2012 TUNA trips

[Sculpin]

Do you guys also use AIS in deciding where to fish? If you go to shipfinder.com you can see where all the commie boats are. I realize this doesn't help you at all for weather, but it might be a nice tool to verify what is happening out there, assuming they are catching fish.

I was looking at my chartplotter with the AIS overlay and was looking for the commercial fishing boats. I don't think it hurts to help pin down a starting point or when you want to make a move after no action for a few hours.

 

[Birdsnest]

I do not have AIS but has anyone here confirmed that all or most or some of the tuna boats are broadcasting AIS? I am not sure they are. They sure do not show up on my ship finder app otherwise it would be an exceptional method.

 

[Sculpin]

I do not have AIS but has anyone here confirmed that all or most or some of the tuna boats are broadcasting AIS? I am not sure they are. They sure do not show up on my ship finder app otherwise it would be an exceptional method.

I would say from observations this summer using the system I have installed that it picks up almost 100% of the commercial boats out there. There may have been one or two that were not showing on the screen. I saw quite a few commercial boats of all kinds out there all summer from fishing, freighters, research, and cruise ships.

I'm using the SH Matrix VHF with AIS receiver and overlaying it onto a Lowrance HDS 7 Gen2.

 

[hambone]

When they are fishing close together like right now... it would be very wise for them to broadcast. I'm sure there are timess when a boat doesn't want its position known though.

 

[Bod]

I have never seen a Tuna or Halibut boat on the AIS system. Last week we fished in the middle of 19 of them. No AIS. Man that would sure make life simple if they did! The drag fleet uses it though, and it's nice to know what you are encountering in the fog. At times there are even freighters that don't have AIS working.

 

[Sculpin]

I have never seen a Tuna or Halibut boat on the AIS system. Last week we fished in the middle of 19 of them. No AIS. Man that would sure make life simple if they did! The drag fleet uses it though, and it's nice to know what you are encountering in the fog. At times there are even freighters that don't have AIS working.

I wonder if they turn them off while fishing or when they are close to an area they want to fish?

I should clarify what I said previously. I picked up almost 100% of the commercial traffic that I eventually saw with my own eyes. We did pass boats that were about 45 miles out but they were underway heading in. We picked them up on the screen. I have seen some groups farther out as well on the screen but can only assume they were fishing for tuna.

I am new to the whole AIS thing and I have still quite a bit to learn.

 

[hambone]

Using shipfinder right now... You can see a bunch of tuna boats. Doesn't this mean they are broadcasting into the AIS system?? If not, shipfinder wouldn't show any boats. Or am I wrong. Earlier in the year I would assume they don't show their location because certain guys wouldn't want competition knowing where they are, but when they are all in a pack then they turn it on as a safety feature.

 

[Sculpin]

Using shipfinder right now... You can see a bunch of tuna boats. Doesn't this mean they are broadcasting into the AIS system?? If not, shipfinder wouldn't show any boats. Or am I wrong. Earlier in the year I would assume they don't show their location because certain guys wouldn't want competition knowing where they are, but when they are all in a pack then they turn it on as a safety feature.

I also thought there are some regulations regarding commercial traffic and having them turned on no?

 

[Aces]

Well I just checked the water temp and I think it is officially over for me this year. A friend of mine did the run out yesterday and had perfect conditions until 40 miles when it just went for crap and they did not fish. He said it was weird but that is the nature of the sea around here. He also said there were commies everywhere so if you are willing to do the 55 miles or more off tofino there is a chance to get some tunas still.

And THAT'S why it's so special when you can get out there with the right water conditions, temps & chloro's.

Bummer for those guys though

 

[Dogbreath]

I while back I posted a link to buy 4.5 inch clones but I now found out that they are sold out and discontinued. Anyone have any sources for this kind of stuff?

Have a look @ Ballyhood they have some small stuff that looks like it would work.

http://www.ballyhood.com/

 

[Charter Tofino]

We ran some small 3-4 inch purple/black clones(zukers?) directly beside the larger 7-8 inch in the same pattern. Lare outfished Them 5-0.

 

[Birdsnest]

Double post sorry.

 

[Birdsnest]

And THAT'S why it's so special when you can get out there with the right water conditions, temps & chloro's.

Exactly, and every time you go there is a substantial amount of preparation prior. Getting up very early, loading with ice and fuel, packing lunches and tying gear long drives to the grounds. It is an alignment of the stars when after all that you catch some tunas!

http://www.ballyhood.com/ : interesting link indeed. TFT

 

[Birdsnest]

Well I was just going to post something about how it is too bad the water moved off but I just checked the SST for today and there is a big peice totaly in reach of tofino and nootka. To bad my freezers are full. Tempting. Someone please go and tell us about it. Please.

 

[Sculpin]

Looks like the warm water is starting to move back in. Weds looks incredible for weather.

 

[tykkyt e blue]

Since I missed out on the Bamfield show, I started to search for alternatives before the warm water was gone for this year. I came across an old post on Bloodydecks about a charter out of Westport Wash. that WASN'T an overnite trip on a 50+ footer. ( http://allriversguideservice.com )
Turns out last Thursday he had a spot for a single and away I went...
We managed to boat 24 fish!!! AND only 5 fish came on the troll. Live bait stops are a BLAST!!!!!!
6 guests on the boat, as soon as a fish hits on the troll, the boat is stopped immediately ( no trying for multi hookups on the troll ) and except for the guest reeling in the troll fish, everyone else gets a live anchovy on a #1 hook w about 3/4 oz of pencil lead and 6' of 30lb. fluoro leader. On the slide, first guy baited, drops in the anch. and freespools his reel ( no casting! ), next rod steps ahead and does same until 5 lines are fanned out and the boat is drifting downwind. The take on live bait is NOTHING like a troll hit. It's like a very slow river drift thru a deep pool. You gently thumb the freespooled reel as the boat moves 2-3 mph down-wind, there's hardly even a bump, except the reel goes from 3, to 5, to 10, to 20+mph before you can jam your thumb down and lever on some drag.
We had several stops that produced multiple hook ups. Once the bite died, we would reset the troll gear and circle around until another troll fish would hit.
I don't know if the other guests were being considerate? or feared for an elbow in the ear? BUT they seemed more interested in the bait fishing, so I picked up 3 of the 5 troll fish (and still got 8 on bait!) Being a river fisher is a definite plus - the take is very subtle ( we all got bait stripped at least a few times)
The water warmed from 55 to 58 over about 35 miles, then rose to 59.5 about 45 miles out. I expected us to stop, but we kept going out until 60.2 degrees and 49 miles out of Westport. In the end, we got 57 miles out and the water stayed between 60.4 and 60.8
Left the dock at 630am, two hours of run time, 7 hours of fishing and 2.5 hours to run back in. ( BTW - Grays Harbour bar crossing is def something to RESPECT! )
For early season next year, I think its a trip worth considering

 

[tykkyt e blue]

Sorry, forgot to post the pics...

 

[firelight]

oh man and I was just starting to calm down, way to go blue

 

[Sculpin]

That's awesome Terry!!!! Congrats on the live bait fishing. I'm definately going to try that next year. I have read that Mark is a good guy and runs a good outfit. How was that 29' Guadalupe? Nice boat?

 

[getbent]

Hey Sculpin,

Guess you would have to jig up some live bait eh? I haven't done that in years but always have jigs on hand but have gottten away from it, could be interesting for sure.

Guy