NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums

NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => NJ Offshore Fishing Reports and Information => Topic started by: hareball on August 02, 2010, 12:40:37 PM

Title: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: hareball on August 02, 2010, 12:40:37 PM
It was a beautiful day, this was evident throughout the day by the amount of boats from 19' to 50'! The Hudson was very slow and rough the night before and many of the big boats joined in the chicken fleet. We found Charlie 5 miles short of our destination, the smell of death in the air the tuna were all over sand worms. The tuna seemed very hard to get with their attention on bait all around. This went for everyone but several boats did board some nice tuna.
Eventually we switched to jigging and the butterfly jig was the one that got them. We learned that the hook is way too small for big bluefin and at a point in the fight the hole gets large enough and the tuna will spit the hook.
The last BFT that Capt. Mike had on looked as big as his 260lb big eye from last year if not a little bigger. Mike managed to get the fish to the boat 2x and both times it shot for the bottom just smoking the drag. I ended up having to use the boat to back down on the fish and I mean wide open while Mike tried to get some line back. After a 40 minute battle that hook pulled and it was over. Even though we didn't land the fish it was the coolest thing ever to watch that fight and the power those big BFT's have. Can't wait to start chunking for them!!
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: Hotrod on August 02, 2010, 12:55:01 PM
Sounded like a great day.  Sorry tje phyliss Ann missed that one.  But she is awaiting better weather t^
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: hareball on August 02, 2010, 01:28:38 PM
Here is a short video. There is a potty mouth on the radio so volume down if you need to.

Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: makokeith on August 02, 2010, 07:46:21 PM
Nice job capt. clp
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: Bucktail on August 02, 2010, 08:06:10 PM
What size hook are you using?  I made some assists with 9/0 Gamakatsu Live Bait hooks and I'll be making more with 7/0 and 9/0 Mustads.
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: hareball on August 02, 2010, 08:11:13 PM
I dunno Bob? All I know is Mike will be buying more and switching out the hooks too. The tuna turned the round snap ring into an oval too. And the Torum....she is shot lol
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: Bucktail on August 02, 2010, 08:15:51 PM
I dunno Bob? All I know is Mike will be buying more and switching out the hooks too. The tuna turned the round snap ring into an oval too. And the Torum....she is shot lol

Did you have the hook attached to a solid ring or a split ring?

About the Torium, I've heard similar stories about them not holding up to big tuna.  Great inshore reels though. t^

I think it may be time to upgrade to the Trinidads. ;D
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: shkbilly on August 02, 2010, 08:20:59 PM
I haven't had a tuna on my Torium just yet, but I'm already nervous about it. I know the Trevala is a little on the week side based on how it performed for bass/blues this spring. We'll see.

The fish were sporadic out there, definitely tought to get em to bite. We had better luck on the troll.
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: Bucktail on August 02, 2010, 08:36:55 PM
I've already upgraded the drag to Carbontex on mine and plan on doing this anti-reverse upgrade (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=509.0) as well courtesy of Alan Tani's website. 
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: hareball on August 02, 2010, 08:48:18 PM
I dunno Bob? All I know is Mike will be buying more and switching out the hooks too. The tuna turned the round snap ring into an oval too. And the Torum....she is shot lol

Did you have the hook attached to a solid ring or a split ring?

About the Torium, I've heard similar stories about them not holding up to big tuna.  Great inshore reels though. t^

I think it may be time to upgrade to the Trinidads. ;D

 think it was a split ring.
His Toriums have served him well inshore and actually did well on the first 2 BFT's but that 3rd was just way too big. I had the Stella out...Wish I had a hookup.

The only thing we had on the troll was a Mahi. Mike gave everything a good soak before switching out and the fish were everywhere. Reeeeally frustrating! If we were Bow fishing it would have been a quick limit!
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: Bucktail on August 02, 2010, 09:36:16 PM
Ah well, at least you had some action. t^

I'll have to tell Mike to take me out with you guys so I can show him how it's done! rofla
Title: Re: Reel Time 7/31 Chicken Canyon
Post by: Hotrod on August 02, 2010, 09:41:34 PM
When  5hrug  Your always.. Www..oorrkking...

.  man that's hard to say...