Classic Northeast Tuna Story

[pasquale]

Last night my brother headed out for his first tuna fishing trip in his 1979 Mako 20' with one Penn 80 outside of Casco Bay found one live herring sent it out and within ten minutes hooks a giant and takes him for a ride. I get a call an hour later from him in distress boat taking on water and all. Of coarse with no harpoon on board we sent out a buddy to deliver a dart. 3 hours later in the dark they were able to land the fish. 80 inches about 275lbs. Quite an experience for them. Plenty of fish for the winter.

[offshore3144]

Good story!! Congrats on the Tuna!! Mark

[AlloyToy]

Awesome!!! Pics?

[CMP]

The most certain strategy for catching a big fish is to be completely unprepared! Nice...

CMP

[hansoni]

CMP - 9/23/2008 8:36 AM

The most certain strategy for catching a big fish is to be completely unprepared! Nice...

CMP

I learned long ago that if I forget my lunch at the dock, or dont bring any ice, my chances are much better! Great story Matt, lets see some pictures.

[gerg]

Congrats on a hard fought win! Imageine though if you had been in a 41 footer how big the fish would have been... lol (sorry, side joke running)

[savage77]

wheres the pics matty? Imagine what you could land in your skiff! dont bring a harpoon, bring a sea anchor and a twelver of silver bullets!

[Jdizzle]

hansoni - 9/23/2008 1:16 PM

I learned long ago that if I forget my lunch at the dock, or dont bring any ice, my chances are much better! Great story Matt, lets see some pictures.

I also find when you blow a HUB and you can only go 10kts mine as well troll your way home, start playing 5 card draw on the back of you boat and sure enough you will catch your biggest tuna of the year

[mainebaker]

Hell I'd be more impressed if he'd done it in that old orange inflatable!

[makosteve66]

My first legit shot on a Mako came when I was 11 years old. Just Dad and I out on the 37' Post. Lazy hazy day - drifting a slick with 3 lines out. Hours of no action. I asleep on the Bridge, Dad decides "nature is calling" and goes for a long "sit" in the head.

Bow rod starts to scream, I come out of my haze and hear the reel absolutely screaming and this 300+ mako doing leap after leap about 150 yards off the boat. Dad comes running out of the cabin with his pants round his ankles - the reel is starting to backlash - a real hornet's nest, starts screaming at me to start the boat and back down. He is trying desperately trying to untangle the reel. Snap, line pops - game over. I can remember it like it was yesterday.

I think I have caught more makos between 12 PM and 1PM than any other hour. We used to call it Mako Hour. Inevitably when staring to eat lunch.

A few years later and a better result, and I know...Nice Socks

[Hooper]

CMP - 9/23/2008 11:36 AM The most certain strategy for catching a big fish is to be completely unprepared! Nice... CMP

Amen to that!

[bcat4444]

Great story,,,,,forget the socks, didn't know men could wear daisy dukes(second pic). Never forget those moments as they will never get old!!!