Report: Giant Bluefin from NC

John_Madison CT · 01-19-2008, 04:02 PM

Lot's of you have emailed me as the word's out that Frank and I, caught a nice 400lb Giant Bluefin tuna fishing out of Beaufort, NC. Oh yeah, I'm posting this report sitting at the table of a 54' Hatteras at the docks in Beaufort, NC. The boat sleeps 6 comfortably and has all the luxurys of life.
Capt Mike of Bluefin Charters runs the boat and his regular crew is his girlfriend, who has become somewhat of a local legend here. She's become a well seasoned Giant Bluefin fisherwoman and has more Giants under he belt than some old salts due in a lifetime. She can do it all, run the boat, reel in Giants, cook up a smoking breakfast and whatever is necessary to keep this battle wagon running like a well oiled machine. Over on Big Game Fishing Charters, Saltwater Fishing Reports and Fishing Videos she's now become known as "Pitchick" and has become famous in no time. Her greatest feat is keeping Capt. Mike inline. :grin:
One of Capt Mike's crew is a guy known as "Wahoonbox" who is one of the few guys known across the globe as a professional offshore mate. His experience running a cockpit is rivaled by few. Marty (Wahoonbox) runs a forum over at Sportfishermen.com and posts up videos of his offshore trips. They're very entertaining. He put up a post last night which is a compilation of a previous trip and ours yesterday. It's a tad long but worth it to watch.

PITCHICK'S PREMIERE BFT VIDEO ! - Sport Fishing Forum

The fish we caught was ~400lbs. and 85" long. It was fat as can be. From hook up to harpoon it took 34 minutes at over 50lbs of drag pressure. Landing a fish of this size requires a crew working like a well tuned orchestra. With Capt Mike's incredible boat handling skills and Wahoonbox barking orders in the cockpit, we did it without incident.

From left to right, Pitchick (aka "T"), Georgie, Fish'n Tech(aka Frank) and the man who deserves the most credit for this fish, Capt.Mike of Bluefin Charters.

I can barely smile in this pic as my right arm hurt so much from cranking the fish on the Shimano 130 Tiagra reel.

The fish was already bleed, gutted and put to bed on ice for the ride back to the Fish house. The fish ends up on a plane to Japan and is sold at auction within a day or two of capture.

The boat in the middle was home for our 3 day visit. It's a 54' Hatteras.

One last pic. The fish was hit with a harpoon by Wahoonbox and simultaneously gaffed by Georgie and Frank (aka Fish'n Tech).

So that's it folks. I hope you enjoyed the post. Capt Mike and Pitchick will continue to fish until the end of January which is when the NMFS closes it for the season. I doubt I can make it down there again for Giants, but the Yellowfin start their migratory swim in March and they really nail them hard at that time. With some luck I can catch a ride and repeat our success.

Possum · 01-19-2008, 04:17 PM

Very nice John. That is one nice BlueFin Tuna. Those guys down there know how to do it right for the Giant Bluefin Tuna. Glad you got a good'un, and thanks for sharing it with us on NBS.

That Wahoonbox is a great guy. I've heard so much about him, and his skill on the water.

Congrats to all.

Reel Draggin' Tackle · 01-19-2008, 05:43 PM

Awesome. Nice fish. I wonder how much she will bring at the auction. There are a few names on the lower east coast that keep coming up as being at the top of the list of "professional" Mates. Marty is one of them. Jeff Kirby is another. Having guys like that in the pit is an experence in itself!

Bob & Mag · 01-19-2008, 06:04 PM

Nice fish John/Frank Mike and crew!
Great pictures too!

old mud · 01-19-2008, 07:24 PM

Congrats. john, you sure went with the right Crew. I liked when "T" was yelling HIT IT !!! HIT IT !!. You'll see no Cluster #### on that boat.

Don

Bryan A. · 01-19-2008, 08:11 PM

Nice trip there John.....now its time to take a giant on the Parker.

Andy · 01-20-2008, 08:25 AM

Congrats John

Great report and pictures thats one nice fish!!!!!!!!

John_Madison CT · 01-20-2008, 09:12 AM

Bryan: There were a fair # of small boats fishing while we were out. If I had the $$$ and the time I'd bring her down. I would need to mount a ginpole though as you have to get the fish into the boat.

ChuckA · 01-20-2008, 10:49 AM

Great post & pics John.Thats one big can of Bumble Bee

fightingcouch · 01-21-2008, 10:28 PM

Nice going John congrats on the giant good to here some CT boys are representing down in NC.

Blake Conlin
tightlinzzzzzzzzz

01-19-2008, 04:02 PM	#1
John_Madison CT NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 67	Report: Giant Bluefin from NC Lot's of you have emailed me as the word's out that Frank and I, caught a nice 400lb Giant Bluefin tuna fishing out of Beaufort, NC. Oh yeah, I'm posting this report sitting at the table of a 54' Hatteras at the docks in Beaufort, NC. The boat sleeps 6 comfortably and has all the luxurys of life. Capt Mike of Bluefin Charters runs the boat and his regular crew is his girlfriend, who has become somewhat of a local legend here. She's become a well seasoned Giant Bluefin fisherwoman and has more Giants under he belt than some old salts due in a lifetime. She can do it all, run the boat, reel in Giants, cook up a smoking breakfast and whatever is necessary to keep this battle wagon running like a well oiled machine. Over on Big Game Fishing Charters, Saltwater Fishing Reports and Fishing Videos she's now become known as "Pitchick" and has become famous in no time. Her greatest feat is keeping Capt. Mike inline. :grin: One of Capt Mike's crew is a guy known as "Wahoonbox" who is one of the few guys known across the globe as a professional offshore mate. His experience running a cockpit is rivaled by few. Marty (Wahoonbox) runs a forum over at Sportfishermen.com and posts up videos of his offshore trips. They're very entertaining. He put up a post last night which is a compilation of a previous trip and ours yesterday. It's a tad long but worth it to watch. PITCHICK'S PREMIERE BFT VIDEO ! - Sport Fishing Forum The fish we caught was ~400lbs. and 85" long. It was fat as can be. From hook up to harpoon it took 34 minutes at over 50lbs of drag pressure. Landing a fish of this size requires a crew working like a well tuned orchestra. With Capt Mike's incredible boat handling skills and Wahoonbox barking orders in the cockpit, we did it without incident. From left to right, Pitchick (aka "T"), Georgie, Fish'n Tech(aka Frank) and the man who deserves the most credit for this fish, Capt.Mike of Bluefin Charters. I can barely smile in this pic as my right arm hurt so much from cranking the fish on the Shimano 130 Tiagra reel. The fish was already bleed, gutted and put to bed on ice for the ride back to the Fish house. The fish ends up on a plane to Japan and is sold at auction within a day or two of capture. The boat in the middle was home for our 3 day visit. It's a 54' Hatteras. One last pic. The fish was hit with a harpoon by Wahoonbox and simultaneously gaffed by Georgie and Frank (aka Fish'n Tech). So that's it folks. I hope you enjoyed the post. Capt Mike and Pitchick will continue to fish until the end of January which is when the NMFS closes it for the season. I doubt I can make it down there again for Giants, but the Yellowfin start their migratory swim in March and they really nail them hard at that time. With some luck I can catch a ride and repeat our success. Last edited by John_Madison CT; 01-19-2008 at 04:05 PM. Reason: Changed Text

01-19-2008, 04:17 PM	#2
Possum User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CT / Summer in RI Posts: 2,699	Very nice John. That is one nice BlueFin Tuna. Those guys down there know how to do it right for the Giant Bluefin Tuna. Glad you got a good'un, and thanks for sharing it with us on NBS. That Wahoonbox is a great guy. I've heard so much about him, and his skill on the water. Congrats to all. __________________ ________________________ NBS Sportfishing Affiliates

01-19-2008, 05:43 PM	#3
Reel Draggin' Tackle User Gallery Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 423	Awesome. Nice fish. I wonder how much she will bring at the auction. There are a few names on the lower east coast that keep coming up as being at the top of the list of "professional" Mates. Marty is one of them. Jeff Kirby is another. Having guys like that in the pit is an experence in itself! __________________ Don't miss out on our VIP Specials, click to join We'll have some exclusive VIP specials starting real soon!

01-19-2008, 06:04 PM	#4
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,654	Nice fish John/Frank Mike and crew! Great pictures too! __________________ Smoke free 15 Weeks!

01-19-2008, 07:24 PM	#5
old mud NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brighams Cove Maine Posts: 867	Congrats. john, you sure went with the right Crew. I liked when "T" was yelling HIT IT !!! HIT IT !!. You'll see no Cluster #### on that boat. Don __________________ "I was so poor growing up that if I wasn't a BOY I'd have had nothing to play with" Piker Ancient Mariner

01-19-2008, 08:11 PM	#6
Bryan A. NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westbrook CT Posts: 1,269	Nice trip there John.....now its time to take a giant on the Parker. __________________ And the sea will grant each man new hope..............Christopher Columbus 2003 Parker 2530 "DORYMATE".......click the pic 1973 Seacraft 20SF 1970 Glastron V153 70hp EvinrudeFOR SALE

01-20-2008, 08:25 AM	#7
Andy User Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 857	Congrats John Great report and pictures thats one nice fish!!!!!!!! __________________ http://cthuntingnshooting.com/

01-20-2008, 09:12 AM	#8
John_Madison CT NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 67	Bryan: There were a fair # of small boats fishing while we were out. If I had the $$$ and the time I'd bring her down. I would need to mount a ginpole though as you have to get the fish into the boat.

01-20-2008, 10:49 AM	#9
ChuckA User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Madison Ct Posts: 2,150	Great post & pics John.Thats one big can of Bumble Bee

01-21-2008, 10:28 PM	#10
fightingcouch NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Branford,CT Posts: 407	Nice going John congrats on the giant good to here some CT boys are representing down in NC. Blake Conlin tightlinzzzzzzzzz __________________ Blake Conlin tight linzzzzzzzzzzzz F-troop Ch.68/19 http://www.lennysnow.com/history.htm

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