Offshore Islander BFT Cruise Lines

[dtfisherman]

Tunas and jacks are competitive, and stimulated by seeing another feeding or being fought. That's why don't want a jig, and you want that sinker gone. No temptation for another fish to bust you off the one you already hooked and are fighting.

That’s another good point! Also, sometimes when you’re fishing the deep ledges off the outer banks with giant squid, your sinkers are 16-32 oz’s or more depending on the conditions so you don’t want those sinkers swinging around and the added resistance. Rubber bands are a great release mechanism.

 

[dtfisherman]

Thanks for a really entertaining report. I've never seen a giant school of false killer whales, that would have been amazing! With them anywhere within thirty miles, I don't think that there WAS a "Plan B" for any of the captains. I've always enjoyed fishing the Islander, not only because they have several staterooms with bunks big enough for me that I can reserve, but also because they really honor their committments. I saw them run with only ten fishermen on an open 1.5-day a couple of years ago. I was on a 2.5-day a half-dozen years ago when we were fishing yellowfin tuna in the fall outside of SCI, and they threw so much bait circling the sonar schools to get them to come up and play (which worked) that they ran all the way back to San Diego and re-baited that night and then ran back out to SCI and did it again the second day. That's a man who wants to catch fish if at all possible.

Hey Surfgoose,
I agree, “That’s a man who wants to catch fish if at all possible”. I have many friends that love, respect and fished with John for many years. They were the reason we chose the Islander for our charter after our AA trip was canceled due to supply chain issues. I respectfully disagree that there was no Plan B for the Captains. Half the time during the BFT season I’m on private boats and the other half on captained sport boats. Even if Plan A is successful, limits, there’s still a Plan B to deal with the time remaining. If Plan A fails to produce, then Plan B, C, D goes into effect if there’s time to execute them. NLA Plan B was to run inside of Desperation for YT and some bottom fish and 11 BFT. Myself I would’ve chosen as Plan B the 267/Condom area or the 32 30 line thru the SCBB and to the corner. We did take a peek at the 43 on the way to the barn. Captain Pete promised he’d stop and wake us if he marked a good school. Half a dozen guys watched a movie and waited while Pete or Brodie made a small circle around the 43 but no love…

 

[Fishboss]

There’s a couple ways to get a swiveled hook. One is to buy it that way from my favorite source, Quick Rig, out of Florida. Best hook made imho is the Charlie Brown Circle Hook from them. Unfortunately the regular 1/0’s to 4/0’s circles are currently unavailable but the 5/0-10/0’s swiveled Charlie Brown circles are still available. I recommend the 5/0 for the bait and the 7/0 for the sinker.

amazon has some swiveled 4/0 owners:

Amazon product
It's like making a mini-dropper loop out of the swivel, love the idea. I am intrigued with glow-in-the-dark torpedo sinkers (keeping in mind post #20 in this thread), would putting one in-line using a rubber band, just above your 7/0 hook, work?