First tuna trip
- Thread starter Breads
- Start date
After a sleepless Thursday night, set off at 5 Friday morning. The sound of marine diesels and the vibration under my feet when they were first fired up will be remembered for a long time. And then the taps are opened and the whine of the turbo’s kick in with the thrumming of the Pentas – goosebumps!
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The skipper’s call was to run WSW from Granger to the contourline and work down from there. Ran for about and hour and got a small pocket of water of 17.5 degrees with some bird activity. Put lines out and after about 20 mins – vas! Peter (at 82 years old) did a great job and got the fish (a yellow of about 50 kilos) up to the boat, only for the bugger to turn and dive and whack the line with its tail. Overs kedovers
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Trolled for a while longer and then ran south – got water at 21.5 degrees. Lines out, trolled for about an hour, nothing, except birds going for the lures and getting tangled. Then two reels started screaming – Ted grabbed one and I the other. Alas, as I touched the rod the fish was off – I’ve got to do the Earl thing and think about what karma is coming my way! Ted got his fish though – estimated at 40 kilos (edited- read further down the thread, general consensus is that it is no more than 25 ). First time I’ve eaten fresh, fresh tuna - very nice indeed.
Proud as punch:
Proud as punch:
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Chummed and put out bait lines, but no luck. Trolled a bit longer and then the 2 ½ hour run back.
Special thanks to Mark ( truly a scholar and a gentleman) for a wonderful day – nice to listen to the old timer’s (Peter and Ivan) tales of what fishing was like in the 50’s. I’m well and truly hooked, spent the day on gumtree and EP boats looking for a bigger boat! Next time ...next time ....
Incidentally, all three strikes were on white squids behind birds.
Special thanks to Mark ( truly a scholar and a gentleman) for a wonderful day – nice to listen to the old timer’s (Peter and Ivan) tales of what fishing was like in the 50’s. I’m well and truly hooked, spent the day on gumtree and EP boats looking for a bigger boat! Next time ...next time ....
Incidentally, all three strikes were on white squids behind birds.
Hammertime
Sealiner
Nice going.
benniejordaan
Sealiner
Sounds like you had a good trip! That boat is a beaut, styling for sure!
Good stuff Breads, keep at it you lucky bugger!
Good stuff Breads, keep at it you lucky bugger!
Hi Chris
Interesting ... personally at the time I thought perhaps 35 kg (but I've never caught tuna before) but the guys on board who know more than me thought 40 - 45.
What did strike me was a relatively small stomach cavity compared to say a yellowtail, so more meat and muscle.
Any input on an accurate size will be welcomed.
Interesting ... personally at the time I thought perhaps 35 kg (but I've never caught tuna before) but the guys on board who know more than me thought 40 - 45.
What did strike me was a relatively small stomach cavity compared to say a yellowtail, so more meat and muscle.
Any input on an accurate size will be welcomed.
Hammertime
Sealiner
I would say 20 pushing 25kg - sorry.
The fish in this pic was weighed, head on guts gills etc in a comp on a WP approved scale.
Was only 49kg. The yellows in the 40kg mark do not get lifted so easy.
Happy to be wrong though.
The fish in this pic was weighed, head on guts gills etc in a comp on a WP approved scale.
Was only 49kg. The yellows in the 40kg mark do not get lifted so easy.
Happy to be wrong though.