Still Think'n Rudee Inlet 18 April

[still thinkn]

With reports of Blue Fin Tuna off our coast and a decent weather window today I put together a hard core crew of Steady, CIRWIN and Black Pearl (Jeff) for a scouting mission. Unfortunately Otter couldn't make this one due to work.....we rolled out of Rudee this morning around 0445 to a beautiful ocean with a Full Moon lighting our way.....put lines in at the 350 line in about 500 fathoms and started the troll South, The eddy had cooled down to around 62 - 64.5 degrees so the prospects were not great...we finally ran over a school at the 187 line in about 1000 fathoms and came tight on 2 fish....one on a Tiki Bar (Big fish) Craig was on this one..the other fish on the short rigger pink and white G&H Sea Witch....Steady's on the 2nd fish...the sea witch fish was smaller and we got him in really quick...about a 35 pound Blue Fin Tuna..the other fish was much bigger but after about 30 minute fight came unbuttoned and swam away to fight another day...

Great day, great crew and some more Sushi for the hard Chargers



We shot some Video with the trollpro, water was crappy green but you can see my flat line Islander and kind of make out my spreader bar, I left the transition from one side to the other so you can see how the trollpro housing/gopro camera works during the transfer......Bob

[WAHOONBOX]

With reports of Blue Fin Tuna off our coast and a decent weather window today I put together a hard core crew of Steady, CIRWIN and Black Pearl (Jeff) for a scouting mission. Unfortunately Otter couldn't make this one due to work.....we rolled out of Rudee this morning around 0445 to a beautiful ocean with a Full Moon lighting our way.....put lines in at the 350 line in about 500 fathoms and started the troll South, The eddy had cooled down to around 62 - 64.5 degrees so the prospects were not great...we finally ran over a school at the 187 line in about 1000 fathoms and came tight on 2 fish....one on a Tiki Bar (Big fish) Craig was on this one..the other fish on the short rigger pink and white G&H Sea Witch....Steady's on the 2nd fish...the sea witch fish was smaller and we got him in really quick...about a 35 pound Blue Fin Tuna..the other fish was much bigger but after about 30 minute fight came unbuttoned and swam away to fight another day...

Great day, great crew and some more Sushi for the hard Chargers



We shot some Video with the trollpro, water was crappy green but you can see my flat line Islander and kind of make out my spreader bar, I left the transition from one side to the other so you can see how the trollpro housing/gopro camera works during the transfer......Bob

YOU BOYS HAVE REIGNED TERROR ON THEM TUNERS THIS YEAR! HATE TO HEAR OTTER MISSED THE TRIP...

THANKS FOR SHARING THE FLATLINE ON GO PRO FLICK!!!!

[NorthernExposure]

cool stuff, since I'm no tuna guy can you tell me what the limits/restrictions are regarding BFT?

[still thinkn]

you need a lawyer to understand these regs for Blue Fin right now..in a nutshell, from Egg Harbor South for private recreational vessels it is one Blue FIn tuna 27" - to less than 59" per vessel per day...then theres a bunch of other stuff for charter guys and the northen guys...here's the regs as they read as of today.....Bob

The current recreational daily bluefin tuna (BFT) retention for limit for HMS Angling (private recreational) vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels (fishing recreationally) is one BFT (measuring 27 to less than 73 inches) per vessel per day/trip. In addition to the daily retention limit vessels are allowed 1 trophy BFT, measure 73" or greater/vessel/year. STARTING ON APRIL 2, 2011, the BFT retention limits will change to one BFT (measuring 27 to less than 59 inches) for private vessels per vessel per day/trip and to one school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches) and one large school BFT (measuring 47 to less than 59 inches) for charter/headboat vessels per vessel per day/trip; and (2) closure of the southern area large medium/giant “trophy” BFT fishery (for BFT measuring 73 inches and greater). The Angling category North/South line is at 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ). These BFT retention limits are effective for all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is designated as a spawning grounds for BFT and therefore NMFS does not allow vessels, commercial or recreational, to target BFT while fishing in this area. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person/day/trip. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.

https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/News.asp#news231

[Fin Hunter]

Congrats Bob on another BFT!!! Can't wait for you to catch the actual bite with that troll pro.

[dunn6253]

Nice to see some of the smaller tuna being caught, and not just the giants. Great report, can't wait to watch the video when I get home. The go pro is something I hope to pickup by years end.....

[MAKO19]

Good stuff as usual fellas. Keep sending them North. I'll be waiting in Jersey!

[rbrdogs]

you need a lawyer to understand these regs for Blue Fin right now..in a nutshell, from Egg Harbor South for private recreational vessels it is one Blue FIn tuna 27" - to less than 59" per vessel per day...then theres a bunch of other stuff for charter guys and the northen guys...here's the regs as they read as of today.....Bob

The current recreational daily bluefin tuna (BFT) retention for limit for HMS Angling (private recreational) vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat vessels (fishing recreationally) is one BFT (measuring 27 to less than 73 inches) per vessel per day/trip. In addition to the daily retention limit vessels are allowed 1 trophy BFT, measure 73" or greater/vessel/year. STARTING ON APRIL 2, 2011, the BFT retention limits will change to one BFT (measuring 27 to less than 59 inches) for private vessels per vessel per day/trip and to one school BFT (measuring 27 to less than 47 inches) and one large school BFT (measuring 47 to less than 59 inches) for charter/headboat vessels per vessel per day/trip; and (2) closure of the southern area large medium/giant “trophy” BFT fishery (for BFT measuring 73 inches and greater). The Angling category North/South line is at 39°18’ N. lat. (off Great Egg Inlet, NJ). These BFT retention limits are effective for all areas, except for the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is designated as a spawning grounds for BFT and therefore NMFS does not allow vessels, commercial or recreational, to target BFT while fishing in this area. The recreational yellowfin tuna daily retention limit is 3 yellowfin/person/day/trip. The minimum size for yellowfin and bigeye tuna is 27" curved fork length. There are no recreational limits for bigeye, skipjack or albacore tunas.

https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/News.asp#news231

In other words all of us between VA Beach and Atlantic City are screwed out of keeping a big fish AGAIN!

Bert

[BTH]

Nice work on your fish Bob. Thanks for sharing the regs with us too.

That camera is sweet! Your baits looked right too man!

[Nauti Natured]

Very cool guys! Thanks for the report and video!