Feeder

There is absolutely No Way to answer that question. Nobody knows untill you go out fishing.

It depends on way to many varriables like wind speed & directiion, current speed & direction...which leg of the rig they tie off too.

It's the same as asking us if the fish will bite Today...Who knows??

Bazz

 

Well? Will they bite today....... LOL!

 

Well actually I meant is there a preferred side so that your lines don't go under the boat? The last few times I was on the right and we were always positioned so that the current swept our lines under the boat. I was wondering if you guys have noticed the same thing on the Big E not if the right/left is better for catching fish.

 

Hey feeder!

On the 52 hour trips, the jiggers and chunkers fish off the port side so and the topwater throwers are on the starboard side during the drifts.

When bottom fishing, just use enough weight so that you go straight down, but watch for others' lines without enough weight.

 

Thanks Tom. So basically it's the same setup as on the 12 hour trips then? Have you ever noticed if they switch around to give everyone a chance at drifting vs. topwater plugging?

 

Feeder,

They usually drift the same direction, unless the wind or current is mess up the drift direction.
I think they want to keep it that way so bait and jig fisherman on one side and top water fisherman on the other.

 

Here is a famous quote for party boat tuna fishing off the west coast. They tell you this as you board the long range boats.

"If the winds in your face, your in the right place", or "If the winds at your back, there will be no fish in your sack".

 

Remember feeder, on the longer trips (or when you're NOT bottomfishing) You choose the style you want to fish.

So if you want to bait, chunk or jig, find a spot on the side of the boat where your line moves away from the boat.

If you want to throw poppers, find a spot to work in on the other side.

 

Remember feeder, on the longer trips (or when you're NOT bottomfishing) You choose the style you want to fish.

So if you want to bait, chunk or jig, find a spot on the side of the boat where your line moves away from the boat.

If you want to throw poppers, find a spot to work in on the other side.


Tom are you saying that you can move around on the longer Big E trips as long as it's not bottomfishing? That would be good. On the 12 hr. trips you usually pick a spot and you're pretty much stuck there unless there is a vacant spot on the other side.

 

Feed, do understand that this trip, TBB 06, is a private, limited load (35 person) charter. Being a private charter there will be a bit more flexibilty in what can be done in regards to fishing both bottom fishing and drifting at night for tuna.
on a 135 foot boat like this, the group will be more spread out, and unless Bellyup puts his foot down and says "no" to this, the group should be free to move about to where ever they want to fish including the deep drop fishing. They did not do the numbering system for deep drop fishing on the Halloween 05 private charter, if my memory is correct. If this is still the case, that is another advantage to paying a bit more for a private charter on a boat as to an open 52 hour charter.
At 135' that's almost 4 foot from one fisherman to the next, or at least 2 foot on either side on the Big E, if everyone fished the down current side on the deep drops.
When I used to fish fish offshore, I tried for the bow as far as I could get up there unless it was extremely rough. Gave me a little more room if I got to the pulpit or extreme bow.
Some folks will not deep drop or do lttle of that type of fishing, others will be taking a break and others will be doing different types of fishing than dropping straight down. At least that is likley to happen.
For the night time tuna bite, there will be folks on the bow and in that general area throwing topwaters, as well at the stern, and then the chunking and jigging guys will be on the other side doing their thing as well. Plenty of room for 35 to fish for tuna, unless everyone is throwing topwaters. Even then there is still room if all 35 work together.
You need to expereince a 52 hour private charter sometime, the relaxed situation is a dream as far as fishing pressure, expectations, and help.
This trip has a good number of tuna guru's and a few middle of the pack ability fishermen and some rookies, but the help the group has done to make this trip a success so far has been unbelievable.
they are going to convert the rookies into full fledged addicts once this trip is done.
The first Y-fin over 70 lbs that hits the deckwill be an eye opener for the rookies and when Mont lands an AJ almost as big as he is, that will seal the rookies fates. They'll be hooked.

 

Well said Willie!

Feeder- PM me your telephone and we can go into more detail if you want!

 

Long trips, especially one that's a charter, provide the opportunity to fish where and how you want when tuna fishing - "doing the tuna shuffle". With only 40 people on board the Big E and kind of relegated to one spot, there's lots of room when fishing for AJs, grouper, etc.

 

On the April 52 hr Big E trip most people fished where they wanted. Didn't follow the number assigned. There wasn't much room to throw poppers or top waters. The upper deck covers most of the boat leaving only a small amout of space on the back quarter and bow to do casting of top waters. There was enough room for anyone to jig or chunk. The snapper drop resulted in a few tangles but the deck hands handled it well.

 

Thanks for the responses there guys. I appreciate the info. Do any of you actually sleep during this time? I don't think I will be able to.

Ragman - sent you a PM.