TomBettle Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Hoping to get out if weather allows on Tuesday to genuinely target these mythical Bluefin Tuna that just may be hurtling around after the large mackerel shoals all along the South Coast. These are smaller school fish so whilst tackle needs to be strong it also needs to be forgiving and we will be starting off lure fishing so the rods need soft tips. I genuinely don't expect to catch anything, but it is going to be a lot of fun giving it a go. I am off out on a friends Raider 18 from Weymouth and I've been getting some amazing advice from the most famous man in Bluefin Tuna fishing this side of the Atlantic, Mr Adrian Molloy who used to run "Tuna Charters" out of Donegal and now holds the Irish record fish of 968lb. In addition to that I am very lucky to have another living legend as a good mate, Mr Roddy Hays. Roddy was the chap that put Tuna and Marlin fishing on the map in Madeira back in the early 90s and if you go back through grainy old John Wilson programmes you'll also see him in the Alderney features where he used to be a charter skipper. Roddy now runs a company in florida called "Legend Lures" and he's kindly packed up a sample of magical sounded "whizzers" to run behind the boat. Pixies, Nemesis, Roller Trollers... things you have to imagine in your mind. Finally a company I hope you will all be hearing more about soon, FishXL run by former pure fishing marketing man, Trevor Gunning will be loaning some specialist rods and reels. Got may own gear too including a number of Rapala Magnum CD22s, makeshift downriggers made from heavy rods, outriggers complete with teasers running from them made from beachcasters complete with reels attached... All sounds fab, but the chances of catching are genuinely tiny, however the more prepared we are and the more advice we absorb the better the chance. I'll let you know how we get on, but if the amazing happens and we do get a few we'll probably keep one each for sheer gobsmackingly amazing reasons and then return everything else as they are an incredible fish that is very much endangered in the north east atlantic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Tom best of luck,youll need it with John Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Good Luck Tom, It should be fun trying and a good excuse to get the tackle out PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Good luck mate I hope that it goes well and you get a PB. For those that have not followed this on the WSF site that is an impressive fish and probably is the reason why Tom a self proclaimed light line fan is using "Proper big game kit" I hope that you have loads of fun Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 (edited) Best of luck Tom! Will also try for them trolling plugs, modified muppets, and whole mackerel over the coming days. Unlike Tom, I do not expect to be in a position to boat too many, but if I touch the leader and get a piccie, I'm hoping Coddy will let me have it for the Species Comp Mike Edited July 22, 2011 by Mike Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DommyBoy Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Like the enthusiasm and the quote: "but if the amazing happens and we do get a few we'll probably keep one each".......hoping to bag more than one......that is confidence mate lol. Good luck and hope you can bag one and put the doubters minds at ease!!!!! Tight "screaming" lines mate. Dom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 After going to all that trouble whats the betting someone gets one on a set of feathers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shytalk Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 not sure which end of the line the "modified muppets" are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 not sure which end of the line the "modified muppets" are Genius! Nice one Pete! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Like many club members I'll be watching this thread like a hawk. Best of luck Tom. Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay kay Posted July 22, 2011 Report Share Posted July 22, 2011 Fair play Tom, all the best.Looking forward to the Pic's!! Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 All this talk of tuna has at least motivated you to actually organise a trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 not sure which end of the line the "modified muppets" are A true Peter classic Few words and straight to the point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverdave Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Whoops !! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-14262608 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I see DWT only URGE anglers to return any fish they catch and they make no mention of spear fishers and commercial fishing boats not targetting them. I'm not aware that there is anything in law to stop such a fish being killed to eat by rod and line anglers in UK waters. There was a ban last year for large commercial vessels in the Med and eastern Atlantic. I can't see how rod and line anglers could have any impact at all on stocks and I think that this is a misplaced over reaction by DWT. Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 My guess is that local Weymouth anglers wont be best pleased by the over reaction and frenzy of anglers this weekend caused by the news. I bet theres a "goldrush" mentality down there at the moment PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I would have liked to have seen the Snobee prize of rod & reel for the first one caught to be catch and release only!!! Maybe they need to be sent an email or two!?!?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 I would have liked to have seen the Snobee prize of rod & reel for the first one caught to be catch and release only!!! Maybe they need to be sent an email or two!?!?!? If I am incredibly lucky and do snag one then my first will most definitely be coming home. Not as a trophy, hut it will be bled and dressed by the time we dock, however if I caught more than one then the remainder would ne released. On the subject of frenzied... I drove Phil's dive boat on Saturday and there were an unusually large number of spear fishers launching from Kimmeridge, hut in Weymouth today not a hint of tuna mania. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Yes there was no tuna frenzy off weymouth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Yes there was no tuna frenzy off weymouth Unconfirmed One of the local Weymouth marine engineers took a Bluefin yesterday on conventional tackle and a mackerel flapper on the east side of the Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMBOB Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Good luck Tom James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Yes there was no tuna frenzy off weymouth Unconfirmed One of the local Weymouth marine engineers took a Bluefin yesterday on conventional tackle and a mackerel flapper on the east side of the Bill. Confirmed. Tom is easy to wind up ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Hope you have more luck than when you targeted those british tarpon tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted July 26, 2011 Report Share Posted July 26, 2011 Come on them Tom! Did you get one? Any hook ups? Any takes?? We are all waiting in suspense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 27, 2011 Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 http://www.boat-fishing-monthly.co.uk/chan...10&cate=__10987 It's all hype designed to sell tackle, mags and boat trips. Funny how a Keyhaven skipper claims that Tuna were seen off the IOW, not trying to pull crowds off Weymouth boats then? PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.