The Little Reel that could
Roxanne Swift
59#Yellowfin Tuna
Guadalupe Island
Avet MXL 6/4 matched with a Shikari BT 7030
September 11, 2006
Picture courtesy Andy Cates
Not having fished as much in the past year than what we normally do, Bill and I did the Charkbait 4 day aboard the Red Rooster III.
I have been to the lupe twice before, and had my sights set on a personal best yellowfin (my largest being 35#) or one of those larger than life yellowtail. The lupe has been off and on with a slow pick at best, but I was still hoping to head straight to the island. Andy Cates brought us all to the galley and it was a go to Guadalupe.
Suggested tackle was 40# and a light reel that had the freespool to get out to the zone.
Day 1, was a slow pick, I had one pick up and a hook pull. The end of the day, I was fishless.
Day 2, I switched to a little heavier outfit, got picked up but the knot broke (I didn't tie it, at least cant be mad at myself for that). Julio the second ticket asked me "where is that little outfit you had yesterday? I went back to my now favorite set up the little avet 2 speed on my shikari.
It freespools out of the box better than most reels on the boat, able to get out to the "zone" quick. I AM ON.
Took me up the rail and sat tight in the bow for about 10 minutes, back down then back up the rail for another 10, then it was the slow circle to the gaff.
I did it. 59# yellowfin, I had my personal best.
The time then came for my kite rotation, and I asked if I could switch to my reel (lefties you know) for the kite. Avet Pro EX 4/02. Indeed. They tied on the double trouble sardine rig, up on the balloon and no sooner did the bait hit the water when the crash hit.
Wind, Wind Wind, and I am on. This one kept me on the stern and in about 10 minutes, a 57#er hits the deck.
Total count for the boat was only about 47 tuna for 25 people in two days. Andy said "if you got 1, you are lucky, if you got two you did REALLY well."
Bill got 3 over 50#, a few yellow and released a few small dorado. The boat has a policy of releasing under 24" fish.
Weather was fantastic, slow pick at best.
Thanks to the Captain and crew of RRIII. They were great.
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