The tuna this year has not been numbers...but quality. These are some big Kahunas! We're talking fish way over 100 pounds, most of them. The small ones this year are running in the 70 lb. range. I've seen more allisons this year than in the last 6 years and definately many more big eyes in the 200 lb. range. Good luck pullin one of these cows in!
I was on the Jamaica in Brielle...nice crew. The captain did what I like to see right off the bat...he gave instructions about the boat's policy...on hooking up and the right and the wrong. Captain Dale put his hours in on this trip for sure. We did some traveling to Williamston Canyon a 8 1/2 hour trip.
It's one thing to look for bait and another thing when there are way too many...fields of mackerel by the tonage. They were boiling all around the boat...millions! The live bait was lost in the city of mackerel! So we filled a few barrels of live mackerel with the sea hose, to keep them kicking, and moved on...away from the locusts of mackerel.
We started drifting, using the live bait at 3 AM and BAM fish on...YES...lines-a-screamin'! This has been the scenario all year. People were blowing lines left and right. It is very important to loosen your drag on the first run.
Machismo will not stop a tuna when he's pissed off and making tracks to Florida! Patience is the answer...hard when your adrenaline is going to burst right threw your eyes! One out of every five tuna were brought in. This went on as Dale was calling on the mike "Tuna at 80 feet, 100 feet, 200 feet" telling people where to drop their line and jig or put their bait.
The sun was rising and everyone thought the bite would be done...NOT...look, this year the bite has been great during the middle of the afternoon. So drop that scenario...OK! Drop your leaders to 80 lbs...60 lbs...and yes, down to 40 lbs. if you must.
If you have carbon line, this is the time to use it. The trick is that there is no trick...
SCALE THE LINE DOWN!
Simple.
Keep it simple and just do it!
You will produce! Anyway at around 9 AM the bite was back on and Doug Degroff had a nice marlin. This beautiful fish jumped 30 feet away from the ship, dancing away in mid air. The Michael Jordan of fish!
On a party boat it is a slim shot of pulling in a marlin...but Doug did! The marlin gave him a good 45 minute workout. After pulling him to the side of the boat he released him, as it should be.
Out of 60 and much more hook ups twenty were brought in. A great trip in my eyes. The ship is spacious and easy to move around. Dale showed us a great time...good stories as always and good food.
Note: Bring food to microwave for dinner and lunch. And don't forget the canollis...yes...and the expresso...don't leave home without it! It's well worth the trip!
Thanks for having me and showing me a great time! The boat gets the 4 stars!
Some of the Count went like this:
Doug Degroff from Mont. Jct., New Jersey with a 150 lb. marlin...fought for 40 minutes...tagged and released.
Joe Nutret from Lambertville, New Jersey with 2 tuna up to 80 lbs.
Kurt Bouhon from Turnersville, New Jersey with an 80 lb. tuna and 5 that got away. And
Frank Pogue from Williamsberg, New Jersey with an 80 lb. tuna.
