Well at least I want to be! Hello Salty Dog's. I've already done the 1st time story on Ifish Community but feel like I owe one here too as this was my lurking spot for over a year before signing up. As a matter of fact it was the Salty Dogs and Tacklebuster that cemented the decision to join. You guys are a 1st class bunch that I hope to fish with someday.
First off I'm a young 48; born and raised in Pendleton. Did many ocean trips out of the Columbia and Newport as a teenager with my step dad and his partner who commerical fish and chartered for Salmon back in the 60's and early 70's. First salmon ever was on my first trip out, a 26lb Chinook off the South Jetty in the fog. Before I tell the story I just want to say that I have fallen victim to TUNA FEVER. After reading so many stories about Tuna trips in August of 2002 I decided to hookup with the Irish and go. Of the 9 fish caught that day 6 were on my rod and needless to say I was hooked. Summer of 2003 I booked 4 trips and due to weather finally made it out the 2nd week of September, my last chance! The boat scored 20 fish that day and I started thinking of my own gear. Lots of advice from the board but I'm a die hard left hand crank kind of guy and finally found a reel that seemed to fit everyones advice. Purchased a Penn 246LD-LH on the internet for less than $180 and loaded it up with 80lb PowerPro. Just enough room left over for about 100-150 yards of 50lb mono. Took Pilar's advice and went with the 8' Ugly Stick as I'm partial to the longer rods too! This winter went to the Boat Show and started looking at the 22'models they had to offer. The SeaSport is sweet, but to get started would have to sell the Sled and that is becoming very hard to comprehend. Probably just another Tuna trip or two huh guys
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Ok time for the story -
At the age of 14 I had been out on the ocean a number of times and fortunately was blessed to be one of those that doesn't get seasick. Learned at an early age that the best thing for me was to stand up outside the cabin and get my sea legs as we headed out instead of setting inside and drinking hot chocolate and eating donuts. Well on many of the sport fishing trips the folks and friends would go out and party it up
. My stepdad and his friend were old hands at this but that particular night I think they got a little carried away because neither one of them looked too good in the morning. Of course they couldn't back out because they were Old Dogs of the Sea and had a reputation to protect so off we go across the Columbia Bar.
I just knew the day was going to be special because as we head out the swells are already 10-12' but with very long durations and both of them are looking a little pale. By the time we hit buoy 8 the swells are 15-20' but real smooth and there is no wind so we continue on. Now my stepdad was in the navy on a destroyer and had seen some awesome conditions before. I have never seen him get seasick even after staying up most of the night partying. We find the fleet and put the lines out and about 2 minutes later I hear the familar sound of RALPH! Oh Black Velvet what have you done! At the same time I see last nights dinner go floating by and it looked nasty. About 5 minutes later I see another offering come by and hear his buddy on the other side of the boat making his contributions. After about an hour of this I begin to get a little quesy because it is now pre-occupying my mind due to the constant onslaught from both sides of the boat. The swells have now increased to over 20' and the up and down is really becoming a first time experience. Up we go and there are hundreds of boats around and then down we go and all there is is water, water everywhere. Then it happened; I hear my stepdad let loose again but only this time I hear a mumbled response (can't repeat it) and look down into the water to see another chum slick only this time it was special. Right in the middle of the chum slick is a full set of dentures slowly sinking along with everything else. It is a sight I will never forget and I just about had my first and only encounter with seasickness!
I think the one saving grace was my stepdad with a puckered mouth, sounding like a 100 year old man, yelling at me to grab his choppers! Of course there was no way I could get them but the picture is still fresh in my mind to this day! The rest of the day was spent catching the occasional fish and trying to keep from laughing out loud everytime we made eye contact. When you are 14 and your stepdad is hung-over with no teeth it isn't a good idea:laughing::laughing:.
Really wanted to join you guys in Newport but a family emergency keep hubby at home that weekend. Hope to meet some of you soon as it sounds like a possible TA meeting in Portland is in the works and I would like to see 1st hand some of the lure setups you are using
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SET_THE_HOOK
New Salty Pup
It fell in a hole in the water. 
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