First Gambler 39hr tuna

[Pennsy Guy]

Our Captain Jeff gave us our destination and short speech, Captain Bob had a short query and Prayer. Got the gear on board and off we went to the scallop boats on a near mirrored small undulating sea in fog with T-shirt and shorts temps. Got to the boats, lines in and within the first hour had 13-15 50-60# yft on ice---that was it for the day except for a quick 8' hammerhead swim by. Saw a very few porpoise make a brief appearance. Water here was 71*. Still foggy. Ran to the Hudson for the night, drifted off a wall into the deep and up onto the other wall in 68* water Nothing, ran back to our previous area on a drift, no fog but some very light rain starting after sunup. Didn't last long and finally sun was shining through a mostly cloudy sky. A small bite started but soon petered out with only the occasional runoff.
Shorts, who by now had 2 in the box, his buddy, Jason and I hadn't even had a sniff either day. Then I, just going out with about 40' of 40# Momoi, get slammed. After 15-20 min. a 50-55# yellow is on the deck. 1/2 hr. later, Shorts is out about 800' with 40# test, gets hooked up again; with 2 in the box already, hands off the rod to Jason who takes up the give and take. Jason, very well versed in salt and freshwater fishing, is a little hesitant of applying too much pressure on the line so the battle of wills continues. 20 min. later, this fish is within 4' of the gaff, dives--it's not ready. Capt. Jeff has watched and estimates the length to be at least 68" and the sickles can be clearly seen! After another 20+min., this Allison gets the better of the 40# test and is gone. What a disappointment, but as Jason said, "Yes, I wanted it on the deck but that's fishing not catching.". I'll see him next year.
After that the weather gradually deteriorated with an increasing wind and seas building to some honest 5'ers.
Kudos go out to the entire Gambler crew for their excellence and to Capt. Jeff for his efforts and success in getting us to the fish.
Forgot, we drifted across a pot buoy and flag loaded-I mean loaded with mahi (10-13#) 75-100 count--couldn't see through them. After we passed it, we caught several.
TOTALS: 22-23 yft's. Several mahi.