Green Harbor MA Captain’s Log

We left the dock at 4:30am headed for the bank in search of bluefin tuna. The seas were cooperative for the hour ride across the bay. We were setting up the gear as the sun broke the horizon and we got our usual morning welcome as a huge humpback surfaced 50 feet port side while having his morning helping of sand eels.

The conditions were perfect for the troll, no weeds in the water and just enough chop to disguise our offerings. Trolling a five line spread, we made are way up the bank. It wasn’t as alive with birds and bait as I would have liked to see but we were marking lots of fish so our hopes were high.

Around 7:30 am the starboard outrigger pops and the Shimano 50 TLD reel starts screening. Bluefin tuna run like no other, the screaming drag was all the evidence we needed, we were hooked up. The mad scramble begins to get all the other gear to the boat. My friend Billy has the rod and reel in hand, belt on, and the fight begins. This fish had about 350 yards of line off the spool before he could even get to work. He did a great job of keeping the pressure on the fish and after 30 minutes we had him to the side of the boat. One clean gaff shot and together we bring him over the gunwale and onto the deck. The fish was 56 inches (about 145lbs). After celebrating and prepping the fish we are back on the troll and headed back up the same line.

At 8:30am the port side outrigger pops and the other Shimano 50 TLD is screaming. This time I have the rod and reel and Billy clears the other lines. After a 30 minute battle we have the second fish to the boat. We tail wrapped this one, put him on the deck, remove the hook and set him free to fight another day. Another great day on the water!! Sashimi anyone?

There is nothing quite like the sound of a Bluefin tuna pealing line off the reel. That sound triggers such an adrenalin rush it is hard to describe but it is nothing short of awesome. Grab your fighting belt and it’s game on. The Bluefin Tuna in the photo below was caught June 20, 2008 on Stellwagen Bank. It measured 56 inches and we estimated the weight around 100lbs. This fish dumped 300+ yards of line (23lbs of drag) in about 45 seconds. Over the next 30 minutes I battled that fish with using a Shimano TLD50 IILRSA reel. Just when I thought I had the upper hand the fish saw the boat and peeled another 150yards of line. With my knees against the stern and the rod bent nearly into the water the fish went straight down. More work still … eventually the fish is alone side the boat, line man (Tim) leads him along side while gaff man (Howard) lands a perfect shot. Celebratory high fives all around when that fish hits the deck.

Mass Bay Fishing Update!
It’s been a while since my last entry here…
mostly because I’ve been busy fishing.
Where to start…I have no more room in the freezer for mackerel
The macs are starting to thin out now in and around Cape Cod Bay. Schools of pogies (menhaden shad) are around now. If I can do as well with the menhaden I’ll be needing another freezer. Schoolies bass have been easy to come by but the big ones are around too. The lobster traps are producing nicely. I’ve been lucky enough find many hardshell 2.5-4 lb lobsters in the traps now on several occasions. The best news of all is that the Blue Fin Tuna are back. I hope to be lucky enough to get one on the deck soon. Can you say sashimi? I’ll be heading to the the bank several times in the next week in search of my first tuna. There be some photos here if I’m successful. For now these fathers day bass will have to do.