Bluefin Tuna Fishing - Stellwagen Bank
We left the dock at 4:30am headed for the bank in search of bluefin tuna. The seas were cooperative for the hour ride across the bay. We were setting up the gear as the sun broke the horizon and we got our usual morning welcome as a huge humpback surfaced 50 feet port side while having his morning helping of sand eels.
The conditions were perfect for the troll, no weeds in the water and just enough chop to disguise our offerings. Trolling a five line spread, we made are way up the bank. It wasn’t as alive with birds and bait as I would have liked to see but we were marking lots of fish so our hopes were high.
Around 7:30 am the starboard outrigger pops and the Shimano 50 TLD reel starts screening. Bluefin tuna run like no other, the screaming drag was all the evidence we needed, we were hooked up. The mad scramble begins to get all the other gear to the boat. My friend Billy has the rod and reel in hand, belt on, and the fight begins. This fish had about 350 yards of line off the spool before he could even get to work. He did a great job of keeping the pressure on the fish and after 30 minutes we had him to the side of the boat. One clean gaff shot and together we bring him over the gunwale and onto the deck. The fish was 56 inches. After celebrating and prepping the fish we are back on the troll and headed back up the same line.
At 8:30am the port side outrigger pops and the other Shimano 50 TLD is screaming. This time I have the rod and reel and Billy clears the other lines. After a 30 minute battle we have the second fish to the boat. We tail wrapped this one, put him on the deck, remove the hook and set him free to fight another day. Another great day on the water!! Sashimi anyone?
