01/20/11 Port Everglades Tuna

[ProfessorO]

For Feb 20, 2011, typo in header.
In 500-700' water, birds and tuna everywhere, S and N of Port Everglades this morning. I was out with Capt Doyle on the Reel Life trying out his new outriggers fishing a spread of 6 lines and a dredge. The cedar plug on a set of birds and a small purple bullet lure behind it were on fire. We had two doubleheaders of skipjacks, a few single blackfins and skipjacks, had a couple skipjack bounce off of the transom and back in the water, "releases", and then 5 blackfin on at once. We landed 4 of them and the fifth "blackfin" almost spools us. Of course this is the only tld-15 in the spread. 30 minutes later and some tag team fishing, we finally see it, 8+ ft mako. We couldn't get it close enough to boat to put a tag in it. We didn't have enough ice for more fish so we came back in. Largest fish were 10-12 lbs.

Get out there if you can, find the diving birds, troll fast, 9-10+ with the current and 7-8 against. Use small shiny metal lures, cedar plugs, a set or 2 of bird teasers, and your favorite dredge. Best tuna fishing I've seen here in years. cheers, O