"The
Unholy Tuna Testament"
(according
to Dave)
The Rules
One Way: Boundries. Respect. Courtesy. Nicey Nice. Clean Words. Peachy
Keen.
The Dark Side: The Sicilian Stare. Not Moving. Ears Becoming Suddenly
Deaf. Lines Cutting. Stand Offs. No One Catches.
Rule #1 - Hooks
Have the right gear...and enough of it. Go back in the archives to read
about tuna gear. Use Gamakatsu hooks and stop playing around. Gorilla
style. Octopus style. Circle hooks. Leave the Kmart hooks at home please.
Even if you are renting boat rods, buy these hooks, the mates will be
happy to put them on for you.
Rule #2 - Weights
Egg Sinkers (Forget rubber-bands). Buy enough so you don't run out. 16
ounces. 12 ounces. 8 ounces. 6 ounces. All the way down to an ounce. Buy
these ahead of time, some boats will not have these sinkers.
Rule #3 - Swivels
Ball Bearing Swivels. 150 pound and up thank you...or you will have the
line twist from hell.
Rule #4 - Fluoro Carbon Leaders
I will beat this into your little, tiny brains...Tuna have eagle eyes.
They see everything and if they see anything out of the norm, No Eat,
go to next bait. Asta Lavista Baby!
No Bite=No Fish=Unhappy Fisherman=Shake Rattle and Cry...Change Diaper.
40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 pound test are all great to have, 50 & 60 pound
is a must. The tuna fight is a rush...enjoy and relax.
Rule #5 - Mates
If you don't know the right knot, have the mate show you. Don't make
up your own science experiment. (If you were lost, you wouldn't drive
for four hours in the wrong direction, you'd stop and ask directions at
the gas station. Hint.) Mates are there to help you get your fish in,
there is no secret agenda going on. They've done this a million times...they
don't all of a sudden become a genious at gaffing fish. Obey the Mates.
Good doggy, good bo bo, don't bite...here's a doggy treat. After hooking
a tuna follow your fish and call the mate, he will direct traffic. For
you other drivers...pull over to the curb. Red flashing lights, truck
coming down no brakes, get out of the way...pretty please!
A 90 pound tuna is a freight train off the tracks running down hill.
If 6 guys have their lines in the water right in the way of a man running
with his rod down and the others will not reeli their lines up, so passenger
"A" can get his fish...he'll lose his fish in a macrome knot
from hell or "B" the mates do not have time to smoke cigarettes
and call their mothers while they try to unknot the mess with a 90 pound
tuna going berserk on a run. They will cut your lines, as they should,
to get that fish in the boat. Because that person "A" may be
YOU! This is supposed to be fun. I understand that your adrenalin goes
off to the moon and you are psyched, but think...we are all trying to
get fish...and yes, I ScreamingReel Dave have been guilty as hell of going
off with a tuna on the run and have lost my sanity for a moment in the
fight of the fish, oblivious to anything around me but the fish. I am
no saint...I have one wing and one horn...and I am wrong at those times,
few as they may be. Listen to the mates, give them the space to work.
Rule #6 - Depth
Okay you are on a trip and you are not hooking up and everyone around
you is as hot as fire, ripping at fish.
Did you remember to use your deodorant? Did you call your Mother? And
when was the last time that you went to church? Have you looked in the
mirror lately? Gosh dang, you're ugly...don't look in the water, you'll
scare the fish away (just kidding).
Here are some helpful hints: Listen to the depth of where the fish are.
If you are fishing at 300 feet and the fish are biting at 40 feet, you
may as well be in another town. If the fish are chowing right on top,
take off all of your weight and free line the bait out. Keep your spool
open with your big fat thumb on it. When your thumb lights on fire because
of a major run-off engage gear. Call medic! Don't worry, you always have
another thumb...maybe.
Rule #7 - The First Fish
The boat always wants the first fish in. So act as if that is the Golden
Cow...because if it gets away in a massive tangle, it will go down bleeding
and screaming and yelling "run, Gump, run" to the other tunas.
Then you have to wait for the next school to come around and that could
be hours.
Tuna fishing is the best rush, who needs drugs. I write this because
I've seen some real scenarios from hell. Thirty fish in the boat and over
fifty fish lost. Bad karma, baby! Read this and let it sink in. The mates
and captains only want you to produce a good catch for yourself and for
you to come back again to enjoy this great sport.
The Rules
One Way: Boundries. Respect. Courtesy. Nicey Nice. Clean Words. Peachy
Keen.
The Dark Side: The Sicilian Stare. Not Moving. Ears Becoming Suddenly
Deaf. Lines Cutting. Stand Offs. No One Catches.
|
|
Rule #1 - Hooks
Have the right gear...and enough of it. Go back in the archives to read about tuna gear. Use Gamakatsu hooks and stop playing around. Gorilla style. Octopus style. Circle hooks. Leave the Kmart hooks at home please. Even if you are renting boat rods, buy these hooks, the mates will be happy to put them on for you.
Rule #2 - Weights
Egg Sinkers (Forget rubber-bands). Buy enough so you don't run out. 16 ounces. 12 ounces. 8 ounces. 6 ounces. All the way down to an ounce. Buy these ahead of time, some boats will not have these sinkers.
Rule #3 - Swivels
Ball Bearing Swivels. 150 pound and up thank you...or you will have the line twist from hell.
Rule #4 - Fluoro Carbon Leaders
I will beat this into your little, tiny brains...Tuna have eagle eyes.
They see everything and if they see anything out of the norm, No Eat,
go to next bait. Asta Lavista Baby!
No Bite=No Fish=Unhappy Fisherman=Shake Rattle and Cry...Change Diaper.
40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 pound test are all great to have, 50 & 60 pound
is a must. The tuna fight is a rush...enjoy and relax.
|
|
Rule #5 - Mates
If you don't know the right knot, have the mate show you. Don't make up your own science experiment. (If you were lost, you wouldn't drive for four hours in the wrong direction, you'd stop and ask directions at the gas station. Hint.) Mates are there to help you get your fish in, there is no secret agenda going on. They've done this a million times...they don't all of a sudden become a genious at gaffing fish. Obey the Mates. Good doggy, good bo bo, don't bite...here's a doggy treat. After hooking a tuna follow your fish and call the mate, he will direct traffic. For you other drivers...pull over to the curb. Red flashing lights, truck coming down no brakes, get out of the way...pretty please!
A 90 pound tuna is a freight train off the tracks running down hill. If 6 guys have their lines in the water right in the way of a man running with his rod down and the others will not reeli their lines up, so passenger "A" can get his fish...he'll lose his fish in a macrome knot from hell or "B" the mates do not have time to smoke cigarettes and call their mothers while they try to unknot the mess with a 90 pound tuna going berserk on a run. They will cut your lines, as they should, to get that fish in the boat. Because that person "A" may be YOU! This is supposed to be fun. I understand that your adrenalin goes off to the moon and you are psyched, but think...we are all trying to get fish...and yes, I ScreamingReel Dave have been guilty as hell of going off with a tuna on the run and have lost my sanity for a moment in the fight of the fish, oblivious to anything around me but the fish. I am no saint...I have one wing and one horn...and I am wrong at those times, few as they may be. Listen to the mates, give them the space to work.
Rule #6 - Depth
Okay you are on a trip and you are not hooking up and everyone around you is as hot as fire, ripping at fish.
Did you remember to use your deodorant? Did you call your Mother? And when was the last time that you went to church? Have you looked in the mirror lately? Gosh dang, you're ugly...don't look in the water, you'll scare the fish away (just kidding).
Here are some helpful hints: Listen to the depth of where the fish are. If you are fishing at 300 feet and the fish are biting at 40 feet, you may as well be in another town. If the fish are chowing right on top, take off all of your weight and free line the bait out. Keep your spool open with your big fat thumb on it. When your thumb lights on fire because of a major run-off engage gear. Call medic! Don't worry, you always have another thumb...maybe.
Rule #7 - The First Fish
The boat always wants the first fish in. So act as if that is the Golden
Cow...because if it gets away in a massive tangle, it will go down bleeding
and screaming and yelling "run, Gump, run" to the other tunas.
Then you have to wait for the next school to come around and that could
be hours.
Tuna fishing is the best rush, who needs drugs. I write this because
I've seen some real scenarios from hell. Thirty fish in the boat and over
fifty fish lost. Bad karma, baby! Read this and let it sink in. The mates
and captains only want you to produce a good catch for yourself and for
you to come back again to enjoy this great sport.