Gambler 36hr tuna 10/14-15

[Pennsy Guy]

Just back from a productive trip. Probably won't have all the stops but will have all the tuna...First NOAA was pretty much right on with forecast which is always nice. Headed for the area which has held yellows for the past 2 months...set up on a drift with nothing...moved to the Hudson area (around the 100sq) & set up a drift for the night...had a runoff about 9PM and what looked to be--and was--a huge longfin(60-65lb) was put on ice. Nothing else, no swords, either as we drifter into the deep(2000') First stop H2O was 63*, night was 66*. Moved a bit inshore for a drift for dawn bite--7AM first yellow came in, then nothing. Moved again, still in same general area with a couple more yellows put on ice. Water temps ultimately climbed to 70* for duration. Final move was mostly back to start of trip in 200'+ water and re-drifted same area after bites died. Lots of bait-sized ling caught & used successfully along with squid. Bite and catch rate picked up late AM until we left for the barn @ 4PM.
2 fish were jigged- 1 yellow, 1 bluefin(under). 9 yellowfin caught along with the aforementioned longfin for a total of 12 tuna. I went 1 for 2---dropped 1 on 30#(late AM), caught 1 on 40#(early PM). Pool was won by an angler who had not caught last year---this was his first ever tuna---what a way to start!!! His Y(89#) outweighed mine by 10#...This was the first time I was happy to lose the pool to another--he really did deserve it! As usual, kudos to the crew, Nico, Alex, Stan & John for their handling the many tangles, gaffing & all around help. Also, to Capt. Bob for his ever-trying to find the fish. A special shout-out to Captain Tuna for his ever-present knowledge & help.
See y'all after the Halloween 36hr trip. Oh yea, my fish was crammed full of sand eels. Dropped the one using 1/2 oz; caught the one using 4oz..

[Gerry Zagorski]

Way to go and thanks for the report Dan.

[tunajoe]

Nice write up and congrats on your fish. Ooph! Was hoping for a better report. The large body of YFT's must have moved out. Urgh!!! We were consistently getting 5-6 fish with just 3 guys fishing trip after trip.

[Pennsy Guy]

Tunajoe I know but after 2 months of private boats, charters & PB's fishing 6 mile circle area the fishing has to slow; there's a finite number of fish and it has to slow 'til they're all caught!!! How many tons of sand eels can be there? As I said, my fish was absolutely stuffed with them... Compared to recent years, I can't complain...

[Ol Pedro]

There's always hope that new fish will show up as the water cools to the north. But parking lot fishing has taken it's toll on this group of fish. If the sand eels hold up and the temp doesn't drop too much there should be at least a scratch bite for a while.

[Jigman13]

Or the bluefin will move in as they head south.