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7-28/29-2001 aboard the Conquest |
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As the group slowly arrived at the landing, I notice some light gear for the Albacore and suggested that some of them rent some 40lb string at the tackle shop. As the we all assembled for the top of the landing seminar I gave the news. Bluefin, Bluefin, BLUEFIN! This was going to be a working trip! Joel joined us in the galley after load a mix of Anchovy, Sardine and Mackerel and repeated the News........ Bluefin. They are big, he stated and you need to use the heavy string. Those out the day before that got hit on the 20lb, suffered the agony of defeat! Some social mixing, gear set up and training for the newbies, I retired for a smooth ride down the line to the 1010! Awake at 5:30 AM, I found most of the Anglers pacing the decks with excitement. I sat and had my coffee in the galley as those that could not wait any longer started soaking baits... What I noticed was scary. After all of the warning of light lone horror, some of the early birds were using their 20lb setups. Joel Climbed into the Wheel House and started to organize the trollers....."OK, We need trollers 1,2,3 and 4". Rhoom, the motors started and then I heard it! Hooook Upppp!!! All hell just broke open. I glared out the window and put a thumb in the air to our Colorado angler, Tom. He was on, but he was on a light setup and line was disappearing rapidly. As the out-of-towner tried to gain some line back, the rest of scattered out of the galley to get a fresh bait in the water. One, two, three new fresh ones with line screaming off the reels. Talk about a wake up call! I thinking that Big fish eat big bait, hook a mackerel through the nose and tossed it out as Joel laughed at the thought of me getting bit! Wham! the bait was inhaled. Line was screaming off the two-speed and OL' Jamie was on! Nice pull I thought, but not that of a Bluefin. A head shake and I knew what I had. I told Joel to expect a nice Albacore and he was shocked.... " Didn't you have on that big mackerel"? You should have seen the look in the skippers eyes as he gaffed a 40+ lb. Longfin. NICE! I looked at the rail and saw several of my clients just nailed to the rail. I heard a few grunts, moans and cries as lines popped, hooks pulled and muscles cramped over the next 13 hours... Yes, 13 hour of picking. It would die down for a half an hour and start all
over again. The day consisted of great moments for the camera, Raymond Mc Bride caught his 1st ever tuna. A 60 lb. bluefin. Great start Muscles strained and great fish landed by the group from University of New Mexico.... Go Lobo's. The fish that hit the deck on this day would be at the 50-70lb. class. Everyone was having a great day! We ended the first day with 41 bluefin, 27 Albacore and 1 Dorado. Tired and exhausted we all enjoyed a Porter House steak dinner as we slowly traveled to the 2nd days destination..... The Butterfly Bank. The morning gave light to a gloomy day with a mix of some 22 vessels in the area. Low on bait, we borrowed some Chovie from another Fisherman's vessel and we started the day! Breaking fish were seen every where, but getting them to bite was the hard part. There is just
so much bait in the water out there.. We had some great stops with nice Albacore some for 2 and 3 fish each. This really Running low on bait and not wanting to get into it and run out on a stop, Joel decided to head for home. Our numbers were at 47 Bluefin, 65 Albacore and the 1 Dorado. Some were satisfied, some would stay till the last dead sardine or mackerel was tossed out, but with our numbers no one should be disappointed. A Mako Shark lunch with apple pie and ice cream for dessert, we retired in the galley for the raffles from Seeker Rods, Kicker Jigs, CTX Mortgage and BC Distributing. The Kicker Jigs were awarded to Raymond Mc Bride, John Mc Farland, Nick Howerton and Tom Aquiningoc. The Penn 114HL was won by Arizona Flint and the Seeker rods, a E- Glass 270 went to Gary Bednorz and the Black Steel composite CTSF60H was won by Tom Groom. Second day Jack Pot was won by Gale McBride with a nice Albacore, but we had to wait to get back to the landing to see who would take the trip Jack Pot and trophy! The fish that were teamed up on or caught using long periods of crew assistance were eliminated, as the weigh in began..... Crowds gathered as the big bluefin hit the scales. 68, 64, 63.57, 59, 61 the skipper called out...... the winner, John Mc Farland of Lakeside, great work John. It's always a pleasure fishing with you and your group. The usual thanks to the great individuals at Seeker Rods, Kicker Jigs, BC Distributing and CTX Mortgage for their product support. I thank you again! Jamie Spencer / JES Sport Fishing Raffle Winners for the trip |
It seems that all of my trips start the same way. Me making the long drive to San Diego.......This trip became even longer as I received a call on my cell notifying me
of a nice grade of bluefin tuna stacking up along the 1010 trench. It seemed like an eternity as drove to Fisherman's and the minutes turned to hours... You see we were on our way out on the Conquest with one of the best Bluefin Skippers, make that just skippers around, Joel Ralston for a 2 day trip. 
