TUNA! TUNA! TUNA! 4

If you have been listening to the show, then you know that I have been itching to go tuna fishing.  With 60 degree water showing up off our coast in mid June I was sure it was going to be an early year.  Unfortunatley the albacore didn't show as early as the warm water.  With a trip to Florida on the calendar I missed the kickoff to the season.  No worries, I had a trip planned for the weekend following my return.  The only problem was that as the week went on, the swell forecast started to change and as the weekend rolled around Sunday was iffy and Monday was definitley out.  We decided to give it a go on Sunday anyway and boy am I glad we did as we went 21 for 24 on albies.  It made the 60 mi. ride on sporty waters all worth it.

As soon as the show was over last week Nelly assisted me in getting the SalmonHawk on the trailer. The boys and I then loaded the boat and headed to Westport to meet CCA groundfish committee chair Bear Holmes.  Bear helped launch the boat in Westport and get things ready for the trip the next day.  We got going about 5 the next morning.  After a quick stop for some anemic live bait we headed across the bar.  I was immediatley thankful for the wide beam on the SalmonHawk as we were passing many of the boats ging salmon fishing as they were getting tossed around pretty good on the bar.  We then headed on a sw direction towards the 125 line.  As we were approaching the area I wanted to fish the water temps kept rising.  First 57 then 58 and then 59 degrees but then as we crossed the distinct line where green water becomes blue water the temps dropped back down to 57 degrees.  No matter, we were in the blue water so we decided to put out the spread and continue to troll sw. 20 minutes later it was fish on.  We marked the waypoint and continued to pick up fish every time we crossed that point.  First it was Madden with a fish, then Bear and Mason hooked up dropping a swimbait back in the spread.  I didn't have to wait long for my turn because 10 minutes later it was fish on! 

Always have a swimbait ready to drop back after you get a take down.

 At first the fish were small and we were only picking up singles but as the day went on it was doubles, triples, and a quad.  The fish kept getting bigger too!  We had a pretty good system going, Madden slept, Bear drove the boat, and Mason and I worked the rods and cleaned up the blood. 

As you can see there was a mess to clean.

As the day went on, the ocean went from sporty to rough so we called it a day at 21 tuna.  We cleaned up, secured everything, and settled in for a 3 hour ride home.  When we got back to Westport we put the boat back on the trailer, loaded Bear up with his fish and hit the road.  Needless to say, after getting up at 4:30 the previous two mornings I was ready for BED!

Bear, Madden, and Mason with some nice albies.

Tuna processing line.

Monday was spent carking, cleaning (it is amazing the places you can get tuna blood on a boat), canning, and then finally grilling.   All in all it was a great first trip for the year.  I am already itching to go again!