NJF Tuna Trip quick report:

[Blackfish Bobby]

Great Trip guys......Been looking forward to a report like this !!!!

Can you guys tell us which jigs produced best. I already have a pretty good arsenal but always like to hear what worked best. Tuna jigging is awesome !!!! My all time favoorite is the BRAID Glow Mackerel.

[In Pursuit]

My knockoff glow butterfly was getting slaughtered. Hammered diamonds were working also.

I'm not too sure there were many jigs that didn't work that night.

Tin Squid, I forgot to mention it was great fishing with you.

[howarda780]

I used a 10oz hammered diamond jig with a tandem hook.

Duff used the same style but it was bent.

[RAMMFISH66]

Andy--you outdid yourself this time !!!! Trip was GREAT even though I caught 1-TUNA @40lbs BUT that works for me. Gambler crew was OUTSTANDING before, during and after the BLITZ !!! When you screamed FISH ON or GAF, someone was at your back every time to help. The Capt put us on fish from the start and even though trolling did not produce fish, MAI-MAI were at the pots and it was fun. Again thank you for my second great experience to fish TUNA with NJFISHING.com., a good well mannered group.I usually fish the surf, as most of you know but always look forward to TUNA time. So now its time to set aside my PENN 9/0 and 6/0 'till next year and break out the 11' rod with penn 7500 for Stripers in the surf. Will keep you all up to date-----see 'ya all later and once again, THANK YOU, Robbie.

[Tin Squid]

In regards to the jig question, I was using a Dan Hernandez magic metal 7.5 or so ounce jig in green mackeral with a 6/0 Owner Stinger open eye single replacement for the out-of-the-package treble hook. I had a 4/0 assist hook up top off of the ring.

Tight Lines

[AndyS]

Thanx again guys. Thanx to Gerry for putting together a website, for which I have met so many great folk.

Thanx to the Capt. and crew and finding that "fishy spot" like finding a needle in a hay stack sometimes.

Thanx to the guys who made MY trip most enjoyable. I know there were sore arms, but my cheeks and gut hurt from laughing so much.

Thanx to those who gave fish to those who had none.

Next year September 27-28, 2009 God willing.

[Richy B]

Andy, Thanks for both trips, you go above and beyond and all of us appreciate the hard work you put into these trips. It would be nice to see you fish a bit more!
Count me in for any Tuna Trip(s) for next year....I'm in! You want some money now?

I'll start my training in January for the next title fight! Somebody has to take the title away from this guy! I'll be another year older, and the body will be failing even more. I'm using an arm crutch for bowhunting, I'll probably need a power assist brace for jigging next year!

Note to self: Bring lots of Red Bull and Creatine for next trip!

Here's that picture of "The Top Tuna Terminator" and the guy who thought he was a "Contender". But, as you saw in the Duffmans "Embarrassing Pictures" he had me on the "Ropes" (rail) for most of the night, and then I was def. "TKO'd".

Wai till next year! I'm pumpin iron, and I'll be in better shape.......I hope..lol

[Duffman]

Thanks buddy for putting this all together. PIA and the greys get thicker every year, but it all comes out good in the end. Thanks for putting back into this site what it has given to you. Friends, good times and fishing knowledge.

Big, big thanks to all the guys who have done these trips. I was new at the offshore thing just a few short years ago. EVERY SINGLE THING I have learned was from from all of you. Richy, I'm NOT good, just lucky to suck up 20 yrs offshore goodies from the guys here. Luck also has 99% to do with it!

Tin, thanks for all the info. It was like tapping into a jigging data base. All that info will go to good use. Next year, maybe jig a Wahoo???

Just thinking back to 3AM Monday. Like a bunch of 6 year olds on Christmas morning, only instead of presents under the tree, it was blood, gaffs, laughs and yft's flying around. Dont get better than that.

A day later and I'm beat and bruised!

Soooooo, next year........36 hour.....inshore bluefin, then tiles, then troll, chunk all night, pot hop in the AM, hit some wrecks and jig pollock on the way in??? Sounds like a plan.....

[Tin Squid]

Duffman,

The look on your face once the jig bite got going was worth all the wait at the rail until it broke loose. You had "a man possessed" look and it showed in the amount of fish you decked. You were the one who started it off! It was a good thing that Warren, "In Pursuit", "JD Shots", "Howard A", "Ray Rod" and all the other jig slingers kept at it because frankly, they kept the Tuna hopped up and slamming those jigs! Trust me, there have been times when I went at it alone with jigs and things might have been different if more people were "into it". I'm glad my lobbying and "positive jig karma" paid off. Next year, it'll be 65 pounders on those skinny jig rods, then we'll all see what a real fire drill is all about. Keep up the positive ethic at the rail and good things will happen.

Tight Lines!

I used a 7 oz stright silver jig with a size 10/0 owner hooks. Whatever jig you use, be sure you hand sharpen or better yet replace the hooks. I didn't get any spit outs the entire night and landed 4 YFT.

I will never ever use a diamond jig of the rack with the existing hooks - they are not sharp enough in my opinion. I just throw those hooks in the trash.

Obviously I am in agreement with Tin Squid, Ray Rod, Duffman, Andy and the others that attribute part of our success to holding the school under the boat. I counted 6-10 guys jigging at any given time. Usually on boats - the mates and 1 or 2 others are jigging and that is it.

Once again - great job to the mates and capt.

See you at the Christmas party!