Title Change- Welcome aboard KeyWest

Miss B Haven · 10-26-2003, 07:59 AM

OK Dean! I'm losing my patience with ya.

You been messing around on the board here for 11 posts and still haven't introduced yourself OR told us a story!
Dogs- this guy is kinda our CR version of the Black Rocket - he's always first out and first in and he's a TUNAHOLIC!

I don't think he missed a window all year!
Oh- and he's from Florida! Ought to have a few stories to Swap with Tuna Tom or Pilar!
Lets here some Florida Fishing Stories Dean!

Did I mention he's a TUNAHOLIC! :shocked:

[ 10-27-2003, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

10-26-2003, 08:22 AM

YEA!

Good morning Miss B :smile:

Key West,
Did I meet you on the dock by Miss B and Minaki and were you the mosquito boat that :shocked: kicked our butts :shocked: the next day?

[ 10-26-2003, 09:25 AM: Message edited by: Keta ]

KeyWest · 10-26-2003, 06:00 PM

Mel,
I'm not certain of what you want for a fishing story. I don't have a tendency to wax eloquently, but I do like to take pics as they "tell a 1000 words". Here's a nice pic from last year on a trip to the gulf stream off Savannah, GA. Not on my boat, but with a friend. This fish hit the stern clip - bait about 20' back...

I have a few pics from a trip off Ft. Pierce, FLA last year sail fishing - my boat. I will post ASAP, but having some trouble uploading tonight (seems to be slow).

I was a bit down about being transfered out to Oregon as top water fishing is what I have come to love. Mel, I actually have lived in Astoria for a good part of my life (Astoria, Los Angeles, Astoria, Corvallis, Bellingham, Portland, Astoria, Corvallis, Savannah, and now Astoria again).

Took the first tuna "exploratory" trip on 7/12 of this year. Ended up with 8 - but what a ride - 8' seas with a 4' chop. Lost about 1/2 of my electronics. One guy along for the ride was from Green Bay - he asked "so how rough does it have to get for you NOT to go fishing". For a "tunaholic" it was well worth it.

As far as being the "mesquito boat" - I suppose that describes it pretty well - small and fast. Here's the pic

Funny, out here you tell folks you run 25 miles for tuna and they say "that far???". South east, you tell folks you run 100 miles for tuna and they say "is that all???". I have some good offshore pics from the southeast - off 110 miles - so calm it's like glass. I will upload later when it's not so slow.

Boat currently is in the shop in Chinook doing the winter PM thing. Winter season comes early in Astoria. I feel a bit like that Jimmy Buffet song "The captain and the kid" - the verse that goes something like "His world has gone from sailing ships to raking mom's back yard. Although he tried to adjust to land, he found it quite hard". This yard work every weekend because there is no tuna fishing.... Makes me long for Florida...

Dean

Miss B Haven · 10-26-2003, 08:13 PM

Ha- I knew you had a story.... In pics yet! Nice Bill!

I guess I can officially welcome you aboard now!

KeyWest- the offical CR Tuna Fast Attack Scout Boat!

KeyWest..KeyWest..... you hooked up yet? Whats the Ocean conditions, water color and the temp out there....see ya in an hour (maybe)?

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Mark Mc · 10-29-2003, 09:57 AM

Mel, maybe the original post didn't get the normal responses because you started it

(**ouch**).

Ahem...."Hello there Dean, welcome aboard!" Looks like you are a genuine sword boat captain. Maybe you can put on a clinic for us sometime? Glad to have your kind of new blood here. See you on the water sometime..... Mark Mc

edsr · 10-29-2003, 10:10 AM

Hello Dean - Welcome aboard with the rest of us nuts!! Did you haul that boat here yourself all the way from Key West. Tell us more about your boat how long and how do you have it fitted out? How well does your radar work? you mentioned that you lost some electronics - 50 miles out losing your GPS is not a good thing.
edsr

10-29-2003, 10:11 AM

Welcome aboard KW! It was nice meeting you.

Popeye · 10-29-2003, 10:25 AM

Welcome KeyWest

We'll have to get you out on the Julie Rose III next season, and show you some PNW hospitality!

corrirod · 10-29-2003, 10:34 AM

Welcome to the Dogs KW!

You'll find no better bunch!

CATCH AND EAT · 10-29-2003, 10:48 AM

Mean Mel forced me to post this. "Welcome to the Salty Dogs" that are bored because there are no tuna to be had. But it will be okay. Diversify.

kamloops · 10-29-2003, 12:02 PM

Mean people suck. :grin:

South Paw · 10-29-2003, 04:08 PM

OK I was trying to nop for the winter but ...... WELCOME! Now I'm going back to sleep.

KeyWest · 10-29-2003, 07:20 PM

Thanks to all - the "welcome" is certainly more than I deserve. Let's see if I can answer some questions....

Boat type: http://www.keywestboatsinc.com/
Length - 22'
Motor - 224 Honda
Typical Tuna trip consumption - 35 gal.
Max speed - GREATLY dependant upon seas. 40 Kts to 15 Kts
WOT speed - 55 Kts
I mentioned I lost 1/2 of my electronics - that included dept, autopilot, fuel flow. Didn't loose GPS, radio, or Radar.
Radar works great - all the electronics on the boat are tied together via NMEA 0183 interface (pushing the limit of that as max devices are supposed to be 3, I have 4).

I did tow the boat out from Savannah, GA - or at least I had my parents do it for me.

Great to be aboard! Looking forward to the TA meeting on 11/7 to meet everyone!

Dean

[ 10-30-2003, 05:44 AM: Message edited by: KeyWest ]

fish assassin · 10-30-2003, 04:31 AM

Welcome aboard Dean. Maybe we'll see you down Depoe Bay way next summer.
TUNA! season usually starts down there before it gets rolling up North ...

-assAssin-

KeyWest · 10-30-2003, 04:42 AM

Nice web site and pics! Looks like that's a really nice ride. Thanks for the "welcome".

Pilar · 10-30-2003, 07:03 AM

Dean, welcome to the circus. Nice boat for the southern offshore. The photos are awesome!!! :grin: I see you made a small concession to our local waters by enclosing your standup console in canvas. I'll see you offshore next year. Maybe with you and Tuna Tom helping us we can make next summer the year of the billfish.

Have you seen any of the Pacific City Dories yet? A popular style of open fishing boat used here on the central Oregon coast. They launch and retrieve them through the surf. Most of them have a box with a plexiglass lid or door to put the electronics in. Maybe this would help you keep your boat jewelry dry and happy.

Sea Jypzee · 10-30-2003, 05:01 PM

Please allow me to add my belated Welcome to the list above. It sounds like you're definitly a salty dog, and from the looks of your pictures above, could even teach us some new tricks of the trade. :grin:

Hope to see you in Depoe Bay sometime this next season.

KeyWest · 11-01-2003, 08:30 AM

This was a fun trip. Ft. Pierce FLA 7/12/02. My boat this time

Fishplay · 11-01-2003, 10:13 AM

Welcome aboard KW!!!!

Reel Creel · 11-01-2003, 12:47 PM

Welcome aboard,
Im new to this my self (ifish).nice boat and nice pics.

royalfish · 11-02-2003, 09:50 AM

Welcome aboard Key West. Look forward to hooking up with you this next season.

ANDYCOHO · 11-02-2003, 04:22 PM

Welcome aboard!!

Those are some great pictures!!

Sounds like you will have a blast this coming year...

Tuna Tom · 11-05-2003, 07:15 AM

Hello Key West!

I'm new myself, but man am I happy to have been found by these guys.

Hope to see you on Nov. 7th. even though I don't get off work till 7:30.

I use to fish off the north jetty of Ft. Pierce before it became a state park.

At anyrate, loved your pictures. Did you catch that wahoo with a kite and live bait or trolling a black and red skirt...or?

Tuna Tom

KeyWest · 11-05-2003, 06:31 PM

Aw - the south jetty off Ft. Pierce - actually, I know the Jetty Bar pretty well (ever been in there)? The tactic we used in Ft. Pierce was head offshore to about 600' in the morning and troll fast with black/red skirts and Ballyhoo. Troll from daylight till about noon. That one was caught on a black/red Ilander with a ballyhoo - wire leader. Caught about 8A. Then nothing until about noon - had two knockdowns, but the bait wasn't touched. Finally the sail hit on a flat line trolling a diving plug (Storm Lure). Afternoon, move closer to shore, load up on live bait at one of the bouys, and then anchor at about 90' for grouper and fish 4 surface live lines for dolphin and kings. Usually stayed at the Holiday Inn express on the island (has a dock) and kicked back a few at the Tiki Bar. Boy I miss all of that!

Tuna Tom · 11-06-2003, 08:11 PM

Oh Man,

Those were the days! But tomorrow could be good days as well. I'm talking in particular about targeting those Blue Fin I've been hearing about.

I've been thinking specifically about trolling green machines and or three to four skirts behind a medium size bird. Purple /Black would be my first choice. I also was wondering what would happen if you sent down some jigs once you hooked up albacore. Specifically either some 8 to 10 ounce crinkled jigs or some mackeral pattern double eyed gator jigs of the same size. I'd be swinging 60# Ande on a 20/50 Two Speed Shimano Beastmaster. Works every other place I've fished. I just never felt encouraged to swing jigs up and down for 45 minutes off the coast of Oregon. Frankly, I've been just looking for an excuse because getting slammed by a Tuna on a jig is to me the ultimate way to get a hit.
At anyrate, I ramble, but I am creating a quiver of jigs for next season. Cable swinging owners at the business end, etc.

Tuna Tom

[ 11-06-2003, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: Tuna Tom ]

KeyWest · 11-08-2003, 07:25 AM

Interesting. I hadn't thought of using jigs once hooked up. I tried live baiting once, but wht 8 lines out, hooked one up, put the boat out of gear to chum and everything tangled. I need more patience I know. I will definately do the live bait thing next year again - need to pick up some ringed Owner hooks - about 2/0?

I have not heard of anyone targeting Bluefin. Where are you fishing out of?

Tuna Tom · 11-08-2003, 08:16 AM

Yeah,

With 8 lines out, that is definitely a cluster Fff..fool around. Jigging always moves to the bow. I just believe there has to be something under those albacore.
Most all the rods getting ripped out of the boat and reels getting spooled this past summer, seemed to be happening from boats launched out of Newport. Pilar and Mr. Fisherman have the handle on the exact numbers. I realized last night I was treading on sacred ground when I said I really wasn't that interested in albacore once Pilar told me a 105# Blue fin came in last year. I rather jig all day and come in with one tuna over 100#'s than a boat load of 30#er's...but hey, that's just me. My brain cells are wired for "Mr. Big" and when I can, I tend to target them all the time.
As for fishing Owners...definitely. Those double hooks I had on those jigs last night were really a back up plan. I truly love to fish a swinging owner, cabled with 250# wire. As for question regarding 2/0. That all dependes if you are talking circle hooks or not. I tend to be a hands on guy...walking my hookless jigs into the tackle store and sizeing them up right their. I'd be the same with my live baits. So I guess I'm saying I'd have a quiver of different size owners on board and tie up depending on what bait I was putting overboard. As for baits, my first, second and third choice would be a live Sardine, when possible.
I heard you were their last night. I showed up late. Sorry I missed yah.

Tuna Tom

KeyWest · 11-08-2003, 08:50 AM

Yea, I was there from 5 - 7:30. Had to drive back to Astoria - about 2 hour drive or so. It was good to meet folks. I did speak some with Pilar.

I have to find out more about this 100+ fishing. A few days out this year, it was flat calm and had the boat loaded by 8A (I only hold 16 fish), so it would be ideal to try for something big at that time. Any info on what folks were using for the spooled reels? I have tons of "big gear" from back east - Daisy chain 12" green machines, marlin lures, etc.

Sorry I missed you.

Tuna Tom · 11-09-2003, 08:35 PM

I believe Mel, Pilar and Mr. Fisherman all got "hit" last season. Those daisey chains and green machines sound like the ticket. Marlin Lures in purple and black with BIG eyes would be a good choice as well.

I was back East last week at the Mud Hole. Two Blue Fin came in on red and white birds. I guess my point is I still have alot to learn. I do know you have to target them. I have 5, two speed reels and rods so hopefully I'll get some help drowning hooks next season.

Tuna Tom

Billfisher · 11-11-2003, 03:54 PM

FYI, I was pleased with success this year using live herring and Owner ringed 2/0 and 3/0 circles... no weight, and 50# Seaguar Flouro. I got smacked so hard by a running albie, that when I put the Senator I was using into gear, a cog broke from the guts. It was worth the cost of the repair! Net time I'll stick to the newer gear for live-lining tuna. -D

KeyWest · 11-11-2003, 06:41 PM

You getting the ringed Owners online from ??? I see them on Cabellas, etc.

Anyone on here actually landed a bluefin on the west coast?