FSFA members Jasin Youmans, Dean Pashos, Mark Galloway and Chris Pashos set up this Venice tuna trip 8 months ago with Voodoo fishing charters. The weather is always a concern but it appeared that it was going to cooperate with us. Met Captain Chad at the marina at 6:00 AM and we boarded the Yellowfin 39′ with triple 300’s and we quickly headed out.
Stopped about 10 miles offshore and tried to catch some pogies but there were a ton of 20 pound jacks on them. The mate threw the net and he ended up catching 5 or 6 big jacks. Scrapped the plan and headed out to the tuna grounds. Arrived at 7:30 along with about 40 other boats fishing for the big boys. We trolled the area for an hour or so using naked ballyhoo and deep diving plugs with no hits or action. No other boats were on any fish and most were chunking baits. Captain decided to try and catch some kings for bait so he hooked up some baits and a jig. We got some fish and began to chunk through the schools of tuna which appeared to be suspended around 250′. We hooked and landed some amberjack and sharks.
After another hour or so with no hits, I asked the captain if I could set up one of my deep jigs with tuna assist hooks tied by Chris for this trip. Began to jig and we hooked up a few other species, kings, sharks and at 9:30 we got the right one on the jig. We took turns on the rod loaded with 50 lb test and on a Talica 25 on a straight butt fighting this fish, no harness just a rod cushion. We had him on the surfuce and could see the topshot at least 5 times before he took off again. Finally at 11:30 AM we were able to get the fish close enough to gaff and get it on board.
Lots of hight fives, smiles and pictures with the 190 pound Yellowfin tuna. Beast.
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