Nothing Ventured nothing gained

[Chuck D]

A quote my Dad always used to always remind me of

Hit up the shores Thr. morn with the AI early hoping to get out as far as I can with hopes of getting back by dark. Prepped for everything safety wise, including my cool fathers day gift beacon. Get some bait in the bait tank and harness a little wind to help get me out on the spot. End up being a perfect day for the AI. Off and on 10 knots of breeze letting me troll and explore where I want. Find some patties but no takers, see lots of birds but no boils. Spent all morning searching to no avail and I am having a blast sailing around but a little disappointed that I am seeing no fish.

I land on a smallish bird school and cruise over it trying to troll my way through. As a I roll through I look at the water to the side of me and see the most fantastic sight I had seen in a long time. A enormous school of BFT 100b plus are shooting by the sides on my kayak following me like a pod of dolphins on a trimaran. Immediately I am waiting for my lines to load up. This doesn't happen so. I fling a greenback out there, no takers. I finally see a little boil to the side of me and flip my iron out , get a short bite but not fish and after about 5 min they are GONE! Amazing experience, but a little bummed I could not put one on the deck.

Search around for another hour in the same area don't see a thing. Then I look behind me and right by a boat about 1/2 mile away there is grip of birds concentrated. I figure that I would give it a go, halfway there I saw the craziest sight I have ever seen on the water. Right around the boat which turned to 3 boats real quick the water EXPLODED! It looked like a YT boil x 100. BFT were demolishing bait and making no secret of it. I finally got there which felt like a decade and of course no more boil. Just as I start to get bummed I missed it, WW III happens right in front of my bow. Immediately get my surface iron out there and HOOKUPPPP! Here I am, in the middle of nowhere, fighting this sweet BFT in the middle of three boats, they must of wondered what the hell was going on. Try to get the go pro rolling but could not, on the wrong setting and too hectic Anyways, get the BFT tuna up after an epic battle, get the gaff ready, gaff it and this momma was so pissed it ripped the gaff out of my hand and took it back down with him. Next thing I know he is on another run, my gaff floats up about 25 yards away and I am headed right for a boat. Boater is somewhat cool as my kayak bounces of his boat in an attempt to land the fish,retrieve my gaff and not cross lines with these other fools. Finally get the gaff, get the fish up and there it is, my prize. A 25b BFT on the surface iron Rest of the day no more boils, headed back, head held up high and happy. What a day. It was amazing, not sure if I could have done it without the sail so for everyone contemplating trying this please be careful, prepared and safe. However, I do hope to see more BFT in your yakking futures.