Over the years I’ve heard a lot of offshore captains preach, “If the good water is there, the fish will be too.”
It seems reasonable enough, but tuna in the canyons in December? It seemed a little far fetched to me, but earlier this week a couple boats saw promising weather and water temperatures and tossed a Hail Mary for some Yuletide tuna.
Chris Aldrich who ventured offshore on the 5’s Max out of Old Saybrook, CT on December 11 emailed us this report:
We had been watching a warm pocket of water moving in to the canyons for weeks, and on Sunday and Monday we finally got the weather break to test how crazy we actually are. It was 25 degrees and ice covered the cockpit as we left to fuel up at Montauk on Sunday morning December 11th. We turned down the Christmas music as we pulled up to the dock, the deck hands thought we were lunatics asking for flats of butterfish. We steamed to the edge finding a break to 70 degrees in Atlantis just before dark. Despite the warm water, it was lifeless, bringing only blue sharks, and a large 300-pound class Mako.
Unsatisfied with our findings we headed east to find another break to 71.7 degrees in Veatch, unfortunately we had only a few hours until daylight. Within 15 minutes we jigged up a 50-pound yellowfin, and hooked into an 80-pound swordfish landing both. The yellows were at 200 feet and continued to hit baits through the daylight until we ran out of bait at 10:30 Monday morning. We ended up with 8 yellowfin to 50-pounds an 80-pound swordfish and a big mako we released, as it was too big for the dinner table. Who would have thought anyone in New England would be bringing home fresh Christmas Yellowfin. The guys at Montauk were right, we are lunatics. Merry Christmas guys, I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season.
Todd Mackechnie also made the run to Veatch on Sunday and posted some of the pictures from his trip on the OTW Facebook Page:
I also had thought that you guys were a little bit crazy for going out in December. That is until I saw Capt. Bill Brown at the Helm… That confirmed it! Great Job Guys! Is it any wonder why you guys encountered a 300# Mako Shark at the first stop? It wasn’t luck.
Good to see that you guys are still getting out. Nice Report!
Way to go guys! We all talk about it but most don’t get to go so kudos to your guys for catching em up!
The water seems to have cooled a bit so you guys may be the last of the 2011canyoneers!
Good eating.Happy SushiDays.
I have had an opportunity to fish aboard the 5’s Max and I will attest that Capt Gene and 1st Mate Vinny are finatics when it comes to canyon fishing. Way to to go gentlemen!!! Take it from a Florida boy you both know how to get er done….Happy Holidays from Fort Lauderdale!!