As for reports....it changes week to week out there depending on temp breaks, storms etc...In gengeral, YFT this time of year can be insane.. They can be thick as thieves and IMO they fight like hell and taste better than bluefin and you can boat a bunch of them in a day. Mahi, and albacore (longfin) are also somewhat abundant. Every now and again you get a bigeye or a wahoo or even a marlin, but I don't know how you would catch a marlin on a headboat.
Sharks and Swords at night...try for squid. check this video about squidfishing out there:
Squid slaughter at Fish Tails - YouTube

IMO the best thing about being out there is the blue water...awesome. You know when you have arrived.

Yes! 4 anglers max. to keep it comfortable.

WoW!! Guys, that is a bargin!

Most guys I know that do overnighters start at 2500 and it goes up from there.

Great video Jim. Thanks for sharing! Do you know what was chasing them?

Hurricane is bearing down on us and I'm thinking about fishing rods. So what do you think? What is the best size reel for this type of fishing? A 50? An 80? Line? 100lb? I might pull the trigger on a new stick.

A good quick read on the experience....

Fall Tuna Fishing in New England

we need to figure out what we need to bring for rods and terminal stuff. less than 2 weeks to go

No sure this is correct, but from watching the OTW TV video of the show they did from the HelenH, when trolling it is the boat's rods/reels/gear, at least that is what it seemed? When jigging it is your own gear/jigs/etc.? You are scheduled as to when you man a trolling line, and hope for the best.

I'm not planning on bringing a Penn Gold (my smallest is a 50) but was planning on bringing 2 spinning setups capable of handling anything we might hook onto on this trip (yellowfin/wahoo/mahi/etc). Also an assortment of jigs.

Highly recommend a quality 2 speed reel that is loaded with braid with a 50+ yard mono leader.(100-130#) . A multi speed reel will make your day. (rec hollow core braid) I would consider 50W reels with appropriate rods. 80's are about as big as you want to deal with on stand up gear and 30wide 's are as small as you want, if you go 30 drop down to about 80# braid to get the capacity you need. 50W LRS's are ideal IMO, you have the stopping power and decent capacity with braid. If you have to fish all mono...then you need an 80W. I don't think you can put enough mono on a 50 to stop a big yellowfin unless you chase him and that is not going to happen on a party boat. Also a good spinner (aka like the Terez) with an appropriate spin reel that can withstand 75# yft, large sharks, etc also loaded with A LOT of braid. You will need a harness...several guys can probably share one

I would think they have rods though...esp for trolling.

I'm going to bring a setup for getting bait, a 320gt2 for night mahi, a heavy tuna spinning setup for drifting
chunks or jigging. For trolling I'll just use their stuff.
Probably should bring a 50 to put out a sword bait
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I'm in and I'm paid. They take your card info and charge on the day you sail.

as of 9:45am 08/29/2011 they have 10 spots left.

The woman I spoke with in their office is going to Email me a list of suggested gear in case you decide to bring your own opposed to their rentals.
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Glad you're coming victor, if you get that email with what to bring post it. I don't think they have my email addy
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Some good party boat tuna fishing info on this site.

VOYAGER Sportfishing, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ - Stand-up Fishing


Looks like we need egg sinkers to get the bait down. Paul, You make any at leadfeast? or I guess we could rubberband some bank sinkers.

Bring squid jigs in case squid are around to catch for bait.

I'm bringing a 50, a stella, and one small rod

Based on prior advice, I'll bring my 50 2-speed and 2 spinning. I have the AFTCO 2-piece belt so we can strap in for the big'uns.

I have some bait hooks rigged with I think 2oz egg sinkers...

Is it worth bringing RONZ, shanka's, etc?

No email received from them yet. I curious as to rods. Terminal tackle, trolling both rod and reel as well as lures do we provide our own shankas? Or green ma chines tuna feathers etc?
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[QUOTE=fish4striper;883895]
Looks like we need egg sinkers to get the bait down. Paul, You make any at leadfeast?
good link - i'm gonna read it when the kids go to bed. i've got egg sinkers to 6 oz. do you have any heavy flouro for a sword rig? i've got tons of longline circle hooks.
i would bring some ronz and metal to jig
i don't know what they usually troll but i'm going to bring some ballyhoo, green machine daisy chain, and some plastic behind a bird. one other thing - spin those jigging reels up w/ the color changing line so when he says he's marking fish at 150 feet you can put the jigs in front of their faces. this will be a great time really looking forward to it - let's hope for good seas

Katia about on the wrong time line and track!!!!!!
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I tuna fish with the Helen H a handful of times every year . . . here is my take for what it is worth

Trolling - they set up 8 man teams and rotate every 20 minutes or so. They use all their own tackle and lures - I've seen people try to add there own "favorites" to the spread and it becomes problematic. My advice leave all the trolling stuff to them and focus on the jigging and bait set ups.

Once a fish is hooked on the troll Joe will take the boat out of gear and guys will jig from around the boat - last trip many of the best fish were hooked on jigs. As to what gear to use - I use 2 Saltiga 40's with 80 pound braid - the color coded line is helpful. As to jigs - no need to get fancy 8 - 10 hammered diamonds work as well as anything.

Bait setups - once they set up to chunk they really prefer mono - only in the water - which dictates a larger reel. "Middle of the road" is a 50 wide size reel with 100 pound mono . . . you'll see guys using larger and smaller but a 50 is the standard.

I also bring a Saltiga 4500 and 7 foot St Croix that I can use for catching live squid and it doubles as a nice setup for Mahi . . . last trip we had few squid around the boat but the mahi were cruising all over - throw a chunk of butterfish at them and hold on :drool:

Bring a sleeping bag and plan on sleeping on the way out and the way in . . . the chunk bite has not really heated up from what I've heard and most of the action we saw came at sunset and sunrise - but every trip is different.

One comment on spinning gear - I know it is becoming all the rage - and I have a Stella 10000 - but I would never think of bringing it on a trip like this - guys do - but with the high railings I just don't think they work well - there willl be zero opportunities to cast to breaking fish (even if they were breaking - the crew would not let anyone cast overhand for safetly reasons) -

Wish I could join you guys for this one but I have travel commitments already booked - best of luck and say Hi to Matty and Jiggin John for me :rotf2:

Bring dramamine.
big, long swell (or worse) next weekend.

Thanks for the info Gloucester, it helps. Now let's watch the forecast
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Thanks for the info. So the only time you can use braid is when they stop the boat trolling ?

No way when they're chunking? Waht about catching the mahi when they're chunking? Can you use a spinning rod with braid for that?

I talked to them during the week and they told they would put a list of recommended gear together and email it out but have not received it - would be nice to have it sooner than later to get organized. Good news is the weather is looking better
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just watched the otw show again - they were using braid

still no emails guys? think we'll sail?

Called and spk/w them this am. No emails with details re: gear yet. Doubt we'll receive the emails. Re: weather and sailing they said they would have a better idea tomorrow afternoon ie. As to how the current hurricane/storm tracks.. Offshore/inland. Basically the overall tone was wait and see.
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from another site:

First Tuna Trips of 2011 on the Helen H

2 Day Tuna August 17 & 18, 2011

We picked away on the Ma-hi through out the night along with a 80 lb Swordfish. Ma-hi were up to 10 lbs, with only a few tuna before daybreak. We set backup on the troll and picked away at the Yellow Fin until noon. We caught Yellow Fin on the troll and on jigs. Our final count was: 24 Yellow Fin, 25 Mahi and 1 Sword.

3 Day Tuna September 3,4 & 5, 2011

Mid day we showed up at the tip of Hydrographers Canyon. Before all the rigs were in the water we had one on. First fish was a 60 lb Yellow Fin. Most of the day was slow into the night with only a few more hits and a couple more tuna in the boat. In the morning we were on the troll again and put a quick 5 nice size Yellow Fin in the boat. We worked toward Oceanographers and back to Welker Canyon where we picked away on Yellow Fin and a few Long Fin Tuna. We stayed there for the night and saw our first tuna around 3:30 AM. The bite got hot from 4 to 6 AM. The biggest fish was caught by Frank Machonis from Winchendon, MA weighing in a 80 lbs.
Our final count for the trip was: 33 Yellow Fin, 4 Long Fin and 3 Ma-hi

Capt. Joe set out on another 3 Day Tuna trip yesterday Tuesday and as of last night he had 7 Yellow Fin, 2 Long Fin and a 15 lb Ma-hi. The full report will be posted when he returns on Thursday September 8.

Nice hope the bite continues inspite of Katia!
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This is why I don't go on "planned" offshore trips, I wait till the day or two before to make a go no go decision.

FRI
E OF 70W...SHIFTING WINDS 35 TO 60 KT...EXCEPT WITHIN 60
NM OF THE CENTER OF KATIA TO 70 KT EARLY. WINDS BECOMING NW AND
DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 KT...EXCEPT FAR E PORTION TO 30 KT LATE.
SEAS SUBSIDING TO 10 TO 17 FT LATE...HIGHEST E. W OF 70W...N TO
NW WINDS 25 TO 35 KT EARLY...DIMINISHING TO W 10 TO 15 KT LATE.
SEAS SUBSIDING TO 6 TO 10 FT LATE...HIGHEST E.

SAT
WINDS BECOMING W TO SW 10 TO 15 KT...EXCEPT N PORTION N
TO NE LATE. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 8 FT.

SUN
N TO NE WINDS 10 TO 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 KT OR LESS
LATE. SEAS BECOMING 4 TO 5 FT.
$$


There will probably be a good swell on Sat. Might want to think of getting those scopolamine out and ready!

i would be surprised if we don't go. forcast looks doable, maybe a little lumpy sat morning but laying down. those reports look good enough to me. lets go kill some fish boys

If we had boats like yours ,we'd be doing the same!

Unfortunately it's very tough to ho a ride on a canyon do-able boat. i was lucky enough to get an invite this year once.

i just called them and the capt is going to call me after they get in tomorrow and answer our questions. so if you've got a question, post it and i'll ask him. i'll ask him leader and hook size for chunking tuna and mahi. what size weights for chunking tuna. is braid ok.

fish4striper: I hear ya...but anytime a storm like this passes....I would wait for things to settle down abit. I know I am over cautious.

But it could also lay down and be great fishing !

Be safe out there guys. I don't want to read about this trip in the paper.

I'm all in agreement to play it safe. But if its ON out there and its layed down... I'd rather be out there than reading about it, of that makes any sense.
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I know...I would to, but you might want to consider postponing it a week or so just so the trip is more comfortable. It is a lot more fun when you don't have to hold on all day long.

last wx report i saw was for 3-6' sat and 3-5' sun. in a hundred foot boat that's not bad. certainly not ideal but still doable. still a few days away, forcasts have a way of changing quickly - maybe we should make a sacrifice to the fish gods for fair weather. so who are we going to sacrifice - maybe sandman and his yellow crocs

Why waste a great boater, find a boat googan!:rotf2:

Find out how many ave booked this weekend's trip? Full boat or will we have plenty of room?

...I must be gettin old I guess.

all in good fun sandman. just remember we all have boat envy

Here's my list of potential items. So the obvious first questions are, How much room is available? and How much shhhhtuff can we bring? :-) I feel like I should lighten up. What am I missing?

What is the best personal ePirb on the market today? I might pick one up if I can before Saturday.

Also, what do guys recommend for line counters (put the bait at the right depth)

Rods
2 50’s (hollow braid with mono top shot)
Smaller boat rod (braid)
Surf rod

Tackle
Trolling lures
Squid jigs
Sabiki rigs
Diamond jigs
Tuna hooks/rigs
Shark hooks/rigs
60 and 80 lb Flouro (need heavier?)
Light sticks
Balloons

Equipment
Self inlflatable life jacket with strobe
Boat cushion
Pocket knife
Gimbel belt/harness
Gloves
Head lamp
Crimp tool/mono cutters

Definately don't want to compromise safety for any reason, but it appears as though hurricane Katia should be gone in time.

Hurricane KATIA

Would I be too optimistic if I started to think that this track could push warm core eddies and lots of palagics up onto the shelf? I don't want to underestimate the negative effects that dirty water can have and I am NO expert, but maybe the water it pushes in will be deep and clean as opposed to storms that come in close or over land that churn and dirty-up shallow waters. I'm going to take the glass half full approach. Maybe the water will be 80 plus F, calm and clear and we'll be sleeping by 2 AM because we can't reel any more or there is no more room on the boat for fish! :-)

Here is the most recent temp chart I could find that wasn't clouded over.

http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_da...0.0711.n19.jpg

It's taken me 10 years to get this close to a canyon trip. Let's hope the storm boogies out, the fishing is tremendous and we all come home safely with tuna for the entire winter! Tight lines!