First TUNA Trip for '14

[GregE]

We had been trying to get out after Westport salmon and the wind and waves finally looked good for a trip last week.  Friends Hank and  Mike along with Mike's grandson made up our crew.  The report of TUNA 32 miles west of the bar prompted installing the bait tank and loading up the TUNA gear.  We picked up 1/2 scoop of very small anchovies and were crossing the bar about 715



Hank caught the first fish a good size silver casting a swimbait for Albicore- but it had a large adipose fin.

9 y/o Nicholas did well bringing in a 25# Albicore







It had been rough on the way out and Bandaid was feeling pretty green but recovered to bring in a 21#









The waves smoothed out in the afternoon and we watched a pod of hundreds of pilot whales migrating north.







About 3 we headed back to the 350 ' foot line and fished for salmon but wild ones were all we saw.  Hank had two nice ones break his pre tied Gamigatsu hook rigs.  Wish we could have seen what did that.




Stains remain - will do better about scrubbing before they set- and some other first trip lessons like remembering the dip nets.  Looking forward to the next trip and bringing home more TUNA.   

[h2ofowlr]

Looks like a lot of fun on the salt.