Fletcher Fishing

posted by John on Aug 24

No fish pics, but boy what a fun thing it is fighting 100+ lb bluefin tuna in view of Provincetown on light tackle. I fished with a local captain, Jeff Smith, who knew where the fish were and what they would bite. He got me two hook ups today when they were few and far between. 200 boats dotted the area, most being west of our position. The first fish I hooked up on was 10 minutes after we arrived on the SW corner of the ‘Bank’. Two humpbacks simultaneously breached for a backdrop as we were casting, not a whale watcher in sight. Minke whales breaking around us.

I hooked up, the fish ran, and I was off to an hour and twenty minute heartbreak. The fish was large and strong, and I had worked it almost to the boat. Jeff estimated 65″ and about 125lb. I got to look at the most beautiful fish less than 10 feet from me and a sushi dinner. The fish had one last gasp and severed the 60lb leader right at the boat. A flash of silver and …gone!

This is what I learned today. Big tuna are fierce fighters. Palm the bale, dig, palm the bale, dig, palm the bale, dig. Let them run. You have to learn the hairy edge between success and equipment failure. Today was not my day, but maybe tomorrow..

The second hook up Jeff got and handed off to the man with the sore arm. This fish we never saw, it did not run, it felt like an anvil, it made for the bottom and stayed under the boat, I had to go around and around the boat. Then, after 15 minutes, the hook pulled and up came my fully intact lure.

We marked a lot of fish the rest of the time with no success. We caught a bunch of dogfish. On the way back we found a school of tuna on the surface. Our attempt to cast on them was not productive. We saw one more giant tuna on the surface before heading home.

All in all a good day. It is always nice hooking up when very few boats are doing so.