This is probably gonna be long winded so be warned 
Oregon inlet NC vacation fishing SAGA and quest for a yellow fin caught on my own boat ends.
2008 striper but too ruff for tuna!
2009 never took the boat off the trailer bad rains and winds!
2010 SW winds and ruff seas all week, cold cold water, 68-72 degrees 20mi out. nothing going on except spanish and kings inshore and amberjack at the towers. Not many charters even going out. i didn’t want to fish for any of these but the sunshine was out so braved the ruff water and ventured out and caught a king. Tried to work a wreck and lost an anchor for my trouble — the reefs and wrecks were empty of fish anyway water wind i don’t know it was dead.
spent my days on the beach with a hand held VHF in my hand listening to the weather all day hoping each report would be different than the one before. Thursday it finally was the 6ftrs and winds were coming down and changing directions at least for a day. The only problem was all the cpts said the tuna were gone of course who would really know as nobody was getting out. Well thursday my plan was to go south and find warm water off hatteras or go all the way to SC to find it. Got beat up hard head on into a tight sea. finally broke 78 deg about 40 miles south and out past the point. but know major temp break and i was already in 1000ft of water. As forcasted the seas started down and i kept going. caught mahi 18lbs and thought the day was gonna be OK, 6hrs later nothing, i was so deep i had lost the bottom on my fish finder. 2500-4000 ft. I had not even seen a single weed in over 50mi. 2pm spotted some big dolphin black ones 14-20ft long. ventured over out of curiosity and the way back starts to sing and take on a seprano tone. Was running a Penn int 70w there and this fish was getting alot of it. My son grabs the pole and i tell him to add a little more drag all the way to the strike stop and nothing (**() we are gonna have to go after this guy so i turn quarter to it and it slows a bit as we clear lines. i was
Good to hear you got your first yellowfin on your boat. A gratifing trip for sure despite the weather. I’m sure ya’ll will be talking about it for years. I’m heading up north on Thursday to chase the giants with the boy. Hoping for some calm seas.
Awesome job Rick!!
Can’t wait to see a pic!!
“Miss Amanda”
-KeyWest
-Bluewater 2020CC
-Yammy F-150
www.joinrfa.orgGod is GOOD!! ALL the time!!
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
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Thanks lynn
Tunanut, Yes nothing like the first one for sure. How far north you going , i have friends getting ready to chase seasonal bluefins out of maine? Maybe i should put a bluefin on my must do list!Might have to use a guide or experienced mate for that as i wouldn’t know what to do with a fish that big.
“Destiny” 35ft
Contender and “Scintilla” 20ft Keywest, Manning SC
Rick, I’ve chased them for years out of Saco, ME. The last 8 years have sucked up there, but I got some real good reports from the guys last week and it’s like was 10 years ago. I’ll be fishing Fri - Wed next week with friends or borrowed boats with the gear. I hope I haven’t forgotten how to catch them.
HDGB - great story. I recently did the same thing - 1st small boat YFT ever (22ft CC)! He went 43.5 lbs on the scales at Teaches Lair. Approx. 15 - 20 min fight on a Shimano 20-50 beastmaster. The 20-50 roller tip rod broke in half as the fish was about to be gaffed. I don’t think of I have ever said “OH MY GOD!” so many times in a row in my whole life as when that fish came over the rail and made a big THUD on the deck. Congratulations on your catch!
CONGRATS HDGB! Caught my first Blue Fin this year and Im still grinning.
hdgb,
Just a by the way, those big black Dolphin you seen were actually Pilot Whales. They can really stack up out there in the the summer.
Congrats on the YFT! I have yet to drag my own boat up there, but I want to.
Parrish
http://www.teamsouthbound.com/pictureprocessor/galleries/usergallery.asp?gallery=419
[quote]Originally posted by Bonita Bob
hdgb,
Just a by the way, those big black Dolphin you seen were actually Pilot Whales. They can really stack up out there in the the summer.
Congrats on the YFT! I have yet to drag my own boat up there, but I want to.
Cool i thought they were to big to be dolpins, another thing i failed to mention. once we got calmed down and went back we saw a very interesting sight. One of them pilot whales had a yellow fin tuna about 30lbs on the surface pushing it around like a football. Do they kill and eat tuna? It was an amazing site to see. just kept pushing it around with its nose like a marina show and finally went down with it.
“Destiny” 35ft
Contender and “Scintilla” 20ft Keywest, Manning SC
Sorry it took so long but was old school camera wallmart developed.
anyway here is my son’s first and first to my boat the ilusive yellow fin tuna.
“Destiny” 35ft
Contender and “Scintilla” 20ft Keywest, Manning SC
Awesome catch! Even better experianced with your son!
Sea Gull
208 Grady White
200 Merc
“I asked my stockbroker what I should buy, he said alot of canned food and alot of ammuntion”
Stay with the whales, they already found the tuna for ya.
Congrat’s on your yft. spend all the time with your son you can they grow up fast.
Jeff
Just seeing this, Rick! Work sometimes interferes with my keeping up with all the posts…
I got all excited just reading this! Happy for you and your son! A lasting happy memory made that day, for sure!
Take care! GO CONTENDER!!! Andi
Great to know there are a few being caught but the sad reality folks is that there is a major problem with these fish. they are not catching nearly the amount up there than usual. It’s just like the problem we are having, they are just in a spot that sees more fish. I dont have the answer but I was up there 2 weeks ago and the fishing was the same as we have here in late July. You will find fish I guess if you cover a huge area, but this is sad, and I wish something could be done.If I catch a YFT in the next year or so, its going back. I have a fear that these, and of course the Blue fins are on the brink.
Nice pic Rick!!
“Miss Amanda”
-KeyWest
-Bluewater 2020CC
-Yammy F-150
www.joinrfa.orgGod is GOOD!! ALL the time!!
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
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