Tuna Time
It seems like Mother Nature has had a vendetta against the Mid-Atlantic Tuna Tournament for the past two years. The weather was not as bad as first forecasted, but the wind was still blowing enough to remind our crew how well the Billfish handles heavy seas. We fished our first day on Friday, and we started by working the edge along the Baltimore in search of a yellowfin. The forecast kept most of the boats inshore looking for bluefins, but with the yellowfin category wide open we decided to take the longer ride. The water was greenish, but we were marking a lot of bait in the area. The notch was creating rips throughout with an easterly current. A commercial squid boat was working the area and things looked promising – Not a BITE. We had our first pull late in the day just inside the 100 line, unfortunately the hooked pulled during the battle. With the first day of the two day tournament under our belts, we were back at it the second day and so was Mother Nature. This time she threw in a little North East wind to make it interesting. Our crew had bluefin on the mind and bluefin we found. I would like to make an honorable mention to one of the crew members, a nice young man Wesley Adkins. Wes fought a big bluefin estimated at 200 lbs. for 50 minutes only to lose it boat side due to a broken 50 lb. class rod. The heart break was felt by the entire crew, as the big tuna was in her final circle inches away from being gaffed. As there is no time during a tournament to sulk about the past; the baits were back in the water and in no time we had our second tuna. The 37 Billfish and her crew finalized the second day by weighing in two bluefin tuna at 128 lbs and 98 lbs. Although the tuna didn’t win any prizes and the weather was so-so, the 37 Billfish did her job by raising fish and handling the seas without trouble. A reminder for this weekend, the 37 Billfish will be in Beach Haven for the white marlin tournament. If you’re in the area and would like to see what everyone is talking about, you’re invited to come see us at the Beach Haven Yacht Club.
Thanks
- Capt. Scott Krawiec
Scott, what time are you coming into Beach Haven on Wednesday? I might be surf fishing tomorrow and would like to stop by to visit. Thanks.
Comment by nhand — July 24, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
nhand, Please stop by and visit. The boat is located at the Beach Haven Yacht Club slip 28. We will be fishing Friday and Saturday. The boat will be available to review in the evenings. We will be departing Sunday for the Ocean City Overnight Tournament. Hope to see you!
Thanks.
Comment by skrawiec — July 26, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Well, I stopped by the Beach Haven Yacht Club around 5pm or so and saw the boat. Beautiful lines, great layout, cool night lights… nice touch. Will the boat be at the AC boat show in the fall? I won’t be able to get down to LBI again this weekend as I’m going on an overnighter fishing trip with some friends. I wish you guys good luck in the tournament. Hope you can best the Ocean 58’s sweet bluefin.
Comment by nhand — July 27, 2007 @ 12:12 am
nhand,
Thanks for coming to see the 37 in Beach Haven, we’re glad you like it. We are planning on having the boat in the AC show. Scott and the guys are out there right now trying to find a nice bluefin to give the 58 a run for their money.
Comment by John Leek IV — July 27, 2007 @ 7:09 am
So, is the 37 not fishing the MA tourney? Just wondering how its holding up to tourney schedules. Gotta be tough on a hull #1.
Comment by tabasco — August 23, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
The 37 has been holding up great in the tournaments that it has fished. We’ve contended with some rough weather and the boat performs awesome. We didn’t fish the Mid-Atlantic, basically because we still had so many people to show the boat to.
Comment by John Leek IV — August 27, 2007 @ 7:36 am