Gambler 36hr tuna(like the early '90's

[Pennsy Guy]

Capt. Bob had excellent reports of yft's off NYC so the Gambler shed her lines and we were off to a point some 42 mls. east of the NY coast We passed a couple PB's headed in early with limit catches of Y's and after 15-20 minutes looking, set up a drift in 68.3 clear, bluish water in 220'+/-. Within 10 min. I had a mouthing and dropped scad. 20 min. later, first yellow was in the slush tank. From then on single and multiple hook-ups with some dropped or spit hooks(too quick hook setting-guys will never learn, instant drag lock-ups just don't work)Trust me, voice of experience!!! drift was perfect, long-period 1-2' ocean swells and maybe 10 mph breeze. When it was time to run a bit & set up for the night, fish count was at 47---almost everyone had at least one yellow. 95% of these fish were around 45-50# but , damn, they had shoulders, all fought like 80-90#'ers. Reports said the blue dogs were there during the day and at night they infested the water...TRUE. That was an understatement...tuna turned off at dark and the sharks took over. Most went to bed while a couple jigged squid---Shorts and Niko put 30-40 in the live well plus a dozen or so for Shorts to take home. I got up at 4AM; 10 minutes later, a hook-up back in the port stern and it started again----with guys stumbling out to get a line in. Sharks were still there but so were the tuna. You took your chances before sun was fully up getting in below the cruising devils, 80% success rate but that 20% was a real pain in the ass---there's another rig---but that's fishing. In full daylight, it looked like a boatyard out there with vessels from 55'ers to 26 center consoles. We saw that catamaran out of Barnegat Light show up around 10:30-11:00 o'clock this morning; quite a run for him. Breeze had dropped out to almost calm with 1/2' sea swells, eventually to a flat calm sea; one seldom sees that, for me, just once about 15 yrs. ago. Today, 90% of the Y's were bigger55-65/70# but not quite as big-shouldered but the smaller ones still had an attitude. 50/60# leaders caught throughout as did the lighter leaders---my first was on 40(yesterday), second was on 50, third on 30#(both today). At noon, the last tuna was boated and we were done with everyone limited out---30 anglers and 90, yes NINETY beautiful yellowfin tuna in the slush tanks along with 5 kept skippies. A few were jigged, obviously, most were bait-fished--bait of choice, squid, then sardine and butterfish. Some of the tuna were feeding on tiny squid.
As always, Capt. Bob got us to "the spot", the Gambler crew, 2nd Capt. Greg, mates Niko, Erik, John and Chuck were exemplary in their attention to the many tangles from cruising blues, great head-gaffs and general attitudes keeping us entertained, lastly to the anglers who worked like a team, regardless of abilities.
I've got 3 more 36's and the add-on 11/2 24hr trip and I can't wait---totally stoked. There's room on that 24---that could be a longfin bite, November trips usually are...