Tuna Help Needed

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 07-07-2003, 08:29 PM

Hello everyone. I have posted to the dogs a couple of times and am a tuna-holic want to be. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

My friend and I really want to go out to the slaying grounds but have no experience chasing these critters in their domain.

We are both pretty sea worthy and have logged many trips over the past 4 years on the big blue out of Astoria & Tillamook so being on the sea is not a problem for us.

I have a 22' Duckworth with a 60 gallon fuel tank outfitted with 2 brand new Honda's (The big one a 225HP).

What we really need help with is having a verteran Salty Dog teach us the ropes regarding Tuna Fishing. We love the salmon fishing but all this Tuna harvesting talk has us wondering why we haven't tried this yet

.

I would appreciate any information regarding gear & tackle :whazzup: . We both own numerous Shakespear Tiger Sticks and Penn 320 & 321 GTI reals. Will this combo work or is it too wimpy

? How about line, do you run braided or mono? Lure selection & pictures would also be great.

Heck, if it is easier, when is the next Tuna Rodeo?

Like I said, I would be willing to take any veteran Salty "TUNA" Dog on a trip if you can stand a day out with a redneck from Kentucky. Heck, by the end of the trip you will probably be like the rest of my friends and be telling me jokes about my uncle & daddy being the same person or something to that effect.

Nonetheless, I look forward to any information that will get us started on my venture to becoming a tuna-holic.

Regards,

Terry Luckett - aka: The Kentucky Hog Hunter

Uglygreen · 07-07-2003, 09:15 PM

What degree bottom does the duckworth have? How much freeboard? Windshield boat? Just curious how rough a ride if I volunteered. (got a sore back)

UG

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 07-07-2003, 10:18 PM

12 Degree hull I believe, Windshield, Canvas Top, 8' beam to beam & 36" sides (Nice Feature.)

Outboard motor gives plenty of room to fight fish.

Like I said, I have gone out to the CR Buoy allot over the past 4 years. I consider my boat to be very sea worthy.

It probably is not as good as a Deep V Arima or something but I consider myself a safe captain. I always watch the weather before I go out & have 2 2 GPS's and VHF with a chart plotter.

Would love to go give this a try.

Tacklebuster · 07-08-2003, 01:37 AM

I have seen the mighty Kentucky Hog Hunter first hand. She is a very sea worthy vessel and appears to be a very comfortable ride. Terry is a great guy to boot, you will enjoy crewing on his virgin Tuna hunt.

KrystalFlash · 07-08-2003, 02:07 AM

I will be going out this weekend. Either out of Newport or Depoe Bay. Boat name is DoubleGaynor and she is moored in D47 in Newport. 24' Trophy Bayliner. Let me know if you need help with gear or whatever. Email is mgaynor2@aol.com
The biggest concerns for you in my opinion would be Fuel and consumption rate. The trip right now is roughly a 30-40 mile ride to the tuna territory and then troll at 10MPH for a few hours, then 30-40 mile ride back. Ride is also a concern with a sled. Make sure you bring LOTS of ice. around 300# is a good place to start. I would have at least 200# no less.

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 07-08-2003, 06:29 AM

K-Flash,

Is 60 Gallons going to cut it? Are my Tiger Sicks & Penn 320's going to work????

Hey Chris, how have your ventures been out to the big blue? We slayed them out at the CR on Sunday. Had my son & Nephew & neighbor. We probably caught 25-30 fish.

K-Flash, I will send a message.

Thanks Much.

Threemuch · 07-08-2003, 07:24 AM

K-Hog hunter-
What is your burn rate? I would guess that you get at least 2 to 3 mpg with the four stroke, but that is a GUESS. Fuel flowmeters are cheap and easy to install on an outboard. I highly suggest it if you want to play this game. The standard horizon unit is like $150 and a 5 year old could install it.

To be comfortable for a day of tuna fishing, I would want 200 miles of range. That said, in my boat, I had about 120 miles of range, and a fuel flow meter, which allowed me to burn to a very narrow safety margin (about 15 gallons).

I would love to go out with you, as my boat is currently kaput, and I have the gear and the knowledge. Your gear will work, for a while at least. Have drag washer kits on standby, you will need them eventually, like every 2-3 trips. I assume it is spooled with tuffline? 30 mono will do, but spectra is better, at least until you tangle.

However, I am booked this weekend (tuna with CD Johnson) and next (wifely dinner plans). I may be able to sneak out a weekday in there somewhere. Give a call when you want to do it. I also have two 12 gallon above deck tanks you can bring for that first trip to make sure you have enough for the voyage. It would take a bit of plumbing, and most notably a 25 dollar three way fuel valve.

Kurt 503.756.9078

CAPT KUJO · 07-08-2003, 07:47 AM

I would be really concerned taking only 60 gallons of fuel with twin motors. My steadfest rule is "ALWAYS TAKE ALL THE GAS YOU CAN".

CAPT KUJO

I carry 150 to 200 gallons on the BLACK ROCKET. Fuel won't be my problem

CrazyFish · 07-08-2003, 08:04 AM

Kentucky Hog Hunter,

Thanks for the ride last Friday, I had a blast.

I would say that your boat is very sea worthy and can easily hanlde a tuna trip assuming you take some extra fuel just in case since your not sure what your range is yet.

I have some gear ready to go and have been following the posts and meetings on how to go get these TUNA, I just haven't been after them yet but I think that we could do it going out with other boats.

Ken

Kentucky Hog Hunter · 07-08-2003, 08:08 AM

ThreeMuch,

Burn rate is unknown but the new 225 4-stroke appears it will be very econimical even more so than my previous motor (140 2-stroke Suzuki).

I will look into getting the fuel consumption monitor. It definately should be part of the standard equipment package when you go out there I know.

I will be in touch. I am not sure about this weekend because I have commited on following out a friend to the CR Buoy on Sunday, but maybe Saturday is a possibility.

I go to Alaska the following weekend for my 4 day annual meat haul. So likely will target 2 weekends from now.

Any other advice for gear like the drag washers suggestion is most appreciated. I definately need to look at the drag washers on the Penns. I have 80# tough line on them right now by the way.

Thanks again and I will be in touch. Please keep the advise coming everyone [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] . Preperation is a good thing.

KrystalFlash · 07-08-2003, 05:26 PM

It sounds like you've got the rough gear handled. How about feathers, jigs, handlines, leader, hooks, planers, and such?
I would guess that your boat probably has a 160-180 mile range with that much fuel. I would carry an extra 10-20 gallons with me to be safe if I were you. You obviously DO NOT want to run out of fuel.... :smile: Still haven't heard from ya in email but feel free to email me if you like. mgaynor2@aol.com. The basic rule that I go by on fuel, thanks to some assistance and tutoring from my buddy Pilar is, return with 1/3 of your fuel in the tank.

Best of luck and we hope to see you out there with us.

KF
I'd rather be Lucky than Good