Gambler- Hudson Canyon 9/29-30

[2na]

Headed out Friday afternoon on a last minute chance on a Gambler 24hr Tuna trip. Capt. Mike took us to the Hudson thru nice soft 2-3ft seas. Lines in around 21:30 into a slate blue water. Tic...toc...tic...toc...not much happening. Some large, jiggable, squid in the slick and a renegade mahi from time to time but, not much else. No where near as many squid as before the blow but, still enough to get a couple dozen for the livewell. Mike made a move around midnite to look for thermal breaks but, there were none to be found. We ended up in the same 68.4* all night long. We drifted a nice .5 knot drift with everyone's lines straight out the port side until about 01:30 when she started to blow a pretty steady 20 out of the South. Capt. Mike put us on the hook where we swung uneventfully (except for and Ocean Sunfish display) until 06:50 when the first 50lb Yellow Fin came on line. Bob in the stern landed her about 10 min later. We SLOWLY picked at 50-70lb yellows AND BLUEDOGS until the triple toot at 09:30. New first for me...before this trip I'd NEVER seen picking tuna share a slick with sharks but Saturday morning we were positively having simultaneous bites from both species. My only action came from 2 bluedog bite-offs. The final tally- 6 yellows for 5 anglers...Duffy the Mechanic schooled us with 2. Got BEAT UP on the way home head on into 6-8ft tight seas. All-in-all a good trip...Gambler crew is ALWAYS top notch. Gonna try again Wednesday.
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