My first tuna trip

[frugalfisherman]

Figured I'd give it a try. Got on a stand by list on the Tenacious and got a call to fill a overnight charter Sunday to Monday. Weather looked perfect so I went. Boat is real nice. Virtually a yacht. Takes an hour to clear the inlet because it's docked in Brick. Then 4 hours to the Hudson canyon. When we got there I couldn't believe it. If there weren't 1000 boats there wasn't one. Looked like a city at night. I guess with the holiday and first decent weather that would explain it. Trolled and caught a false albacore. Drifted for a while with a couple of bites a one guy caught about a 70 lb yellowfin. Anchored for the night and found out why everyone was drifting. With a screaming current you needed over a pound of lead to get down 100 ft. Stayed anchored all night not a bite and no readings. Drifted a little am and nothing. Trolled and nothing. Went around the pots and caught some mahi. I got the biggest. My first and only one. Judging from the lack of hooting and hollering from the other boats and the lack of reports on the board I doubt if anyone was doing much better. Well I tried tuna fishing but for 650 bucks but I think I'll stick to fluking, bottom fishing and tog.

[AndyS]

Congrats on your 1st. Tuna fishin dont come cheap ;)

[aruvio]

Tuna fishing isn't for the "frugal fisherman" lol just kidding

Come on the Jamaica and I'll show you the ropes, you will save some money too and maybe catch :)

[Dino]

weekend tuna fishing is tough... holiday weekends very tough. nice yellowfin and a pick of mahi you guys did OK at least

[dakota560]

Frugal,

Couple things to maybe bear in mind. You went at probably the worse time imaginable. Columbus Day Weekend and as someone else posted a weather window not long after a stretch of maybe two and a half weeks when every boat on the east coast was tied up at the dock. Canyon reports have been hot so yes I'm sure it was an armada out there. Not sure what phase of the moon we're currently on but there are times when the current there is insane but that's partly why it's such a great spot to fish. Bait fish get disoriented with the currents and are easy targets for the predator species.

I know guys who went during the same days as your trip who murdered them. With the canyons especially when there's that many boats sometimes being a half mile or so away from the fleet can be the difference between an empty fish box and one overflowing with tuna. Too many chunks in the water and boat pressure will put the fish down. That being the case, a few tuna and some mahi isn't a bad trip but even more so the experience you just had is something many people will never have the opportunity to enjoy in their lives. Don't give up, I've done trips albeit on private boats, where the cost to a 4 man crew was less than $200. Somebody suggested a [party boat if money is an issue, there are pros and cons to that but it is a less expensive proposition for sure.

I'd give it another shot but hook up with someone who has canyon experience and plan your trip in advance. Personally I'm not one for being on a stand by list, normally your number gets called when someone else bails for a reason which is normally not a good one....if you know what I mean. Just my opinion. PS that's a nice fat YFT in the first pic.....enjoy the steaks!

[Capt. Debbie]

It's a lot of money but tuna fishing is not rocket science either.

Similar to chumming blues. Leaders are key- YFT are leader shy with great eyes. Natural float your baited hook back with chunks. Look up "Baccardi Toss" when the fish are visible but not biting and leader used is as light as reasonable.

Hide your hook in the bait but not hide the barb.

The rest is delivery. And of course the right place, time and bait. Luck helps. LOL