Saturday, July 30, 2016

Pop and Jig Ascension Island

This is our latest video from Ascension Island.
Land of the monster Yellow Fin Tunas!

Blue Fin Tuna 27th July 2016



Went 3 for 4 with Tom L and Captain Josh from Outermost Angling Charters.
After a bumpy 50++ miles ride, we finally arrived at the 1st spot.
You could see a ton of bait with birds, whales and porpoises working them but no signs of tunas...or maybe not.
We moved around and finally decided to chill and have a shot where we were.
Tom and i casted and worked our baits in, he was on a Ron Z and me a small prototype CB One Drifter type sinking stick bait called "Rookie"
Josh called out, "i'm marking them at 50 feet!" before i could acknowledge his message, "FISH ON!" i shouted as i felt the subtle take which then became a locomotive that took me for a short ride.
Yes! A 53 inch butter ball in the box after a short
Doc aka Tom too had a shot at glory but the fish came loose after 2 minutes on a hook that pulled on his Ron Z.
After the success from the baby CB One Rookie, I switched out the "Rookie" to a Haoli Tuna Pop, first cast and Charlie came closing in like a torpedo and pounced on the popper twice but unfortunately it did not commit...that was quite a sight!
Josh too, whips out a Drifter and let it sink for a couple seconds before he came tight as well, Tom took control of the fish while Josh manuvered the boat. Didn't look like an over fish and Tom was hoping it was a smaller fish as he wanted a Gyotaku print of the mighty Blue FIn Tuna but it turned out to be an exact 50 incher and we had to let it go.
Seeing that the sinking lures were working, Tom couldn't resist but ringed a Drifter as well to his split ring. After what felt like an eternity, "Fish On!" yelled Tom and he was on! He was desperate for a smaller fish and was disappointed again when he had to release a 51 inch fish this time. Well we can never choose the fish that bites and not that it is a bad thing either!
Folks who are waiting to get out, i say "GO for it!" The fishes are out there in great numbers all over the Noreastern coast, you just have to put in the effort and time finding them. Good luck, tight lines and have fun chasing them!
Tackle used
Rods - Saltywater Tackle Race Point 100/200/250, Saltywater Tackle El Maestro 82M (prototype), Ripple Fisher Big Tuna
Reels - Shimano Stellas
Lures - CB One Drifter/Rookie (prototype), Ron Z, Haoli Tuna Pop, Siren Lure Sorry Charlie
Tight on the first fish on the Race Point 100.
Absolutely my favourite rod!
Tight on the first fish on the Race Point 100.
Fish doing the circle...
Tight on the first fish on the Race Point 100.
Still circling...
Rod: Saltywater Tackle Race Point 100
Reel: Shimano Stella 14000SW
Lure: CB One Rookie
Line: Jerry Brown Hollow
Leader: Saltywater Tackle Twisted Leader
Rod: Saltywater Tackle Race Point 100
Reel: Shimano Stella 14000SW
Lure: CB One Rookie
Line: Jerry Brown Hollow
Leader: Saltywater Tackle Twisted Leader
Doc is tight on his trusty Race Point 200 custom.
Maintaining pressure on the fish is paramount!
And the rewards...satisfying!
Rod: Saltywater Tackle Race Point 200
Reel: Shimano Stella 18000SW
Lure: CB One Drifter
Line: Jerry Brown Hollow
Leader: Saltywater Tackle Twisted Leader

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Blue fin Tuna out of Long Island, New York!



Had an awesome trip with "One More Cast" Captain John McMurray, first mate Gerald, Thomas J Zoltner Jr., Father and son tag team champions AJ and Andrew Lapsley.
We went 4 for 5 of which 3 was on top water plugs and one on the Ron Z!
First fish was landed in the morning by yours truly and by mid day everyone on board had their share!
Lost another 5 feet from the boat when the hook pulled...it sux when you see them just slowly wiggling into the deep blue and you can't do anything about it...
Most of the boats out there were trolling but we stuck to what we came for, stick baits, poppers or jigs with eyes peeled on the horizon looking for splashes, birds or any sign of these elusive hunters and damn, they paid off!
Congratulations to the Lapsley family, both father and son landed a tuna each and the smile on their face... Priceless!
Hope to fish with you guys again and SOON!!
Tackle used
Saltywater Tackle Race Point 200/100
Saltywater Tackle El Maestro 74XH Prototype/710MH

Reels
Shimano Stella 18000SW/14000SW
Shimano Saragosa 10000SW

Lures
Native Works Napalm 200, Moutoukenmaru, Amegari Dzango, Ron Z

Miscellaneous
Stroke of luck, persistance and a good Captain.

Enjoy the pics!

Tom hanging on!
Nice fish on the Amegari Dzange popper!
AJ hanging on!
Stud!
Andrew with his tuna caught on popper!
Father and son tag team!
Yours truly with a nice bend on the Race Point 100!
Love the Native Works Napalm and the way they dig in with a long trail of bubbles, kinda like a flying fish just landed in the water leaving a bubble trail!