The Big Tuna

Arizona Outdoorsman / AZOD

The Big Tuna is not just found in Dallas, but San Diego As Well or Sardines can break 30 lb. Test
by Stan Cunningham

Since most sports pages ignore outdoor sports anymore, I thought I’d put this header in terms you are most used to seeing. But if big albacore are what you’d like, I’d try and get a charter out of San Diego this season.

After just returning from a 2-day charter trip for albacore out of San Diego, I just finished enjoying one of many appetizing meals to come. Even though my two fish was a long way from my possible limit of 10 (5 per day), I still will have a lot of tuna as I got 17 pounds of fillets per fish, that after I cleaned up everything and cut out the “dark meat.” These were big fish, and I’m sure the guys who had caught limits on our charter spent a long day processing and freezing fish. We were able to catch so many albacore in the 35 to 45 fish pound range, that Wayne Carr, owner operator of the charter boat Mustang from H & M Landing, stated he had not seen that many large fish caught in one day in his 28 years of sport fish work. The big fish pot winner, Steve Ferheizel, won with a 51 pounder, but most of us had at least one over 40. These were all albacore, no blue fin or big eye to skew the large size.

This was my first trip, and my lack of experience showed with my fish catch numbers. Those that had been fishing for years were much more successful than the few of us “rookies,” but all of us would done better if they had not been so large. “When you get fish that big, you only have a 50-50 chance of getting them in the boat” said Captain Carr. “I was getting a little frustrated with you guys in the morning, as we were just scratching out a few at each stop, we needed to get going to find another group.” Almost no one was landing a fish within 20-30 minutes. “But after watching Adon and Dane (boat mates) have to double pump the gaffs and saw what came over the gunnels, I knew we could not move any faster.” I was just under the captain’s estimate as I was 2 for 6 in landing fish, but each was a better battle than any other fish I’ve caught, including halibut twice the size. It was just one long stalemate after you got them close to the boat, a few pulls up, the drag went back out, and so on. Just the kind of thing you dream of when you’re packing your gear. As the first fish I hooked sailed out into the open ocean, I asked the first mate if he was sure my drag wasn’t to loose. He helped the fish pull out a few more yards, looked at me and smiled and said “Nope, just a big fish and 30 lb. test, Good Luck and call me when you see color.”

Kevin Bergersen, law enforcement programs administrator with Arizona Game and Fish Department set up this charter, as he has for many years before. This is actually one of three charters mainly staffed with AGFD personnel taken each year. We like to fish too!

I was glad my first charter was with friends. Those of you that are experienced know what it can be like when you get a “big bite.” On more than one occasion, at least 15 of the 21 of us were hooked up at one time. It was sure nice to know who you were next to, and the mutual respect for each other’s catch exhibited by everyone. The costs can range with what you want, the boat, and how many people you are willing to fish with. The Mustang can take several more than the 21 we had, but it was sure nice to have a little more rail room and some extra bunks to pile your gear. Call H & M Landing at (619) 222-1144 (www.hmlanding.com) for a complete listing of charters and prices, or if it’s too late to get one this year, try booking with the public trips.

"Bite's On"

Our total count was 96 albacore, 3 Dorado or mahi-mahi, and 7 yellow tails. Almost all the fish were caught on day one. On Day 2 we were able to scratch out a few, and had one “good bite” where most of us hooked up. But again with the large size, more fish were lost than boated. The Dorado were the beauties. I just reeled in and stood next to Craig McMullen, field supervisor for AGFD out of Payson, as he reeled in the largest.

Craig McMullen, that's a big tuna

I had always heard that they are unbelievably colored in the water, and no picture does them justice. Those that tell that tale are correct, and the mixtures of lime green, yellow, and turquoise blue cutting through the water at warp speed are too difficult for me to describe. I think Craig said it best as his fish took off on another long run with several jumps, “What a privilege to catch a fish like that.” What a privilege indeed, just to stand next to he and his brother, Chris, as they both caught beauties. The second night at sea, many of us spent some time jigging squid, and it took little time to fill up a couple buckets full. Much longer to clean them up for fried calamari.

And it was the second morning that I have to set the record straight. You ever find yourself in one of those positions where there is no way you are not going to take ribbing, even if you’re telling the story, and even if you stretch it to make yourself look better. Well, I want to get this one out. Mark Severson, Silver Creek fish Hatchery manager, and I were lined up next to each other and I thought I must have picked the strongest sardine in the bait area, my line was singing out. I thought it might be a fish, but when I put my thumb on the baitcaster exposed reel, the line just stopped. “It has to just be a strong bait, right” I asked Mark. He gave me one of those looks, you know, the kind of look a friend gives when he really should be saying “Hell No Stupid.” “No” he said, “I think that is a fish, I’d hit him if I was you.” So, knowing that Mark had caught many more than I, I did what he said, locked the reel and hit it hard. Of course, Mark was right, but sometimes it’s great to be wrong. Unfortunately 20 minutes later, once again the fish broke the line. Prompting Mark’s question “Now tell me, just how did that sardine snap your line?” What does one say to that, but know you were busted. But I’ve given you the gospel truth here and don’t let Mark embellish the story any further. I wouldn’t blame him though, as I sure would if the shoe were on the other foot.

As I stated, I was a rookie, and to you other rookies I did notice a few things that may help you out. I watched the guys who caught the most Kevin Bergersen, Craig McMullen, Eric Swanson, Leonard Cooper, and the fishing leader of our pack Ty Gray as they hooked the most and made note of a few characteristics. First is the bait selection, avoid the ones showing any blood or hard knocks, and if they don’t freely swim out, reel them in and replace them. The second is to be quick to the water. This sounds obvious but by the end of trip I was standing around with rod in hand, not in rod racks. With the scratching we did on a number of schools it seemed like the first few with bait in the water were the first, and sometimes only ones to hook up. And like many of the above, I switched to “ringed hooks” which allow the bait to swim more freely. There are also a series of knots one can tie with a loop as well that does not restrict the bait. The best advice I have though is one I could not do. According to Captain Carr, “You can improve your chances over 100% by being able to cast the bait out to the fish to 50 feet or so.” Ty was the only one who really was good at this, and he caught the most fish. Next trip, and there will be a next trip, I’ll practice with some clothespins on the line in the back yard as time approaches. The larger reels and rods were just a little more than my largemouth bass baitcaster rig, and I did nothing but backlash, so I’ll just have to purchase some more fishing equipment.

Kevin Bergersen

My advice to any one interested is do what you can to get out this season. As I stood in the captain’s bridge, it was obvious from the radio chatter that all the captains were amazed by the size of their fish their charters were catching. No one seems sure as to why, but Wayne thought the fact there was a large amount of bait, and that the “albacore bite” started late this year, gave the fish another few weeks to put on the extra pounds. “An albacore eats 2 to 3 times their weight a day, 2 to 3 weeks more of eating can mean and extra 5 pounds or so.” But accuracy of theories aside, this seems to be a year to catch big albacore, don’t miss it if you can.