Canyon Runner - 50+ Tuna - All 35-55 Pounds Just Last Few Days

[Canyon Runner]

Outstanding tuna fishing the last several trips for both Canyon Runner boats Wednesday to Friday this week is how it has to be described. Capt. Deane Lambros had trips Wednesday to Thursday and Thursday to Friday with second Capt. Kevin Muller working the pit and found great action on the troll right at home base – the Hudson Canyon. Trolling was the way it used to be with the “old stuff” catching almost everything. White Canyon Runner spreader bars – 9” and blue silver mini mambas bars accounted for most of the strikes but a lot of the fish came on ballyhoo. Joe Shute and Ilanders over the ballyhoo was the key – mostly white and white/blue. The fish were mostly in 500-700 feet of 63-64 degree water although a few were caught in cooler water.

Wednesday it was the Barry Simpson charter who came out to learn a few tricks to bring back to their boat on a tutorial charter (we do several of these each year) and mission accomplished. They had action for the moment they got there catching 3 of 4 within minutes then picked away the rest of the trip to finish off with 10 for 15 on bluefins – all the fish except one or two each trip are 40” – 44” which puts them all as legit 35 – 50 pound fish. The night shark action was sporadic with some blue sharks but no luck with Mr. Mako.

Thursday to Friday saw Antony Bencivenga book the 48 Viking by himself with his 8 year old daughter Lily. And once again Lily got it done. They picked away the entire time they were fishing with the best of it in the morning as they “left them biting”. They finishing off 12/15 with fish up to 47 inches – around 55-60 pounds. Their night bite saw a dozen blue sharks and jumped off a mako.

Capt. Phil Dulanie had the 60 Ritchie out with the Pat Cuozzo and Jay Garvey charter and they got into the good fishing as well. Again Friday morning was the best of it and again they “left them biting” bringing a double to the boat and deciding not to put em back out getting home early to let the crew start the drinking for Memorial Day Weekend early. Their night bite saw dozens of blue sharks swimming around the boat the entire night trying to eat our brand new OceanLED lights – didn’t think much of it until a 15 pound mahi tried to do the same – must be something with the color blue we used – check out the pic below.

Capt. Deane is back out with Capt. Craig Angelini and the Alan Freedman charter and is flat out hammering the fish right now – going 14 for 22 in the first 3 hours of fishing along – just amazing!! Again – all the fish are 35 to 50 pounds with one this trip close to 70 pounds.

Folks – it’s flat out as good of early season tuna action you can expect as it’s only May 28 and we’ve already caught over 50 tuna in 5 trips. So get your boats ready, get your tackle ready or call for a charter and get your crew ready – it’s game on!

[Canyon Runner]

Just as a follow up to this report - Capt. Deane finished off the weekend with a Saturday-Sunday trip with the Alan Freedman charter and had the best trip of the stretch. The best of it was Saturday to Sunday nailing 17 bluefin out of 25 hooked up in just 4 hours of trolling Saturday. After that they went looking for warmer water and a place to set up for makos. When they did finally stop the sharking was second to none with over a dozen sharks, mostly blue sharks plus a tiger and finally right at first light a 175 pound mako. The morning troll really was just to clean up the cockpit and get ready for the ride home.

And maybe best of all - was what we didn't even catch. One of our Canyon Runner Fishing Report member was sent out there by us Sunday to Monday (despite me suggesting the weather wasn't up to it) and they found yellowfin there on the morning troll Monday before coming home. So it's really shaping up to one of the best early season troll bites we've had in a while.