Early TBB 06 report

One more thought. I just finished watching a Japanese jigging video Randy sent me. I didn't understand a word, but I picked up some great tips by watching the way they jig. Fisherman in the US have a lot to learn from the Japanese. They really have the jigging to a science. Maybe I'll take a two hour crash course in Japanese and watch the video again.

One thing that bothers me about the Big E is the gaffing. I'm a head gaffer, and body gaffs offend me. I hate to waste a good eating fish to improper gaffing.

I noticed the Japanese don't use gaffs. They have these big nets to scoop up the fish. That makes for no holes in the skin and a perfect eating fish. The fish on the video were no bigger than about 40 pounds and the boat they were fishing on was not as high off the water as the Big E. I'm wondering if I have a big net fabricated with a long handle would the deckhands even attempt to use it. I don't mind spending a few hundred bucks getting the net made to support up to a 100 pound tuna. Am I wasting my time with this idea?

How long are the gaffs they use on the Big E, and where do they store them?

One more thought. I just finished watching a Japanese jigging video Randy sent me. I didn't understand a word, but I picked up some great tips by watching the way they jig. Fisherman in the US have a lot to learn from the Japanese. They really have the jigging to a science. Maybe I'll take a two hour crash course in Japanese and watch the video again.

One thing that bothers me about the Big E is the gaffing. I'm a head gaffer, and body gaffs offend me. I hate to waste a good eating fish to improper gaffing.

I noticed the Japanese don't use gaffs. They have these big nets to scoop up the fish. That makes for no holes in the skin and a perfect eating fish. The fish on the video were no bigger than about 40 pounds and the boat they were fishing on was not as high off the water as the Big E. I'm wondering if I have a big net fabricated with a long handle would the deckhands even attempt to use it. I don't mind spending a few hundred bucks getting the net made to support up to a 100 pound tuna. Am I wasting my time with this idea?

How long are the gaffs they use on the Big E, and where do they store them?
I used to use a big net when I intended to release tuna.
But when tuna are over 80 lbs, you'd better make a special net for them.

a big net would be awesome. it would need to have a very heavy duty net with a strong frame and handle that would hold up when 2 guys try and bring those tuna onboard. just make sure that no one tries to land a cuda,wahoo or shark in the net. i had some one try that on my boat and you can not believe how fast a toothy critter can eat its way out of a net.


a. you can store it on the bottom deck under the seating on the port or starboard side. the only bad thing is that they do wash down those areas. you can also store it upstairs under the seating or in your milk crate if you use one. i store mine in a 90 quart igloo on the upper deck.

b. it depends on where you store the tackle upstairs. the foward half of the boat is covered up to the wheelhouse. the rear is open.

c.under the bunks is an area to keep your personal items. bed rolls,sleeping bags and pillows can go on your bunk.

d. the dry sacks are not needed unless your worried about your tackle getting wet. the stuff inside the cabin will stay dry.

e. on the upper deck or under your bunk.

gaffs are 10 to 12ft long and stored on the deck in rodholders....rick

Couple of questions for you people that have been on the Big E trips.

A) Where are your tackle boxes stored?
B) If they are kept on the top deck, are they placed in the open?
C) Where do you store personal things? Bedroll, pillow, towel, etc?
D) Do I need to bring Dry Sacks for my stuff?
E) Where are extra drinks stored if not in your cooler?


One more thought. I just finished watching a Japanese jigging video Randy sent me. I didn't understand a word, but I picked up some great tips by watching the way they jig. Fisherman in the US have a lot to learn from the Japanese. They really have the jigging to a science. Maybe I'll take a two hour crash course in Japanese and watch the video again.

One thing that bothers me about the Big E is the gaffing. I'm a head gaffer, and body gaffs offend me. I hate to waste a good eating fish to improper gaffing.

I noticed the Japanese don't use gaffs. They have these big nets to scoop up the fish. That makes for no holes in the skin and a perfect eating fish. The fish on the video were no bigger than about 40 pounds and the boat they were fishing on was not as high off the water as the Big E. I'm wondering if I have a big net fabricated with a long handle would the deckhands even attempt to use it. I don't mind spending a few hundred bucks getting the net made to support up to a 100 pound tuna. Am I wasting my time with this idea?

How long are the gaffs they use on the Big E, and where do they store them?

All food and tackle are on the top deck where ever you can put them. Your bedroll goes on your bunk, there is a small storage area under the bunks for your dittybag. No food in the bunkrooms.

Gaffing (14 feet) on that boat goes from fair to bad. Don't waste your money on a net!

you will lose every 1 out of 2 fish you try to net from that high up. The anglers arent going to be used to relaxing the line before the fish hits the net- and many lines are going to be broken. There will be only one chance to get the fish in the net. I know this from netting smaller fish(bass). On a private boat that is lower to the water I can see this working very productively. But not with so many people so high up. The tuna are so powerful that leading their head in the direction it needs to go with spinning gear will become the root cause of failure. I can see the ability to lead them around with 50-80# class gear, but not 30-40# class. One turn and they are rubbing the mono against the net and POP! They just need to learn how to gaff the fish in the head better and quit taking throws at the body.