August Tuna on a fly...

Mojo · 06-10-2003, 09:23 AM

Greetings Salty Ones...
I'm a lurker on this board, mostly I hang on the Community board, and the Bass and Fly Fishing boards.
I'll be spending 10 days on the Coast, at Oceanside, the 6th through the 16th of August. I've been reading of the Salty Dogs' Albie Antics over the last few years, and I really want to schwack one or two on a fly(and a few more on conventional gear). I don't have the boat for running in Big Blue, my 22' Alumaweld V-Sled just isn't built for Ocean running.

What I really want to know is...Are there any charters that would accomodate me, and a couple of fishing partners on a fly fishing trip? If there is, could you please shoot me some contact info via e-mail or PM? Heck, if any of you Salty Skippers wants to haul out a boatload of Spuds fom Idaho, and be witness to this fiasco, we'll throw for gas, beer, ice, and sandwiches.

Let me know if you have any information...

Thanks,

Fishmstr · 06-10-2003, 09:36 AM

I don't know who could take you out...but if you never caught a tuna before, you better be ready to get your butt kicked. I caught a 10 lbs. YFT on a 9-weight a few years back and it killed me. Although albacore don't pull as hard, they would still be very tough on a fly rod. Guys that fish for tuna use at least 12 weight specialized tuna rods. They are about 8 feet long with a handle just below the ferrul so you can really pull on the fish. The rods are very stiff and don't cast very well. Plus, it is not really fly fishing because you can rarely get in a situation where you can cast at them. If they are casting, it is because they have just chummed a bunch of fish up next to the boat. Generally they troll flies. So, I would just go out and catch some tuna on standard gear and leave the fly-rods at home.

corrirod · 06-10-2003, 10:21 AM

As much as I'd like to get a tuna on a fly I've got to agree with Fishmstr.

It's definately possible if you can find some active jumpers to get close to but you'd better make sure you've got the equipment to handle them once you hook'em! :shocked:

Most of the trips we had though, you would need to troll to find them. And when they hit, ho man, you'd better make sure the drag can handle losing a couple hundred yards of line in a matter of seconds! And the pole needs to be able to handle the shock of hooking a passing freight train!

Mojo · 06-10-2003, 10:44 AM

I've got the gear thing covered. I figure a 12wt rod ought to cover it. I realize it would be a trainwreck, but I just gotta try it once.

Popeye · 06-10-2003, 10:48 AM

Mojo...You might try Ken on the Irish, he's a six pack charter....I know that a coupla years ago he took a group of six out to fly fish

Mojo · 06-10-2003, 12:05 PM

Heck yeah I'll post pics. That is if I'm lucky enough to schwack one.

Jim,
You're getting an invite once I get this all put together. I got the gear end covered. I will need at least one other fly chucker. I've been tying flies based on Pilar's lure pics from last summer. Plus a few I have seen on the net.

Thanks for the info, you guys truly are awesome with the info!

bllelk · 06-10-2003, 12:54 PM

Mojo

Ever heard of Winston Moore? He's a developer in Boise. MOstly commercial rentals. He's caught just about everything that swims on a fly including huge marlin. All fair chase.
Perhaps you could get in touch with him and he could give you some suggestions to improve your chance of sucess.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

Mojo · 06-10-2003, 01:10 PM

I've known him for 23 years. I'll ask him for advise as well. Good call!

corrirod · 06-10-2003, 01:30 PM

Going out on the Irish is a great idea. At least if the ocean isn't cooperating for your flyfishing then he'll have all the heavy hardware on board that you can use instead.

I'd get on the biggest boat I could because this IS NOT Florida or California and the chances of you being here on a day that the ocean is perfectly flat is unlikely. Trying to toss a fly any distance in 6+ ft. swell with any amount of chop in a small boat is like trying to thread a needle while bull riding! :shocked:

We do troll for salmon with flyrods but they are attached to a downrigger. I'm going to try skipping flys behind the boat this summer which I'm sure will work since we've had several herring attacked right on the surface on previous trips.

Hope you get into them!

bllelk · 06-10-2003, 03:42 PM

Mojo

Since you know Mr. Moore, I'm sure you'll agree he is possibly one the greatest yet unknown flyfishers around.
He came to our banquet years ago and all we could do was stand around slack jawed at his accomplishments with a fly rod.
How big was that marlin? He never kills them or takes them out of the water.
Whenever one of his agents would call me asking for us to rent some space from him, I always told her, sure! Just as soon as Mr. Moore takes me fishing with him!
Guess he didn't need the business bad enough. :depressed:

Mojo · 06-10-2003, 03:58 PM

bllelk,
I met Mr. Moore when he used to shop at the fly shop I worked in while I was in college. I too was (and still am) slack jawed at his accomplishments. I still run into him occasionally. The coolest thing about him is that he's still a real guy. He takes time to talk to anyone that shares his love of fishing. The coolest thing ever was the presentation he made for the Wooly Buggers (a local kids fly-fishing club). He is truly an amazing man.

Thanks for the info on the Irish. I'll probably give them a call.

[ 06-10-2003, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

bllelk · 06-10-2003, 04:18 PM

Mojo

Which fly shop did you work at? I'm from Boise and was Prez of the Boise Valley Fly Fishermen centuries ago. Me and a couple others met with the cowmen when we fenced the S. Fork. That took a couple years to pull off.

Also helped Clayne Baker with donations to the Wooly Buggers when I was in business there.
We've been over here a little over a year and it is a whole new ball game.
I have a reel a reel filled with an oval shaped mono to use on a down rigger. Haven't had a hookup yet.
The tuna thing should be fun especially when the sharks start chasing them. :shocked:

Mojo · 06-10-2003, 06:31 PM

bllelk,
You got mail.

Sailfish · 06-10-2003, 09:17 PM

Hey Mojo,
I think the idea of albies on the fly is an excellent one. I got back from guiding down in Costa Rica a few months back and we hooked a few yellowfins in the 40-50# range on the fly without any major disasters. A good skipper and lots of backing seemed to be the key. We used the same standard 12wt. scott rods that I use for the sails and they had plenty of backbone. I would however recommend looking into the gel-spun backings to add some extra yardage to your reel since those rascals can do some serious peeling, just watch your fingers because that stuff will cut the **"stuffing"** out of you if you get a hold of it. I have unfortunately experiencied this firsthand(no pun intended). We ran into a school or two last year out of Depot Bay that I think would definitely have hit a big deciever cast into them. I usually have to hitch a ride with a buddy since I dont own a boat or I would invite you myself, but let me know how it goes. I might even try to sneak the old long rod aboard myself this season. Good luck.

[ 06-11-2003, 09:28 AM: Message edited by: corrirod ]

Marty · 06-10-2003, 11:34 PM

Mojo

Talk to Chris at the Newport Marina Store at 541 867-4470. He puts together 1 to 3 trips a year on the Irish (skipper Ken Peterson) for fly fisherman only. If you have 6 people, you can rent the boat out with your friends and go out when its convenient. There are times where I'm sure you can cast to puddlers from a drifting boat, but other times its kind of a slow troll with fly gear as without chum the schools blow by in a hurry. Be sure to post a story or two when your arms get uncramped from pulling on 25 lbs. torpedoes.

Marty

Denali · 06-10-2003, 11:44 PM

Don't let em scare you Mojo. Guys catch tarpon, marlin, etc. on flys. It's only a little tuna for crying out loud. Your reel will be the key, both the drag as well as line capacity.

Mojo · 06-11-2003, 05:06 AM

Sailfish,
I may have a spot if I end up renting out a whole boat. I'll get with you as things develop.

[ 06-11-2003, 06:07 AM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

South Paw · 06-11-2003, 06:38 AM

Mojo

I'm planning on catching some tuna on flies this summer also in some small boats.All it takes is the fish gods cooperating and you can have all the tuna on a fly you care to handle. A big Able or some such will do just fine. I owned a fly shop with a couple guys in the 80's. After I left they made several trips to Belize for just that. I've got gear to hunt them with so if you have a spare seat on you trip out on a the charter I'd be interested in tagging along.

Mojo · 06-27-2003, 10:20 AM

I've started tying flies for albies, mostly Sardine and anchovie patterns. I've been using 3/0 hooks. Are these big enough?