2010 Episode Synopsis
by Charlie Wray
Episode 198: P.E.I. Bluefin Tuna
Today, the Mercury Marine Destination is North Lake, Prince Edward Island. Charlie and wife Terri load up the Ram and get ready for a long road trip East. Actually, despite the long drive, once you get past the Toronto traffic and a little traffic going through Montreal, this is a very peaceful and beautiful trip. We are fishing today aboard the Li’l Miss Maddy with Captain Tony MacDonald and his brother and first mate Bradley. Joining the team on this venture is also Steve Tagami from Mustad and both Emmerson Simpson and Eric Lockhart. Part of the plan is to double team these monster fish, and get them in as fast as possible to encourage a healthy release.
Despite the amount of fishing both Charlie and Steve have done, neither had experienced the strength and stamina of a giant Bluefin. After checking with a few that did, both Steve and Charlie heard stories of folks being pulled overboard from reels seizing and locking up, rod tips being wrapped, line digging into the spool because it was not spooled tight enough, or just plain injuries from the strength of these huge fish. They were told never to go past 35 lb of drag pressure, most equipment and people can’t handle the pressure. To say Steve and Charlie were left wondering what they have got themselves into was an understatement.
After hearing of reels locking up, Charlie wanted to make sure he had the best of the best. Okuma had just come out with the new series of Makaira big game reels. These reels are truly built to handle the largest sport fish, and before the trip, Charlie and Terri spent a couple of nights packing on 130 lb test Tuf-Line XP on these Makaira 80W two speed reels. Not sure how much line actually went on, but there was not much left from a 2,500 yard spool, for each reel. Standard fishing, even on the commercial side, is monster sized 130 reels, loaded with stretchy and thick 130 lb mono. Rods never leave the gunnel, and fighting the fish is cranking the handle with another hand in a leather glove, pulling on the line. What the Fishful Thinking team planned to do, and did, was stand up in a harness, and take all the pressure themselves in a sport fishing fashion.
What the team first saw was truly amazing!!! They actually had a school of monster Tuna at the side of the boat, and feed them herring for about half an hour. At times, these fish can be boat and line shy to say the least, so in addition to the Okuma Makaira reels loaded with no stretch 130 lb test Tuf-Line XP, Charlie also used the Tuf-Line Guides Choice, this is a hollow core braid, designed for the Seaguar leader to be inserted into the hollow core, to make wind on leaders, so the connection is smooth and knot free. The main line Tuf-Line XP and Tuf-Line Guides Choice are joined with a loop to loop connection made with bimini knots, with the 30 foot Seaguar leader extending out of the other end of the Guides Choice. The Tuf-Line Guides Choice Hollow Core doesn’t need to be long, just enough to connect loop to loop with the main line and have 8 feet of the leader inserted inside.
Leaders of 200 lb test Seaguar Fluorocarbon are a must. Not only for the abrasion resistant qualities, but these large eyed monsters would shy away in a second if the leader was not invisible in the water. On occasion, even the hook size needs to be reduced, or the take will not happen, even when they are taking the hand outs at boat side. Today, the 12/0 Mustad Demon Perfect Circle Hook #39959BLN was ideal, incredibly strong and just the correct size to hook the live Mackerel. The take was instant, and with only some steady pressure, the circle hook found the corner of the jaw perfectly! Circle hooks are designed to rotate and only hook the corner of the mouth, this way, even fish that suck in a bait deeply, the hook can slide back up the throat, rotate, and only hook the jaw, perfect for live release fishing.
To say these fish are strong is an understatement. The first run was approximately 600 yards with 35 lbs of drag pressure. OK, who ever said don’t ever go past 35 lb of pressure hasn’t been Tuna fishing in P.E.I., The team didn’t see a fish at boat side under 600 lbs, and the advise was from those catching smaller 400 – 600 lb Bluefin, and this fish was well over that. Feeling comfortable in the harness and with a silky smooth drag of the new Okuma Makaira reel, 35 lbs of pressure just wasn’t enough and Charlie slowly inched the pressure up to 45 lb where it needed to stay for the next three days. The harness is comfortable, and once you adjust your balance, it is a much more sporting way to enjoy the fight. To maximize the pressure, and so everyone could enjoy this powerful creature, they changed off every 20 – 30 minutes. Yes ladies, you can do this as well, Terri had a blast and could have stayed on longer than her shift, but others were waiting for the thrill. 20 - 30 minute shifts were perfect, just enough to enjoy the fight and start feeling slight fatigue, but leave you anxious for your turn again.
The Okuma Makaira was flawless, even with the 45 lbs of drag pressure, this is truly a big game reel that can take anything you want to fish for. Also a special note, the Tuf-Line XP sliced through the waves like a straight wire, no belly like the commercial guys experience with the 130 mono. The big plus, downsizing to the 80W sized reels loaded with Tuf-Line XP actually hold much more line than the 130 reels with 130 lb mono, so you can use a smaller reel and enjoy the stand up fight. This is about as good as Big Game fishing can be, and while there is a worldwide shortage of these monster fish, and since each fish is extremely valuable to the worldwide fish markets, the future is unknown. However, the population is still strong in P.E.I. and a live release sport fishery is still there for anyone wanting to enjoy one of the largest, toughest sport fish in the world.
In short, words simply cannot describe the thrill of seeing these monster fish first hand, either feeding them, or at boat side after a 3 hour battle with a perfectly placed Mustad Circle hook in the corner of their mouth, and a healthy release. We are allowed to catch and release one fish a day. Day one was a fish in the 850 lb range and a 2 ½ hour battle. Day 2 was a monster of over 1,000 lbs and a 3 ½ hour fight, and Day 3 was a fish in the 900 lb range and a 3 hour fight. Day three was just Charlie, Terri and Steve, as we lost Emmerson and Eric to work commitments, so Terri had the chance she wanted to enjoy more time on the rod, and she did great!
Captain Tony and first mate Bradley are true gentlemen and it was one of the most professionally run and enjoyable boats Charlie has ever been on. Family fun, or fishing buddies, you will have the time of your life.
www.tonystunafishing.com or 902-357-2207. The East Coast is not only beautiful, but the folks are friendly and helpful, it is truly a nice relaxing pace and a break from the traffic jams and fast pace lifestyle. Only a few minute from where we fish, is Bothwell Beach cottages, these are not cottages like you would expect, but immaculately kept homes with full bath and kitchens. Clean and quiet and truly a home away from home www.bothwellbeachcottages.com or 866-357-2561. For all your fishing and outdoor needs, check out your closest SAIL – The Outdoors Superstore www.sail.ca
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