Does anybody run Harpoon Charters?

[greg1]

I know it's a long shot, but that sounds like a lot of fun.

Maybe in the NE or West Coast?

[quack quack]

:lol: :lol: Sorry Greg but that made me crack up.I have never seen a post about wanting to go harpooning and I think it's great.The problem is most of the sword harpoon boat's at least on the East coast are not around anymore and it is a bycatch to poon a sword in the NE now a days.You should check out the movie called strikers passing.It tells about the decline and lose of the harpoon fishery in the NE.It was filmed by a guy whose father was a harpoon guy up in Nantucket.

I think you can get a copy from his web site.If not call him to get a copy.It is filmed very well and gives you the feeling of what it is like to be a striker Remember don't look at the eye. http://www.oceanscape.net/

[Disco Lady]

CONO!!!!!!!! :shock: :shock:

[greg1]

Yeah, when I was in San Diego I saw a bunch of the commercial harpoon boats. They were in port, but it still looked awesome.

I'd love to get out on that pulpit and throw a few darts.

[Tuna Devil]

QQ,

The back Baby.

Greg you seem like a nice guy or I would take you on a hapooning expedition. :lol:

Like Eric said up here the days of seeing Swords sunning are long gone.
That does not mean we don't see one every once in awhile. But don't let anyone set you up to take your money.

I went to High school with guys whos Dads had big stick boats, they said they would have 10 high flyers out at once on a good day. Other days were so foggy they would wait for them to swim by the boat so they could see them.

I went one time off Nantucket in the mid Seventies and we did get a couple. I was a youngin and was just there for the ride. But man was it cool. :shock:

I can not speak for the West Coast, but I would have to believe it is the same scene.

[greg1]

I've only been fortunate enough to see one sword sunning and it was in Cabo.

A friend of mine spearfishes off Cali and says they see 'em on occasion. Probably not regularly enough to target them but enough to know there's still a presence.

I figured maybe the guys that target them would be able to dial in a little better.

However, I would've liked to be on the tip of this rig when I saw the one in Cabo

[quack quack]

:shock: That is the longest pulpit I have ever seen.It would have to be very calm for me to take that walk.I would hate to be on the end of that and get stuffed into a wave.Talk about being in green water

[greg1]

Originally Posted by quack quack

:shock: That is the longest pulpit I have ever seen.It would have to be very calm for me to take that walk.I would hate to be on the end of that and get stuffed into a wave.Talk about being in green water

That's true, but imagine strapping on the Grundens and walking out there to a finning swordie.

Talk about getting the blood pumping.

[Tuna Devil]

That's cool.
I worked on a 38 Holland, it was set up for giant fishing with a 25 foot pulpit.
That one in the picture is nice it has a hand rail. Ours did not it had two wires you could grab once you were half way out. The trick was to run out there.
We would get the chance to stick every once in awhile. But without having a plane on payroll it was hard to get on them.
I do not know if you noticed any wire or cable going into the wheel house.
If you did that was the juice, hooked up to the alternator, stick the fish and hit the button. :shock: Done properly it would stun the fish long enough to get control of it so it would not fight to hard a ruin the meat. Or get what they call yakki.

[Tuna Devil]

Greg,

This one was up top in Wilmington Canyon (I think) Last week, not my pic. This is a good situation, a little too much sun from what I am told. They see you coming.

[Tuna Devil]

[quack quack]

The sword in my avatar was harpooned from the Viking star out of Montauk in 79 I think.We saw it coming in from cox's ledge cod fishing.My dad stuck it from the bow no pulpit.I even ran the boat at 7yrs old while my dad ran down and got the harpoon ready.The mate John steadman came and took the wheel for the actual stick.

[Tuna Devil]

Maybe we could put a dorsal and a pair of fins on Junior and practice up.

What do you think Jr. :shock:

[Disco Lady]

CONO!!!!! I Love the pics Bro!!!

[Relentless33]

Funny TD, reeeaaaalllll funny :twisted: [-X [-( :eye:

I think you guys are just having to much fun without me :lol:

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

[jerry]

greg, I attended a sword club meeting a year or so ago and Tommy Boyle had a great video of harpoon boats working, I guess on the West coast somewhere. Awesome video to watch and the boats were first class and these guys stuck and battled some real slobs. Check him out for a borrow.

[Whitewater]

Here is the NE there are Harpoon boats for giant BFTs, however they are commercial endevours. A friend used to work on one. It didn't sound very exciting. They would coordinate with a spotter plane. Drive up on the fish, careful to keep the boat sound consistant. One guy in the tower directing the skipper, then a 3rd in the pulpit with the harpoon. And a fourth on the button. The harpoon guy throws and the button is pushed.
The fish is now dead, no fight no nothing just a quick harvest.

[quack quack]

Well when you are doing it for a living you want a quick kill.The quicker the kill the better the fish will grade out.

[Tuna Devil]

The button does not kill, or it should not kill. If it does the fish is cooked and therefore crap.

It shocks them into sort of a coma. They do come back though. :shock:

Like QQ said it is work not play a quick kill is a good one.

[Whitewater]

To me it is probably the best way to commercial fish for the Giants.
It has to be one of the most humane ways of dispatching these fish. Also it consistantly yeilds high quality meat.

The worst method has to be be purse sieners. When the net is cinched up the fish are all ramming each other. The quality goes down hill fast.