Washington Tuna!!

[waterdog247]

We decided to test the waters Friday and see if the Tuna were close. Left La Push at 0500 for our first tuna run. Headed out with some locals who have done this a time or two, and cruised due west for about 30 miles. The weather was beautiful, with the occasional choppy sea we had to slow down for. Generally, we were able to keep right at 20 knots. Started seeing blue water about 20 nm, but the temps were still 56. Kept going west for another 30 minutes till the temp came up to 58. Liked what we were seeing in terms of bait and birds, so we set our lines. Two handlines off the corners and 3 rods; one in the center and two off the sides, all with green tuna clones.


We tacked west for several hours, marking fish at 20 fathoms, but could not get any to rise. About 9am, we turned north, and within 5 minutes, the center rod started singing. I was beside myself!! Our first tuna on this boat!! Quickly my wife and son started pulling in lines. I let the fish play a little, keeping the drag light, and before long, we saw some color. Anne and I looked at each other and smiled. I handed her the rod, and reached for the gaff. She got it close to the boat, and off it went, the reel singing that beautiful sound. Twice she went through that, each time wondering if it was going to come off somehow. The third time it came close enough for me to stick it, and over the gunnel it went, tail flapping on the deck at a hundred beats a minute. The smile on my wife’s face was priceless. I don't think I will have a problem scheduling another tuna trip! One in the box!! She was ecstatic!! We didn’t get another for 6 more hours, but two on a beautiful day, on our first tuna trip; epic in my book!

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Our son caught his first rockfish, too. Don't think he'll ever want to go back to trout fishing!!

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[Ejiggyb]

Nice work.

[spoiled one]

Well done! Boat running well for you?

[wetwhopper]

Sweet!

[welder]

Nice family day on the water and some GOOD eats. Well done.

[IN2DEEP]

Nice!
Everybody is praying that the Albacore make a showing this year down here
Bluefin, some Yellowfin Tuna and a good amount of Yellowtail Jacks around but no Albies.

Hope your son doesn't get away from fishing the FW, because it's all good!

[JETTYWOLF]

Boat pics??

Wow thats some cooooooooold water

[goatram]

Jamie How many salmon did you catch for the week of fun you had?

Good Job on the fish. Now to plug the Boat.

[clambo]

Waterdog you know how sometime's people have a double? Well I think I found yours, a friend I fish with, I f I can find a pic of him I'll send it to you. Creeping me out! Mike

[AlloyToy]

Nice work!!

[clambo]

AT dosen't he look like Billy Ward?

[MacCTD]

Nice looking fish, what type of gear, rod and reel, did you catch them on?

[waterdog247]

Well done! Boat running well for you?

Its running great, except the Wallas. It quit on me last week. I think it's a fuse on the mother board. We had an oil pressure issue that turned out to be a dirty piston cooling valve or a pressure regulator valve. They are located in the same housing, so i pulled them both, cleaned and re-installed them. No more low oil pressure!!

Jamie How many salmon did you catch for the week of fun you had?

We got skunked on salmon. All the locals are saying it sucks this year, and hardly anyone is coming in with limits. mostly singles. Hard fishing so far. I think I will pull the boat to Westport in August and September. Need to catch more tuna!!!

Nice looking fish, what type of gear, rod and reel, did you catch them on?

We were using Team Tica lever drags with 80lb powerPro and Tica 6.6 rods. Nothing fancy. Green tuna clones were the lure of choice this time, but our buddy boat was using unfinished cedar plugs, and put 6 in the box. I am still fine tuning my spread, too.