Billt
04-07-2003, 01:07 PM
I decided I needed some solitude and went out alone. Took 2 lbs of squid and a dozen ballyhoo. Went out of Longboat Pass (Gulf of Mexico near Tampa). Stopped and got a good mixture of live bait in 50’. Went out to 2 spots in 79 and 85’ that usually produce Red grouper and nothing. Bottom fishing has been terrible for me since last fall. Oh well, you are alone and there is no pressure to fill the cooler. Put a big plug on the downrigger and put it down 70’ and ran it 100 yards back from the ball, put out a medium hoo on a green and yellow Islander on the 5th wave, and a small blue and white Islander way back – headed SW. In 105’ I saw some birds, went to check it out (was thinking probably Bonita). Trolled around the edge of the school – nothing hit – saw the birds behind me and BAM the downrigger line pops, the reel is screaming and I had the drag set tight because I was trolling at 7 knots. I leave the throttle alone hoping for another and BAM the yellow and green Islander hits, the 113 is loosing line fast and I am down to 100 yards on the first rod. I bring the throttle back to 600 RPM and crank in the downrigger ball and put on the belt. Now I wish I had a crew. The downrigger rod is pumping, and loosing a little line but I think he is tired. I work it for 10 minutes thinking this is a big Bonita, but it is shaking different. I got him close to the boat and I saw it was a nice fat blackfin tuna. I would get him near the boat, put the rod in the holder to get the gaff and he would peel off more line. The third time I had the leader in one hand and the gaff in the other and he rolled and pulled the hook. I watched him slowly swim away. HEY there is another one on the other rod. I landed that one! I gaffed him and the hook fell out when he hit the deck. Had grilled tuna for dinner. Tried bottom fishing in 120’ and could not get away from the sharks. Got some Bonita on the way home in 110’.