07.23.2006 Black sea tuna or Bluefin bass?

[Skylar]

Fish Report 7/23/06
Black sea tuna or Bluefin bass?

Hi All,
That was interesting.
Many of you have seen us throw a few lures off the stern while steaming offshore. Put 'em out - wind 'em in. My mates really enjoy it. (not!)
It paid off when we bowed up on a 30+ pound bluefin tuna last week. Decent fish for 11 miles off the beach. Pulled cedar plugs around for a while hoping for another - no joy.
The next day the lures went out again. Nothing. But the cbassing was better than the day before. A little guy in the corner was looking good for the pool; there were some outrageous tog in the boat as well. The day had that rhythm, the steady pace of fish coming over the rail, that usually ends in a good trip. I'd found a tiny new piece of coral bottom - 'live-rock' the commercial guys call it. Probably had come within a few yards of it dozens of times but never saw until that day. Didn't last long - quality fish though.
"In they come now, we'll try another spot". Time to keep the rhythm going...
'Cept the young fellow in the back corner decides it's time to steal the show. Bowed up - line leaving the reel in a big hurry; we hauled anchor and followed along. Shark? Big king mackerel? Cobia? Manta ray?
Nah. Bluefin tuna - on a rental rod baited with clam. Nice.
Really nice. And he won the pool with his sea bass too!
Season's closed on the smaller bluefins now - you're still allowed 2 over 47 inches though.
We'll keep throwing the lures out.
Paddling along with the summer fishing; a great day here and there, a mediocre 'scratch dinner up' kind of day too now and again.
Had a fellow limit on flounder today plus a few other flatties around the rail. It was the first decent flounder bite I'd seen in over a week. No rhythm there - just stars and moon lined up sort of luck.
Precious few mahi - no spadefish yet and just an occasional triggerfish.
Sea bass in the middle teens, maybe a few people in the low twenties, make a good day.
Strange thing is - on the day that youngster caught his bluefin we were catching some ling (red hake). Everytime I've had tunas on bottom rigs it's been over ling. The last time we had that kind of run-off it was a brand new rental reel on the O.C. Princess. The fish actually smoked the reel, it was that hot, before the drag seized and broke the line. It's been about 15 -16 years...
Soon we'll see the beginning signs of fall's approach. Croakers will be leaving the bays and moving north. They leave the estuaries and spawn at sea.
Sharks and bottlenose know it - what a show it can be.
Straight cbassin' for now plus whatever else wants a baited hook...
Regards,
Monty

Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@siteone.net
Party Boat "Morning Star"
Reservations 410 520 2076
www.morningstarfishing.com

[TOO EZ]

Exciting Report Monty!

BTW- 47" BF is still a tough one!