Gambler 36 hr tuna

[Pennsy Guy]

Bob headed for the flats and Bluefin water, about a 3 hr. ride. With a short look-around, we started a quick 1.5 kt. drift in 71* water. After 2 hrs. with only a jigged Skippy and Sea robin we headed for another 1.5-2 hr. ride to the Hudson which turned into a 4.5 hr. ride to the Toms and set up a drift in 73* blue water (61* at the Hudson). During the afternoon, a run-off with a parted line and a 10' run-off with a bare hook coming in. At some point a hooked BIG blue shark brought to the boat before biting off. After dark we anchored, later discovered a pot marker 300-400' off the port side and caught one larger 12# Mahi and 25 chickens during the night. That pot was loaded with them. We had to move 3 times as the distance between us and it became dangerous. First tuna came in @ 3 AM, next one @ 5. One more was jigged and two more on bait. We called it quits @ 8 AM and were on our way back by 8:30. Took us 8 hrs. to the dock.
Seas built steadily to some honest 8-10' stacked swells. A couple broke as waves almost as high as the scuppers burying a foot of my rod tip which was pointed down to keep line off the hull. Wind had built to at least 30 kt. awhile before we left. Oh yea, another BIG blue dog showed up. Bob said he'd stop back at the flats if things improved inshore. They hadn't so dockward we went.
5 Yellowfin in the 50-60 lb. class. 25 Mahi.
This year is quickly becoming one of the worst, weather-wise, in years. Hopefully, it'll end better and more fruitfully--Longfin would be nice! I could live with that...

[2na]

Thanks for the report Pal

[Ol Pedro]

Thanks Chuck for your report. Bet your sore from the ride in.

[capt74]

Thanks, Chuck, for taking that beating for me.

[AndyS]

No doubt about the weather, considering that South wind and cold water all summer, fits the motif.

[Pennsy Guy]

Forgot, everything was caught with butters, nothing with sardines. Even my big Mahi was on a butter-just took her 3-4 minutes to eat it and she was full of chunks. One tuna, said Steve, held about 15 lbs. of sand eels in it's stumach.

[captbogan]

Thanks for putting the report up, Chuck.

The weather forecast had looked good for that trip right up until the night before.

The wind was supposed to hold-off until 7am. I figured by then we would pick-up and try on the flats, drifting in the whales and life we had seen on Tuesday. But, by 2AM it was already honking.

At times, during the dark, the yellowfin could be seen shooting through the chunks. But with the boat swinging on anchor like it was, it was difficult to get a hooked-fish within gaffing range.

Headed out tonight. Looking forward to calmer seas.

Capt Bob

[Ol Pedro]

Catch um up !