I am soooo jealous. Catching a tuna is on my bucket list.
Dude, it's both an amazing fight and humiliating reminder of how bad of shape you're probably in. A 55-60# tuna like the one in the pic WILL KICK YOUR BUTT if you fight stand up style (with a belt/gimble). Your forearms will burn and feel like jello.
Yesterday I wanted to gnaw my arms off for like 5-10 minutes after that fight due to lactic acid burn.
Best way to check off your bucket list item:
(1) Book a trip out of Oregon Inlet. Closest to the fishing grounds (about 38 miles offshore).
(2) Best time to catch Yellowfin (and Bigeye) is between May 15 - June 15th.
(3) Avoid a full moon, ideally.
(4) Get a group of 6 guys together, so you charter the whole boat.
(5) Don't drink and party the night before.
(6) Take seasickness medication if you have any doubt about getting seasick. Best is a patch behind ear - scopolomine.
(7) Buy beer the night before - stores won't sell early in the AM.
(8) If you want to know which boats / captains are best, I know many of them and know which catch the most fish.
(9) Bring lots of big coolers and leave them in your truck. If you do well, you'll limit out (3 tunas per man plus mate plus captain). This often is 600-800 lbs of tuna in the round.
(10) Tip your mate 15-20%.
(11) Have $ for the fish cutting operation. It will be around $.45 / lb but is worth it.
(12) Normal yield on 30 lb tunas (average weight) is about 45%, so you may have 250 lbs of tuna loins at the end. Ice them and keep cold. Cut then freeze and use vacuum packer at home. Will last up to 6 months.
(13) Just remember, it's "fishing", not "catching". If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster.
(14) If you need any more info, lemme know.
This is a bigeye tuna. If you catch one, your arms may fall off. I've filleted them up to 245 pounders.