Underway from Block Island at 0415, my son and I and headed to the Fingers in our 35 Carolina Classic. A few miles short at 0545, he says, “This is where we caught on Thursday, lets set in here.” At 0555 or so, we were tight on a green splash bar. After several recent successful trips catching 40″ to 44″ bluefin tuna, we knew the drill: Fish hits. Joy. Runs off some line. Angler on the rod gets the fish to settle, turns the fish, and after a 5-10 minute short stroke, slide her in the door, de-hook, slide her out the door, high fives.
This wasn’t that. Fish accelerating. Boat out of gear, which we seldom do, and I am on the rod watching it dump. Just a touch up on the drag as I can see the Dacron backing on 50W and, after all, these are 40″ to 44″ tuna of about 40 pounds. More pressure. Too much pressure. Very heavy fish. Fish slows a bit. Then accelerates again. What is this? Watched the Dacron splice go out. Soon I see gold of the spool. Maybe 50 yards of line left to fight with. Not good.
Finally get the fish to stop but still very heavy. Battle is on. Gain some line. Lose some line. Tail hooked, thresher, I wonder? Had that constant thought anglers have…this is too much pressure, something will fail…I only want to see this fish and know what it is before she’s gone. Forty minutes along and boats are circling us. Everyone wants to know. Fish is straight down now and trying her best to get the line into my gear. Rod is an upside down U and line coming off the reel, slowly now. Brenden is running to the throttles and back, cleared 8 lines, up the tower to take in the bowling pins, securing line to a harpoon, “bump it ahead. Bump it! Get me a gaff ready! Is the harpoon rigged?”
Deep color and it is a big tuna. Circling as only big, hooked tuna do. A few quick short strokes. Shallow color and I can feel the line deflect perhaps on the rudder. But she circles out still tight. Bright silver side gleaming through the blue. One more circle. He hands me the leader, I back the drag, holder the rod and lift the fish. I cant see over the transom how deep she is but my son moves to push the dart through the fish. His first ever harpoon shot, and it is perfect.
64″ fork length, between 150 and 160 pounds. As good as life gets.
-Steven McGonagle; Barrington RI
Sapper 6 and Son – one for the storybooks/grandkids pop!
Nice looking fish, Steve. Judging by its girth I can imagine how hard she fought. Good descriptive write-up of the battle0, and anyone who has fought one of these tuna can readily relate to the experience.
Most definitely a good time tuna wishing hooking up tho is more fun than your first pants off dance off. Santiago’s Revenge will be there next year ! Believe it !