If you guys want to get together and book a trip on TheBlitz I'm in.

A BLITZ ride would be OK with me.

I also would be interested in taking a boat down and tagging with the Salty Dogs. I have a 2003 Suburban that can pull a decent sized boat and will seat 8 people. I also have a boat , but I was hoping to take someone else's if I provided the pull!!!

I did a mid July trip out of Westport about 6 years ago. It was a blast. We caught 190 for 9 anglers in one day. We were supposed to stay on the boat another night but we used almost all of the bait and the hold was also close to full.
Great trip.

According to the stuff I have read, one of the methods used to catch these "torpedoes" is trolling with a handline. The rigging is detailed right down to the knots to tie at ifish. Somehow, it is hard for me to imagine what or how you can "play" a fish on a handline. That handline BTW is 200# nylon and they add a rubber "bungy" as a shock adjuster. It must work as the charters and commercials have been doing this for a long time. Anybody here who has fished this way ? I would be most interested in hearing your account of fishing with a handline.

The tuna charter I went out on last summer trolled using 4 handlines and 2 rods set on outriggers. 14 guys took turns. The reason for the handlines was that it took too long to bring the fish in with the rod and reel. We never had more than 1 fish on at a time so needless to say 13 guys stood around while the guy who's turn it was fought the fish. NOT MY IDEA OF A FUN TUNA TRIP! Next trip I will make sure I get on a boat that baits the tuna to keep them around the boat and lets their clients fish with live bait. For most of the guys it was their first time fishing for tuna and they were amazed at the power of these fish. Those that got to fight tuna on both a rod and reel and with the hand lines prefered the handlines because it took less time to get the fish in and hence they didnt get as tired.

Speaking of Tuna, while putting bags of halibut in the frezzer I found 5-6 more bags of Tuna, I tought I was almost out already. I would like to can some, does anybody have any tips, Thanks.

NEN