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Quick Thoughts
Fellas:
I've been on the trips, and have worked them for the last ten years on another of the headboats in the tuna fleet. Absolutely worth doing.
On the Helen, consider rentals--they have 50-class Shimano/ G. Loomis chunking sticks and lighter 30(ish) class jigging sticks. In short, their rentals are top-shelf. Use their stuff--it's rigged up right for the way they do it.
Important: book trips as late as you can in the season--maybe a couple dates--ideally in October. Weather's iffy, but the best chunk bite has been late in recent seasons, '06 in particular. The chunk is when you're likely to witness an absolute bail-job.
Typical routine involves trolling day one (rotation in half-hour shifts) to cover water and find best place to set up. Then set up around dusk, chunk, jig through the night. Then troll in the morning. If it's a 3-day (good trip if you've got the stamina), you'll chunk night two, then first-light troll back up through the slick.
Definitely something to do before you die. Key--to avoid "death" on the trip, is cramming in sleep whenever you can so you're alive when the bite goes off at 3 a.m. Feel free to call me at the office if you want some further ideas (860-572-0564).
Best,
Zach Harvey,
Managing Editor, Offshore Editor
The Fisherman Magazine, NE Edition
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