PB BFT

[O.D. Mike]

Hi all,

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Hope everyone is safe and doing well!

Wanted to thank Nightfighter for offering his daughters art services. She is a true artist, all her progress photos were exciting to see. I will be contacting her for more projects soon. Thanks again!!!

Now the story,
Back in 2012 I met Jay on a jobsite. After talking, I realized he was very knowledgeable about Giant Bluefin tuna fishing. I asked if there was a chance, I could join him for a trip. The price was $90 for fuel, no brainer…. First trip we were flying kites for top water bites. This really blew me away. I never knew you could fish like this in Massachusetts.

Cutting this story short, on our second trip we caught our first Giant together. The tuna didn’t take drag. The pole just bent over and Jay cleared all of the rods so we could move the rod to the front of the center console (23’ SeaCraft). Jay was convinced that it was a blue dog we saw earlier. This was a good opportunity for us to see how we would work together as a team. This is where I wanted to run the boat and he wanted me to reel in the tuna. I said, “I’ve never reeled in a tuna, but I know how to run a boat”. Jay said, “Do you know how hard it is to find someone who knows how to run a boat?” Jay let me have the helm. Once the tuna knew it was hooked it would take drag and swim for the prop. We call it the “crazy Ivan”. I blasted the boat in reverse, spun the boat in place and started chasing the tuna in the opposite direction. It was soon after that Jay said “you’re NOT paying for gas anymore!” That tuna was 81”

We hooked up on approximately 7 tuna since 2012, lost 3, these are the ones that haunt us. The closest we got to 100” was 91”
The tail that Megan drew up for us was our personal best, 105” 700lb. The tail measured 35” tip to tip. We couldn’t lift the fish into the boat. We had to drag it back to the dock. We caught #^&#^&#^&#^& for that. We were told “you won’t get more than 82 cents a pound”. They were wrong, we got just under $6. I don’t know the exact amount, for me all the money goes to the boat. No boat = No fishing. If I had to pay for all of the knowledge that Jay has shared with me over these 8 years, I’d be broke and divorced. When I hear “the addiction is real” they have no idea… LOL

All these experiences add up to teamwork, safety, trust and having so much fun! We both have full time jobs and respect the fishery.

OD

[redlite]

Awesome trip down Tuna wishin lane.

Still chuckle when I see the picture on my phone of "od mike" etched into the window in the women's bathroom of the bar that used to be around the corner from my house. Bet that's an even better tale

I should get her that photo to draw up for u
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[Sea Dangles]

Nice job OD

[Ian]

Awesome story
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[Guppy]

Nice Mike...

[piemma]

Great story Mike.

[Clammer]

Sweet Memories ><>ENJOY ><>

[nickthefisherma]

You both worked great as a team. Pics are awesome.

[nightfighter]

Mike, she very much enjoyed working with you. I told her I have nice friends... "No, Dad. He is really nice..."

Hoping I can now get her interested in some fish art for me, or as prints she could offer for sale. Next step is to get her hooked on her own fish.

[WINGSATS]

Great story, i will be going out next year, hope will have some chance to see big tuna like that, awesome job guys.

[spence]

Great story. That illustration would look great tattoo’d on your lower back
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[angler229]

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