Westport Tuna

Anybody been out this year for Tuna? I am going out the first week of August but was just wondering.

Nothing to report but I hope you put a hurtin' on 'em!

Good luck!

Keeping my powder dry til at least second week of August.
Sounds like a long drive SW out of WP, and inconsistent so far from what I've heard,

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Educate me because I've never done it.
Seems the regs allow a lot of fish per guy. How many? When you catch all those fish, do you trade then in for canned or what? Does the cannery take half in exchange for pay?

A friend who runs a charter got fish on his first Tuna trip of the year last week.
SF

I am not to worried about distance as I am going out on Coleman's 42 http://www.washingtontunacharters.com/boat.html and it can move along. July can all over the board I am told that is why I am doing August 9th and again in September. Good to hear your friend found them! Most folks can their own and the boat charges so much a fish to clean. Home canned Tuna is the best! I have mostly fished Yellowfin but I thought going after Albacore would be fun and frankly about the only good fishing left around here.

You eat it as fast as you can, freeze some of it (it's really oily so it doesn't freeze all that great for more than a few months), and the you can the rest yourself.

Fish on...

Todd

Haven't had a problem in 10 years of vacuum sealing tuna, freezes great for up to a year if handled properly.

A year is my max on it, as well...I wrap it in butcher paper, then vacuum seal it. It does well enough, but it's never as good as fresh!

I have some of last fall's yellowfin and yellowtail in my freezer still, and while I greatly preferred the yellowtail when fresh and frozen, too, early on, it has degraded enough that I prefer the frozen yellowfin.

That's all relative, because it's all good, and and it's all better than anything you buy from a store unless it's fresh, too!

Fish on...

Todd

I agree, it seems that our carefully frozen fish is better then most of the "fresh"fish we see at stores, but nothing is as good as fresh from the water.

While I have never fished for them up here (Baja once for Yellowtail) I have eaten them. I really don't like the fresh ones but once it is smoked it moves to the head of my line anyway.

Sushi style for me thank you!!

A buddy got a bunch last season and I canned it for the first time. Lightly smoked it first and it is really, really good stuff.

Last I checked there is no limit on albacore. Oregon enacted a 25 fish limit some years ago which is for most recreational fishers the same as no limit given the size of boats and ability to handle the fish properly both aboard and ashore.

Well this is my report on my one day tuna outing. Fishing on a Mark Coleman's 42 is better. Ran out at 21 -22 mph and it was a bit rough, back bit better and did 27 plus most of the way and fished at about 44 miles out.

Now the fish the first two stops got 5 & 6 respectively but were all around 20 lbs. Next came two nines and they all went above 12 lbs. Had a couple in between and boat got 38 fish for six fishermen.

So things I figured out. I really am 72 yrs old. Take my pain meds before going not after. Albacore fishing is a bit different and you sorta have to retrain your brain, quickly. That as a skipper Mark is no bubbling ray of sunshine but rather is an all business skipper in an all out effort to get the boat on fish for his customers. Finally Mark was kind enough to put up with my grumpy ole ass and I am already looking forward to a repeat run with in September.

Oh I really had a god day fishing, supplied some friends with tuna and canned 45 pints.

Rivrguy was nice enough to share 4 loins with me.......ate fresh for dinner, excellent food faire.

We canned the rest, next day. I used 1/2 pint jars, Rivrguy used pint jars. What do most of you use when canning either tuna or salmon?????

Kinda wish I would have done a "smoke" on part of it, oh well maybe next time.

Been chowing on the Bluefin I caught ten days ago...as much as I have enjoyed my stash of albacore and yellowfin, the texture and taste both on that Bluefin are top shelf in comparison.

Fish on...

Todd

Quit holding out on me I want some tuna. Seriously on my bucket list. How far out of Westport? I looked into Depot Bay but charters were closed to non residents.

Ran out 44 miles. Coleman runs 29 ft Defiance boats and his custom 40. I am not sure how many others run fast boats. 29's twin 300 and 40 triple 300. All nice boats but got to admit the Shockwave seats came in handy.

I like the half pint straight-sided jars. Easy to load, unload and clean, and about the right size for a quick throw-down,

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I mostly go with 1/2 pint wide mouth packed in water. Perfect amount for 2 sammies. I like a bit of dill, chopped garlic and a squirt of Sriracha in the bottom.