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Random Quote: Keep the water under you, not over you!!
Well ... went out this morning to get the bugs out of the engines after a small fuel shortage oversight the night before As soon as I got out of the no wake zone the water erupted! There was not a 10 foot section of water that did not have some kind of Tuna sky rocketing out of it! It was one of the most unbelieveable sights that I have ever seen on the water. The torpedos and footballs were launchhing everywhere I looked!
So ... of course I am out tooling in the boat and have next to no gear I have one little spinning outfit that I keep in the boat in case I run into something small to pitch at but nothing worthy. So regardless I pitch a jig head out and before the first twitch of the rod tip BAMMM!!! We are off to the races. I dont know what kind of tuna took it, I saw about everything but bluefins jumping so it could have been any of the many there. This thing does not even give me a chance. I turn the boat and start chasing trying to keep him from dumping the reel. I get him close to the boat a few times and fought very gingerly considering I was probably on 8lb test. Every time I get him close enough to see color he jets again. After doing this three or four times the line breaks. Man what a rush. I have not seen a spinning reel burn like that in, um I dont know ... forever! I had no more tackle so that was the end of it for me. I hung around and watched all the other guys including fly fisherman take part in the fun.
Never refrain! What do you have to lose, some line? and a jig. You never know if you don't try, I am surprised at you Mike.
You have been bitten by the Al mighty fishing bug, and I bet you would have thrown whatever you had on hand. LOL ~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
Are you kidding me? Any fisherman that would have refrained from that scenario has a screw loose and should maybe take up underwater basket weaving. I would have thrown a loose string from a life preserver if I could have found one. Sitting there after the bite without any gear was so unsettling that there were moments where I had myself convinced that I could dive in and tackle one. I could not have refrained even if I tried.
Was anybody else out there? I am interested to know what they were mostly. I suspect they were mostly Albacore and/or Bonito but I swear I saw some that looked like they were in the double digits weight wise.
Hmmm... Was it possible the kings were in there feeding with the tuna? This thing hit like a king and stripped about every bit of line I had on the spool. I guess the tuna could have done that as well.
Never refrain! What do you have to lose, some line? and a jig. You never know if you don't try, I am surprised at you Mike.
You have been bitten by the Al mighty fishing bug, and I bet you would have thrown whatever you had on hand. LOL ~JJ~
Maybe...but I always wonder what happens to these fish who break away with rigs and line attached to them. The stuff takes 500 yrs to decompose.
If you've never caught an albacore before, welcome to the show. That spooling your line is what they do. I think Brian Horsely is quoted as saying Beaufort inlet in the fall is "where 9 weights go to die." I am sure that's what spooled you. The speed and power is incredible.
__________________ 19' Intruder..let's get skinny.
If you've never caught an albacore before, welcome to the show. That spooling your line is what they do. I think Brian Horsely is quoted as saying Beaufort inlet in the fall is "where 9 weights go to die." I am sure that's what spooled you. The speed and power is incredible.
Must have been it! I just became an albacore fisherman!
I was there on Friday as well...False Albacore...everywhere...even way up behind Shackelford and on the beach at Shackelford...My buddy hooked up twice while we were looking for bait...if False Albacore is your thing Friday was the day to be there...
Albacore and Bonita are a blast on light tackle, I get them on "deadly dicks" and enjoy fighting them on light line. And they can spool ultra light tackle. Lot's of fun when you spot a school feeding.~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
I use a couple of ugly stiks with Quantum Boca 50's with 12lb. test. I keep these two setup's on board at all times. I use them for catching bait as well. Blues, Spaniards etc. I keep them rigged with Deadly dicks and small cast masters or Hopkins and if I see birds I mosey over to the outside of the school and cast to the fish let it sink a few seconds then retrieve. Hang on when you get a good size Bonita or false alby. Lot's of fun. I use these outfits with Sibiki's as well for bait on the bottom in shallow water. ~JJ~
__________________ "Jay"- 04 HydraSport Vector 24 CC 250 Yamaha fourstroke
I was out there last weekend with a guide. My first time fishing for the False Albacore. We used Shimano Stradic 4000 with 12 lb mono on 7ft medium action St Croix rod. We were tossing soft plastic minnows, about 5 inches long with split tails and the weight was pre-cast into the head of the lure. Had some japanese name I can't remember. The fish were scattered and there were LOTS of other boats out. We'd look for small groups of gulls hovering over the feeding Albacore and race over to them, hoping to be able to cast to the surfacing fish before they dissapeared. We missed a lot, but when I did hook up it was a huge rush. Awesome fight with a few reel dumping runs. Sounds like they're there in big numbers now. Might have to play hookie and give it another shot.
For you gents that may not have thought of this, keep an albacore or bonito after you catch it and freeze it for bottom fishing later. Black bass and b-liners love them. Cut them into 1" cubes and hang on. You will limit out in no time. The big black bass will tear them up.
Holy Tuna bite Batman!!!! (Morehead) 
As soon as I got out of the no wake zone the water erupted! There was not a 10 foot section of water that did not have some kind of Tuna sky rocketing out of it! It was one of the most unbelieveable sights that I have ever seen on the water. The torpedos and footballs were launchhing everywhere I looked! 
I have one little spinning outfit that I keep in the boat in case I run into something small to pitch at but nothing worthy. So regardless I pitch a jig head out and before the first twitch of the rod tip BAMMM!!! We are off to the races. I dont know what kind of tuna took it, I saw about everything but bluefins jumping so it could have been any of the many there. This thing does not even give me a chance. I turn the boat and start chasing trying to keep him from dumping the reel. I get him close to the boat a few times and fought very gingerly considering I was probably on 8lb test. Every time I get him close enough to see color he jets again. After doing this three or four times the line breaks. Man what a rush. I have not seen a spinning reel burn like that in, um I dont know ... forever! I had no more tackle so that was the end of it for me. I hung around and watched all the other guys including fly fisherman take part in the fun. 
