Offshore Rookie mistakes cost 3 bluefin.

[tuff guy]

Took the Taquito Bandito out this morning with a 6 o'clock launch at shelter. Really quality bait and the ice vendor was there who hooked it up with 3 bags of ice. Off to a good start. Bait stank started overflowing, I suspect a clog. Made it to the 302. 61 degree water around 730 and got colder as we trolled south to the 371. Half way to the 371, bluefin were jumping everywhere. We managed to connect on colt snipers, 100 grams, blue and yellow and chrome. First hookup, me leader came off my braid. Second hookup, my buddy decided to tighten his drag as the bluefin peeled off line. Third hookup was solid. But I had the drag too tight on my rod and it eventually pulled off. 0 for 3. One boat landed an 80lber on a slow troll live sardine. Guys with poppers couldn't buy a bite. Fish were super spooky, but at the surface. As soon as you got close enough for a cast, they would sink out.

Moral of the story, get your drag right. Should could woulda. Hate to post an embarrassing story, but hope you all can learn from our screw up. Great day out there, TONS of bluefin, 30-80lb.

 

[SD2600]

How was the weather? Thanks for the post

 

[tuff guy]

Pretty good. Little wind and light swell. Picks back up tomorrow though. That zone will still be hot I bet.

 

[Kos]

When I was growing up learning how to fish i would watch my old man check his drags and his knots over and over and spend so much time doing it. I thought he was crazy, why's he spending so much time checking his drags and knots?? Turns out he was just a really good fisherman and understood the importance to detail.

Dont be embaressed brother, instead use it as a learning lesson. You'll get'em next time and thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[tunakillerjoe1]

Tough to report,still better to have been bendo rather than thinking about it!

 

[chachi10]

Nice report. Best lessons are always learned the hard way. Next time you'll get em

 

[redsnapper517]

It Happens ....
Next time you'll go 3 for 3

 

[tuff guy]

When I was growing up learning how to fish i would watch my old man check his drags and his knots over and over and spend so much time doing it. I thought he was crazy, why's he spending so much time checking his drags and knots?? Turns out he was just a really good fisherman and understood the importance to detail.

Dont be embaressed brother, instead use it as a learning lesson. You'll get'em next time and thanks for sharing your experience.

Yeah I cast my spinner, has 25lb of drag and I've landed tons of fish on it, I just have confidence really launching it with no fear of backlash. When I saw the reports of the 80lbers, I went 50lb on my top shot and cranked the drag too tight for fear of getting spooled. The spinner can't hold as much line as a conventional. I figured if I could pull drag with my hand it would be fine, but what I didn't count on was the tuna sounded down hard, and the angle of the bent rod didn't allow for any drag to pull. Next time I'll lighten it up. Lesson learned.

 

[Big_Tuna_]

Thanks for report, nice job getting hookups

 

[sickcat]

You got the hard part done - getting yourself on biting fish!

Those other issues are much easier to correct. You'll get em!

 

[Acefspade]

Still better than not getting bent at all.

 

[woodfish330]

Assumption.... can be your friend.... or your enemy...lol. Brother.... like the others said.... you got out there.... and did your "dance". Bravo for you.. At least you had some "Dancing Partners"... right??

Bold to report it.... like it really was. I comend you for your brutal honesty. Tell yourself.... YOU won't let it happen again....PERIOD! Good luck... thanks for.posting.

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

Good report, I broke off on fish my first trip too this season. These bluefin can be a steeper learning curve. You’ll get them next time!

 

[TJBertram]

I lost two quality yellowtail together with the jigs due to stuck drags on my reels. Didn't mind having period maintenance on them - lesson learned the hard way but those are the best lessons. You'll get them next time as will I

 

[kuyamonster]

Dues paid...Collect on your next trip! We're always learning, right? I've made it a habit to practice my FG and RP knots. If the coils are cinched down incorrectly, the braid to mono will part or cut into itself. Tie and retie until you KNOW it's a solid connection. Same goes for whatever knit you choose for a lure or live bait hook. Last few seasons I now use a hand scale to calibrate and preset my drags, especially when it comes down to using smaller hooks. When these BFT started showing up 5-6 years ago, I lost 3 solid fish and vowed to minimize that. My batting average on these pesky pelagics is way better now, preparation is the key. Better results next time out!

 

[Bend Session]

How deep were the BFT? Also, did you decide to drop and fish based on what you saw on your fish finder? or because you saw foamers or birds, ect?

Last Q - anyone have any luck fly line bait or sinker rig?

Thanks for the report!

 

[tuff guy]

How deep were the BFT? Also, did you decide to drop and fish based on what you saw on your fish

Dues paid...Collect on your next trip! We're always learning, right? I've made it a habit to practice my FG and RP knots. If the coils are cinched down incorrectly, the braid to mono will part or cut into itself. Tie and retie until you KNOW it's a solid connection. Same goes for whatever knit you choose for a lure or live bait hook. Last few seasons I now use a hand scale to calibrate and preset my drags, especially when it comes down to using smaller hooks. When these BFT started showing up 5-6 years ago, I lost 3 solid fish and vowed to minimize that. My batting average on these pesky pelagics is way better now, preparation is the key. Better results next time out!

finder? or because you saw foamers or birds, ect?

Last Q - anyone have any luck fly line bait or sinker rig?

Thanks for the report!

Thanks, any knot suggestions, I'm all ears. I use two uni knots for braid to mono. I think one failed on the first pop. I also use uni knot for my hooks, but suspect it was a weak point as well. But ultimately failing to use a scale to set my drag did me in, I buttoned it down too tight, and even though I could pull drag with my hand, for some reason no line came off on heavy pressure from the fish, not sure what happened there. Frustrating to pop one off.

Savage. The bluefin ranged from jumping out of the water to about 100 feet deep. Tried fly line, nothing, sinker rig didn't do it either. One guy near us had one bite on a slow trolled live sardine. For us, the sniper was effective but you had to let it sink out for a while, they bit on the drop.

 

[Highwayman]

Thanks, any knot suggestions, I'm all ears. I use two uni knots for braid to mono. I think one failed on the first pop. I also use uni knot for my hooks, but suspect it was a weak point as well. But ultimately failing to use a scale to set my drag did me in, I buttoned it down too tight, and even though I could pull drag with my hand, for some reason no line came off on heavy pressure from the fish, not sure what happened there. Frustrating to pop one off.

Savage. The bluefin ranged from jumping out of the water to about 100 feet deep. Tried fly line, nothing, sinker rig didn't do it either. One guy near us had one bite on a slow trolled live sardine. For us, the sniper was effective but you had to let it sink out for a while, they bit on the drop.

I have responded to knot questions in the past and everyone has an opinion. I prefer the Bob Sands knot for the braid to mono connection over the RP though I have used them both, the Bob Sands passes through the guides better. Shimano YouTube has a good tutorial. I never use the Uni knot since it failed on me, I have zero confidence in it. Others love it, I will never use it again. The San Diego knot is my go to knot at the hook or jig. Again it only failed me once, when I tied it hastily a lost a fish in a school of 100+ pound BFT. That memory is a learning lesson for me and it is something that I remember no and again. It was the only bite I got on the overnight trip. I am very careful tying knots now. I use the four turn surgeons knot at the mono to fluorocarbon leader. Use a scale to set your drags, which is another conversation as to the ratio of line strength to drag ratio. Good luck next time.

 

[mike82]

Took the Taquito Bandito out this morning with a 6 o'clock launch at shelter. Really quality bait and the ice vendor was there who hooked it up with 3 bags of ice. Off to a good start. Bait stank started overflowing, I suspect a clog. Made it to the 302. 61 degree water around 730 and got colder as we trolled south to the 371. Half way to the 371, bluefin were jumping everywhere. We managed to connect on colt snipers, 100 grams, blue and yellow and chrome. First hookup, me leader came off my braid. Second hookup, my buddy decided to tighten his drag as the bluefin peeled off line. Third hookup was solid. But I had the drag too tight on my rod and it eventually pulled off. 0 for 3. One boat landed an 80lber on a slow troll live sardine. Guys with poppers couldn't buy a bite. Fish were super spooky, but at the surface. As soon as you got close enough for a cast, they would sink out.

Moral of the story, get your drag right. Should could woulda. Hate to post an embarrassing story, but hope you all can learn from our screw up. Great day out there, TONS of bluefin, 30-80lb.

tell your buddy to set his drag before he wets his line. i had a friend once who thought he was supposed to adjust his drag AFTER HE WAS BIT based on "the size of the fish". i was like WTF???

 

[jsquez]

I use a rp knot… and on my heavier setups I will drop a little superglue on the connection for insurance

 

[baitedgyro]

tuff guy, thanks for the report and you'll get them the next time, you already paid the dues!

But tell us about this "ice vendor" at the SI ramps. what's the deal there?

 

[Acefspade]

I use a rp knot… and on my heavier setups I will drop a little superglue on the connection for insurance

thanks for the superglue idea!

 

[tuff guy]

tuff guy, thanks for the report and you'll get them the next time, you already paid the dues!

But tell us about this "ice vendor" at the SI ramps. what's the deal there?

He was there emptying out the machines and restocking. He gave us a couple bags because he didn't want to make us wait. Lucky timing.

 

[Tunahead]

Bummer but GREAT info report. LEARNING on every trip is priceless. NOTE what you did wrong and why, and you'll have success in the future. Looks like you filed info away!

I started tuna fishing in 1960 and still learning.
Now it's seems back to Bluefin being Bluefin.
Don't let them drive ya nuts. Get out soon!

 

[Tifoso]

Not to hijack, but didn't want to start a new thread for just a question.

Please answer:

Down here most of the BFT's caught are ____ pounds.

Thank you.