Tuna outta Venice, LA

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

I just returned from Venice, LA and thouht that some readers might like to know about my trip.
Weather was great for tuna. Overcast and a few showers. Seas were 4 to 5 feet going out coming straight into our face. Seemed to be saying, 'Ya'll need to go back to the river pass".
We didn't.
I fished with a group from Texas. Bill, Brad, John and Steve. These guys like to post on 2coolsportfishing http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/forumdisplay.php?f=6
Bill put the trip together. Did a wonderful job too.
We were blessed with two able and willing Captains, Eddie Burger and Bill Delabar. Hard to call either mate or Capt'. They did a wonderful job of swaping duties.
We were fishing a 32 ft pilot house Twin Vee powered by twin 225 Honda 4 strokes. Boat handled the water well. I was impressed with the Hondas. Very quite. Boat has a 12 ft beam and was stable in the seas we encountered. The seas were such that we didn't see anyone else fishing all day.
We ran about 10 miles out to the first rig we fished. Ran across a nice rip about 100 yards before the rig. Put out two mullets and started to slow troll them around the rig while preparing to troll the rip. Got ready and trolled a 5 rig spread of mag Rapalas and Bonita type lures. First hit was a 3 lb chicken mahi-mahi on a pink mga rap caught by Bill. There was bait and a few birds but the fish were small or uncooperative. Decided to catch some hard tails off a mooring bouy and move to deeper water.
Ran about 12 miles to 3k water. Spotted a 55 gal drum floating on the run. Tried some poppers but seemed that there was no bait around so we continued on.
At the rig, we put out both hard tails to slow troll. Had hardly started when one of the rods goes off. Nobody seemed to want to take the rod from Capt Eddie so I stepped up. I really did not care to use an Avet but, I'm here to fish not to watch the Capt fish for us. I can laugh now at myself. I reeled in about a 30 lb mahi-mahi with that blue reel in low gear and the clicker still on. :?
Turns out that it had eaten both baits and that was all of our hardtails.
Put out two mullet and back to slow trolling. Had some good bites, two chewoffs and a hook pulled.
I like to sit so that I can see the action on the baits so I was watching when one of the mullet was batted two feet into the air. We then saw a dorsal fin on the next strike and take. Weren't sure what or how big jus knew we had a billfish on.
We had all had a turn pulling on a tuna. Nobody else wanted to be the angler and it was on on of my rigs so I took the rod. The fish jumped several times into its first run. It was either too far off or obscured by a wave so we didn't know for sure what or how big. Now I mean to tell you that fish was swiming toward the horizon.
This rig is a "Fishermans Choice" custom rod rated 30-80 mated to a Cal Sheets 2 speed, blue printed for 100 lb, Penn International 30 with a Tiburon frame and a larger stock handle from a 50.
Reel is spooled with 130 lb Jerry Brown spectra. I spliced a loop into the end and connected loop to loop to a 25 ft 100 lb Jinkai fluorocarbon windon leader made by JAK Associates.
http://jaknkona.com
Hook was a Mustad 39950BL Demon circle hook in 8/0 flavor. I had the drag set for about 25 lbs at strike.
I just stood there in my harness and watched the spectra peel off at an alarming rate. The drag was heating the left side of the reel and there was more spool showing. When the fish changed direction I moved forward to beside the pilot house. Still the fish was running, I suggested that we should give chase or I was soon gonna be spooled.
Capt'n Bill Delabar did an excellent job of keeping the boat in just the right spot so that I could stand in one place and concentrate on keeping the rod bent and reeling when I could. Capt'n Eddie was an asset to keeping me from getting too banged up from the choppy sea.
We settled into a routine of motoring toward the fish to gain line and then allowing me to put the pressure back on.
I'm fighting to keep from being pitched overboard. I am wearing the wrong harness and my plate is too small for me.
I had my own cheering section. Lots of encouragement, some teasing about sweating and being red faced, and "are you going to pass the rod off"?
Even heard that we are here to tuna fish (was in my mind too!) Com'on Tony.
I am wearing too much clothing and heating up as fast as my reel. Thought that I was going to be sick and chum at one point. Finally started thinking and asked for a bottled water. Ahhhhh!! It sure felt good on my head! I cooled down and the sick feeling subsided.
A rain shower helped to cool me off too altough if made the chop worse.
Capt'n Bill alternately allowed me to gain some line and put pressure on the fish. If the fish changed direction, Delabar kept me pointed in the right direction.
About an hour into the fight, I am feeling tired and wishing to end it so that we can get back to the tuna. We decide that we are going to see if we can get really close to the fish and make it jump a few times to tire it and bring it alongside for a release. We did not want to kill this fish.
Bill drove us close. Eddie kept me from falling down or going over. I reeled like mad and kept as much bend in the rod as I could. The fish did as Capt'n Bill said it would. We got close and were treated to 4 greyhounding jumps and another drag abusing run.


I was watching that first jump about 25-30 yds out. I've seen many a blue caught on TV. Her eyeball size and girth were an instant second wind for me. I wanted to catch this fish. BAD. No way could I hand-off.
I got another break as that Marlin ran line off the spool again. Took the opportinuity to get rid of a long-sleeved shirt. Ain't no need in reeling or pumping when the fish is pulling drag. Even got a little refreshment to wet my whistle.
When the Marlin began to settle, I started to put on the heat. We were both tireing, but I had seen her. What a fish! I used thumb and fingertips on the spool to put added pressure on this fish.
Now let me say, I have reels with Power-Pro, Izor and Jerry Brown spectra on them. All the spectra that I purchase in the future will be JB. The many, small, supple strands are so much easier on one's hands.
I gained line and fought the fish as Capt'n Bill kept us dead on the fish.
I would get to where we could see the splice and the fish would shake her head no several times and run again. Remember, I'm feeling the fight too.
I decided that I wanted to end this fight. Soon. I advanced the drag past strike and continued to keep as much pressure on as I could stand.
Soon we had the splice in veiw again. Noooo she sezs and runs away. Not too far this time.
I keep as much pressure up as I can. Thumbs and fingers on the spool. Pump and grind. I am starting to have things go my way. Capt'n Bill keeps the position correct. Capt'n Eddie is readying to leader this fine fish.
We see splice and get another head shaking run.
Stay right in there after the run. I get the wind-on onto the reel until she sezs no again.
We could feel the victory. I get the splice onto the reel and several winds of mono. Capt'n Eddie has ahold of the leader trying to grab a bill. Alas, the fish was swiming in the opposite direction of the boat's travel. Eddie was smart enough to not be pulled overboard so he made no bill grab. The Marlin shoke her head no again and that was it. The line parted right at the hook!
I was a little let down that nobody had thought to get a picture and that we did not cut the line for a release. Small details that do not matter.
I caught my first Blue Marlin.
Capt'ns estimated 350-400 lbs.
I'm confident that the fish had 24 plus inches width from the side veiw.
I did not lean over and see the fish at boatside. I'll have to get Capt'n Eddie to estimate the length.
After high fives, we motored back to the rig to finally return to tuna fishing.
We had been away for almost 1 1/2 hours.

Check out more at:
http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com/...id=11374&page=
Edited cause I can't type!

[kai akua]

sweet! congrads on teh fish.

we made a run on the albacore up here in Morro Bay (centeral coast of califorina), but we failed to get any. we went 46 miles out, but it seems that they moved north from the previous day. it was a one day bite i guess. the boys up in montery are now seeing the albacore come through, so we missed or chance.

damn, sounds like you guys had fun! any more pics

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Was a great trip.
Wish that I had a picture of that marlin jumping in front of the boat. Alas,
that camera was lost from a shirt pocket overboard.
I will post if there is anything of interest pic wish forwarded my way. I hope so. My trophy frame needs some color to make it complete. lol. :lol:

[greg1]

Why didn't you want to reel a fish in on an Avet?

Also, where do you fish mostly that you need 130 lb drags in a 30lb outfit?

Any tuna?

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Originally Posted by greg1

Why didn't you want to reel a fish in on an Avet?

Also, where do you fish mostly that you need 130 lb drags in a 30lb outfit?

Any tuna?

Hi greg1,
Two reasons for not desiring to use an Avet reel. I am unfamiliar with them perfering Penns. Handle is too small for my big hands. All my Penns have had handle changes.
I mainly fish the Gulf of Mexico. Yellow fin tuna is my main target. I would love to add swords on my extended trips.
Now I'm LMAO at myself. I edited that post and got it wrong. Changed wrong 100 to 130. Sorry about that.
Reel fishes 100 lb (drag was set at about 25 lbs) Spectra is 130 lb.
Now, why do I chose to fish this way?
I can't/won't carry a 8o lb or larger reel/rod all day. I fish standup gear on boats that often have a low rail and NO chair. The smaller reels do not torque to the side when reeling. I am able to get over 600 yds backing on the reel. I normally use 25 ft windon leaders with a straight tie to the hook for 100 and less. Larger leaders are crimped. No swivels. Only a loop to loop connection. I use this for chunking, live bait slow trolling and bottom bouncing. I slip an egg weight on to Carolina rig on bottom. I tie a knot around my leader with scrap mono for a weight stop.
I've caught YFT to 126 on a 16S using a 60# leader for abrasion.
I hope that you understand me and why I fish like I do.
Will be happy to discuss further.

[greg1]

I gotcha. We us the TLD 50 w/ LRS for the same reasons. Out of the box w/ 80lb drag systems. My brother likes the Tiagra 50W w/ LRS. I think they have too much side to side torque and would rather the TLD.

I keep my boat in Venice during the winter and move it to Orange Beach for May, June, July, and August.

I also fish Bluefin out of Moorehead City and we use Tiagra 80's for that. We have a chair there. That's why I couldn't figure out what you needed 130 lb drags for. I've caught 600+lb bluefin on 80's just fine.

Take care.

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Are you chartering or private?
OB is close to home. Venice is a little further.
I live on GA/AL line off I-20.
Would love chance to help share costs. I know how to clean and stay until everything is put away.

[greg1]

Private on the Gulf. 26 ft Glacier Bay.

Out of Moorehead I ride along with a Commercial guy. No expenses for me, but he gets to sell the fish. 1 per day.

We can definitley hook up. This summer may be spotty in OB due to all the Ivan damage. Hopefully I'll be able to get back there. We keep at Sportman's there and Cypress Cove in Venice. My family has Condo in OB and it got pretty wrecked. If its not finished and furnished the boat will probalby stay in Venice.

I live in South Carolina now, so I have to travel down. Get's tough picking weekends from so far out with the weather being always unpredictable.

Caught 2 YF on Friday (11/26) out of Venice. About 80-90lbs. One of them is in my avatar.

Let's stay in touch here. I'll let you know when I go down again.

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Originally Posted by greg1

Private on the Gulf. 26 ft Glacier Bay.

Out of Moorehead I ride along with a Commercial guy. No expenses for me, but he gets to sell the fish. 1 per day.

We can definitley hook up. This summer may be spotty in OB due to all the Ivan damage. Hopefully I'll be able to get back there. We keep at Sportman's there and Cypress Cove in Venice. My family has Condo in OB and it got pretty wrecked. If its not finished and furnished the boat will probalby stay in Venice.

I live in South Carolina now, so I have to travel down. Get's tough picking weekends from so far out with the weather being always unpredictable.

Caught 2 YF on Friday (11/26) out of Venice. About 80-90lbs. One of them is in my avatar.

Let's stay in touch here. I'll let you know when I go down again.

We caught a lot of rain from Ivan. Thankfully little damage. I know full well what the storm did to the OB area. They have my prayers there.
Congrats on the LA tuna. (No not lower Alabama!) Nice avatar. I gotta upgrade mine. Too small and no detail.
Where do you stay in Venice? I'm usually fishing alone or just with my boys. Have used the Sportsman's club and liked it. Not always suited for women folk though. Great to have a kitchen and only pay 35 a night.
My 2 cents...

[greg1]

I got your PM. I'll send you an email soon with my contact info.

I'm from New Orleans originally and when I visit I usually stay at my folks house. So a lot of times I just drive down from N.O. at 4:00am. It's rare during the winter when I get to fish two days in a row (weather). Otherwise I stay on a friend's houseboat or maybe Cypress Cove if the rates are around $59.00. It's just so easy to walk inside and take a shower and not have to even get in the car after 12 hours on the water.
You're right on about women folk getting bored down there. That can be a tricky one.