Some techniques, and things I see go wrong

[wahoodad]

Although I've only been back working the deck for a short while, I see some things that anglers could improve upon, maybe just by reading it on the internet.

1st off, listen to your crew member. We all want you to catch fish, we don't like when you lose them, unless it was an intended release.

You've heard this before, and you'll hear it again, but most fish are lost close to the boat. One more circle and we had him is a common story.

Well, there are ways to make sure that happens less. A lot of it is what you have done up to that point. Have you been smooth on your gains, no herky jerky motions ripping a big hole where the hook is planted? Have you cut those circles off to make them smaller, making a stand whenever you can?

So, let's look at the fighting, being smooth. You should be able to shift from low to high gear and viceversa quickly and without much fumbling around. When you are in team sports, you practice. So, practice this too. I see way too much highsticking, short pumps are way more effective, heck, just hold it and wind until the rod bends. I am a big proponent of using the rail, because it is effective. Nothing wrong with a harness, except most guys in a harness haven't taken the time to learn to be good in one. If you use a harness, PRACTICE. Practice crab walking, winding while walking, getting in and out, ON YOUR OWN, and most of all, practice fighting a fish on it. It is strenous done correctly. Get those muscles in tune to what they are supposed to be doing.

OK, got all that, let's catch a fish.

2) Another biggie- cutting circles off, or when do I follow my fish? Ok, most of us are real good about following our fish, but there are times when crew members will have you stay put even though it appears you should be following your fish.
The truth is, we want you to put enough pressure on to turn your fish back. This kills their spirit, makes the circles smaller, and helps you land them. Sometimes, we can't allow this, if there are a lot of fish going, or you have some anglers dropper looping or sinker fishing. (Please, no dropper looping when better grade tuna are biting, it's NOT GOOD!)
So here I am, in the port corner, my line angle is way under the boat, seems like I should go to the starboard corner. But no fish hanging anywhere else, and I'm clearing the corner and gear, my job is to bend that rod to the max, and keep it bent by turning the handle when I can. I want to turn that fish. If he squirts off in a short run, I might have to go across. But I'm going to try and stay put.
Turned him ,good deal.
Now I'm going to keep the pressure on, and keep turning him back (most big tuna are males). When my line is angled forward, I place my foregrip on the aft side of the corner. When my line is angled aft, I place my foregrip forward of the corner.
Things are going well, we are gaining, but losing at times. There are times you need to grip the spool, and add extra drag. I like to hold when the fish is under the boat, I try to gain when he first comes out, even a half crank is good if I don't lose when it goes under. Another good gain time is when the fish is on the outside part of the circle, ready to go under the boat again. In other words, when it's headed back at ya. Gain a crank of half crank.
At this point, I'm not sitting on the rod butt. I have the butt under my armpit. I lean back and bend the rod, but sometimes the line comes very close to the hull corner, so by being right there, it's a simple reach out and my line clears without giving up much line.
I try to keep this up, and then, the crew will say, ok, next circle, I need to to lift. Smooth is still the key here, but as the fish comes out from the boat, stick the rod butt in my gut (actually, I go right in my hip on my left side, right where my upper thigh and abdomen meet, no belt, no harness), try a short pump or two.
Now, if they don't get it, get that foregrip back on the rail, (quickly), hold it again, and repeat.
Voila, open the gate, it's a big one.
The whole time this is going on, one crew member will most likely be standing by, and if he wants the rod, do not play tug of war. Repeat after me: "Got it?", and wait for "Got IT!" from the crew. When he hands it back, he should ask "Got it?", and you respond, "Got IT!"

Remember, just like football, head on a swivel, listen to the crew, and it will work.


A couple more things.

Don't call for gaff until you are ready for gaff. And if your tuna, yellow, or dodo was on the surface for 2 seconds, only to run off as we approach with the gaff, YOU WERE NOT READY FOR THE GAFF! You "thought" you were ready for the gaff, but if you want a good gaff shot for your beautiful RSW fish, lay it out nice. When I'm fishing, I don't call for a gaff until I have full control of the fish. I lay it out nice, give the crew a good chance at a headshot, and take home some prime RSW fish.
Holding your dorado vertical, or worse yet, having it jumping around while we are trying to gaff it, is not good for you or us.

If you think you might be tangled with your neighbor, or at the least, very close together, put your rod tips together. The worst thing you can do is pull way away. Most times it's a real simple over or under, unless a loose line is holding you two together. But rod tips together is the best thing you can do. Once you clear, and if yours is going up to the bow, go. But go all the way.

IMO, there are 4 desired spots to land your fish: The 2 corners, and the port & starboard bow where the rail juts back in (usually right around where the house ends). Don't get caught anywhere else, just too many bad things can happen.

Now, if you are in the port corner, fighting a fish, and you are under the boat, and someone else is in the starboard corner, and he is under too, get your butt over there. Most times you will have a crew member with you, but sometimes we might all be gaffing a big one in the bow, and you might have a cook with you who might not be as adept at decking.

Same thing goes in the bow, here you are, fighting your fish, line angled under a little, all is well except a guy on the other side, and he's under too. Somebody needs to get to the other side, to straighten things out. There might be anchor line to negotiate, a bulbous bow to clear, yell for help as soon as you recognize the problem, or even think there might be a problem. Communication is the key here.

Lastly, but not least, before I leap off my soap box:
When you get a bite, just wind. Wind, wind wind, reelreelreel. However you want to term it, turn the turner! Gang, the days of hooksetting are gone, (I get my fix on Gary Lacroix's Highliner with leadhead and squid for calicos. That's when I get my hooksetting fix!)
And, after you have reel reel reeled, or wind wind winded, DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR HARNESS, PAD, OR ROD BUTT. I see so many fish lost because an angler was so worried about getting the rod butt into their pad. Just keep the rod bent and the line tight. The 1st two minutes aren't that big of deal in the whole scheme of things.

We were most trained on half or 3/4 day boats, and we left or rod at the rail, and went to fetch a bait. That was half day, this is long range. Do not leave your rod at the rail, for nothing. Take it with you.

Lastly, once you hook your bait on the hook, let it go as you travel to the rail for your cast. Holding onto the bait is a big Bozo nono, very bad for the health and performance of your bait.

[Derf284]

my 2 cents

Once your bait is in the water you have to FEEL it not just let line out . If you cant feel your bait reel in a little or start over . Very bad things happen if you just let or peel line off , and the bad things if it not only takes you out of the game but the guy next to you or half the boat .

Key word is FEEL the bait and be 1 with it .

Thanks David keep em coming

[wahoodad]

Thanks Fred. I see Brandon Hayward did a nice article again this week, with a section on tangles. I HATE TANGLES! I think I'll do a thread on that next, or better yet, how I avoid tangles.

[Guy]

Originally Posted by Derf284

my 2 cents

Once your bait is in the water you have to FEEL it not just let line out . If you cant feel your bait reel in a little or start over . Very bad things happen if you just let or peel line off , and the bad things if it not only takes you out of the game but the guy next to you or half the boat .

Key word is FEEL the bait and be 1 with it .

Thanks David keep em coming

Good info David, I wish I could have read it before my first ten day on Oct 4. The basics that you covered are right on with what our crew was telling us.

Feel AND follow your bait and if it doesn't behave, goes under the boat or right across other lines fire it and get a new one.

[Albacrazy]

David
thanks for the reaffirmation of holding the spool when the fish tries to make small gains. I was told on the last trip I was on by a deckhand to get my hand off the spool when I had the fish under the boat. In this exception I didn't listen and killed the fish. I was making small gains and killing the fish's spirit. I've watched many guys depend on the drag to do the work at that point of the battle and letting the fish make small gains. Which ends up in a lost fish.

Drew

[Outthouse]

Good to have you back David and this is good stuff. I have a question. I had my first visit to Guadalupe back in August on the Excel. Justin would move to a spot and start yelling for the deck hands to sling some bait. The boat is probably still moving when he says to give it a try. As often as possible, I would try and be first in the water. After a while, I am about a mile back but so is everyone else and more often than not, we have about 20 lines tied into one. I do my best at keeping a tight line to my bait. Need suggestions. Seems the guys that were getting bit were on the edge of the confusion, not right in the middle.

[charles v. West]

On a recent 11 day on the RP one guy on the stern was tangled with a fish in the bow and he's still feeding line out. Clueless

[wahoodad]

Originally Posted by Outthouse

Good to have you back David and this is good stuff. I have a question. I had my first visit to Guadalupe back in August on the Excel. Justin would move to a spot and start yelling for the deck hands to sling some bait. The boat is probably still moving when he says to give it a try. As often as possible, I would try and be first in the water. After a while, I am about a mile back but so is everyone else and more often than not, we have about 20 lines tied into one. I do my best at keeping a tight line to my bait. Need suggestions. Seems the guys that were getting bit were on the edge of the confusion, not right in the middle.

Jon, we have to fish together sometime amigo

I'll answer this with a joke, ok?

Young bull and old bull on top of a hill, looking down at a bunch of cows. Young bull says "Let's run down and each get us one of those!"

Old bull says "Let's walk down and screw em all!"

Anybody that's ever fished with me and paid attention to what I do has seen I do exactly this. I hang in the wheelhouse, help them look when they need help, see the school we are running on, thus I get all the inside dope (are they deep? are they big? etc)
Then, I go over to my rack, select my rod appropriate for the size fish I see boiling, go down to the tank. Now, the other 98% of the boat is in a big cluster$#@*, and there is no line at the bait tank either. Also, they put a fresh scoop of bait in the tray, cause the last one got all used up by the impatient bunch that are now in a big tangle.
I slide over to the downwind corner, all by myself, my bait right where the chum is being thrown, and I hook one and smile.

It ain't rocket science, but some very intelligent people get so caught up in the insanity of boiling fish they miss the most simple approach.

I hate tangles.

[JJONES660]

no angles no tangles! that was our motto on the spirit ...

what boat do you work on?

one bit of advice i can add about going from the tank to the water with your fresh bait. obviously if you hold it every second its in your hand your taking valuable scales and slime off...but the flip side to letting him be free is more often then not you turn around and your bait wraps around somebody elses rod. I PERSONALLY like to hold the line a few inches above the fish and still let him free flail while i work towards the railing but still have total control over your line which is your responsibility.

always keep the wind in your face if your soaking a bait. If the wind is at the back of your head odds are your bait is under the boat ( unless your hucking iron off the other side :-)

Fresh baits get bit! I dont ever let a bait soak over 2 minutes unless its like a Guadalupe bite on anchor where you gotta get a 1/4 mile back.

If your a spectra guy and tangled DONT EVER put your line in freespool to buzz somebody elses fish. be patient the deck guys will untangle you. purposely sawing off a fish for your own is bad karma and will make you quickly hated by other passengers as well as crew. If you cant fish spectra properly stick to mono...believe it or not some of us still slay with good ole fishing line.

dont drop a sardine in the middle of everyone when your on the slide. if you drop your dine right there and he takes off there is a good chance of him sewing between and tangling some other lines. eithe learn to cast off the corner where the slide starts ( usually fish boiling there on chum anyways!) or if you cant cast well go dump a bait off the bow... many of the sandiego boats get bit off the bow as well as the stern once the slide has begun.

Iron guys. dont be suprised if you drop iron off the back on the slide if you bring other peoples lines back in. It just happens...i like to throw iron off the side of the boat away from others and reel back in before there are 25 lines soaking.

If you are one of the guys trolling STAY BY YOUR ROD!!! The last time i fished the new loan I cant believe how many troll rods got reeled in by the crew. It was unbelievable and I felt very selfish by those who left the rods with feathers just sinking. Keep in mind trolling is an integral part of tuna fishing. you get bit on the troll you want to get that fish moving towards the boat and hope the school follows to the chummed bait. And if your feather doesnt get bit get it the heck out of the way so people can fish the slide because you would expect the same when youve got the bait stick in your hand and want to get a bait out. Nothing more dissapointing then seeing somebody drop a feather back 50 yards after a strike on another rod he doesnt get bit himself and then on the way in he drags 5 or 6 bait lines in making a mess everywhere. Trolling etiquette is important.

As mentioned gaffing is not the easiest thing on the planet for crew guys trying to take a 15 foot piece of bamboo between a rail of crowded anglers and then stick a ballistic fish especially dodos. lay em out nice and if they miss just relax and work with the situation ( the bigeye in my avatar was gaffed in four minutes and missed and an hour later and a near spooled experience we got another shot at him) and dont forget to take your reel out of gear as it comes over JUST IN CASE the fish jumps off the gaff like dodos can do

thats all i have to add today but i spent plenty of time directing tuna traffic and can say that when everyone works together and doesnt get selfish the catch rate goes up DRAMATICALLY!

peace

[wahoodad]

I work on Intrepid.

You made some good points there, good stuff. Yeah, I forget that I always hold the line above the bait.

[JJONES660]

Originally Posted by wahoodad

I work on Intrepid.

You made some good points there, good stuff. Yeah, I forget that I always hold the line above the bait.

Intrepid is new since I worked SD and boy does it look like a masterpiece of a boat! I would love to be a passenger on that thing on a long ride to clipperton

[SMN XPS]

Originally Posted by wahoodad

Then, I go over to my rack, select my rod appropriate for the size fish I see boiling, go down to the tank. Now, the other 98% of the boat is in a big cluster$#@*, and there is no line at the bait tank either. Also, they put a fresh scoop of bait in the tray, cause the last one got all used up by the impatient bunch that are now in a big tangle.
I slide over to the downwind corner, all by myself, my bait right where the chum is being thrown, and I hook one and smile.

Looking back on my first trip this august, had I gone in with this thinking I would have had a much better time.

I spent way to much time and patience trying to get my bait right into the mess. on the longer stops is when i caught fish, that is also when i got out of the mess of the masses and asked the crew on the tank which bait?, where should I toss it in? then . . . Fish on!

Patience will be my watchword on my next trip, well that's the plan at least.

here is a question for you david,

you mention choosing your rod based on the size of fish you see boiling, well on my trip we made a number of stops while fishing offshore tuna where we circled some marks and the skipper would start a chum line and then say "bring in the trollers" then he would say "lets try it " but we would not have seen any boiling fish. I was fishing 40 lb and never got bit on stops like those even when some, or many, others got fish. I am thinking those were some fish that were being hesitant and that i should have thrown 30 or 25lb line to get bit there. so I am thinking if there's no boils but the skipper says to try it I should trow lighter line. make sense or is there something else going on?

cheers
jerry