any tuna ?

[Vectorfisher]

Thats some serious wake there

[capecodder]

So let me ask for a little advice for my weekend trip. I have a single 30lb spinning setup with 30lb power pro. Also, some trolling setups in the 30lb class. I have 2 friends with me, newbies to stripers/tuna, and we have allocated Saturday to the tuna hunt as Friday and Sat nights will be eels on the backbeach. I have a permit but have never seen nor caught a SBFT.

If we're out of the Pamet by 5:00 am (18' Grady CC), would you recommend heading towards the SW corner and working to the H? Or would you shoot for the fishing ledge? Once there, do you guys troll while looking for the schools or cruise around? Do you look for bait on the finder? Any tips are appreciated. Last time at the ledge it was nothing but dogs finning everywhere...

I'm a considerate captain that is not going to crash anyones action, just looking to maximize the chance that we get a cast or two. Unfortunately the waters east of Chatham are not an option.

[thefishingfreak]

can't help you with location but trolling seems to be the way to go.
troll whear you think they are, or look for the birds. five or six white turns offshore is a good indication of tuna under them. if there's shearwaters there too? even better. cast at them if you can, but don't run too close to them, they spook very easy. troll arround the school and cast in the middle with small stuff. but if you overrun them don't blast up another 100' just mosey over there if you keep the same rpm's they will stay up.the ones we saw yesterday under the birds were 20#, so super-light approach would be the way to go.
for trolling i would put your two 30# outfits with green machines back about 40 feet and put your spinning rod and a small jet head about eight feet behind the boat rubber banded to a cleat so it's in the wash.

i'd save a few of those eels to toss into the blitz too

[Flaptail]

CapeCodder, trolling is not the way to go in CC Bay unless your targeting giants. Catching two after trolling all day with rigs is not very productive in my book especially from a fifty footer trolling God knows how many rigs. Might as well watch paint dry. If you want to troll them with a higher degree of success then go east of Chatham but your boat is a wee bit too small for that water. That being said if you want to catch fish in CC Bay get a chart and find Fishing Ledge. That's all you need to know. Get there right at or better yet just before sunrise. You will see them believe me. Cruise up on a pod and let go with any popping plug you have. Cut face traditional styles work better than pencils. Chrome with green, chartreuse or Mackerel patterns are best. If the popper floats even better. A three foot 30 pound Flouro leader to a good ball bearing swivel to the braid and a Breakaway 80lb speed clip completes the rig. Forget blind casting you need to put the plug right into the middle of the breaking fish and pop it good but not real fast. Nice and steady. You will know when you hook up and hold on. Watch for the lobster pot buoys and try to keep the fish away from them, which ain't easy. If you can't be there at dawn try ther evening. It doesn't mean they will not break in between those periods but it does seriously increase your chances of hooking up. The rest is up to you.

[capecodder]

Flap and Freak,
Thanks to both of you. I think Flaps method will be the way to go for me. May hit the SW corner as well. Then Ptown for bass afterwards.

I'll report back Monday...

[capecodder]

Now that I have my intinerary down, how does one properly bleed and clean a bluefin? Got to be prepared... From what part does the best sashimi come?

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by capecodder

Now that I have my intinerary down, how does one properly bleed and clean a bluefin? Got to be prepared... From what part does the best sashimi come?

First off, the tuna regs change October 1st. one fish between 47 and 73 inches I beleive, one per boat. I do not have the bulletin in front of me. That's a substantially larger fish. They are out there but the smaller ones outnumber them by a long shot. A tuna found to be legal should be chin gaffed. Gaffing in the belly or across the back ruins good tuna flesh. Use two in the chin or cheek if needed for weight. Just where the gills meet the lower part of the throat mkae a slice and free the gill where they attach at the bottom. Tie a tail rope and hang the fish over the side unless you like blood on everything. Give him five to ten minutes and bring him back aboard and finish the gutting process then pack him on ice even the belly cavity. Tunas don't "fillet" like normal fish. Two from the shoulders back to the tail and two from the cheeks and belly back. You will find an area around the latereal line that is dark red and full of minute veins and hundreds of small white threadlike nerve endings. Cut that off. It's tuff and it just sucks anyway. Skin and cut the piece into medallions 3/4 of an inch thick. I don't do shashimi. I rub with a mix 1/2 cajun spince and 1/2 brown sugar both sides and each side three minutes on the grill. Yummy.

[thefishingfreak]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

trolling is not the way to go in CC Bay unless your targeting giants. Catching two after trolling all day with rigs is not very productive in my book especially from a fifty footer trolling God knows how many rigs. Might as well watch paint dry.

hmmm,
in my book, trolling up three tuna on a 58 footer in 4-6 footers, with a 6hr charter, is very productive....
especially when the rest of the fleet is home... and there's no fish showing on the surface.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

hmmm,
in my book, trolling up three tuna on a 58 footer in 4-6 footers, with a 6hr charter, is very productive....
especially when the rest of the fleet is home... and there's no fish showing on the surface.

Mike,
I need a ride on that boat!!!

[thefishingfreak]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

Mike,
I need a ride on that boat!!!

you busy this weekend?

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by thefishingfreak

hmmm,
in my book, trolling up three tuna on a 58 footer in 4-6 footers, with a 6hr charter, is very productive....
especially when the rest of the fleet is home... and there's no fish showing on the surface.

Mike, you know I luv ya but you gotta go east. A bad day is ten fish.