Maine "Football" Bluefin Tuna report...we're on the board

Closing the distance on Blitzed up Bluefin tuna...getting ready to make the cast!!!

Our trip that was scheduled for this morning bailed out at the last moment...Boy did they make a big mistake!!! My back up crew of Joe & Chris were waiting at the dock for me this morning. We splashed the boat and after quickly filling the livewell with a couple dozen tinker macks(aka "Tuna Crack"), We made our way offshore. After a wide open run on FAC seas we came to a spot that normally holds tuna all season long...we slowed to an idle and we were instantly surrounded by rolling whales & dive bombing Gannets...my heart starts to beat a little faster...enormous balls of nervous baitfish stretch all across the surface...my pulse quickens further...then it happens...the water not 100 feet in front of the boat explodes as dozens of ravenous 150-200+ pound tuna blast through the surface, ripping huge holes in the glassy ocean surface. The three of us freeze like deer caught in the headlights...I take a few deep breaths then try to assess which direction the tuna are headed...straight for us...perfect...We grab a couple of heavy spinning rods, one armed with a small metal jig the other rigged with a Heru Skipjack 60 popper. Both casts are right on the money...the metal goes untouched while the popper is demolished with a brutal slash from the tuna...it's fins creating a high spraying arc of water as it closes in for the kill on the noisy popper. Several minutes later with a nearly empty spool, we begin to gain line & with heavy pressure and a pumping retrieve the Tuna comes to boatside for a release. We had several more hook-ups casting to Tuna Blow-ups before the tuna went down....stay tuned for more info!!!


Also a drop with butterfly jigging gear on one of the offshore ledges quickly resulted in bent rods...The Cod bite turned into a bailfest after the Tuna bite shut down. No big cod but plenty of action.

Will report more Tuna findings tommorow...weather permitting

Capt. George Harris
www.superfly-charters.com
207-691-0745

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