The Call of the Canyons (7/19 - 7/20 Report)

Getting to the canyons is all about timing, so when a weather window opened and Andy Nabreski and I got last-minute invites to go offshore this week, we jumped at the chance. Andy headed out with OTW Insider writer Jon Pilcher aboard the TunanuT, while I fished with OTW contributing writer Larry Backman aboard the Skipjack. Andy was kind enough to write up this report of his trip. – Jimmy Fee

The Canyons are a magical place, and fishing there is a thrill that everyone should experience at least once in there life. Of all the places I’ve fished throughout the northeast, the canyons are by far my favorite. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that if you want to get out there, you must be willing to drop everything, and be ready to go on very short notice.  Invites to a canyon trip are few and far between.

I got this email on tuesday at 11:15 am. from On The Water contributing writer Captain Jon Pilcher.

“Short notice, leaving 2pm today for west Atlantis…return tomorrow eve.if you could go,welcome.  -Jon”

So i take a deep breath, and think it through. What do I have planned for the next two days, both at work and at home? I had planned to go to the County Fair that night with the wife, but aside from that minor detail I was a free man. I made the decision… I’m in!

I notify my wife and boss I will be gone for two days, I drive home way too fast and pack my bags. I’m at the boat by 1:30, and we begin our 100-mile voyage to the edge of the continental shelf. We’re going to the Canyons!

Jon’s boat TunanuT is pretty fast, and despite some lumpy water and 5-foot swells, the 33-foot HydraSport made it to the edge in about 4 hours. Our game plan was to troll for tuna until sunset, set up for a full night of swordfishing, and then return to the troll the next morning. 18-hours of non-stop fishing!

We only managed to troll up a few spirited skipjacks, but we remained confident as we had found a nice temperature break.

When the sun goes down, it’s time for some swordfishing! Captain Jon Pilcher is swordfish specialist, and the entire night would be dedicated towards hooking one up.

I received a detailed schooling on rigging for swords from one of the best. Jon is an emergency room doctor;  his skills with a rigging needle were quite impressive.

Balloons with glow sticks taped to the tops would actor as giant, glowing bobbers. Jon tapes the glow sticks on top for a reason. Swordfish will sometimes rocket to the surface after taking a bait, and the balloon won’t move. With this setup, if you see the glow stick topple over, you know you have a hit.

Be sure to check out the September issue of On The Water Magazine, where Jon will have a feature article that’s loaded with his hard-learned secrets of the swords.

If you are solely targeting swordfish, chumming at night isn’t recommended, as it will attract sharks and other bait-stealers. Unfortunately, we did not get a sword, or any fish, during the night. We stared at glowing balloons all until first light, and they never moved. Swordfish stocks are on the rebound, but hooking one in the northeast is still a low percentage game. The lines were hauled in, the trolling gear was set up, a Red Bull was chugged, and it was time to find some tuna.

There were reports of some large bigeye tuna in our area, and one lucky boat had landed a whopper a day before in the same area. Jon put out a spread with bigeye intentions, and it paid off. After about 45 miles of trolling, we decided it was time for breakfast. Jon and I were both eating Hostess coffee cakes when it happened, and we were both looking back at the spread. It looked like someone dropped a refrigerator on top of the spreader bar. There was a hole in the water, a huge splash, and then the drag was screaming. A second rod went off. I jammed the rest of the coffee cake into my mouth and grabbed a rod. We were doubled up on bigeye!

Jon’s fish broke off after about 20 minutes, but I remained tight on a big fish. After an hour and a half battle we caught our first glimpse of it, and it was big! Unfortunately, the arm of the spreader bar was wrapped in the main line, and the line broke with the fish about 25 feet under the boat. The big one got away. I’ve heard stories about how tough bigeye tuna are, they have a nasty reputation for busting tackle and breaking off. But I had no idea. That bigeye was mean. These fish simply do not quit, unlike other tuna. It was an epic toe-to-toe battle that I will never forget.

So we returned to the troll still without a single fish in the box. But that would quickly change.

Before long we had 5 rods go down, and miraculously, we landed all 5 yellowfin tuna, 4 of which were legal and one was short and released. Finally, we had some fish in the box!

We continued to get a steady pick of small tuna on the troll.

The box was getting full, and we were close to our limit. We made the decision to take our tuna and head home.  Despite not getting a swordfish and loosing a monster bigeye, the trip was a success. We were tired, sore and stinky, but we had fish in the box, and had survived another adventure to the edge of the continental shelf.

When i close my eyes, all I can see is that bigeye tuna, 25-feet under the boat, in crystal-clear blue water. I can’t wait to go back.