New Ifish Sponsor

Popeye · 02-17-2003, 06:15 AM

I'm constantly reading threads about which charter to go out with, so I decided to invite Captain Mike Stowe, of the BLITZ to Ifish. He is now a sponsor. I know Mike as a personal friend, and can tell you that he is as big a Tunaholic as most of us here! A lot of you here either know, or have heard all about Ken on the Irish. I know Ken as well, and can tell you that Mike is of the same breed. He's a real down to earth kinda guy and has years of experience (which he freely shares). I want to be the first to welcome Cap'n Mike aboard, and FYI; I don't endorse many

Check him out here:
http://www.theblitz.net/
PS: I expect him to drop by the TA Meeting in Newport March 15th.
PSS: His monicker is Albacore Tuna Captain

Cheers.....Bruce

[ 02-17-2003, 07:31 AM: Message edited by: Popeye ]

Kruechief · 02-17-2003, 06:49 AM

Thanks Popeye! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Any one that promotes this site is a good egg in my book. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Welcome aboard Captn' Mike!

Krue

The upchuckin' but still reelin' person who at times will venture out into the big blue wet thingy. :shocked:

[ 02-17-2003, 07:51 AM: Message edited by: kruechief ]

Birdnest · 02-17-2003, 07:07 AM

Welcome Capt. Mike!!!!!!!!

Spoiled Daddy · 02-17-2003, 07:19 AM

I too know Capt Mike and consider him a friend.

He has lots of fishing and boating experience that he willingly shares, plus a great sense of humor. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Welcome Aboard! SD

Pilar · 02-17-2003, 07:25 AM

The BLITZ!, Welcome, tell us a story Albacore tuna captain,

Story, Story, STory, STOry, STORy, STORY!!!

TUNA!

puffins crew · 02-17-2003, 07:46 AM

Welcome aboard, Capt Mike.

I have been out on the Blitz, and had a great time. Capt Mike is a true "salty dog", and a Tunaholic from way back!

Looking forward to a great season.

Peace, Tom

[ 02-17-2003, 08:47 AM: Message edited by: puffins crew ]

edsr · 02-17-2003, 07:59 AM

Hello Capt. Mike - Welcome to the wonderful world of nut-ball tunaholics. If Popeye sez yaer alright ya must be! Hope to fish on the Blitz this year.
edsr

Albacore Tuna Captain · 02-17-2003, 07:49 PM

Ahoy! I've been wondering about getting involved with all you tuna fearing sea farers and have come to the realization that you guys are alright. Anybody who chases tuna have got to have what it takes. I love going after em and will share any insight I have. Actually, I have learned more about tuna fishing from the sport guys than anywhere else. I have done commercial fishing for tuna and thought I knew it all but then I had some close friends tell me what they have learned on their private boats and then applied it. And I'll be darn if I didn't do better. Anywayl, I have been researching and applying every new trick to see what works best. So if any of you have anything you would like to share, I have a lot of info for you back. I believe that the more successful we all are will only help to enhance the fishery.

Now story time. You want to know a tuna story and I have a really good one.

About six years ago I was operating the Sea Venture I for Tradewinds and was on a tuna trip. Robby on the Misty had done real good the day before at about 45 10/125 06. I felt he had over ran the main herd and so I decided to start fishing a little sooner. Since I only run 12 and 18 hour trips, I didn't want to be wasting a lot of fishing time travelling. I also believe that the tuna are always around sea mounts and canyons or steep walls and so you will always find them somewhere close to these underwater geological formations. Anyway, ..... there I was...... I dropped in when the water was only 59 degrees (I always start in 59 degrees. I have found the bigger fish are in the cooler water and always start there) and started towards a sea mount I fish around alot. I had just started explaining to the folks (I had 16 passengers) how to identify when you have a fish on and BANG we had two on. I yelled HOOK UP for the benefit of everyone in showing them how to let me know when one was on. All of a sudden, three more were on and everyone yelled HOOK UP! Not a bad start, five fish on at once. But it didn't stop there. That was 8:00 A.M. and until 11:00 A.M., I don't think we ever went more than a minute without a fish on. By 11:00, I had to stop bringing fish aboard and count the fish (a second time because they came on so fast I wasn't sure of the number). After the count, we had to stop. We were limited. 450 tuna in three hours!! I had customers grinning from ear to ear some even with blood on their teeth! It was a fantastic day!!!

Well, didn't me to be so long but I sure wanted yall to know that story. Anyway, thanks for the warm welcome and I and Diana will see you guys on the 14th.

Albacore Tuna Captain · 02-17-2003, 07:55 PM

OOPS! Wrong date. I mean Diana and I will see you all on the 15th of March. By the way, where we going???? What should I wear??? Who's driving me home???

Mr. Fisherman · 02-17-2003, 11:18 PM

Ahoy Albacore Tuna Captain and welcome. Great story. I hope to have some good stories to tell this year.
I hope to see you in Newport on the March 15th.

Ray

02-18-2003, 06:35 AM

Glad to have a professional hooker on board.

puffins crew · 02-18-2003, 03:35 PM

Welcome aboard,

I saw the pic on your website about that day.

Great story, and I am looking foward to making one of those trips this year.

Peace, Tom

will_e_fish · 02-19-2003, 12:20 PM

Albacore Tuna Captain - Welcome to ifish and great TUNA story! Many great eduacated people studied thought they knew it all then threw away the books and now use what works best!

Good info on your Excellent Web Site and I hope to make one or two of those trips as well.

Pilar · 02-19-2003, 12:33 PM

Albacore Tuna Captain, I totally agree with you about several things.

1) Tuna like structure, even if it a seamount or canyon in over a thousand feet of water. There are a few places I know of that almost always produce fish even down to 58 degrees.

2) Almost everybody drives past the fish. Almost any temperature break in more than 100 fathoms will have fish hanging near it. And the colder ones 58 or 59 degrees seem to produce many 30+ lb bullets.

Great to have you here and I am sure looking forward to meeting you in March.

I'll need a bigger boat to even touch the 450 fish day.

You are the man!

Albacore Tuna Captain · 02-19-2003, 09:23 PM

I have so much to learn about Albacore that I don't even know where to start. When I first got into chasing them, I thought the hand line method was the way to guarantee a large catch. But I have found that the big catch comes only when there is a huge school about and that doesn't happen that often unless you are WAY OFFSHORE and I mean like 100 plus miles. But what we do have real close are the "cold water fish" and they are in huge abundance if you know where and how to fish for them. I'm now a firm believer that line that the fish can see will spook them. I experimented with this last year and caught fish on lighter mono two to one over the heavy stuff on tuna cord. Also found that the tuna like a jig just under the surface more than stuff on top. That might account for why the cedar plug does well along with the surface bouncing zukers. They may hit the surface a lot but the also dive when they catch the water just right. And I have hardly ever seen a tuna strike right at the surface. So I think they chase the jig until it makes a dive and that's when they will strike.

Just some thoughts on the subject.

Mike

Mr. Fisherman · 02-19-2003, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the input, I'm taking notes... :grin: [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img]

Pilar · 02-20-2003, 08:23 AM

Albacore Tuna Captain ....

I get about 50/50 on handlines or standup gear. The thing about the handlines is that you do not stop the boat and dragging a fish around often gets the other fish up to the surface.

Usually we take a hit on a standup rod first, followed by all the rest of the gear on the boat, including the handlines.

Until very recently I used Zukers feathers exclusively. Then we started working with Zukers broom tails and the sevenstrand feathers (TCF, Tuna clone feather) and plastic jigs (TC, Tuna clone).

The real success for our boat has been not stopping the boat. The fish are in close to the beach but not the numbers you see 100 miles out. When you get a strike, begin a circle and keep as much gear in the water as you can.

Don't stop the boat!

Ok, you can slow down a little or turn towards the rod that is bucking.

Hand lined fish are superior eating because they do not build up heat like a 20 minute fish on a standup rod will. Not as hot internally means they chill better in the boat and the quality is better. This is very easily seen at the carking station. Improperly chilled fish or hot fish that burned the ice up is mushy. Handlined fish are almost always to the boat in 5 minutes or less and are cold, hard and wonderful eating.

How many 'firm' albacore filets do you get out of your haul?

I thinking that charter is a different deal though. Standup gear is what they are paying for. Nothing beats a TUNA! on a rod and reel.

It is the 'family size' whoop ***!

Albacore Tuna Captain · 02-21-2003, 05:58 AM

Thanks for that info on the jigs. You're absolutely correct on the hand lines getting the fish to the boat quicker. I've never thought about the fight causing the fish to warm up but that stands to reason. Fortunately I can carry a lot of ice and can chill them down quickly. I make a slush in a 4x4x4 insulated tote by filling it 3/4 full of ice and then topping it off with sea water. I let the fish bleed out in a box with lots of seawater running over them and then into the tote. I don't usually take home a standup caught fish so I can't say I would know the difference. Usually when I want some fish for myself, I just go with some friends and we do it with the hand lines (you don't think I would reel one of those bigs guys in?!). Dang, I'm getting a tuna tuffy talking about em! I can hardly wait for them to get here! :tongue:

Mike