Fished for: Tuna
Date Fished: 7/25/98
Boat Name: Down Time
Water Temp: 78 Degrees
Water Clarity: 15 Feet
Seas: Slight Chop Until 12:00 PM Then Rough
Weather: Sunny With Some Haze
REPORT:
Frank Tuma, Mel Myers, Bill Kassakatis and I went TUNA fishing on the Atlantic Ocean, Saturday, 07/25/98. We all boarded Frank’s Grady White Seafarer in Ocean City, Maryland at 5:30 AM. The seas had a slight chop on the way out to the 20 Fathom Line. We arrived at the Fingers by 6:45 AM and started trolling.
6:45 AM until 10:00 AM
Trolled a 13 mile stretch from the Fingers to the Hambone. Lures used were Blue Feathers with a Black Bird, Green Feathers with a Green Birds, Red & White Cedar Plugs and Plan Cedar Plugs. A total of 5 lines were being trolled. Two fish came up and chased the lures, but no takers.
10:38 AM until 1:15 PM
Chunked with Butterfish while anchored on the Hambone. Cut bait was on lines at different depths from 2 feet to 20 feet. Balloons were being used as floats on 3 of the 5 lines we had out. At 12:30 PM Frank had the first Tuna on. Frank handed me the rod and I fought the fish for about 8 minutes. All of a sudden I lost contact with this fish. I turned around just in time to see a nice Dolphin jump out of the water. Mel had a good hook set on this fish and was bringing it to the boat when the Dolphin made a last surge. The line got wrapped around the auxiliary motor and broke. Oh well, we batted 1000 (2 for 2). Two fish on and two off. ‘That’s fishing.’
1:30 PM until 2:50 PM
Trolled back toward the Fingers using the same lures as listed above.
5:15 PM
Docked the boat outside Frank’s condo.
SPECIAL THANKS:
To Frank Tuma for inviting us to go Tuna fishing out on the Atlantic Ocean. This was my first time and it was a very enjoyable trip. Frank put us on the fish and I did have a chance to catch my first Tuna. I must commend Frank for the way he handled his boat on the way back in. It got pretty rough with seas of 3 to 4 feet and with the experience Frank has on the open water, the ride back was safe and as comfortable as could be.
And to Mel and Ann Myers for allow Bill and I to spend a couple of nights at their condo.
FISHING TIP-Before attempting to catch large fish, such as a Tuna, get instructions on how to handle the equipment, you will be using. And find out what the best way is to land such a fish.
NOTE-Frank Tuma has created and maintains an outstanding Web site, www.heyfish.com, for The Pasadena Sportfishing Group, Inc., in Maryland.
Good Fishing…..Tom Hughes