Wide Open PV Tuna w/Capt. Danny Osuna

[coldtuna]

PV Fishing Report – January 7 & 8,
With Captain Danny Osuna on the Marla I

I called Danny Osuna on January 3 to see if he was available on Sunday and Monday Jan 7 and 8. He said he was and airfares were not totally ridiculous, so I booked the flight and called Danny back to book those days with him.

I got to PV at midnight on Jan 6 and met Danny the next morning at 6 am.

It was a little windy on the run out and Danny decided to fish Corbetena instead of the Banco. We picked up about 80 cabbies from a bait guy half way between ffice:smarttags" />Paradise Village and Pt. Mita. We ultimately arrived at the rock about 8:45 am. We immediately tried to catch some skippies and that took us a good hour and a half ... To catch 7 baits.

Once we had bait, we moved west of the rock and started trolling. It only took about 15 minutes and the rod I was fishing got bit. I let the fish run for a short count of 3 and put it in gear .... Hook up. Screaming first run on the Avet 50 with the fish taking 100+ yards of line.

Danny was fishing a skippie from the bridge and his bait got hammered, but no hook up. Alonso, Danny’s brother who was the mate also got bit, but he did not hook up.

We work on my fish for about 20 minutes before getting color. We finally get it up to the boat and Alonso gaffs it and we drag the 175 pound tuna into the back of the Marla 2. Great start.

I guzzle some water, and Alonso rigs three fresh skippies. We get a full spread set up again and in about 5 minutes, the skippie on my rod starts to get really nervous ... I got ready, told Danny I thought I was going to get bit and then there was an explosion of white water where my skippie had been ... ZZZZZZZ ... I let the tuna run for a count of 2, put it in gear and the circle hook found its mark. The Avet 50 screamed as the tuna took off on blistering run. We cleared the other lines and fought this fish for about 20 minutes before getting color.

This fish is one of those nasty 180 to 220 pound fish that fight incredibly hard and generally just inflict pain on the angler. We got this fish just out of gaffing range about 10 times, but we just could not get those last few feet (we are using 150 pound wind on leaders). Finally, Alonso gets a shot and hits the tuna with the gaff. Huge explosion of water boat side as Alonso tries to hang on, but the tuna pulls the gaff out of his hand and rips 30 yards of line off the reel (at full drag). Danny starts yelling at Alonso, but it is mostly good natured ribbing between brothers. I am now soaked in sweat after getting worked by this tuna for about 30 minutes. We are bouncing around in the wind and swells – it was pretty rough today -- which makes it doubly difficult to battle this fish.

We get the fish close to the boat again, but it keeps just a few feet out of gaffing range. It has a gaping hole in its shoulder from the first gaff shot, but that does not seem to slow this fish. Finally, Alonso gets a good look at the fish and sticks it. He hangs on for dear life and Danny jumps down and gets a second gaff in the fish. I help them drag the tuna into the boat and it lands with a thud. High fives all around. Nice fish and Danny says it looks about 210 pounds.

I grab a water and guzzle it. I am dead .... Short night of sleep and two big tuna back to back in rough seas. I am hurting and the trip is just starting. Danny can see I need a break and he says "let's take a 20 minute break." I say that sounds good. We all sat down and rested. After awhile I went and got the tape measure I brought from home and measured the fish ... 69 and change inches by 50 inches approx., which put it at 215. Nice fish.

We went back to fishing and it was quiet for several hours, thankfully.

There were about 15 boats at the rock, but the other boats were not getting bit.

In mid afternoon, Danny decided to drift with the cabbies we had. He put the kite out and Alonso and I flylined a couple. On the second or third drift, I got bit and hooked up. The fish made a short run and we were able to work it to the boat in about ten minutes. Alonso gaffed the 90 pound tuna without incident and we had our third tuna on the deck.

We repositioned the boat and started another drift. Danny got the kite out and had two cabbies splashing downwind about 40 yards. Danny yelled "look at that!" I turned to see a huge boil where the cabbies had been. Danny put the Avet 30 in gear and cranked like there was no tomorrow. The line came tight and we were hooked up.

I pulled the rig out of the rod holder and Danny and Alonso helped me get in my Smitty harness.

Of course, we were hooked up on another devil fish. We fought this one for 30 minutes but did not get a good look at it. I went to full drag at that point but still did not make much progress. Finally, the hook pulled. I think I was a little too impatient with this fish, and maybe should have used a little less drag. I told Danny that, but he said not to worry about it. Danny also said that 2 fish blew up on the cabbies.

It was 5 pm and time to make the run home in the chop. We got a little wet until we got into the bay. We made it back to the dock at about 7:15 (after dark) and Danny and Alonso sent me on my way with about 80 pounds of primo tuna loins. Danny suggested that I get some sleep. He knew I was not 100 percent today and thought I might need a full tank for the following day's fishing. He was right … I was gonna need a full tank.

Day 2 (Monday)


I got a good night of sleep and felt ready to go this morning.

I met Danny and Alonso at 6 am and we headed out. Wind was light this am and Danny thought that fishing would be better. We picked up 60 cabbies this morning and made it to Corbetena about 45 minutes earlier than yesterday due to the improved sea conditions. For breakfast, I ate a scrambled egg and chorizo sandwich that Danny’s wife made. It was delicious. She made ham and cheese quesadillas for us on Sunday and they we're also excellent.

We put out the hoochies and made 6 skippies and one big bullet tuna in less than 15 minutes. Danny put the bullet tuna on the rod I was fishing and said "you will get a bite right away on this one." We got the full spread set up (3 live baits) and within a couple minutes I got bit. I did not hook up though.

Alonso rigged a skippie for me and we were back in business. Within ten minutes, I got bit again and hooked up. Danny had a huge boil on his skippie at the same time, but did not connect.


I fought this tuna for about 25 minutes before the hooks pulled. I looked at Danny and said that maybe I ought to back off on the drag (I had been at full drag on the Avet 50 and was pulling hard). He said not to worry and that happens sometimes, and that I was not using too much drag.

We re-rig fresh baits, and within not more than 10 minutes, I am bit again on my skippie. ZZZZZ … put it in gear, hook up. Another nice tuna, and another 100+ run after the hook up. Great stuff and it is clear this is another good sized fish. I fought this fish for 20 minutes, and went to full drag early in the fight. We got color in about 25 minutes, and after a few near misses, Alonso got a gaff shot and hit the green 175 pound tuna. There was an explosion of water and Alonso nearly went over the side as this tuna took off yanking the gaff out of his hand.

Danny started yelling at Alonso but the gaff floated up behind the boat and Danny shouted to get it. We backed up and got the gaff and got the tuna back boat side in 5 minutes. This time the gaff held and the tuna came over the transom.

Good start. 175 pound tuna on the deck.

We get two fresh baits (Alonso’s bait was unscathed and made it back into the tuna tubes) out and are back to trolling. We did not get a bite for about 20 minutes and I noticed that a few boats around us were hooked up.

With no apparent indication of what was to happen, Alonso’s bait got slammed and he hooked up. I did not clear my skippie, but rather let it swim ... In about two seconds, there was a Jacuzzi size boil on my skippie ... zzzzzzzz ... I put it in gear and we had a double. My Avet 50 was screaming as the unknown size tuna peeled 150 yards of line off the reel ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. I heard Danny shout and looked up to see another big boil where his skippie fished off the bridge had been .... zzzzz ... he puts his reel in gear, and another hook up … ZZZZZZ … and we have a triple header. Unbelievable. Alonso got in the Marla II's harness and Danny helped get me in my harness. His fish is taking line and we can hear the Avet on the bridge rod holder screeching. Pandemonium.

Alonso and I do the over under with our fish and Alonso gets his tuna to the transom in about 15 minutes. When it gets within gaff range, Alonso yells “another tuna … get a bait!” I look down and see a 200+ tuna free-swimming right behind Alonso’s tuna only 5 or so feet off the swim step. Danny runs to the bait tank, hooks a cabbie and throws it in the water trying to hook the tuna, but no love. The free swimmer vanishes and Danny gaffs Alonso’s tuna. Alonso grabs the other gaff and helps Danny drag the 170 pound tuna into the boat. I am still pulling on my fish. Danny now brings his rod down from the bridge and gets in the harness. He punishes the tuna that ate his skippie and brings it to the swim step quickly. Alonso gaffs it with one gaff while Danny sticks the fish with a second gaff (while he is still in the harness). They drag the 140 pound tuna into the boat.

Danny jumps up on the bridge and we work on getting my tuna in the boat. After another ten minutes, we get color, and this tuna also will not let us get close enough to gaff it.


We keep at it and finally Alonso hits the fish and there is an explosion of water alongside the boat as Alonso hangs on and takes a beating. Danny slams a gaff into the tunas chest and and the two brothers drag the 185 pound tuna into the boat. There are now four big tuna on the deck and the grins are getting pretty big.

Anyway, we go back to fishing ... But we are out of skippies, so we had to do some bait fishing first. We could catch the hell out of the bar jacks (chili verde), but the skippies we're hard to catch. We caught five more and went back to trolling. In about ten minutes, I got bit and hooked up. A tuna boiled on Alonso’s bait, but the hook did not stick. There was another huge boil behind Danny’s skippie and he hooked up. Double header ... Screaming drags in the afternoon sun. Wide open!


Danny hops down on the deck and gets in his stand up harness. He puts the hurt on his tuna and brings it to the transom in about ten minutes. Alonso gaffs the 120 pound tuna and drags it into the boat. In the meantime, I am pulling hard on my fish without much progress. After another 15 minutes, we get color on my fish (150-160 pound class) and with a lot of effort get it gaffed and on board.

Now there is hardly room on the deck to walk.

We put two fresh skippies out and troll for another ten minutes before my bait starts to freak out. I see some commotion behind the skippie and then the bait just feels heavy. I tell Danny I think I am bit and the fish takes off with the skippie. I put it in gear and get the hookup, but nothing happens for about 5 seconds and then the fish realizes it is hooked ... zzzzzz ... and a 300 pound black marlin goes airborne tearing 200 yards of line off the Avet 50 … ZZZZZ. The power and speed of these black marlin startles me every time I hook one. The marlin then starts jumping from right to left, then back left to right ... Maybe 15 jumps, all of which have the fish coming completely out of the water. Spectacular visual. This all happens over the course of about 90 seconds and then the hook pulls.

Back to fishing and I think we tried to make a few more skipjack for bait, but could not. So Danny decided to fish the cabbies for awhile. We drifted a few times with cabbies flylined and on the helium balloon. We didn't get bit. The tuna started to come up and they were busting around us.

Danny got us repositioned and Alonso hooked a 15 pound Dorado on a cabbie. We caught another Dorado earlier when it chased a skippie I hooked on the bait rod to the boat and Danny threw a cabbie in the water for the instant bite.

Anyway, we get repositioned and the tuna are really starting to go off around us. Danny gets the balloon working again and Alonso and I flyline a couple cabbies. Danny gets a huge blow up on the balloon and hooks up. I grab the rod out of the holder and the fight is on. The fish tries to get under the boat and Danny and Alonso each walk the rod around the bow to keep the line out of the props. We get color and gaff the 150 pound tunafish after about twenty minutes. Its warm and the breeze is light. The water is bluish green and full of life.

We go back to fishing and I catch a 10 pound Dorado on a flylined cabbie. Alonso has a 150+ tuna come out of the water as it smashes his cabbie 40 feet behind the boat, but no hook up.

Danny says, "one more drift, then we have to go." He sees some birds crashing into the water and tells Alonso and I to bait up. He guns the Marla 2 towards the bird and tuna melee and as we pull up, I see 150 to 200 pound tuna crashing and boiling in front of us. Danny yells okay and Alonso and I drop our cabbies back. Danny hops down on the deck and starts chumming live cabbies behind the boat while Alonso and I flyline our baits into the chumline. 150 to 200 pound tuna start exploding on the chummed cabbies with some tuna coming completely out of the water and others some simply leaving a hot tub size boil in their wake.

My bait starts to freak and I know I am going to get bit. It happens and I let the tuna run for 2 seconds, put it in gear and I am on. I yell "HOOK UP!" And Danny and Alonso both laugh. This tuna is only about 105 and comes to gaff pretty quickly.

We clear the rods, take a couple of pictures, eat some ibuprofen and head for home,

When the dust settles, there are 8 tuna on the deck going 105, 120, 140, several between 150 and 175, and one at 185. I farmed another tuna that was probably at least 175 or better and also farmed a 300 pound black. We got three Dorado and missed another 6 or 7 tuna bites. Every single skippie we put out got bit today. Wide open big tuna fishing. We seemed to have much better luck today than the boats fishing around us. I don't know what it is that Danny did that was different than the other boats, but it worked. He is simply relentless and worked all day (and all trip) long to keep putting me on fish.

I was sore on the boat ride in ... And on Tuesday morning my hands were swollen and my hamstrings, quads and back were killing me. What a great two days of fishing.

For the two-day trip, we got 11 tuna to the boat, and pulled the hooks on 2 others. One tuna was over 200 with most of the fish between 150 and 185. I farmed a 300 pound black as well. I have caught bigger tuna before, but Monday was the best tuna fishing I've ever experienced.

I can't add any more superlatives about Danny. He's a great fisherman and works his butt off to put his clients on fish and is never satisfied no matter how epic the fishing. Thanks to Danny and Alonso for a phenomenal trip. You can e-mail Danny at info@marlasportfishing.com, or check out the web page at Marla's Sportfishing - Big Game fishing in Puerto Vallarta

[progress_1]

DAMMMMMMMMMMM
now that is a loaded boat

[lazquilon]

WOW AND OW LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD A WORKOUT TO SAY THE LEST

[Tunaslam]

A dream trip for sure, way to go!

[JoeDude]

that is a ridiculous report....thanks for the post!

[MRFISHHEAD]

That is fucking awesome!

[Sluester]

I just popped a couple asprins just reading that!
VERY nice!

[mercerm]

unfuckingbelievable!!! Very nice!!!!

[Gmoney!]

too bad you had a slow trip Merle... there is always next time

[brantc]

What an awesome couple days. Congrats.

[Inspector Gaget]

Merle,

Holy shit!

Good job amigo.. Your a great dude and good things happen to good people!

Dylan

[inSTANt bendo]

Fuck yah!!!! What an awesome trip and report. You are soooooooo stoked!
I hope the fish cooperate like that for me this weekend.....I'm flying down tomorrow.