Any advice? Looking for a tuna adventure

[jeepster]

I don't know if I'm going to mess with salmon this year, but I would like to look into a tuna fishing trip for myself.

I'd either drive down to Westport or Ilwaco, might bring a tote for ice, but definitely a bunch of coolers

I've always heard Hula Girl is a good boat

Never done tuna in Washington, always wanted to...

I've heard about overnight/multi day trips?

The goal is to load up on fish, I'd like to camp, fish, hit the bar, hang out for a few days and then go home. I figure if I take a commercial ice tote I should be good for a few days

[Bow tech hunter]

Ya I second that for the hula girl boat they are a great boat and there is also mark Youngblood doing tuna trips out of illwaco I belive he has been doing good there is a couple of threads on people doing tuna trips this year with mark already and had a blast

[The Gobble-stopper]

I've used the Hula Girl and I cannot say anything bad. Great boat, great captain! In more recent years after meeting another captain out of Westport through his sister, I changed over..Captain Kevin Vasareno, with his own charter boat, the Gold Rush does an exemplary job! Here is a link to read more about him.  http://www.thurstontalk.com/2014/10/11/westport-charter-fishing-gold-rush/     He was also featured in an article in I believe a 2014 Boaters World magazine, which I believe you can find online... He treats you like family... Even when I went on the boat without him knowing I was friends of the family... Always a great time, and money well spent! I havnt checked with him, but I know he does a fine enough job, that his boat fills up quick, and sometimes you have to make reservations way ahead of time. Good luck in whoever you chose!

[bigsads]

I also suggest doing the one day run and gun trip with offshore northwest out of westport.  Fastest boat on the harbor and only use top notch gear. 

[Lucky1]

Check out Mark Youngblood Sport fishing. He advertises on here and is a great guy and guide. We went with him this about a month ago and did awesome. Check out the Bloody Decks thread in fishing for more pictures.

[jkthomps]

I would recommend See Breeze Charters out of Illwaco. Try to get on the Salty Dog when Dustin is operating it. Good guy, successful, and a lot of fun.

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[robodad]

Patrick Walker !!

[sumpnz]

I went out on the Neddie Rose in Westport a couple years ago and we had a respectable haul.  IIRC that boat's changed owners, so it may or may not be a good choice still.

Hear the Rampage was also a good Westport charter for tuna.  Fished rockfish/lings on that boat last year with my daughter.  Captain is rough around the edges socially, but he put a lot more fish on the boat than any other charter we heard about that day.  Reputation is the same for tuna.

Mark Coleman who owns All Rivers & Saltwater Charters is another guide I'd recommend out of Westport.  He runs "Express Tuna Charters" on his 29' Defiance.  Went with him a few years ago, and didn't get much of a bite (1 or 2 fish per rod), but neither did anyone else that day from the reports I saw.

[Ddouble]

Mark Youngblood is a stand up guy! We had a trip booked for tomorrow and he cancelled as the tuna have really been hard to come by the last couple of weeks. The fact he didn't just take our money and take us on a 12hr boat ride speaks volumes in my book and I will be booking with him for a future couple of trips.

[jackelope]

Mark Youngblood is a stand up guy! We had a trip booked for tomorrow and he cancelled as the tuna have really been hard to come by the last couple of weeks. The fact he didn't just take our money and take us on a 12hr boat ride speaks volumes in my book and I will be booking with him for a future couple of trips.

He's also a Hunt-WA site sponsor.
That's good to hear.

[headshot5]

Mark is definitely a standup guy.   

[7mmfan]

One thing I'd caution against is letting those fish sit for any length of time, even on ice. A day or two is probably acceptable, but they go pretty fast once they start. Get them loined and bagged up tight and on ice at least. When I went last year we had ours bagged and iced and I canned the next day. Best canned tuna I've ever had. If you get a huge haul of fish, it may take you a couple days to deal with them all, so don't waste it on the front end.

[konradcountry]

Illwaco is not a good place to 'hit the bar' or hang out for a few days. Not that Westport is a great place for that but it is better. Illwaco is a place where you fish and then leave. But I suppose you could stay in Astoria.

In Westport you can have your fish vacuum sealed at Merino's and then pick it up when you are ready.

I also wouldn't camp. You will want to come back to a hotel room after the trip and not a hot tent.