Overnight 8/18-8/19

[Bullish]

Will be somewhere between the Hudson Canyon and Wilmington. I have not decided which canyon yet. Anyone else going out? Give a call on 68.

Bullish

[backman]

West Atlantis

Skipjack 68/78...

[Bullish]

Too tired to post yesterday. Took a rough head sea out Friday afternoon to the Wilmington. Trolled for two hours before dark, 0 for 1. Tied up to a pot just before dark on the west wall. 75 lb. bluefin (just barely 47 inches) at 9:15 pm 50 feet down on a sardine. Mako shark at 2am that we decided not to take. Other than that we had three run off's that all broke leaders and I'm pretty sure they were sharks by the way they struck and ran. Water temp 75 and green/dirty. 6 other boats in the wilmington that night and heard of others skunked and only one other fish caught on the chunk. Flattened out in the morning for a perfect ride home.

We were 20 miles in from the canyon and found acres of bluefin (50lbs) breaking water. We couldn't get them to touch a trolled lure or jig. Ten miles later my brother saved the day by spotting a 10 foot log that was about 10 inches in diameter and dead-center (broadside) in front of my boat while I was doing 25 knots. I never saw it. Turned just in time to barely miss it. I have little doubt that it would have knocked out both my props 50 miles offshore.

[Bullish]

Also meant to mention that we had thick squid behind the boat all night. Caught at least 50 of them with the net. Where are all the tuna?

[backman]

East - east - go east

Non stop longfin, then yellowfin action in 525-575' for me halfway between Fishtails and West Atlantis.

We kept 6, probably had 20 to the boat and had another 20 or so knockdowns and dropped fish. This was between 5:30 AM and 1 PM when we declared "no mas" and headed for the barn.

Most fish were in the 40-50# range; 2 were over 60.

There was also a really good yellowfin bite east of Veatch this weekend.

Even further east in Gilberts (good luck finding it on a chart!) a friend had even better yellowfin fishing than I and had to stop at 10 AM because they had not had a chance to make the morning coffee!

[TwinFin]

You make the west coast guys

VERY JEALOUS! We're out here getting excited right now if we catch a 15 lb dodo. You guys get em good.

[backman]

Not just tuna

The guy way east in Gilberts had a 300# blue marlin and a 130# swordfish; the friend less east in Veatch was 1 for 2 on blue marlin and also had swordfish pup he released - we're also seeing the odd 40-60 pound wahoo as well as a smorgebord of sharks.

For one month of the year New England has a world class pelagic fishery - too bad it takes 100 nmile steams to get to it....