Big swells, great bluefin tuna on Stellwagen Bank
Capt. Rich Antonino
October 21, 2008
Stellwagen Bank - Saltwater Fishing Report
Well, with predicted seas of 8-10 foot today, it was too rough to run a charter. It wouldn't have been right, although things did turn out ok for the day on the water. That is to say, with a prediction as they did today, I didn't want to have my customers meet me at the pier only to have it be nasty out there or have our mobility from place to place be limited or compromised. But, with no one to impress, a day like today wasn't a bad one to take my son out fishing.
I figured if I got to the pier at 10:30 and it was too rough, we'd just walk along the beach and pick up stuff that has washed ashore for the past couple of stormy days. Well, seeing 8' rollers on the beach, I was skeptical, but decided to make a run out anyways. There was no wind, so I figured the swells would be all we'd have to deal with. Richie, 5, doesn't understand seasickness, so the mental part is non-existent. He was fine all day, depsite getting rolled around like a cork on Stellwagen Bank. I loved watching him drop a jig to the bottom and catch doggie after doggie. I just kept casting my tuna candy all day. Waiting. After about 6 dogfish, Richie "needed a break", so he went in the cabin and took a nice nap. Approaching slack tide, the bite hit for the tuna. He came out as a nice tuna was slamming my surface lure. Three times and the fish was on. Since I was by myself, I knew that I couldn't move the boat, so I really put a hurting on the fish. The first run almost spooled me, despite my best efforts at stopping the fish. Then I just cranked and beat it's spirit. 15 minutes later the fish was boatside. I knew that it could make another run, so "Richie, get the harpoon". It was stuck in a rod holder on the other side of the boat. It was ready to throw, but he couldn't budge it. Walking across the boat, with the rod in one hand, trying to yank the poon out with my other, the fish ran hard again, then came back with me stretched out mid-jumping-jack pose. It put slack line in the line and it wrapped around the tip of my rod before I could drop the poon and free it. Instant snap when the fish took off. Oh well. Three casts later, I was on again. Briefly, though. Then the winds picked up and I saw a good storm coming, so I bagged early. That slack tide would have rocked big time. I wish I were out there, but no regrets. Great day, despite the huge swells. Not many more of them this year.
Keep your eyes on the weather and keep checking your email! Capt. Rich Antonino, 508-269-1882 Black Rose Fishing Charters
Target Species:
Bluefin Tuna
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