Westport Washington Albacore!

[Tower Todd]

Report From September 11th, 2006

September 11th 2006 - That won't be a easy day to forget, not that I want to. The attacks on the U.S. were on my mind all day and the events and sacrifices that happened that day and after with our troops. Thank you to all who have sacrificed so that we may be free. Free to do what we want, when we want like fish! Thank You!

I fished in the Edmonds, WA Coho Salmon Derby Sat. and had nothing but shakers (12 to be exact). Slow fishing for sure, but at least a 13 year old boy won with his first salmon ever. Sunday, tired from the day before I moseyed to my computer to check movie times for my wife and happened to check the ocean forecast! Good thing I did as it was calling for 6' at 13 seconds with light winds. Let my wife know that a movie wasn't sounding good and she said that I had better start looking for a crew! What a great wife! Called a few of my regulars who for one reason or another couldn't go. Called Dwayne who was on his way to my house drop off some stuff and he said there was no way his wife would let him. A few minutes later he called saying that he could go if his boys could come along! So we loaded up and headed out, myself, Dwayne, Brandon 13, and Blake 10.

Launched the boat, pulled in a visitor slip, set up the outriggers and stowed all of the gear, put the boys to sleep in the berth and Dwayne & I crashed on air mattresses in the pit under the stars. It was 11 P.M. when we went lights out. There was not a breath of wind or sign of fog all night. I couldn't sleep very well at all and finally at 3:00 A.M. I had enough and I woke up Dwayne and we warmed up the boat and slow motored out and over the bar with the boys sleeping down below. The bar was flat and once clear of the bar and out several miles we went about 12 knots. There was a 85% moon and we just chugged slowly until first light. Then we were able to go about 22 knots toward our waypoint. A few miles from our fishing grounds, the water became really lumpy and resembled a motor cross track for a bit. Now, you must remember that Dwayne is not a tuna virgin - no he was experienced. He had caught his first tuna just the week before on Labor Day Weekend with me. His boys were new also. We put out 4 lines and in minutes have a triple, and then double then on and on it went. Things slowed down for an hour and a 1/2 around 10a.m. then we started seeing these little tuna birds. We would troll toward them and either hookup instantly or if they took off flying, we would just follow them and within a few hundred yards would hook up. Dwayne caught 12 I think, Brandon age 13 caught 8, Blake age 10 caught 4 and Capt. Todd caught 3. I also took all of the pictures and drove. Blake caught 2 then crashed out on the bunk for a few hours while his brother Brandon slayed em'. Brandon also gaffed his first fish - a perfect shot (see picture). Then Blake woke up and Brandon crashed. Blake went on to catch the hog of the day all by himself. He had to leave the rod in the holder and just crank when he could. We had 4 Quad hookups but never once landed all four. We had two fish break off and multiple triple and double strikes. We thought about leaving later after getting live bait. I think it would have been off the wall with bait. As it was the last numbers were pretty wide open. Put in the lines 2-3 fish landed, put out the lines and bam 2-3 more. We wanted to stay, but it was almost 2PM so we headed for the barn.

Ended the day with 27 total. It was 58 NM from the bar, water temp was 61 - 61.5 most of the time.
Started 46.57.954N / 125.34.140W
Ended 47.00.620N / 125.28.860W

Since I don't know how to upload pictures, here is a link to some:
http://www.machinerytrader.com/listi...B&OHID=5603140

The run in was like floating on a cloud, 24-25 knots. Loaded the boat and headed for home. Had a trailer tire blow out just West of Aberdeen after running over some debris. Thanks to the fellow boater who stopped to check on us _ never did get your name. Made it home at 11:00 p.m. and crashed.

The two boys have the biggest ear to ear grins I think I've ever seen! I guess you could say we have a permagin!

Tower Todd Out!