Canyon Runner Giant Bluefin Report - 96" Giant Starts Us Off on the Right Foot

["Canyon Runner"]

The boys just called from the SAT Phone to let me know that we were lucky enough to get out first Morehead City, NC giant bluefin of the year today on our first trip.

We moved the 48' Canyon Runner down to Morehead Saturday and today was the first day we were able to fish. (We also brought the 32' Regulator down and will be fishing her for the season down there as well with a bunch of Regulator owners, dealers, and employees as our guests.)

However today both crews jumped on the 48' and they were hooked up before noon and fought the fish for over an hour. She measured out at 96" - not a bad fish for down there and the guys feel very lucky just to get one - hopefully we can pick a couple more this season.

I don't have all the details yet as the SAT Phone is cutting out but I believe it is the only fish boated so far today and Joe Shute's lures had something big to do with it. They are hopefully going to stay out and fish through the afternoon looking for another bite.

Capt. Mark was running the boat with Peter Doran in the pit and they should be sending me pictures as soon as the wind blows and they are stuck at the dock. Right now it looks like we'll fish thru Friday I hope.

We just want to also thank all the folks down in Morehead for all the help we've received thus far and look forward to spending the next couple of months with you. The hospitality down in North Carolina is second to none!!!!
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Also I need to give you a quick update on the Canyon Runner Seminar Series (where Capt. Mark will be doing an entire breakout session on big bluefin fishing).

We have close to 200 people already signed up for Atlantic City and we are going to be forced to shut down the attendance at 400. Please make sure you order your tickets in advance - see below for more info.

Canyon Runner 2009 Seminar Series – From Beginner to Advanced!

Atlantic City, NJ - January 31**Long Island, NY - February 28**Mohegan Sun, CT - April 4, 2009

__________________________________________________ ________________________________

New for 2009 – 15 Breakouts & 9 NEW Topics

**$10,000+ DOOR PRIZES-FREE BREAKFAST-FREE BEER!!**

Basic & Advanced Breakout Sessions – 9 New Topics not covered the last two years

2009 ALL NEW BREAKOUT TOPICS

1) Bluefin fishing on the troll or on the chunk - from Schoolies to Giants!
2) The End Game – Learn Advanced Leadering, Gaffing & Harpoon Techniques for Big Fish
3) Offshore Sharking Techniques - Canyon Runner Team Penn/Berkley/Sevenstrand
4) Water Temp Analysis – Advanced Courses for prior Attendees - Capt. Len Belcaro
5) Learn Advanced Bait Rigging for Marlin - Circle Hook/Split Bills/Mullets/Dredges
6) Learn Advanced Jigging Techniques for Tuna

2009 RETURNING BREAKOUT TOPICS

7) Small Boat/Big Game Fishing - Canyon Runner Team Regulator
8) Effective Use of Your Electronics to Find Fish – Canyon Runner Team Northstar
9) Water Temp Analysis – Basic Courses for First Time Attendees - Capt. Len Belcaro
10) Learn How to Rig Ballyhoo Pin-Rigs for Tuna
11) Learn How to Rig all your Chunking Gear like a Professional Mate
12) Learn Everything You’ll Ever Need to Know about Swordfishing
13) Learn How to Rig Spreader Bars and all your Offshore Lures
14) Reel Maintenance and Repair – Penn Reel Technicians - 15-minute Demonstrations
15) Spectra/Top-Shot Techniques – Basil Pappas – BHP Tackle - 15-Minute Demonstrations

Canyon Runner Offshore Seminar Series is celebrating it’s 5th year in 2009. From humble beginnings, we now attract 1500+ participants, a half dozen major corporate sponsors from Regulator, Northstar, Penn Reels, Berkley, Sevenstrand, and Viking Rafts plus dozens of other great partners from the offshore fishing community who will all be on hand this year for your benefit. For our 5th Anniversary we are going over the top to bring back all past Seminar attendees for brand new ADVANCED training sessions plus 15 breakout topics!

We will continue to provide the core basics for all skill levels from beginner to part time to seasoned offshore fisherman. In addition, for the thousands of you who attended in the past, we will offer more advanced courses and will conduct 15 breakout topics (twice the amount from priors years) including 9 topics not covered the last two years and New for 2009 six (6) never before seen detailed, hands-on, breakout sessions including: 1) Bluefin tuna fishing from schoolies to giants; 2) The End Game – Learn how to Leader, Gaff & Throw the POON for Big Fish; 3) Offshore Sharking Techniques; 4) Advanced Water Temp and Water Movement Analysis, 5) Advanced Jigging Techniques; and, 6) Advanced Bait Rigging for Marlin including circle hooks-split bills-mullets-dredges.

In addition, every single one of our most popular breakout session from the past 5-years will return. You’ll get your hands dirty rigging ballyhoo for tuna, you’ll see and practice every trick and technique for properly rigging spreader bars and lures. You’ll get grease on your hands breaking down and maintaining offshore reels and you’ll learn how to use your electronics effectively to find fish. Finally, you will learn to set up for chunking as if you were in our cockpit and you’ll learn everything you’ll need to know about offshore fishing on center consoles and outboard boats.

We’ll have over $10,000+ in door prizes at each Seminar including two grand prizes – a $2,000 gift certificate towards Canyon Runner Outfitters tackle and 2 days of giant tuna fishing on the Canyon Runner. Additional door prizes include Penn rods and reels, Berkley line, Pelagic Gear, Sevenstrand tackle, Offshore Innovations, Pana Pesca Baits, Iridium SAT Phones, Hydro Glow Lights, equipment donated by the RFA, BHP Tackle, J&B Tackle, Fisherman Supply, Deep Sea Outfitters, The Big Game Fishing Journal/Offshore Satellite Services, Northstar and Regulator.

We will also have a FREE continental breakfast and FREE snacks and coffee throughout the day - not to mention FREE BEER!

The 2009 Seminars will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ - January 31 ($125/person), the Huntington Hilton in Long Island, NY - February 28 ($110/person), and the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT - April 4 ($110/person).

For information and tickets call 732-842-6825 or email us at info@canyonrunner.com

You can pay with AMEX, Visa, or Mastercard or arrange payment by check. In your email, please provide your full name, address and telephone number so we can contact you if needed and send you your tickets. Please also indicate which Seminar you want to attend.

Click Here for 33+ Pages of Testimonials
http://www.canyonrunner.com/images/s...07%20Final.pdf

Click Here for Power & Motoryachting Article on our Seminars
http://powerandmotoryacht.com/columns/sfd/0705sfd/


Sponsors: Northstar, Regulator, Penn Reels, Sevenstrand, Berkley, Pana Pesca Baits, Offshore Innovations, Viking Rafts, American Marine Underwriters, Braid Tackle, Big Game Fishing Journal/Offshore Satellite Services, RFA, Suffolk Marine & thehulltruth.com

["Canyon Runner"]

Guys - Pictures as Promised

[ubettcha13]

Adam are your rods an 80# tip with a 130# bottom custom taper or are they just a straight 130# taper Nice pics always look forward to your posts/pics and seminar

[TinManMike]

What did that fish weigh? 500 lbs? Just wodering.

[gsous89]

look at that broomstick bent right over, impressive

[Two Up]

First off great fish, but fighting the fish may be a bit of an exaggeration, more like winding the fish in. I don't get this form of fishing, why not just use electric reels and be done with it.

[hansoni]

Sure looks like an 80 blank to me. Leave to 130's for the chair, these lighter rods are much better in the rod holder.

[UNCFISH]

Two Up - 12/3/2008 10:24 PM

First off great fish, but fighting the fish may be a bit of an exaggeration, more like winding the fish in. I don't get this form of fishing, why not just use electric reels and be done with it.

what? it's the same form of fishing as any offshore trolling species. they're just big fish. why is fighting the fish an exaggeration?

[Stcatfisherman]

Did some sushi fall off his cheek?

[Clam_Alert]

I think Two Up's reference is to fighting the fish out of the rod holder, but I've done it, and believe me, there's still quite a fight. While trying to land one of these GBT's on stand-up gear sounds (and would be) amazing, it's extremely dangerous and certainly not suitably for an amateur angler (at last year's Canyon Runner seminar in AC, they had Dennis Braid run a break out seesion on stand-up fishing for big game that was pretty cool).

Anyway, there's plenty of excitement and sport to fighting out of the holder. It's anything but just reeling in the fish, and involves tremendous skill by captain, angler, mate to land the fish quickly and correctly. I can personally (but not proudly) attest that many fish can be lost well-after a good hookset on one of these monsters.

[bornband]

Stcatfisherman - 12/4/2008 9:44 AM

Did some sushi fall off his cheek?

Looks like it is stuffed with ice. Pretty common way to do that.

Awesome fish. For what it is worth I do not see how fighting the fish from the rod holder is any different than having it in a rod holder in a fighting chair. So, i say, great job guys!!

[bassriver]

Two Up - 12/3/2008 10:24 PM

First off great fish, but fighting the fish may be a bit of an exaggeration, more like winding the fish in. I don't get this form of fishing, why not just use electric reels and be done with it.

You obviously have no clue about giant fishing

[gerg]

hansoni - 12/4/2008 6:21 AM

Sure looks like an 80 blank to me. Leave to 130's for the chair, these lighter rods are much better in the rod holder.

I believe they are fishing commercially down there - not recreationally. While it may be more "sporting" to fight them stand-up or from a chair, that isn't the point. The point is to bring the fish in as quickly as possible to preserve the market condition. You don't want the fish beaten up and full of lactic acid.

That's also why it is gutted, gilled, and packed with ice, and why they do things like only letting one side of the fish lay on the deck (never roll it over). Some will put rice paper over the skin to preserve its appearance.

You want the best price, and that is always a subjective call on the buyers part.

I don't think an electric reel would justify its expense here anyway. While it's still a lot of work bringing in the fish, it isn't something you do a couple of hundred times a trip like you would for cod or swordfish. You are lucky to get one a day.

[John_Madison CT]

Two up: You obviously never "fought" a fish this way. I did last year and it kicked my azz. If anyone thinks this is easy, they don't know what in the hell they're talking about.

John

[captpepin]

John_Madison CT - 12/4/2008 3:43 PMTwo up: You obviously never "fought" a fish this way. I did last year and it kicked my azz. If anyone thinks this is easy, they don't know what in the hell they're talking about.John

I don't want to be throwing stones if anyone wants to catch a fish out of a rod holder that's fine it's a free country and I have no problem with it. To say that the using the rod holder is a work out is a joke, it's basically the same as wet packing a reel or two. What happened to you did your right arm get tired from reeling? Because that is the only part of your body that actually does anything in this case. If that is too hard for you I would say try working out or just don't fight fish that big. It's a 500+ pound fish do you think it's going to be easy? I've done both and the chair or stand up is much better and if you are doing it as a sport it is sporting. I also think if you have a good angler you pull less hooks in the chair than in the rod holder the gimble gives but the rod holder does not. You can also pump up a fish too.

I can't blame any guy that is out for the cash or is short handed for using the rod holder you never have to worry about clearing a corner or the fish going under the boat and nobody has to steer the chair and after the dart goes in they can grab a gaff.

It's all good and whatever you want to do but don't call fighting out of a rod holder sporting or a work out.

["Canyon Runner"]

gerg - 12/4/2008 9:36 AM

I believe they are fishing commercially down there - not recreationally. While it may be more "sporting" to fight them stand-up or from a chair, that isn't the point. The point is to bring the fish in as quickly as possible to preserve the market condition. You don't want the fish beaten up and full of lactic acid.

That's also why it is gutted, gilled, and packed with ice, and why they do things like only letting one side of the fish lay on the deck (never roll it over). Some will put rice paper over the skin to preserve its appearance.

You want the best price, and that is always a subjective call on the buyers part.

I don't think an electric reel would justify its expense here anyway. While it's still a lot of work bringing in the fish, it isn't something you do a couple of hundred times a trip like you would for cod or swordfish. You are lucky to get one a day.

GREG - You pretty much nailed everying 100%. Thanks for the reply as I just saw this. Those blanks are Calstar RT80 Blanks they are basically IGFA 80# Class Trolling Blank

[Hooper]

Nobody is a recreational giant tuna fisherman and when money is the motivator, that's the bottom line.

["Canyon Runner"]

Fishing on our third day down in Morehead after striking out Wednesday the boys laid over offshore and immeditaly got into the action Thrusday morning. Their first bite came un-done only a minute or two into the fight. Their second bite did not. It measured out at 91" and dressed at 315#. Both bites came on the planner rod with a horse bally and Joe Shute 3oz lure. Capt Mark, Pete and Henry are feeling very lucky to be able to put 2 fish in the boat this early in the season. Fishing is slow today from what I've gathered thus far - hopefully things start to pick up.

The guys were busy getting the 32' Regulator in the water last night and rigged and ready to go so he was not able to send me pictures but I think I'll get them tonight.

[Two Up]

I am not trying to get peoples noses out of joint here I was simply trying to understand this style of fishing. To all who said I have not done this type of fishing before you are correct, the long line industry has long ago destroyed any chance of tangling with 1 of these giants in our part of the world. If you are targeting them for commercial reasons (sale of fish to market, not just charter clients) I can see the reason for these methods, however if you are chaseing these fish for paying clients would it not be more sporting to fight these fish on standup gear or from a chair. I was always taught that in true sportfishing/gamefishing the fish should have a more than even chance of escaping, I just don't see it using these methods.