GOLDEN EAGLE - TODAY'S TUNA TRIP!

[captainrich]

The weather was definitely snarly out there on the Tuna Trip but we came back with some nice 50 to 60lb. YELLOWFIN along with LONGFIN, SKIPJACKS and a MAHI. We probably lost about three times as many as we caught. Check out all the good pictures below.


The GOLDEN EAGLE sails every day for STRIPERS & BLUES at 7:30 am from Belmar Marina in Belmar, NJ.

For more information visit us at
www.goldeneaglefishing.com or call 732-681-6144.

See you onboard.

[CODCHALY]

One question, why aren't these fish, TUNA, being collared ???

Nice Catch CAPT !!!

[capt74]

Because we have enough room in our slush tanks for them. There bleed and put into our tanks.

[AndyS]

Why do you lose so many fish ???

And yes, why aren't these fish either quartered or collard ???

[Jigman13]

My guess in losing fish at that rate is likely due to really light leaders---#30 and #40 lb fluoro and maybe not using circle hooks with said light leaders.

[capt74]

First off Andy, tuna can not be quartered or loined at sea. Against the law. All head boats lose fish that are hooked for various reasons. Knots ,leader size ,tangles, angler error and various outer reasons. Shit happens.

[Ol Pedro]

One question, why aren't these fish, TUNA, being collared ???

Nice Catch CAPT !!!

Charlie, back when we worked deck together our fares were selling a lot of their tuna. Collared fish cool faster, are easier to handle, and ready to weigh at the buyer. When the bite is on we only have time to bleed, tag, and tank fish. I think the Voyager collars their tuna. To each his own.

[Duffman]

First off Andy, tuna can not be quartered or loined at sea. Against the law.

When did this become law? I ask for a reason.

[Ol Pedro]

Why do you lose so many fish ???

And yes, why aren't these fish either quartered or collard ???

Andy, not listening to the crew is one of the top reasons for lost fish. When fish are over 50lbs you can't make too many mistakes. Even on straight 80lb it isn't so easy to land these larger units.
Bad knots, old line, wrong rod/reel, wrong hooks, poorly maintained reels, wrong drag settings, these are just some of the variables that we have control over. Even when we get it all right as Capt74 said sh*t happens.

[2na]

When did this become law? I ask for a reason.

Any fish with a minimum size limit MAY NOT be filleted at sea. YFT have a min size limit of 27"

[AndyS]

Any fish with a minimum size limit MAY NOT be filleted at sea. YFT have a min size limit of 27"

You can fillet at sea as long as you retain the "racks" if I am correct.

[Duffman]

You can fillet at sea as long as you retain the "racks" if I am correct.

That’s what I thought.

[Ol Pedro]

You can fillet at sea as long as you retain the "racks" if I am correct.

That's the way it was. Not any more. The reg. Is on page 22, HMS Compliance Guide: Recreational Fishing For Billfishes, Swordfish, Sharks, and Tunas. I couldn't figure out how to download the page.

[AndyS]

Pics on FB of a non-sponsor showing all the tuna collared.

[Slip It In]

That's the way it was. Not any more. The reg. Is on page 22, HMS Compliance Guide: Recreational Fishing For Billfishes, Swordfish, Sharks, and Tunas. I couldn't figure out how to download the page.

HMS Compliance guide on page 22 does describe that it is LEGAL, Bigeye and yellowfin min still 27 if head is removed and bluefin min 20 in if head is removed.

Swordfish also able to removed head and gives different limit size. 25 and 47inches.

I do not know about sharks, because i do not harvest any for the table, so dont care.

Pete

[Ol Pedro]

HMS Compliance guide on page 22 does describe that it is LEGAL, Bigeye and yellowfin min still 27 if head is removed and bluefin min 20 in if head is removed.

Swordfish also able to removed head and gives different limit size. 25 and 47inches.

I do not know about sharks, because i do not harvest any for the table, so dont care.

Pete

Ok to collar. You can take the head off and gut the tuna at sea . You can not loin or quarter the tuna at sea even though you retain the rack. We can loin tuna when we are tied up at the dock. I would hate to see anyone get jammed up because of confusion.

[AndyS]

Well that stinks, used to be nice to walk off the boat with a cooler full of loins, mates made a killing $$$ cleaning fish for customers also.

[Ol Pedro]

Well that stinks, used to be nice to walk off the boat with a cooler full of loins, mates made a killing $$$ cleaning fish for customers also.

Yes it does. Especially when we are running turn arounds. We have three hours to get the customers off the boat, cut their fish, get ice/fuel, rotate vehicles out and into the lot, clean the boat, fill the freshwater tanks, take on provisions,and get the next group on the boat. If we have a good catch then we might be cutting on the dock after the boat shoves off.

[tautog]

In my experience, many people lose large fish on party boats by not following their fish. You also need to be ready to lean forward and over the keep the fish from chaffing you off on the hull.

[AndyS]

Those are average size yellowfin, no way they should be losing 3 times the amount hooked. I could see if they were all 90 pound plus yellows but they aren't, more like 40 to 60 pound fish.

[atcojg]

I hate the new normal. They posted their results. Everyone has their nose up in everyones business. Men have become a bunch of old women. Dont like how they do it dont go with them

[capt74]

Well said atcojg , We try our best to get every fish in the boat. But when you have 12 DEAD sticks on the rail at 4.30 Am and they go off there is only so much the mates can do. That's what Shit happens means. Customers that insist on tying there own knots that constantly let loose. Ya Shit happens.

[Pennsy Guy]

Well said atcojg , We try our best to get every fish in the boat. But when you have 12 DEAD sticks on the rail at 4.30 Am and they go off there is only so much the mates can do. That's what Shit happens means. Customers that insist on tying there own knots that constantly let loose. Ya Shit happens.

Oh yea, gotta have your shit together...they aren't fluke, go to strike instantly and you most likely will drop the tuna, as you just pulled it out of it's mouth. Circle hook, just wait 4-5 secs, go to strike--hooked up. "J"/live-bait hook set the hook after the 4-5 secs. Lot of fishers don't do this--they lose(mostly). Seen it happen countless times...listen to the mates, watch others---LEARN and keep your shit together. So many first-timers don't realize this offshore fishing is a whole other ball game when it comes to catching/boating these fish. Won't even get into swordies.

[Ol Pedro]

If we got 10yft and a couple lft and you hooked 30 that's less than a 50% success ratio. That's 18 missed opportunitys. The fishing was better then the count. If you omit that you lost those fish in your report your not giving a true picture of what happened. We try to take out the variables so the customer has every opportunity to catch fish. If they don't take advantage of what's offered then sh!t happens.

[Capt Sal]

When it is super rough the vessel lifts up and down at a fast rate. This makes it much harder to land tuna. No matter what species of fish your after the more experienced the anglers the better the catch. If your not experienced let the mate tie the knot and set your drag!

[Ol Pedro]

No matter what species of fish your after the more experienced the anglers the better the catch. If your not experienced let the mate tie the knot and set your drag![/QUOTE]
You have to pay your dues. Reading up on Tuna fishing and watching videos helps but you have to put in the time on the water. Way too many people come out and are overwhelmed when they come tight to their first Tuna. All that stuff that they learned goes out the window. They freeze up and have to be coached through the fight. Add rough conditions and three or four other fish on you have a recipe for disaster. Learn the dance or lose the fish. As Chuck has said you have to adapt and think on your feet. Chucks out there now. Let's hope for some good reports.

[Jigman13]

I've never done a party boat tuna trip but all this chatter/banter has me thoroughly intrigued. I've only ever tuna fished from a private boat...

[Ol Pedro]

I've never done a party boat tuna trip but all this chatter/banter has me thoroughly intrigued. I've only ever tuna fished from a private boat...
Did you have success? Did you chunk or troll?

[Jigman13]

Chunked, trolled, jigged... all with success. Started when I was 16--I'm 39 now.

Did a trip last Wed/Thurs--Coimbra then headed offshore. Picked 3 YFTs at Coimbra to #80 chunking then bolted to the deep. Trolled until we found a place to settle in at night @ 750'. While trolling we were getting covered in skipjacks. Night chunk yielded a keeper 50" swordfish in 850' on a albie belly strip bait.

[Ol Pedro]

Nice.