Is my boat tuna ready?

[BiteMe Fishy]

We were out with Fishnut that day at La push. My boat is only 19 foot. While we do go out to about 40 miles, I have lots of experience with the big water conditions we get here. We split as soon as the weather started to turn and that extra 30-40 minutes allowed us to get back in 3 hours faster than most of the other boats. Do I think we made a mistake going out? Hell yes! We stopped a couple of times to take a good look at the conditions, but continued on anyway. We made it back in safely and with out any damage or injuries but looking back I'd say we were very lucky. My point is even if you are an experienced skipper you can get into trouble fast. Take the boating course, have the safety equipment, run with experienced buddy boats, stay in visual contact and most of all start small and as you gain experience THEN try going a little bit further out. I'm usually one of the smallest boats out there but we do the best we can to stay safe.
BTW I have instuted a new rule... If we need to stop to take stock of the conditions- we turn around and head right back to port. No discussion.
trickydogshow have you heard of Puget Sound Anglers? Come check us out if you haven't yet. Our (PSA SnoKing) next meeting is this Thursday.
Hope to see ya out there.
Mike

[trickydogshow]

Thanks again for al the good advice. I'd like to come out to a PSA meeting, but I'm taking a classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for the next six months. As soon as Im done with these classes I'll start coming out! thanks again I appreciate everyones help.

[Genie Aye]

Originally Posted by BiteMe Fishy

BTW I have instuted a new rule... If we need to stop to take stock of the conditions- we turn around and head right back to port. No discussion.
Mike

No wiser words/or thoughts have ever been spoken there!!!!!

[FASTWATER]

Never I repeat never trust the weather forcast, a good example I faced last summer was 1 foot wind waves with a 4 foot swell that was flat on the run out with better predictions forcasted turned to total shit twice on me last summer we are talking 8 and 8 tight if your not total together this is bad, I run a a 21 footer with double back up electonics for everything and have fished big water offshore my whole life but still get tested alot, my suggestion would be to get a few trips in with a seasoned vetran on the big salt and ask as many questions you can while on board but remember to pick your captain with care! Tower Todd usually has a few open seats during Tuna season and really runs a tight ship maybe he might be able to suggest someone else also that has good common sense!!!PEACE

[Mo]

Fastwater is very right.

No one should ever trust a weather "prediction".

Pay attention to the wind, swells and weather in the distance.

Ask the guys that work out there during the winter just how accurate the weather report can be. Use it for what it is, a helpful tool.

You can't beat experience. I have learned alot from my dad and brother, who have years of seatime from commercial fishing.
BUT does this make me an expert, HELL NO. It's just some good info for me to use.

Nothing beats actual seatime. I learn something everytime I leave the dock.
I won't fish with anyone who I think will put my life in danger.
I second the TT comment. I fished with him last summer and hope to do some more Tuna runs with him.
Ok I'll shut up now

[tictactug]

Originally Posted by lancaster

you are right. I am from Cali when I posted I did not know he was in WA. My mistake I do not know anything about WA. I fish off S.D. and Baja, and when the fish are in town its no big deal to go get them and I thought you guys were scaring the hell out of some one in my area,so go ahead and keep scaring I mean teaching your guy about the rough and tough WA. coast line.

Sweet mother...I usually don't get involved with this kind of BS, but....damn.

I have a 21 ft pilot house that I regularly fish offshore for halibut. The gas factor is huge when it comes to wind and rough seas. I've burned as little as 20 gallons out and back (approx 55-60 miles) to as much as 35 gallons. I have a lowrance fuel flow meter so I can keep track, and wouldn't go without it.

I've had the tuna bug, but just don't think my fuel capacity would suffice, and it's something that I am unfortunately going to live with.

As far as going off shore, you just need to be smart about it. Experience, well, only comes with having tried it. You may not want to try all at once. Maybe shoot out to try for ling cod or halibut when it opens. It gets you some ocean experience, w/o travelling too far. It will give you a chance to start gauaging your fuel comsumption. It will teach you that there are time you have to be smart enough to turn around and call it quits becuase the weather is too rough, even if you have hundreds of dollars invested in the trip out.

The other thing you have to determine is if you have the right equipment, and, if not, do you want to spend the money to equip yourself correctly.

Do you have a life raft or survival suits if something ugly happens? Do you have radar for when you can't see land. Do you have GPS and a backup GPS? Do you have an EPIRB or PLB?

Just some more food for thought. Our "rough and tough" washington coastline took one fisherman's life last year. And from stories I heard it boiled down to inexperience out in the open ocean. No one hear wants you to be that guy.

[Jason S]

I can chime in here on almost an exact of what you have.

I have a 20ft Northriver Seahawk. Last year I was one of three boats that caught the first Washington Tuna. Todd probably had the very first but the same day Mike (Olybirds from another site) and myself were out. Not a big numbers day. Todd did better than Mike and I but he went a lot furthur out. I do have quite a bit more water experience than you though it sounds. I put a lot of time on in the Straits before I felt confident enought to try the ocean out. Then I did ocean fishing that required no bar crossing working on my seamanship skills and what equipment I needed to have on board. Neah is a good starter for Swiftsure Halibut to learn about your boat and skills.

That said do I think a 20' NR Seahawk is enough boat for Tuna fishing? Nope not really to be honest. Thats my opinion. It is what I have and what I did it with last year. Your 50 gallon tank is not going to be enough. I know that. I have a 20 gallon fuel bladder I use for the trip out. Am rethinking that process now though. But a good day tuna fishing you don;t know what your going to be up against. Average burn for me was around 35-40 gallons. With just your main tank it does not leave a safety. Biggest reason I like my bladder is it is a sperate source of fuel. Relitivly safe way to transport. Pouring jugs in a rocking ocean sucks. It sucks way worse where our fuel fills are. Beyond the fact it is unsafe for the plain obvious damn reasons would be easy to get water in your fuel during a transport, if you don't light things on fire.

Mine has a 150 Yamaha. I get right at 4 MPG at Ocean speeds. Also I burn about 1.2-1.5 GPH trolling. Maybe more. Sloggin it back with a boat load of Tuna I only get 3.5-3.6 MPG depending on the water conditions.

Pride is your worst enemy. I have turned around anywhere from never launching, right after the bar, to 20 miles out. Knowing your boat limitations is key. Eveyrtime I have turned around has been hard. Most everyone else on board the boat has been not happy. Long tow and lot of money spent just to get to Westport and not fish what gives. It is known on my boat it is my call and no one elses. I am owner and skipper. Last year I made I think 4 trips for 6 tows to Westport. I only plan on fishing on weather predictions that are windows. I won't go on a one day prediction. Have to have a trend going my way. Another important thing to remember and it is important is a lot can change in 50 miles. If it is bad where you are it could be worse 20 miles away a lot worse. 50+ miles is a long way to run if it gets bad.

I plan on Tuna fishing in mine again this year. But only because of job uncertainty I do not wish to go into debt to buy a new bigger boat. So I have what I have. It just means I will fish less days than the big boats.

I make informed decisions. Make my own decisions and do it based on my knowledge and skill level. I always run with someone I really know. Not just someone who says they are going that day. Radio is always on. I turn around and head to the barn the instant I have an uncertainty. I left the best bite I was on all of last year due to the weather. It was not worth it to plug the boat. When I got back other people at the ramp thought it was a lot worse than I did. But then again we are at all different levels. Biggest thing I don't like about my boat is non-self bailing. When I say I run with a friend I mean a real friend. If I call for someone I want to know the guy I came with will be there for me. Additonally if my buddy boat heads for the barn I head with it. Would like them to do the same. We may give each other a head start but we stay in range of radios. Usually mostly with in a few miles.

I all probability you might not like to hear this but if you have to ask the question you probably are not ready. If you have to ask if your equipment is good enough you really all ready know the answer probably deep down.

Lets talk about Safety equipment here.

All people who Tuna fish with me wear life vest. No exceptions. I will provide off shore orange ones if someone does not have one. Prefer if I take someone they care about themselves and me enough to go buy a high quality comfeurtable inflatable vest. One person is always at the helm. Refuse to have all at the back of the boat and at the rail. Someone is always focused on safety and the boat. Minumum for me to go now is 3 people. Quality flairs are always in date. 3 bilge pumps (had one get clogged with tuna scales and blood last year. It will ruin you pumps. Have 2 quare bailing buckets in the boat. Good first aid kit, again 50+ miles is a long way. Even though the USCG has Helo's be prepared. Again I would rather be prepared and not need it than need it and not have it. 2 functioning radios are a priority to me. I have a ditch bag that also has a hand held DSC capable waterprof jobber. Ditch bag has two off shore vests in it also. This year before Halibut gets here I will be getting an EPIRB. They have gotten too affordable to not get one. If you need it could be the best $600-700 you ever spent. Hope this helps and I don't get flamed for it.

And to the above who routely flamed the 20' river boat guys. All 20 ft Tin Boats are not the same. Lot of derogitory things said about tin boats over the radio. Not all skippers or boats are the same. Yes Internet sights and lack of fishing opertunity has lead to more and more people on the coast. It is better to help these people than to just say hey don't do it. Explain to them the differences. Believe it or not I think our waters are safer than the water I grew up boating on the Great Lakes. Instead of busting on these guys lets help them make an informed decision. No one want to just hear no.

[Keta]

Good information Jason, it looks like you know your boats limitations.

And to the above who routely flamed the 20' river boat guys. All 20 ft Tin Boats are not the same.

Yup, some tend to think I don't like beer can boats but that is far from the truth. It's about design and manufacturing quality (or lack of). A boat designed for river use is usualy a poor choice for ocean use and an ocean capable boat performs poorly in the river. Leave 95% of the pumps driven boats in the river or bay.

[Jason S]

Originally Posted by Keta

Good information Jason, it looks like you know your boats limitations.



Yup, some tend to think I don't like beer can boats but that is far from the truth. It's about design and manufacturing quality (or lack of). A boat designed for river use is usualy a poor choice for ocean use and an ocean capable boat performs poorly in the river. Leave 95% of the pumps driven boats in the river or bay.

Which brings up as a point of fact even the big boats have there limitations. The boat which the tragedy occured at Westport was a larger boat. 25ft self draining boat. Took one over the transom which did not drain quick enough. The throttles got hit and all the water rushed to the back of the boat sucking the transom under. Experience was a part of this but the day was also unusual. The seas came up really hard and quick after a lot of guys headed out into fairly decent conditions. This was compounded by backtrolling into the swells and windwaves. When things go wrong they go wrong way quick.

I mention this as a read for all to know what happened last year. This got hashed out on several boards. It was the Halibut opener and happened out of La Push. Another boat that day had big problems but all made it home safely that day with USCG help. As to the experience level thing listening to the USCG tapes of that day really ahmmers that home. The Charter boat skipper was clear, consise and in control compared to most of the sport boat conversations about the deal. He was the Skipper that picked a body out of the water and a member of his crew was performing CPR as he was talking to the USCG. You can search and hear the Channel 16 radio calls that day on the USCG website.

[Keta]

Money can't buy on the water experiance unless you hire a captain. To quote a good friend that uses his "little bear can boat" to it's fullest, and safely, "With enough money you too can be King of the Ocean". Fools and idiots will do stupid human tricks in any boat but an extra 6'-18' does give you a bit of a pad.

My curent boat is a 21' deep "V" tupperware hull and I'm a bit aprehensive to do somethings with her that I wouldn't hesitate to do in a hull like "Puffin". Mostly fuel and range issues. I want a boat capable of running 300 miles out to fish for a day or so and then return to port with 30% of my fuel left over for a pad.

BTW, backing into the waves isn't always a good idea.

[Jason S]

Originally Posted by Keta

Money can't buy on the water experiance unless you hire a captain. To quote a good friend that uses his "little bear can boat" to it's fullest, and safely, "With enough money you too can be King of the Ocean". Fools and idiots will do stupid human tricks in any boat but an extra 6'-18' does give you a bit of a pad.

My curent boat is a 21' deep "V" tupperware hull and I'm a bit aprehensive to do somethings with her that I wouldn't hesitate to do in a hull like "Puffin".

BTW, backing into the waves isn't always a good idea.

Would that be a quote from John?

[Keta]

Yup, I wouldn't hesitate to go anywhere he will take his boat. As long as I have the seatbelt on in comfort, as I bounce too much running in rough water and the seat belt keeps my ass in the seat.