This weather blows...somebody turn the fan off...there's tuna to catch before the cooler weather sets in. I hear the Bacardi is on fire with Yellowfin on the chunk and jig.
The Voyager out of Pt. Pleasant seems to have openings on their Canyon day trips for Tuna... Is it worth it?
Cap called. Said we could squeak an overnighter Thursday to Friday. Bacardi has been producing nice Yellowfin Catches. 2 flats of Butters 2 flats of Sardines 5lb box of squid several gallons of fresh peanuts. Headed out the inlet at 6:00PM seas 3' at 7 seconds SE swell. Not a bad ride but a little bumpy. When the sun went down had bullshit drones flying around with bright lights. Can fuck you up a little when you're looking for red or green boat lights to confirm what direction boats you see are going because those drones have red and green lights too. Orange slice of a moon comes up about the time we arrive. Plan was to find the Jamaica and mug it because they chunk crazy and to be in their slick is beneficial. Saw a party boat well-lit so we set up in its slick. Lines in 10:30PM first bite at 10:45PM two fish on one spit the hook at the boat. Second fish boated 11:09PM. Continued chunking. Made all the hook baits sardines as it seemed they were eating them. Lots of squid around attracted to the underwater lights. Had a fish to the boat broke off, another hook spit. At 1:30AM two lines went off boated a nice 40 lbr. We were using 50 lb leaders so anglers may have been horsing the fish too much. Had a pup Mako on thankfully didn't knot up the lines. Sunup at 6:29AM. Had a big 150 lb Mako leap full out of the water came tight too. After it broke off set up lines again. Started to see Skipjacks swirling, Tuna Chicks, Shearwaters knew something was about to happen. 7:00AM Had just made a butterfish bait for the Captain. He threw it in and Bam! Line went off. Feisty fish. Took the Cap up on the bow to fight it. Cappy was being careful due to the light leader. 7:24AM boated a nice 49.5 Yellowfin (we weighed it because we are in a monthly tournament). Continued to chunk till we ran out about 9:00AM. Buttoned it up and headed for the barn. North East wind made the ride bumpy but those guys that stayed out there were in for a rough night. So, after all went 3 for 7. Heard a great charter near us went 0 for 4 overnight until he mugged us then boated 4. A commercial fishing boat we know overnighted too had 2 rat Bluefin, a Mako, and a couple Mahi. Funny but the commercial boat kept asking where we were and we said next to the Jamaica. Found out later it was the Paramount? No wonder he couldn't find us. These head boats turn off their AIS so you can't mug em like we did.
PS: Reports are that an eddy is starting to peel off the Gulf Stream and will be pushing into the Hudson in the coming days. Should extend the tuna fishing for a while.
Didn't know the Paramount did Tuna runs. Small boat with an engine they never turn off because they don't know if it will restart. Diesel fumes in the back and mates with lousy attitudes. Not my favorite by any stretch. The Big Jamaica otoh, has the size to make a Tuna run comfortable. They have bunks too so you can get some sleep before the battles. I got Pully Ridge in a month so I'm slowly putting my gear together. Already have a nice number of oily baits already chunked up. Blues, Macks, Bones and Bunker all in the deep freeze, packaged and labeled. Bringing 4 rods one of which will be my planer which hopefully, will bring in a black fin when we make a move back to 300ft. Probably will troll Nomads as I saw them produce last year on my first trip down there. Even saw a Mahi come over the rail so I'll probably bring a spinning rig too. This month I think will be prep and prayer that the Hurricane season holds off one more month.
If you need another tuna/wahoo plug.... Halco max 1/2 price (i ordered one for me and one for my brother yesterday) https://fishermenssource.com/search?q=halco&type=product
Hey Stinky, got a question for ya.. What if anything have you heard about the Port Canaveral Princess fishing fleet? Do you know anybody that fishes off Cape Canaveral? I see there seems to be plenty headboats there. I might be in Orlando in January and thinking about booking a 10hr day trip on this boat.
They look like skinny Marauders. Tuna bite now is on the chunk. Fellow angler went out Sunday to Monday boated 32 Yellowfin and 20 Tiles.
Ho Lee Fuk How far offshore? My brother is pissed. Work has him in "school" taking some FAA licensing classes through October. hopefully there's a few weekend flat ocean days when he doesnt have to study Yeah, those lures have great reviews... I havent used the Marauders, but have smashed some wahoo on the Yo-zuri Bonitas. I think you can pull these fast on lighter tackle. Lures havent arrived yet (should be here this weekend) I let you know how how they look, but at that price.... (I got a purple one for me (wahoo) and lighter mack color for my brother (tuna)
I Haven't actually. It's about two hours south of me. They're ALOT closer to deeper water than we are, so should be ok. Definitely do the long trip like you said, and pick a weekday (unless you want to fish with googans and rednecks But that would be definitely your best location choice coming from Orlando. Ponce Inlet would be #2.
Tanx man.. Just waiting on when Wifey's conference in January will happen. I'm thinking right now instead of the autotrain, I'll fly down and just pack my smaller E-Reels or AVETS and use the boat provided rods and rigs. Cheaper option. Last charter I booked in Aruba, the boat had garbage for gear and that is a consideration. Definetly a weekday trip. I try not to do headboats on weekends anymore. Just not worth the headaches.
It's always changing.. I THINK Grouper closes 12/31 (but I'm not sure). Red Snapper is always closed (despite being EVERYWHERE) so guys target muttons now. Vermillions are in abundance, and usually triggers.... On the troll, that's when the Wahoo fire up. check FWC before you come.... and state regs and federal differ (as do Atlantic vs Gulf of MEXICO) https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/
Tried to get out Monday at 6:00AM but it was a bust. In a triple engine 37' Whaler seas were 5' at 5 seconds when they were calling for longer period swells. At 20 knots we were airborne and with 68 miles to go 2 miles out Captain pulled the plug. I had got to the dock at 3:00AM to chop 5 flats. Luckily my regular boat Captain had a plan to run out Tuesday, so I loaded up the meat and filled his deck boxes with Ice and Bait. Later 2 crewmen netted 10 gallons of peanut bunker and added to our presentation. Shoved off at 3:00AM Tuesday 3:40AM seas were bumpy southeast swell. Headed for the Texas Tower area to mug scallopers for Yellowfin. Found one and setup right on his stern quarter. Started throwing chunks had the first bite within 30 seconds. After that it was nonstop action. 4 on at a time light leaders breaking off. Moved all rods to 60 lb leaders. Had 20 hookups in 1 1/2 hours. Boated 15 limited out. Fish were in a feeding frenzy eating everything we threw at them. Deck boxes were full, and we had lots of cutting up to do so headed for the barn at 10:30AM. Left them chewing... Bumpy ride home with South wind honkin. Weighed the biggest was 70.5 lb. The rest were in the 45 to 50 lb class.
