Yellowfin Tuna Down South

[Popeye]

Here's the report from Wed. 1/14/04

Hello Anglers, Today we had a very productive morning until 1030 when we had 25 to 35 knots of wind and rain squalls ruin our day. From just before daylight until the wind came up we had 7 fish mostly in the 110 to 140 pound range but we also got a 185 caught by Ron Offenstien, and Dave Rocchi was the hot angler with a 215 and a fish that was very fat and taped 291 pounds. When the wind came up we tried to reset the anchor six different times but we were unsuccessful in getting it to hang.Tomorrow is another day so hopefully we will have a good report for you all.The picture that I am sending is of David Rocchi and his yellowfin that taped 291 that he caught on a 9{NEWSBODY} eagle claw 2005 circle hook and 130 pound line. Reported by Shawn Steward Fishing Report by: Shawn Steward

See Pics Here
http://www.976-tuna.com/news.php

[skein]

Having landed, at great personal sacrifice, a 35 pounder on stand-up gear, how in the hell do you land a 291 pounder? I know with billfish the skipper uses the boat to help the guy fighting the fish, but how can you back a boat into a fish going 85 mph - the other way!!??!!

Somehow I think spending your youth as a hod carrier really helps in that department. :grin:

Sheeesh!

Skein

[4 REEL]

WOW.. :shocked: :shocked: ..It makes my back hurt jyst looking at it!!!! That must have been a hoot!

[Miss B Haven]

Skein- Chasing a Bill works cause they are going sideways on top. Those big Tuna go straight down. You need to fish from a submarine to chase them. :shocked: :grin:

It's all grunt work with those guys. I fished with an older guy (ya - older than me, hard to believe huh?) and shared/split a boat my first trip to Cabo. He wouldn't go if I was going Tuna fishing. He was from S. Cal and had "been there/done that". Said after the first minute it was all just hard work and you might as well be digging ditches!



[ 01-16-2004, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

[Reel Creel]

Still... I would love to die trying I would much rather fight a sea monster than dig ditches :shocked:
What does something like that cost to have stuffed or whatever they do to big fish.

[Booja 1]

That boat Dave Rocchi caught the big Yellowfin on is the "Excel" out of San Diego. It's 124 ft long and your either anchored or drifting when fishing for the big Yellowfins. There is no backing down on these fish like they do for Marlin because there may be 3-5 other big Yellowfin hooked up at the same time.. You are harnessed in and landing these monsters is alot of technique and not just strength, using your legs and not your arms to beat the fish..Alot of gals have landed 200 plus lb Yellowfin from a "dead boat" using great technique and not their back..Dave's is on an 18 day trip where they target the big Yellowfin..That day he got the 291 lber, he also got one that went 215..Next day he landed a baby one,,only 130 lbs.........Wonder what he's gonna do with all that Tuna fish.....

[No Cents]

Dean, can we catch some of those when we go to Cresent City?