Tuna Charters

DaveL · Jun-24-2009, 02:28 PM

I have a couple questions about tuna charters out of Oregon. I fished with a charter out of Depot Bay last year that didn't have it's act together (IMO), so I am looking for another choice. What areas are recommended, and are there any particularly good companies/captains I should be looking at? Small boat is great, but a bigger boat is also OK. I spoke recently with a charter that was planning on using handlines instead of rod and reel. I didn't even know that was an option, but is it a fun way to fish for tuna? Just looking for a good day of tuna fishing for me and possibly a handfull of buddies.

Keta · Jun-24-2009, 02:34 PM

Try the Northern out of Illwacco.

Bob5 · Jun-24-2009, 02:57 PM

If you are in to numbers and not looking for the fishing experience bring on hand lines. Meat fishing at its best. One doesn't even slow the boat down when fishing hand lines. Just pull the fish in at 7 knots.

effigy · Jun-24-2009, 11:27 PM

Ya.....meatlines.....and if the fish are the least bit finicky, the meatlines won't get bit......that boat will just keep going back & forth, around & around, not catching jack sh**, as you watch the other boats hook up.

You take a huge gamble going on a boat that fishes handlines exclusively.

Goldrush · Jun-25-2009, 07:59 AM

Capt. Ed on the Northern or the Pacific Dream is the guy. He'll be spending most of the summer on the Pacific Dream. Beautiful boat and a heckuva guy at the helm.

Goldrush · Jun-25-2009, 08:00 AM

If you want to come up as far as Westport, I can take of you!

Northern · Jun-25-2009, 08:36 AM

Ed and I are going to rotate on the Pacific Dream and Northern trips
Both boats are pretty good live bait platforms.

SECRET ISLAND · Jun-25-2009, 09:33 AM

The guys who responded are right, and what tackle style being used is just that- a style. But I noticed you asked about Oregon and now there are some options. This year there will be live bait in Garibaldi. Our boat in paticular has livebait, jigging, casting and trolling gear. Check out www.secretislandfishing.com for more info. BTW- Ed on Pacific Dream is a great guy and I hope to go out fishin' with him at least once or twice this summer on his new ride.

Tron

SECRET ISLAND · Jun-25-2009, 09:37 AM

Hey Kevin did you get everything goin' o.k.?
TB

Keta · Jun-25-2009, 08:28 PM

Goldrush and Randy on the Rampage out of Westport will treat you right too. I just happen to like Northern's opperation because we are good friends. Gene from Takle Time, on the Oregon, side runs a good opperation too. For smaller boats Nalu will catch fish and would get my recomendation.

Goldrush · Jun-26-2009, 08:05 AM

We're running for sure. After we got her rebuilt, I put 4000 pounds of water on the back deck--115 gal in bait tank, 275 gallons or so in the fish hold, and a couple of barrels of water in addition. We went out and recorded pyro temp and turbo boost from 1800 rpm to top end which hit 2750 in a following sea to see if we were overloaded. Every number was right on spec with JD, so the mystery remains. We hit 23 knots with the weight.

It's great to hear you have live bait!

Kevin

SECRET ISLAND · Jun-29-2009, 07:34 AM

Great news! That (mystery) will probally still bug me for a while. Yeah live bait! Should be a great time this summer. Man when is this wind gonna sluff off, we need to build a wind break just above your place that sticks out a ways.

~TB