Out of area report : First Blackfin Tuna

[Oxbeast1210]

Well I have a few weeks left here in Florida before I move to San Diego.

I wanted to get a couple fish of my list and finally got one yesterday Woke up in morning hesitant to get up and and fish...

My wife said you only have 2 weeks left in Florida you better get up and go!" Im glad she made me go.!

I got to Navarre around 630 am and bought some frozen "cigs" from the Pier they didn't look like cigs to me but reluctantly got them.

Anyway I was the last one to launch cause I was helping one of the other guys get the wave timing right. I got out and realize I didn't bring any weight for My sabiki . I tied a Jig to the bottom but it was not heavy enough so no live bait for me .
Remember those "cigs" I didnt want to buy earlier in the morning?.. Well now they are the only bait I have . I put one on but make the mistake of using the rig I made with single strand wire. I start trolling around and after a while I hook up It wasn't fighting like any fish Ive had on the line sadly the single strand wire breaks and I'm left with just a skirt and J-hook. Looking back Im pretty sure it was a BFT I wont be using single strand again I have issues with it kinking up.
So now I put a bait on my mitchell 302, I start heading in cause I have a Class at 11am . I got through a school of bonita and my fish-finder lights up ... but nothing . ABout 30 seconds after going through the school my line starts ripping!! . Im thinking I got one of the Bonita but the way its taking line makes me start to doubt it. I check my go pro and its recording . Unfortunately somewhere along the fight my battery dies on it ..just my luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edl4N...layer_embedded

After a bit I finally start gaining on the fish but now its not running . My line lust feels heavy with a head shake every few seconds. I finally get the fish up close enough to see and i'm thinking wow thats a huge bonita! As it gets closer I realize its a BFT ! I start getting excited but worried Ill lose him . I finally rest easy after gaffing it and getting it onboard . Man what a rush !

I head in and on the way back hook a king . Had to stop trolling after that so I could make class. ( I did by like 5 min)


This was also my first time taking my Hobie PA12 in the gulf it handled very well out the cant beat the new seat! My knees did fine peddling but dragging it to and from my truck really aggravated both my knees.

Thanks for reading looking forward to fishing with all of you!