[niko]

so ryan put together a little tuna trip bachelor party w/ a few friends. we get to the dock around 3:30 and while loading the boat the guys notice a bunch of bass hanging around the lights. not one to squander an opportunity, i make a few casts and hook up and every gets a few laughs and we know it's going to be a good day. we had a pogie delivery scheduled but no dice so we decide to just troll and steam out to our spot. we set out the spread and in short order we are hooked up and the spool begins to empty. ryan gets on the harness and gets to work. he handles the fish like a pro and after a little sweating the fish is at the boat. i'm on the leader and dennis has the gaff ready to go. the fish bolts under the boat, the capt hits the throttle and dennis (on the swim platform) almost goes in the drink. the fish wraps the line on the rudder just as we hit him with a belly gaff shot. the fish is half way under the boat and i yell for a tail wrap. capt. brian passes me the rope and we get him on the boat and bleed him. we set up the spread again but don't have any takers even though a few fish come into the spread. as the morning wore on we decided to try our luck w/ groundfish. after a short run to the east side we end up in the land of short cod but there were some haddock in the mix so we grind out a few fish, at least all the guys get to pull on some fish so it's all good. back at the dock we start butchering and ryan starts hooking up on bass w/ tuna chunks. we wrap up the long day w/ tuna steaks for everyone. another great day on the water, got to meet some new friends and had a ball. thanks ryan, always fun fishing w/ you.