Yellowfin 32 – Captain Greg Peralta

Hot Tuna and Humble Pie

For the past week or so, there have been rumors that the Blackfin Tuna bite is red hot along the 30-fathom curve. Blackfin Tuna make excellent sashimi and poke. Two of my favorite foods. Unfortunately, a sprained right ankle has kept me from offshore fishing. On Thursday, the allure of fresh Blackfin Tuna became overwhelming. So, Brody and I invited Elliott (my son), Dave (my brother) and Tristin Poole to join us on Friday.

We left the dock just before first light. Our plan was to run to the 30-fathom curve then troll a spread of DTX lures (for Wahoo) and cedar plugs (for Blackfin). We arrived a bit late to the fishing grounds and missed the prime fishing time. However, we did manage to catch some tuna. With a good supply of sashimi and poke in the fish box, we decided to stop trolling and do a little vertical jigging.

While I navigated to a small ledge in 165 feet of water, the crew switched from trolling to jigging tackle. Upon arrival at the ledge, we dropped Shimano 170-gram Shimmerfall jigs to the bottom. This was my first time to fish a Shimmerfall jig. I liked it. More importantly, the Grouper and Snapper liked it too! Dave even hooked a couple of Blackfin Tuna on the Shimmerfall. However, one pulled the hook and the other was eaten by a shark. This got us to thinking about specifically targeting Blackfin Tuna with jigs. It will take a bit of trial and error, but I think it will become a highly effective technique for keeping sashimi and poke on the table!

On Saturday, Brody and I did a little inshore fishing. The Trout, Flounder and Redfish were crushing the Z-Man Finesse TRD. They were congregating around creek mouths on the last half of the falling tide. Shallow, oyster laden creeks produced the best action. While we were fishing, a boat pulled up and stopped. I expected them to ask a fishing question. However, they just wanted to see the “famous” fish finding and stock trading dog. It was a humbling experience.

Ohana

Historically, I do not name my boats. However, the new to me Yellowfin 32 is a documented vessel and required to have a name. In Hawaii, Ohana is the word for family. Since the boat is a gathering spot for my family that is its name.

On Sunday, offshore sea conditions were forecast to be calm. So, my son Elliott, brother David and celebrity dog Brody decided to take Ohana to the Royal Terrance (50-miles offshore). Our target species was Wahoo, one of our favorite fish to eat. Sushi, sashimi, or on the grill, Wahoo is delicious.

We left the dock before dawn. In the calm ocean conditions, the run took a little over an hour. Upon arrival, we deployed a couple of black and pink DTX minnow lures and began rigging a spread of ballyhoo. Our rigging was quickly interrupted by a strike on one of the lures. It turned out to be a be small Wahoo and we decided to release it. While David and Elliott got back to rigging, Brody kept looking behind the boat and barking. I figured he wanted to circle the boat back to where originally got the strike. Thankfully, I marked the location with the GPS and was able to navigate back to the location. As we approached the spot, both DTX lures got crushed. It was pandemonium. Both fish made long, drag searing runs. Brody was barking. I figured he was saying I told you to circle back. It took a bit of doing, but we got both fish to the boat. Wahoo!

On the ride back, we came upon a large school of Bonito feeding near the shipping channel. Elliott and David cast Shimano 28-gram Colt Sniper jigs into the school. Both hooked up. More pandemonium. More drag searing runs. More Brody barking. Sometimes, I think he barks just to bark.

As I watched the scene unfold, I was thankful for another family fishing day.

Fish Fry

Brody and I usually practice catch, photo, and release. However, with the Daniel Island Inshore Fishing Club fish fry on September 21, we are keeping some of the fish that we catch. One of our favorite fish to fry is the Vermillion Snapper. They are abundant, easy to catch and very tasty. So, Brody and I set out to catch a few for the fish fry. We launched the boat just after sunrise and headed out to a ledge in 125 feet of water. Thankfully, the ocean was calm, and we made the run in less than an hour. Upon arrival, we idled the boat along the ledge looking for fish on the depth sounder. Of course, with the amazing fish finding and stock trading dog onboard, this was unnecessary. Brody began barking when we wanted us to fish. There were no fish showing on the sounder, but I have learned to fish when Brody says to fish. I dropped an 80-gram Shimano Wing Fall jig to ledge, and it was crushed on the way down. The fish was a brute. Pulling much harder than the typical Vermillion Snapper does. To my surprise, when the fish came to the boat, it was a Mutton Snapper. A big one at that. Mutton Snapper are not common catches around here. Well, at least not for Brody and me. After a quick check of the fishing regulations, we invited the Mutton to the fish fry. Shortly thereafter, a limit of Vermillion Snapper was invited as well.

With our legal limit in the fish box, Brody and I headed for home. On the ride back to the dock, I decided to stop at a submerged oyster bar in the Wando River. I was hoping to invite my other favorite fish to fry, Spotted Sea Trout, to the party. Fishing for Trout in a 32-foot Yellowfin can be a bit of a challenge. But the Trout were super cooperative. Soon, a limit of Trout was visiting with the Snapper in the fish box.

Back at the dock, Brody asked me to take a picture of all the fish “he” caught. I laughed. Brody smiled. At least I think he was smiling. Regardless, it made for a good picture.