected the Ocean for 15 miles west of CR. Once out of the influence of the river the Ocean was pretty. Small swells and an occasional big one. The ride in was almost glass ocean conditions.

But no charlie ... we looked and looked. There were birds, porpoises, but no charlie. The water at Uglygreens mark was 57. We went on from there down the N46 line and got to 59 degrees but the clock sent us home.

Great party, sorry I was late. I'm really sorry I wasn't up all night carking tuna.

[ 10-10-2002, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

Marty · 10-10-2002, 08:25 AM

The thrill of the hunt was about all we got also. Lots of porpoise feeding on big anchovies or sardines, but the tuna were not where we looked. We crossed the bar with Corrirod about 5:30 and it was DARK and bumpy and the ocean was not a friendly place and even when we got outside we could only manage 12 to 14 knots until about 11:00 am, when it started to lay down a bit. The ride home was full bore. We brought Mr. Luck with us (Uglygreen), but the tuna were not in the area that they were for his bloodbath on Saturday. We saw a couple of jumpers and may have had one short strike, but that was it.
Although, it looks like it may lay down again on Monday. ??? BUT, if I can't make it out again I have salute Mr. Corrirod, the man, the myth, the legend for possibly catching the LAST tuna of the season.

Marty

corrirod · 10-10-2002, 08:54 AM

Thanks Marty but no salute necessary. We worked our ___ off for that tuna! All said I think at our farthest point we were out about 45 miles! And to boot, the tuna was just a baby...12-13lbs maybe.

Oh well, it was a blast though. Especially crossing the CR bar in the dark with some pretty good size swells! Due to a poor spotlight my partner decided to climb on the bow and catch the action from the front seat! I bet I could charge $100 a seat just for that ride alone! :shocked: Not sure which was more fun, Depoe Bay in complete fog or CR bar in the dark! :grin:

Pilar, thanks for the demo on the last trip regarding bleeding the tuna by stabbing it in the bloodline. Because that tuna got 12 bags of ice to himself......he came home half frozen and hardly any bloodline....which made for some great sashimi! My 4 yr. old daughter tried some sashimi for the first time and loved it! Just goes to show you........

Tuna-holism is Genetic!

Thanks for the company Marty!

Uglygreen · 10-10-2002, 09:02 AM

I have to second that...

Corrirod, after much trial and tribulation during the easy days of summer, nails the last fish of the year on October 9, 2002.

Pilar, Salty Dogs forum guide, tuna fishing afficinado, and Ifish Tuna mentor gets skunked. :shocked:

Marty, old pro from San Diego with lucky first year rookie Uglygreen on board gets skunked. :whazzup:

Corrirod, FORMER tuna charity case comes off the bench and tears one last fish away from the clutches of the unwilling gods of the sea. :grin:

Who would have thought? Great job Rod! You da man.

Hows the new little one doing... well I hope.

UG

UG

Pilar · 10-10-2002, 09:02 AM

Rod, you can thank Mark Mc for that tidbit. It's on the board somewhere, an essay on making Sushi quality out of your albacore catch. Very specific on killing, bleeding, gutting and chilling.

The bleed part once tried will become your M.O. it works way better than any other way I've seen.

Thanks Mark!

12 bags of Ice! Rotflmao!

We pitched 300# of block and cubes and brought back about a pound of empty Ice bags for our trouble.

I'm glad no one was following us they would done the titanic on the icebergs I was tossing into our wake on the run in.

wak'm&stak'm · 10-10-2002, 07:31 PM

Hmmmm.....Either I am seeing things OR...the sst is changing and there is better water forming out of Depoe bay.
I see a good forecast for Sunday....hmmmm... I was heading south on my first day off after graveyard (Sunday). But if it pushes in more and the ocean looks like it does now. I and my son are going to run out there.

You guys get a thumbs up for your couragous effort....way to smoke em Rod.

Marty · 10-10-2002, 08:47 PM

Wak'em

After our last futile effort from the Columbia I told myself that I had made peace within my soul to the tuna Gods and that this would be my last trip of the year for tuna, but then I woke up..........looked at the SST pics like I do every morning..........then looked at the NOAA forcast and lo and behold the itch came back........slowly at first but after a couple of beers at lunch I felt the urge to maybe try just ONE more time if all the elements line up and the crosshairs are centered just right. I can't go Sunday, but we need you to go out and find em...............give us the numbers and then I will go Monday..........I really need one more blood bath to hold me over the long winter months.

A friend called this morning and said he heard that a couple boats went out of Depoe got into them pretty good in 57 degree water. Thats all I know and I will try and confirm. But you have to admit its lookin better.

Find em and Grind em

Marty

wak'm&stak'm · 10-10-2002, 09:21 PM

Thanks Marty...The ocean sure laid down today.
After sitting out most of Sept with a broke boat...I am ready.

I did catch 4 chinooks in the yaquina.....but they were boring.......boy I even sound like a spoiled brat to myself.

I will post the results....

Pilar · 10-11-2002, 06:16 AM

Whuuuuaaaat?

Wak, are you serious about Depoe Sunday?

I'll postpone winterizing the 'Pilar' if you are. UG has raised the bar and Corrirod you can't have the last fish!

Not if I can help it anyway. Now I just have to find somebody to run with. Wheres those tuna nerve pills at anyway?

Miss B Haven · 10-11-2002, 07:07 AM

Waaaaaaaa....... :depressed: Still some water just beyond the 46, 125 (SW of it - bout 60 deg), but the foreliers just aren't backing down from that 25 knot, 5 and 5 for Sat. The outer bouy is already lumped up and it's blowin 20 knots.

I just can't do Sunday/Monday either.
I'm going to poke my nose over that bar Sat AM just to make sure, but I don't think it's going to happen for this Tunaholic till next year. Looks like some more Crab in the Captains freezer this weekend.
Everybody have a safe trip if you go Sun/Mon, get em'.

wak'm&stak'm · 10-11-2002, 08:07 AM

Pilar..there is a little lump this morning but no wind on the beach yet. I just filled my deer tag (3pt) this morning...the season lasted 45 minutes this year.

I am serious and will decide if all conditions are go Saturday. Everything is ready, all I need to do is grab some ice.
I hope for a good look at the temps today or tomorrow.

Lets stay in touch.....I want to go drag a jig 300yrds behind the boat real bad.

corrirod · 10-11-2002, 08:28 AM

I knew you guys couldn't just let it sit in your craw all winter that I caught the last tuna! :grin: LMAO

Go gettem guys! Are we going for a record or something...perhaps the latest caught tuna? :tongue:

Gotta admit though, I'm rooting for the rookie! Get'm Wak! :grin:

[ 10-11-2002, 09:28 AM: Message edited by: corrirod ]

Salmonator · 10-11-2002, 09:01 PM

Wak, outside the broke-down boat it sounds like you're having a pretty good year...

10-11-2002, 11:39 PM

:depressed: WAAAAAAAAAA!!!! :depressed:
I don't wan't to go back to KF on Monday morning :depressed:
I WANT TO TUNA FISH

Hope you all get to fish and do better than on Wednesday

ROFK&C

wak'm&stak'm · 10-12-2002, 06:50 AM

I was happy with it...the final count was 70 tuna in the boat. Next year is going to be killer...I hope.

The ocean looks pretty darn good this morning.

Pilar...were you going tomorrow? Did you see the warmer water buliding in from the northwest. There is 57 degree water 15 miles out..Hmmm????

Pilar · 10-12-2002, 08:43 AM

Dan, there is a shot from yesterday that shows 57-58 right NW of Depoe Bay. Then west of that it is a 54 degree wasteland clear out to 45 125. Nothing higher than 58 tho.

Forecast for Sunday is ok at daylight but windy in the afternoon.

Maybe we'll get another sat shot this afternoon. Reports I got 3rd hand said fish 30 miles west of Depoe in 58 degree water a week ago.

What do you think Wak?

wak'm&stak'm · 10-12-2002, 02:54 PM

The ocean looks better today than it has in a month.

I see the new temp chart, and it is moving south and the cooler area is closing up. What sticks in my head is the Marty said last year they caught there last fish in 55.5 degree water.
I have a feeling there are a ton of fish at tuna town...that break has been there for sometime.

I am going to go.....it maybe my last chance....and I have a good feeling.

I will send you a picture of the ocean right now via email.

I dont get home from work till 7am, and I will be in Derpoe by 7:30

I am going to go tie jigs on right now, and I have a handful of the secret tuna traps, that Marty gave.

We're in em....

Pete · 10-12-2002, 03:34 PM

Watch the wind! This morning it was terrible at Astoria ... 4 foot breakers all over the estuary.

wak'm&stak'm · 10-12-2002, 04:00 PM

Still a sea of glass down here. I know they were calling for the easterly today in the gaps....must have happened.

Packed ....jigged ....and ready....one stop for gas...and we are off.

I am planning for Tuna town....but there is some water building in on the Pilar61 spot.

10-12-2002, 04:08 PM

Pete,
Those breakers were closer to 48"! :smile:
Glad I got to meet you, wish we were able to get out.

Pete · 10-12-2002, 04:12 PM

The reports and forecasts right now are darn peaceful ... why don't the weather gods coordinate with my schedule before they unleash?

wak'm&stak'm · 10-13-2002, 10:32 AM

Well you were smart to save the gas. We ran to the 61 stop and nothing...the water was pretty blue but 34.4 degrees....so we headed to tuna town....it got a little choppy and slowed us down to 15mph.

This mornings sst didn't look as good even out to 54 miles. So we turned around at 42 Mile (53 degrees) miles and called it quits.

There are lots of salmon being caught 6 miles out, but I didn't bring salmon gear.

I am off to Medford...good luck guys.