NC blufins 3/14-15

[tuna john]

Me lucky john, sweet melissa, dwight the wild Hawaiian, John and Ralph went out sat in the snot, had to be solid 8-10 occasional 12. All to show for the day was a yellowfin about 35-40 and a mahi. Saw and heard of almost no action.
Day 2 weather much improved, headed to an area further south that we could nt get to sat, fished extremely warm water for bluefins, but capt said this year they were hanging more in the warm. Well for us did matter,we did get a mahi about 20 lbs dropped the girlfriend. Headed north to fish the cooler waters for bluefin to no avail. One boat in the group did land one close by to us but wasn't of much size. 2nd year in a row going home w. out the intended target. The inlet is just awful, our capt had to lower the outriggers coming and going 10 min process and a pain. we had a great group and still had a ton of fun and laughs.

If you are planning on going i would wait to see if the bite gets better before committing to go.

[shrimpman steve]

Truth in reporting.

Thanks.

[Tuna Tales]

Hope it picks up for everyone down there...

I remember going down there (Oden's Dock, Hatteras, NC) in mid to late
1990s in late February and catching GBT to 500 lbs on 130s in the chair with 2 day old bunker as bait.

No chumming or chunking...just toss the dead bunker off the back of the boat and hang on!!

A lot of fun...C&R keeping one for the table in the 200 lb range.





Joe T.

[shrimpman steve]

Fished out of Odens a bunch. Some great trips some not so great. But always had a good time.

[tuna john]

Originally Posted by Tuna Tales

Hope it picks up for everyone down there...

I remember going down there (Oden's Dock, Hatteras, NC) in mid to late
1990s in late February and catching GBT to 500 lbs on 130s in the chair with 2 day old bunker as bait.

No chumming or chunking...just toss the dead bunker off the back of the boat and hang on!!

A lot of fun...C&R keeping one for the table in the 200 lb range.





Joe T.

i so much agree, my first year was 96 with Billy Verbenas on the realistic, i was so amazed back then, like you said throw a few bunker it was game on. Times have sure changed

[Joey Dah Fish]

Better luck next time I hope. But remember the best part of 90% of fishing adventures is the anticipation, getting gear ready and all that stuff. It's not the kill it's the thrill of the chase.

[Capt. Lou]

Early nineties awesome down there, like stated no chunking
required just send bait over & hang on !
However best day ever down there early seventies in early June ran into huge pods of tuna . They were taking flying fish like dry flies , just threw a rigged Bally & game on unreal never forget that day.
Just my lawyer & me on boat , even got the mate his first big tuna !! Maybe one true giant but by today's measurements many giants. 300 to 400 range !
Broke off several wooden butts since we didn't have aluminum yet .
All chair fish on 80's !! Set up for Marlin with 19 wire.
Try that today!!

[Pauls1976]

It's funny, my family has owned a house in Frisco for over 30 years. One time we were down in April to do some work on the house before rental season. We saw Giants clearing the water chasing bunker behind the breakers. We asked about it at one of the tackle shops and they told us there are no bluefin down here it must of been a false albacore. No way anyone could mistake a giant for a falsie. Two months later Sport Fishing Magazine had an article talking about the new found fishery for bluefin in OBX.

[tombanjo]

Originally Posted by tuna john

i so much agree, my first year was 96 with Billy Verbenas on the realistic, i was so amazed back then, like you said throw a few bunker it was game on. Times have sure changed

There's a very good 2012 documentary on Netflix called "Sushi: The Global Catch."

It centers of course on the unbelievable pressure on the BFT and not from a political angle, more just a sad lament that instead of improving it keeps getting worse.

As if there wasn't already enough pressure on them, now China and India, two of the most populated countires in the world that traditionaly had only disdain for raw fish are now are developing a taste for it.

The history and art of making sushi segments were interesting but when they lay out the plight of these magnificent creatures it's enough to make you cry.

[Capt. Lou]

Truly a shame , the bluefin is sought after today just for the bucks !
I remember the seventies in NS , they were very abundant & getting several to the boat I one day was common .
No value then most the town folks would saw out steaks then rest t towed back out to sea.
In those days u could jig huge cod to 50#'s in sight of the harbor no more that's gone as well !
Offshore Pollock fishing was outstanding , fish to 40# plus all over on top !!