Tuna range

Abalone · 08-09-2008, 08:23 AM

Ok here's the deal. I want a picture like the one below with me holding up a Tuna in the same boat. Don't laugh,,, I know a guy that goes out Fifty miles in a smaller boat. Do you guys think the Tuna will come close to shore this year like in years past. Say Fifteen miles ?? I have an Eighty mile range. As some of you have know I have been to the rockpile on Several occasions. I would go Twenty miles for tuna and that's it..
Ok Twentyfive...
Whadya think Guys ? I know I am crazy...

Mark Mc · 08-09-2008, 08:44 AM

My serious answer, allowing for a little insanity, would be as follows:

Work something out where a "normal" large boat will tow your inflatable out to the grounds (on a flat calm day). He turns you loose once out there, but you stay close to your mothership. You do your fishing thing, then have him tow you back at the end of the day.

Later in the season if the fish happen to be in close, maybe you run back in on your own. Problem as I see it is that...radio range with a handheld at water level can be very short. If there's nobody within 5 miles of you, you might not be able to reach anyone.

Abalone · 08-09-2008, 09:07 AM

I agree that I wouldn't want to do it unless I knew I was near other boats but no need to tow the inflatable.

Mark Mc · 08-09-2008, 10:06 AM

What kind of range would you have (in terms of fuel economy) if you had to run at 6 - 8 knots?

Abalone · 08-09-2008, 12:01 PM

I assume you mean for trolling...? Using fuel before ethanol,,,,I made a run up and down the CR that was 40 miles each way. I burned 25 gallons of gas... I realize ethanal would change things and I also realize heavy seas would burn gas at a higher rate. I regularly run up and down the coast from places like Nehalem to cannon beach and back. That's about
twenty two miles one way. I always have plenty of gas in reserve. Twenty five miles might be stretching it unless I had ideal conditions...

Mark Mc · 08-09-2008, 01:25 PM

In your examples you cited, were those runs ever at a crawl speed? Or was it "zooming?"

No I don't mean for trolling; I mean in the event that you have to run in against bad weather, you can't get up on plane, you are "slogging" at slow speed, for 25 or 30 miles. Your fuel economy is very poor in this case. This situation happens more often than you think. So you must be competent in "fuel management" which includes understanding what your fuel burn rate is in those conditions, and being prepared for it.

One way to get an approximation of this is to fill your tank, then go for a ride ( 3 - 4 hours) at an exact, constant speed (6, 7, or 8 knots); measure the exact distance travelled, go fill your tank back up to figure the gallons per hr at that speed. Say it tells you 3 GPH at 8 knots. But that was ideal "laboratory" conditions. Now correct that by at least 20% (because in rough weather you are going up & down & sideways...your prop may come out of the water, etc) to get about 3.6 GPH.

At least if someone tows you out there, you start fishing with a full tank. Plus you can stay in the warm cabin

.

I know your core question is "will the tuna come in closer?" I think that the best chance for 25 mile tuna this year will be late....like mid-September. And then we need to have nice weather. Sorry if i digressed into the fuel thing, but I think it's an equally important part of the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abalone

I assume you mean for trolling...? Using fuel before ethanol,,,,I made a run up and down the CR that was 40 miles each way. I burned 25 gallons of gas... I realize ethanal would change things and I also realize heavy seas would burn gas at a higher rate. I regularly run up and down the coast from places like Nehalem to cannon beach and back. That's about
twenty two miles one way. I always have plenty of gas in reserve. Twenty five miles might be stretching it unless I had ideal conditions...

Tinman · 08-09-2008, 01:45 PM

How does your boat do in high winds? Specifically, does the bow catch wind and "kite" when going upwind? I've had that happen in light boats before, and it is scary. The whole bow lifted in the wind, which made steering difficult. It seemed like bow was going to get blown up and over, or off to one side.

Also, how does it do in a steep following sea? Does the blunt bow tend to bury?

fishonjon · 08-09-2008, 02:12 PM

Good advice mark. mother ship the only way to go. As long as you catch the fish out of you'r boat does'nt matter how it got there.

Jaws · 08-09-2008, 03:21 PM

Next logical step:

Abalone · 08-10-2008, 05:27 AM

Mark MC:

I do appreciate the concerns you have expressed. Not trying to sound like someone who's over confident here but: I have many hours at sea in this boat . I have experienced all the conditions you have listed. All I can say is this particular boat handles well in rough seas.
I have been out for albies on the Oregon coast in a hard boat with a friend. We used hand lines. What appeals to me about going out there is this. I have heard at times the tuna will come close to shore. I have heard as close as ten or fifteen miles. This is what I am intested in.
The problem is that I don't know if they come in that close reliably enough to take a run out to get them. When they come in do they stay close for a few days or is it only by accident that you might stumble into them that close ? In other words do they come in close for a few days ? I didn't enjoy fishing with handlines and never got the opportunity to use rod and reel. I am not interested in bonking a Tote full of fish. In fact in my boat there wouldn't be room enough for more then two or three fish in my cooler, assuming I got lucky. I am surprized someone hasn't said, " just find a boat to crew on ". I 'd gladly ride along with someone if they were
only going to use Fishing rods and no handlines. And if they slowed the boat down to fight the fish. But most everyone I talked to about going
is more interested it filling the tote full of fish.
I understand your concerns. I would be skeptical too if I hadn't
been in an inflatable. But look at it this way. I can fill my boat completely full of water and it won't sink. In fact I have done it. I have crossed every bar on the Oregon coast from Newport to Astoria, Crossed the surf at cannon beach, Pacific city, Sand lake, falcon cove. I regularly cross Nestucca and run to Cape lookout or Cascade head. And I have done it in
heavy seas. I know my boat and what it will do. If I say I could run
Fifteen miles out for Tuna, It will do it.

Spoonplugger · 08-10-2008, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abalone

Say Fifteen miles ??

We hope so, but we can't say for sure how far they will come in this year.

fishboys · 08-10-2008, 09:18 AM

PC might be a good place, start monitoring the dory fleet they seem to not run as far as the rest of the fleet. But they also wait for the fish to come to them most of the time.

BIGALSURF · 08-10-2008, 09:27 AM

If the southwest wind pattern keeps holding, it shifts warm water closer. The closest I've ever heard of them is 4 miles west of the CR Buoy. But if the N wind comes back, the warm water only lasts a day or two, so realistically I think the only time you'll be able to get to them will be at the wind shift day after a southern blow, sometimes it takes a couple days for the north to return and it's glassy. Last Thursday for example, the largest waves were 1 ft. and the wind waves were about an inch. Water was 62 degrees in places.

If I was you I'd invest in a waterproof satellite phone, or they have a personal epirb that is cheap. Then if anything breaks and that's tethered to your neck, the CG will find you. Don't know how happy they'll be to find out the vessel you were in to go that far off shore? But... it's a free country and if you want to do it, go right ahead!

Abalone · 08-10-2008, 09:36 AM

"Don't know how happy they'll be to find out the vessel you were in to go that far off shore? But... it's a free country and if you want to do it, go right ahead!"

It would be foolhearty of me to go out there unprepared. My boat is equiped.

I met a guy at the Inflatable boat center that owned a Thirteen foot Zodiak Quick Silver. He was making Forty mile runs out of Illwaco. He lives in Longbeach and had to be rescued by the coast guard twice. Both times were due to some kind of mechanical problems. He told me the coast guard informed him that he had just as much right to be there as anyone and they didn't see a problem with it. I understand he bought a bigger boat now like mine and is still making the run.

Personally that isn't enough boat for me and I wouldn't go that far no matter what the conditions were.

Mark Mc · 08-10-2008, 10:00 AM

I would agree with comments that Pacific City is a good bet for close-in tuna. That has been the case in the last 4 - 5 years. However, this year is obviously different. It's hard to tell what's going on with any seasonal pattern. The best thing we can say is that...it appears from the last week of fishing & conditions that the body of fish outside Heceta Bank has been moving north & in. Even a few fish caught around the chicken ranch. If I was hoping for close-in fish off Pacific City (or Depoe Bay) I would be looking (via the chlorophyll image) for that water between Depoe Bay and Garibaldi to clear up. It's just been so filthy all summer; with so much plankton it might be like a mini "dead zone."

PoiToy · 08-10-2008, 09:48 PM

By the way....awesome picture!

Elkiller · 08-11-2008, 10:23 AM

You should be able to find a buddy boat to run out with. The buddy might be willing to pack your extra fuel cans. They could also relay your radio calls. Seems to be a lot of green water out there, unless things change, a 15 mile tuna might be a one day event.

Happy to Go · 08-11-2008, 10:32 AM

it looks like you may have a chance out of coos bay this week. It looks like the warm water is about 15 miles out as of sunday... may be your best shot.

Abalone · 08-11-2008, 10:37 AM

If the weather doesn't change for the better I won't be going. I'd pick a day when the forecast is most favorable or I wouldn't make the effort..... I can always carry more gas if need be..

Gundog · 08-11-2008, 10:50 AM

I believe it was 97 the tuna came in within 10 miles of Brookings they were tuna fishing in just about anything that floated that year.

Abalone · 08-11-2008, 10:53 AM

Now that I have my boat back together after getting it patched up and the motor running good again I want to make a run this weekend for some
Coho. I am thinking Nehalem bay to Falcon cove area with some Bottom fish on the way back. But then the forecast isn't looking very good is it?
Dang I am thirsty for salt..