Author Topic: any tuna guys here? (Read 8600 times)

jeepster · « **on:** January 30, 2012, 09:47:11 PM »

ive had the itch to do some tuna fishing for quite some time, and i know they get pretty close to the coast sometimes, but, i dont really know much else... would it be stupid to try to go after them in a 20 footer? whens the right time?

kenzmad · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:06:38 PM »

what make of 20'er? seas can get nasy in a hurry 30-50- miles out. how much fuel do you hold? what is your skill level on the big pond? what kind of safety equipment do you have on board? lots of questions that need to be answered before heading out for a tuna run. that is why I haven't gone out myself. not ready, yet

lokidog · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:10:44 PM »

Like Kenz said, there's a big difference between a 20' trophy and a 20' Alumaweld.

I have thought about it with my Trophy but would definitely want to have another boat or two along to be able to call for help if needed. One positive note is that if the wind picks up it is usually not blowing away from shore.

jeepster · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:14:17 PM »

Quote from: kenzmad on January 30, 2012, 10:06:38 PM

what make of 20'er? seas can get nasy in a hurry 30-50- miles out. how much fuel do you hold? what is your skill level on the big pond? what kind of safety equipment do you have on board? lots of questions that need to be answered before heading out for a tuna run. that is why I haven't gone out myself. not ready, yet

my boat is a 20 glasply hardtop with cuddy cabin, i have a 180hp inboard and a 60 gallon tank (i could hold 4 gas cans too), i also have radar, dual radios, gps chartplotter, survival suits, and the standard saftey stuff...

BigD · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:15:48 PM »

Good questions kenzmad. Have never went myself. I would recommend running out with some other boats if you can.

kenzmad · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:17:15 PM »

Quote from: jeepster on January 30, 2012, 10:14:17 PM

Quote from: kenzmad on January 30, 2012, 10:06:38 PM
what make of 20'er? seas can get nasy in a hurry 30-50- miles out. how much fuel do you hold? what is your skill level on the big pond? what kind of safety equipment do you have on board? lots of questions that need to be answered before heading out for a tuna run. that is why I haven't gone out myself. not ready, yet

my boat is a 20 glasply hardtop with cuddy cabin, i have a 180hp inboard and a 60 gallon tank (i could hold 4 gas cans too), i also have radar, dual radios, gps chartplotter, survival suits, and the standard saftey stuff...

sound like you are pretty set to go. pick your day wisely as I said the seas can get nasty in a hurry. a 50 mile boat ride in the big surf aint any fun

kenzmad · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:20:22 PM »

"whens the right time?"
september or october seem to when they are the closest.

jeepster · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:26:56 PM »

good to know that my boats capable.

yeah, i like the idea of going out with other boats... i heard that last year the tuna got something like 15 miles off shore?

i wouldnt mind putting together a trip to westport this year

september-october? perfect! thats enough time to get all the bugs worked out of my boat, get new gear...

kenzmad · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:29:06 PM »

kinda sucks but it is right about hunting season. september and october seem to be the best months

kenzmad · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:31:19 PM »

check out the guys at Bloody decks. they live and breathe Tuna

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/washington-state/

fishngamereaper · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:31:44 PM »

They trickle in around july, get better in August, best in Sept and good in Oct. Every year is different. Last year at times they got 15-20 out of Illwaco. The closet to Westport was mid 20's. I ran 46 for them last year. Go to the boat show and watch a Tuna seminar. They are coming up. Todd does a good job and has alot of info to offer.

There is just to much info on Tuna fishing to put in one post.

Buckslaya · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:34:38 PM »

Follow the Westport fishing report for basic information. It will give you info on how close they are. Here is the site-

http://charterwestport.com/fishingreport.php

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2012, 10:45:30 PM »

Sometimes they come in closer. Depends on water temperature. El Nino years sometimes see warmer currents pushed closer to shore. Back in the mid-late 90s El Nino pushed warm ocean currents up off Alaska. Had a friend who went out of Sitka some place and caught over 30,000 lbs on a commercial boat. But there were so many tuna that year the canneries quit buying them and he was forced to pedal them out of his boat. He had a freezer on board and kept them frozen until he sold them. He went back and forth across Prince William Sound selling them in Cordova and Valdez and then went into Whittier and took truckloads to Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. I think he may have taken some down the Kenai Peninsula too. Took him quite a while, but he finally sold them all. I bought 10 or so myself from him.

As for heading out off the Washington Coast, I'd watch ocean temps, and weather forecasts. And I'd wait for a real good weather window and also be watching for warmer water close er in then normal. What's your fuel consumption? Even if you went out 50 miles, in a fast boat, that's only a couple hours of running. So four hours consumption would be the bare minimum to get out and back. Then figure a couple more hours worth trolling or running around, and another 4 hours worth for back up if you hit bad weather and seas and have to buck heavy seas. My personal minimum would be to pack 10 hours worth of fuel.

Last but far from least, make sure you are coast guard approved for safety gear. The rules change once you get outside 3 miles. And have a good marine VHF radio at the least with a weather channel. If it sounds like bad weather is heading your way, don't wait til the last minute to head in. And take a tide book with you, especially if you plan on crossing any bars on the coast, like the Grays Harbor bar, to get out of bad weather. The bars are usually the worst on the hard ebb, a couple hours after high water until almost low water slack. So if you can, plan to cross on the flood or a slack tide.

RadSav · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2012, 12:22:18 AM »

If you want to use your 20' boat for tuna I'd suggest you trailer it down to California.

Even if you have a year where the tuna are just outside the shipping lanes it's risky up here. I personally believe minimum 32' with a good hull where most buoyancy is at mid ship or further toward bow for northern tuna fishing. Chances are you are going to be bobbing a good long time out there before any help arrives if something goes wrong.

Your biggest hurdle will be coming back with a hard northwest chop going almost 90 degrees from the swell. You'll probably be back in green water when trouble strikes which means cold water. Even in a wet survival suit you'll be hypothermic before the coastguard gets a helo to ya. I've pulled more than a couple daredevils out of the ocean and most only brought life insurance back to their family. The fact that it is a question you're asking on here leads me to believe you doubt it as a real sound decision. Make it a vacation and trailer south.

If you've really got your mind made up try taking a charter for your first trip. Don't be the average tourist that gets on the boat and sleeps his way to the fishing grounds and back. Watch the swell, weather, chop and the tendencies of the boat to broach in following seas. Your 20' boat might be able to stay on the back side of a calm sea swell good enough. But, ask yourself if you could honestly do that with the level of afternoon wind and chop you experience on the way home. At least you won't be 40, 50 or 100 miles from port in a 20' river boat when you find out your answer is, "wholly crap I think I might be in trouble."

Rick · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2012, 07:11:11 AM »

Quote from: jeepster on January 30, 2012, 10:14:17 PM

Quote from: kenzmad on January 30, 2012, 10:06:38 PM
what make of 20'er? seas can get nasy in a hurry 30-50- miles out. how much fuel do you hold? what is your skill level on the big pond? what kind of safety equipment do you have on board? lots of questions that need to be answered before heading out for a tuna run. that is why I haven't gone out myself. not ready, yet

my boat is a 20 glasply hardtop with cuddy cabin, i have a 180hp inboard and a 60 gallon tank (i could hold 4 gas cans too), i also have radar, dual radios, gps chartplotter, survival suits, and the standard saftey stuff...

Following the rule of thirds,a 60 gallon tank isn't much fuel. Thats 20 out,20 back and 20 for reserve. Its not just the getting out there and back either. You'll be trolling at 7-8 mph while fishing.

Get a fuel flow meter installed in your boat. Load up about 6 buddies to simulate a couple hundred ponds of ice,a couple hundred pounds of tuna and your gear. Figure out how much fuel you're actually burning and then take a look at heading out for tuna.

sirmissalot · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2012, 10:50:01 AM »

There is no need to trailer your boat to California to catch albacore. The best tuna fishing is usually in september or October, so I'm normally done fishing and onto hunting by then. Usually August is great but they just weren't there this year, the tuna showed up very late, we had one good day at the end of August where we plugged the boat, but we ran 65 miles SW. In my opinion Ilwaco is the best tuna fishing port in washington, maybe even oregon.

Choose your days wisely, watch the weather and bar forecasts. As stated above use the rule of 3's for fuel. Your boat is capable, but you may need some more experience on the water, I don't know. Check out bloodydecks.com, thats where you'll get all the information you'll ever need, along with plenty of buddy boats to run out with, myself included

cohoho · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2012, 02:27:13 PM »

And be sure to bring your $250 Graphite jigging rods, as the Ugly Stick ones will not catch any fish....

I have been highly interested in running. If someone has been a few times and would like a partner to run with let me know. I will pay my fair share of gas, bait and have some equipment. Just rather see how it is prior to diving in.....

sirmissalot · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2012, 02:39:15 PM »

Quote from: cohoho on January 31, 2012, 02:27:13 PM

And be sure to bring your $250 Graphite jigging rods, as the Ugly Stick ones will not catch any fish....

I have been highly interested in running. If someone has been a few times and would like a partner to run with let me know. I will pay my fair share of gas, bait and have some equipment. Just rather see how it is prior to diving in.....

I have a video of me realing in a tuna on an ugly stik, I hated my life for the entire 15 minute fight that little 15lb fish gave me. That said, I don't have a single $250 jig rod, I do have a couple live bait rods that are higher end... still not in the $250 range though, people tend to overkill it on albacore, normal salmon gear can handle it for the most part, although your arms are going to be worn out before you can fill the boat.

cohoho · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2012, 02:59:54 PM »

Yea, it looks like a lot of fun for sure. I gotta go this summer no matter what, even with a charter to see how the experience is for sure. Freinds have done a couple times. Had a couple offers last year, but timing didn't materialize nor where the fish as close as year previously...

longknife · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2012, 04:53:52 PM »

Go out for a Halibut run, and back, this will probly max your fuel out(35miles). Tuna, you need to get quite a way out, then troll fast, and alot of it.

Unless they are in 20 miles, its not worth the risk

Good luck on your discision!

sirmissalot · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2012, 08:10:50 AM »

What risk is that?

fishngamereaper · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2012, 09:47:49 PM »

Quote from: sirmissalot on February 02, 2012, 08:10:50 AM

What risk is that?

They obviously havnt seen me offshore in my boat

jeepster · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2012, 12:11:08 AM »

i did some research, and a price breakdown of going after tuna in my boat. here is what i found

tuna rods and reels ~300$
tackle/bait~ 100-300$
tank of fuel for the boat+40 gallons xtra ~300$
fuel for truck to tow boat to ocean ~180$ round trip
food~ 100$ for me and my buddies
beer for me and said buddies ~50$
hotel/campground fees ~ 50-300$ depending on which
and so on and so forth

going out with these guys:
http://westportcharters.com/Westport_Washington_ocean_albacore_tuna_fishing_charter.php

575$ for a 2 day charter with access to a cannery (where they acctually can your fish), and fillet it for you....

as much as i want the gratification and satisfaction of saying "i did it in my boat".... it just makes more sence to do a charter, especially because (for me) it would be a once-a-year thing and would never be economical do go out on my own.... at least given current financial conditions

just my

on what i was origionally wondering when i started this thread

for the cost of fuel for my boat, towing it there, and bait and tackle, i can have a 2 day stress free fishing extravaganza where i can sleep and not have to worry about getting me and my dumb buddies killed if i do something stupid.

sirmissalot · « **Reply #23 on:** February 03, 2012, 07:48:47 AM »

Quote from: fishngamereaper on February 02, 2012, 09:47:49 PM

Quote from: sirmissalot on February 02, 2012, 08:10:50 AM
What risk is that?

They obviously havnt seen me offshore in my boat

You might need to show us some pics of your boat full of tuna Greg

benhuntin · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:07:31 AM »

We fished tuna a couple years back out of a 19 foot jet craft and did just fine you just have to pick your day, I have been pushed off the water in a 32 foot tuna boat. Just wait for the fish and the weather.

fishngamereaper · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2012, 04:31:36 PM »

Quote from: sirmissalot on February 03, 2012, 07:48:47 AM

Quote from: fishngamereaper on February 02, 2012, 09:47:49 PM
Quote from: sirmissalot on February 02, 2012, 08:10:50 AM
What risk is that?

They obviously havnt seen me offshore in my boat

You might need to show us some pics of your boat full of tuna Greg

I need to borrow someones wide angle camera to get all 17' of her in one pic....

longknife · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2012, 07:44:08 AM »

Smartest thing i have seen on the thread Jeepster! Way to think it through.

Its funny how some dont think when it comes to openwater, then the Coast Guard has to risk their lives, as well as others.

TONTO · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2012, 10:13:29 AM »

Ummmm......TUNA!.......be careful what you wish for, once you've been to the dark side there is no return. If the weathers good and the water's warm we're useualy running out of Ilwaco. Be happy to buddy boat if you decide to give it a try.

fishngamereaper · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2012, 10:23:28 PM »

Quote from: longknife on February 04, 2012, 07:44:08 AM

Smartest thing i have seen on the thread Jeepster! Way to think it through.

Its funny how some dont think when it comes to openwater, then the Coast Guard has to risk their lives, as well as others.

Who's not thinking about open water.....just curious who your assuming about.

longknife · « **Reply #29 on:** February 05, 2012, 10:20:29 AM »

Quote from: fishngamereaper on February 04, 2012, 10:23:28 PM

Quote from: longknife on February 04, 2012, 07:44:08 AM
Smartest thing i have seen on the thread Jeepster! Way to think it through.

Its funny how some dont think when it comes to openwater, then the Coast Guard has to risk their lives, as well as others.

Who's not thinking about open water.....just curious who your assuming about.

To anyone that dosent have respect for the water, and is unprepaired. I think its selfish to not be prepaired and risk others lives for my own, when it can be avoided.

sirmissalot · « **Reply #30 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:13:12 AM »

Just a little taste...

cohoho · « **Reply #31 on:** February 06, 2012, 12:16:18 PM »

It's all about the bloody deck, the more red it gets the better it is... I want in...

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Author Topic: any tuna guys here? (Read 8600 times)

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