After getting cancelled last month, our rescheduled date came around and we headed up to Westport. It was me, along with Andy and Patrick from Bend and one of our PNWFF members. All first timers for tuna, except me with three whole trips under my belt. Over the prior month, we engaged in all of the pre-trip banter, tying flies, comparing antiseasickness strategies, and obsessively checking forecasts.
The day before the trip, and the bad news started to trickle in. Unfortunately, our fourth came down with something the night before, which was a drag because I was looking forward to meeting and fishing with him. Then, we found out that our local guide and friend, who was going to ride along, was also under the weather. Which was also a drag, because I was looking forward to fishing with him too.
Alarms go off at 430, breakfast and coffee consumed, and we’re off to the docks. To wait until the CG opened the bar. But we got to spend the time getting to know Chance and Jake, who would be in charge of our trip. We finally get the all clear and head over the bar.
We were forecasted to have 10-12 kt winds and 5-7 ft swells, both to calm during the day. We also had fog for half the run out, all of which took a toll on my seasickness strategy of scopolamine and staring at the horizon. After bashing our way out, and breaking into clear skies, we started fishing.
Andy had the hot rod for the trip, but was also the first to fall to the mal de mer, despite ginger and wrist bands. Shortly after which, he got us on the board. The fish this year were big and strong, and after landing his first, Andy sat down muttering something about needing a break. So of course his rod goes off again, and an even bigger albacore comes in over the rail. I was getting ready to troll again, when an unfortunate roll and turn had me chumming as well.
At that point, I had changed flies to a @clarkman special…
… and Chance drives us through a bunch of birds and jumpers, delivering the first triple of the day. We call in a couple other ARSC boats for a full bait stop. It was wild to see fish snatching bait right next to the boat. I tried my popper rod for a bit, but had a hard time getting a good angle from my corner of the deck. I thought about going up front, but between my stomach and the swell, it was too dicey for me.
Eventually the bite died down, and it was time to head in. 10 good sized fish for Jake to loin on the run in.
Saw a lot of birds out there, including murres, shearwaters, petrels, pelicans, and a few albatrosses. Not much in the way of other marine life, but that may have been a function of my staring at the horizon.
I’ll admit, this was the first tuna trip where I wasn’t wishing I had my own tuna capable boat on the drive home. However, as me and the yellow jackets were trimming and bagging the haul, I was starting to think about next summer.
The day before the trip, and the bad news started to trickle in. Unfortunately, our fourth came down with something the night before, which was a drag because I was looking forward to meeting and fishing with him. Then, we found out that our local guide and friend, who was going to ride along, was also under the weather. Which was also a drag, because I was looking forward to fishing with him too.
Alarms go off at 430, breakfast and coffee consumed, and we’re off to the docks. To wait until the CG opened the bar. But we got to spend the time getting to know Chance and Jake, who would be in charge of our trip. We finally get the all clear and head over the bar.
We were forecasted to have 10-12 kt winds and 5-7 ft swells, both to calm during the day. We also had fog for half the run out, all of which took a toll on my seasickness strategy of scopolamine and staring at the horizon. After bashing our way out, and breaking into clear skies, we started fishing.
Andy had the hot rod for the trip, but was also the first to fall to the mal de mer, despite ginger and wrist bands. Shortly after which, he got us on the board. The fish this year were big and strong, and after landing his first, Andy sat down muttering something about needing a break. So of course his rod goes off again, and an even bigger albacore comes in over the rail. I was getting ready to troll again, when an unfortunate roll and turn had me chumming as well.
At that point, I had changed flies to a @clarkman special…
… and Chance drives us through a bunch of birds and jumpers, delivering the first triple of the day. We call in a couple other ARSC boats for a full bait stop. It was wild to see fish snatching bait right next to the boat. I tried my popper rod for a bit, but had a hard time getting a good angle from my corner of the deck. I thought about going up front, but between my stomach and the swell, it was too dicey for me.
Eventually the bite died down, and it was time to head in. 10 good sized fish for Jake to loin on the run in.
Saw a lot of birds out there, including murres, shearwaters, petrels, pelicans, and a few albatrosses. Not much in the way of other marine life, but that may have been a function of my staring at the horizon.
I’ll admit, this was the first tuna trip where I wasn’t wishing I had my own tuna capable boat on the drive home. However, as me and the yellow jackets were trimming and bagging the haul, I was starting to think about next summer.
