Any news of Giant Bluefin Tuna ?

[Intrepid 24]

Can anyone recommend a fishing method? I used to come down 5 years back, and we used bunker. Do they still work?

[bhorsley]

i believe what are being caught are all trolling bites

Good catches yesterday out of Oregon Inlet not the giants but nice fish in the 80 to 160 pound class

[jerkjigger]

look at the orgeon inlet report. i think it said they cought some bottom fishing

[TheSpaniard]

I have never fished for them down south but I did recently read an article where it showed they basically use the same setup as up here. You want to use big planer boards to get you bait down deep. As far as bait goes horse ballyhoo with a blue/white islander will get the job done. If you have downriggers I hear they work a lot better than planers. I am planning to add some downriggers to our boat for the upcoming season and get rid of the planers. I have also heard stories from guys who said back in the day when the bluefins were a lot thicker you could just drop down whole bunker and slay them all day long. Recently i hear trolling will allow you to find the fish since they are not everywhere anymore........

OI fishing report had a decent fish in a pic from just the other day. Your best bet would be to give the people at OI fishing center a call to see if it would be worthwhile to give it a go.

John

[bhorsley]

i talked to the capt. of the Sea Note out of OIFC and he told me he pretty much stayed hooked up all day. Most of the BFT were from 60 to 100 pounds. Capt. Aaron Wright on the Outrigger had a 167 BFT.

If you are looking for giants try Morehead City and Capt. Pete Zook on the Energizer or Capt. Thomas Wood on the Dancing Outlaw

[biggestsquid]

I realize that tuna schools are constantly moving but if you are after NC fish I suggest that you check out the fleet that leaves from Hatteras Inlet. It is not unusual for Oregon Inlet boats to run much further to the fishing grounds than those out of Hatteras Inlet. It takes an extra 45 minutes or so to get there by hwy. 12 from the north, but that 45 min can save you a few hours of fishing time.
I may have wrestled with my last tuna and enjoy surf fishing much more in recent years --- but I have some friends who tell me that the stand-up bluefin tuna chunkin' is a real blast. Check out Teachs Lair website. They have some great fishermen down there ---- I can personally attest to Jim Bowman, Capt. of the Marlin Mania. He will keep you on fish until you beg for mercy.
I'm sure there are plenty more good skippers at Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet ---- it is good to check them out and ask them what the run time vs. fishing time may be --- this time of year there can be more pleasant things than a prolonged boat ride through the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

Cheers,
Biggestsquid

"You fish --- then you die --- or you don't fish and die anyway--- your choice".

[bhorsley]

talked to some of my buddies in Morehead tonight and they have been catching a few fish over 73 inches. MOst fish are 12 to 15 miles form the inlet

[EricF]

Shane Brafford, Second to None Charters on the FIGHTING LADY on the Morehead City waterfront always does pretty well. Heard he had two on, I think yesterday, boated one and the other pulled off. He's a good one to work a trip with as well as the others mentioned.

If I was home in MHC, I'd take you myself, but here in FL, the sailfish are chewing!