More TUNA questions/ Lookin for a Seat

4 REEL · 07-07-2003, 03:57 PM

How much does a trip cost? What time do you normally leave? And finally..... I'd really like to take a ride this Saturday.
Oh, and how much food, coffee & beer does it take?
Tackle?

[ 07-08-2003, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: 4 REEL ]

Pilar · 07-08-2003, 07:13 AM

Good questions ...

Quote:

How much does a trip cost? What time do you normally leave? And finally..... I'd really like to take a ride this Saturday.
Oh, and how much food, coffee & beer does it take?
Tackle?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">I guess the question of cost is dependant on the scope of the cost. If you are talking about operating the boat and consumable supplies then it goes like this ...

Fuel - 40 to 50 gallons for the boat. My boat is fuel efficient as a 4 cylinder 4 stroke should be. This cost is much higher for other boats. If you include the truck and hauling the boat to the beach and back add 30 to 40 more gallons per episode. So ... $75 - $100 Boat Gas, $50 to $70 for the truck.

Ice - 300lb for 15 fish. The longfins average about 20 pounds each and you need a pound of ice for each pound of fish. Nothing sucks worse than leaving the fishing grounds and a hot bite with partial holds because you ran out of ice. We pay $.79 a 7lb bag and $1 a 10lb block. On 'Pilar' we get 210 lbs of crushed and ten 10lb blocks. The blocks and some of the crushed are used in the chill tank and the rest of the crushed is for packing the fish in the box or coolers.

Tackle - You should have 10 feathers, plugs or fishtraps per fisher. A variety of colors and sizes are working well. Small seems to do better early in the season as the longfins are on tiny (2") squid down deep now and not on surface schools of sauries and other baitfish. Handlines, standup rods and light casting rods for the fishtrap cast into the school as you stop the boat. A stiff gaff and a harpoon for the occasional bluefin or billfish. Lanyards are recommended for standup rods as several were torn off boats by huge fish last year. A fighting belt is good and so are gloves.

Dock Time - This depends on the boat and it's pilot. I usually try to get out at first light. This time of year the wind will blow almost every afternoon. You can only count on the first half of the day and should try to get headed back in by early afternoon. So I'm thinking 0500 is pretty typical.

Food should be some snacks, a sandwich and maybe a few beers or soda.

Also you should think about a place to stay the night and someplace to store 100's of pounds of tuna loins. You will be one whipped pup after a day or two of carnage asada.

Now you could ask Skein or Crabbait how much :grin: it is costing them with the new boats from Ed Wing. We figure on about $150 a day for expenses. If the boat requires repairs or whatever this goes up.

[ 07-08-2003, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

Threemuch · 07-08-2003, 07:33 AM

On my rig, which is much less efficient than John's. I could figure on a tuna trip costing about 400 bucks. Crew pitching in 80-100 bucks would not be out of the question. Food? I bring one meal. Fried chicken is always easy. I don't drink coffee, but one thermos should do. I don't drink when I fish tuna, unless maybe a celebratory one for the first fish. Don't want to be impared if things get ugly 30-50 miles out. A sixer should do the whole boat. If some guy tried to load a case on my boat, I would tell him to leave half in his car. I am no tee totaller, I drink my share, but if things get bad, I want everyone functioning.

Don't be one of those guys who shows up with three quarters of his garage to load on the boat. Everything you bring should be carefully thought out. Do I NEED this? When my boat is loaded for tuna, it's loaded. I have no room for some guys 120 quart lunchbox. When I crew, I try to limit myself to 2 rods, unless the skipper asks me to bring more. If he has the gear, I leave them home. If I can't fit all my tackle in a 5 gallon bucket or a school sized backpack, I have too much. Small cooler for drinks and lunch, and be ready to move this to someone elses cooler.

Pilar · 07-08-2003, 07:47 AM

Good points, Kurt. It should all fit in a bucket. I don't mind a bag or tackle box but TUNA! trips really max the boat out for space. With all of the spare fuel, coolers and carking tank we barely have room to fish.

4 REEL · 07-08-2003, 07:32 PM

Thanks Pilar& Threemuch for a great insight to the big blue.
The only thing I don't have are the fly's and plugs. Really not sure what to buy and where in Salem. Maybe Sportsmans.
I can understand the space limits and am pretty sensitive to the escentuals(sp) only thing. When I drift in the drift boat, it's no fun rowing 300 extra pounds.I like to be orginized.
PLEASE...If anyone has an open chair on saturday or sunday, take your chance on me.
Ask Lars about John Snyder....He is the one that always helps. I am a fish-a-holic.
You guys rule and it would be a real honor to join you

.
John 503-551-3914

[ 07-08-2003, 08:34 PM: Message edited by: 4 REEL ]

crabbait · 07-08-2003, 07:42 PM

I don't have a total yet, John. I know that first TUNA! is going to be one expensive fish! :shocked:

4 REEL · 07-08-2003, 07:52 PM

That's O.K. Crabait. Think I have 40+ poles to fish with and my wife says I am excesive-cumpulsive. So...Can't quite aford the 26' Boston Whaler yet. But if she ate some fresh tuna, I'd be a whole lot closer.

CAPT KUJO · 07-08-2003, 08:58 PM

Pilar,
What a great, informative, accurate answer. For Ifishers I'm charging $135.00 for TUNA tripz ( Booked for Saturday). Besides fuel for boat and gas figure in 3 gallons of 2 cycle for us non-4 cycle operators and professional charter liability insurance and a license from the State. I'm breaking even with 3 passengers. But i ain't in it for the money.

Anyway great post See you all Saturday.

CAPT KUJO :smile:

Popeye · 07-09-2003, 09:57 AM

4Reel....you have mail

Miss B Haven · 07-09-2003, 10:17 AM

4reel- watch out if Popeye says he'll take ya out just for filling his boat with fuel!

She's a big gal and she's REAL thirsty. :shocked:

Just kidding, go for it dude!

PS- I burned about 100 gallons of diesel for a 100 plus mile trip Sat at $1.35 per. Not bad for a big white fiberglass boat. Throw in the ice, a lost lure (and fish...PETE!) on a prop, wasabi and soy sauce. 6 guys on board, comes to about $30 apiece. Love my little pussycats! Course- if I throw in Ins/Maint and Depreciation it goes up a little, bout $600 per head. :shocked: :smile:

[ 07-09-2003, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Popeye · 07-09-2003, 10:31 AM

Miss B...I know you're kiddin', but since you brought it up...I Never accept money for fuel. Unfortunately, even tho I consider myself very generous in doing so, I'm constantly being accused of chartering

Miss B Haven · 07-09-2003, 10:54 AM

Somebody tried to accuse me of that but I was let off on bad behavior. Also...'cause Charters actually catch fish. I just go fishing! :grin:

The law has changed ya know, you can't require people to pay, but you can recieve donations. :smile:

Must be cause Julie Rose looks so much like all those Charter Boats? [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

You're a good man Bruce!

PS- The joke all weekend was that we couldn't be a charter cause we were wearing life jackets!

[ 07-09-2003, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

DipSeaDiver · 07-09-2003, 12:02 PM

It's true..." You're a good man, Bruce"

...and we will [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] find a concrete way to thank you.

I still think we should TP your boat!! :grin: Just kidding?? Maybe??!

DipSeaDiver and the Mr.

[ 07-09-2003, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: DipSeaDiver ]

Popeye · 07-09-2003, 07:07 PM

4Reel...Time's runnin' out bud. I'm leaving the office about 1:30 tomorrow, a meeting at HP then to the boat.....Got a lotta people wantin' ta go. Office # tomorrow AM 541-917-3626 x26
Bruce AKA Popeye

skein · 07-09-2003, 11:45 PM

Quote:
You're a good man Bruce!

Uh...have you forgotten that this is the guy with the satellite phone and the "Live" tuna report from a couple of weeks ago? He's a bad, bad person.

Just kidding. He's a great host and a good friend to the Salties, experienced or otherwise.

Popeye, I'm gonna have to figure out some concrete way to thank you for that trip out during the first halibut season. Janis and I had a great time with you and Julie. Thanks again.

Skein and the Missus