Hi: I'm new here. Sounds like a good prize you're offering. I'm not going to win it, 'cause I sure ain't driving up to RI from VA to go fishing.
I finally bought my first boat ever (if you don't count the 22' sailboat) late this year, a SeaPro 238WA. I've broken that bad boy in by striper fishing all in the lower Chesapeake and rivers. This coming year I'm going to venture out further for some tuna, wahoo and whatever else. There's a few spots here in Virginia that are about half way out to the Norfolk Canyon (Cigar, Fingers, HotDog) where there are yellowfin.
What's my big fishing experience? I've caught a few 20 lb kings as a kid, caught some big-ass king salmon in Alaska, and have been spearfishing off of some shipwrecks about few dozen times (I LOVE spadefish). In the past few years I've been going out on charters from Hatteras and Oregon Inlet. I've done this about a dozen times and we have ALWAYS been lucky. All kinds of tuna, some wahoo, mahi mahi, etc.
My first time deepsea fishing was off Hatteras. I was with a group of 5 guys. Two of them (and later a third) got sick and rolled around in the cabin puking, while the rest of us fished. We caught EIGHTEEN giant bluefin in one morning. At one point, me and the one other non-seasick guy were so tired of reeling we put the mate in the chair and let him catch one or two. They even let me gaff a few yellowfin. It was great. We came back by something like 2pm with one giant bluefin, one blackfin, and more than a dozen yellowfin.
This year, I plan to go out in my own boat with my brother and dad (they fish alot, but never for tuna) and catch at least one or two. I am here on your website mainly for tips/pointers on how to suceed at this. I'm planning my trips in my own mind down to the smallest details, so my bro and dad don't have to think about anything but fishing. Technically, I've got most things figured out. My biggest concern now is WHEN and exactly WHERE to go to catch the fish. I guess there is no definite answer for these questions. I'm wondering if some of the fishing forecasting websites (like Roffer's) are worth subscribing to.
My boat is nearly fully equipped (I still need outriggers) and I'm pumped up. Any advice for a newbie tunafisherman would be greatly appreciated, especially some "crystal ball" advice on when and exactly where to go (eg, coordinates at the Cigar, hot dog, and Fingers locations).
