Here is my story of what happened when I hooked up with Miles (the one and only Tuna Titan) in Cape Town in Dec 2005.......
Miles picked me up at 3 in the morning. To say I was excited (albeit tired) would have been a major understatement - I had only been in SA for 3 days and I was getting to go bluewater hunting for Yellowfin tuna. We met up with the rest of the crew at the local petrol station to fill up with fuel and sardines for chum. 300 Litres of fuel later (does any SA spearo do things by halves?) we went and started loading / fuelling up the boat. Everyone on the trip spoke Afrikaans so I didn't get everything that was going on, but was surprised to see some of them drive off in the direction of the petrol station - apparently we needed more fuel - this was turning into a bit of an epic already!!! Once loaded up we set-off at around 6. The forecast inshore was not so good, but 10nm offshore it was supposed to improve. Got absolutely nailed on the way out and even got to practice our man overboard drill when a hat flew into the water - HECTIC!
The original plan was to hit some YellowTail off the point before trying for Tuna, but the sea was really rough and in the interests of not losing a diver we carried on to the Tuna grounds. Unfortunately en-route we found one of the fuel tanks had a split (fortunately a small one) and then that the VHF only worked intermittently. Undaunted we made it out to the Tuna grounds. There were a few other boats out there, with some vying for the best positions behind the Longliners. These boats (for those, who like me, had never seen them) put out long lines (no surprises there then, but I mean like 7km or so with maybe 4000 baited hooks on a line, ok I'm guessing but you get the idea). They leave the lines for a few hours and then bring them up. Some fish fall off the lines in shallow depths which attracts various marine predators, while others are drawn to the head and guts that gets thrown off the longliners when sorting the catch. Anyway the result is TUNA-TIME!!! Unfortunately when we arrived they hadn't started work yet so we put in a few lures and started trolling. One of the other boats landed a YFT - all I saw was a flash of silver while the fish was landed. However the knowledge that YFT were in the area really whet my appetite. Suddenly Miles said 'YellowFin' after looking at the FishFinder, and in about 2min flat (no joke - this guy is class) he had reeled in the lures, started chumming and switched to baited lines. Sure enough "zz zz zz zz zz zz" one line starts running, then "zz zz zz zz zz" line 2 goes. Now everyone is diving into harnesses, pulling in other lines, getting gaffs ready etc. The first YFT gets boated - the most beautiful fish (and easily the largest) that I have ever seen. Then Miles gives me the chance to fight one - and oh my goodness, rod and reel is tough work, but after 10-20mins I had landed my first YFT - as far as I was concerned this day was already absolutely amazing, but I was about to find out it gets even better as I suited up ready to get in the water.
I was kindly given first go with the Tommy Botha rig and 1.5m Rob Allen Carbon Tuna gun (fitted with twin 16mm rubbers). Unfortunately my Bluewater diving technique I think it is fair to say is primitive (hey it was my first time) - I am used to diving reefs and so it only felt 'right' when I was down at 15-20m. Fortunately Miles was on hand to point out that perhaps I should stay near the chum and a bit shallower. Couldn't have had better advice - and soon started seeing the Yellowfin. It was everything I imagined and more. They corner so fast and are so streamlined - it would be amazing to see them attack a live bait ball. Now I was fired up and ready to try and shoot one, when inexperience once again got the better of me. I continually misjudged the distance that they fish was from me. The first shot I took, the fish must have been 20m+ from me - it didn't even flinch - hilarious!!! Anyway eventually I worked it out and after being dropped in behind a longliner I nailed my first YFT. I shot him face-on just behind the head, but I only found that out afterwards. As soon as you pull the trigger that fish is gone! I shouted back to the boat 'Tuna, Tuna, Tuna' and another diver swam out with a killshot gun. I could then start fighting the fish from the Tommy Botha float, which by the way is an awesome piece of kit for blue water hunting. After 5min or so the fish was in view and after reaching the end of the bungee, it was time to put in a kill shot. Anyway I swam down and put the second shot through the fish behind the gill plate aiming for the spine. The fish was really tired now and I was able to grab it, but it kept on breaking loose - the power in these fish has to be seen, to be believed. Eventually though I was able to despatch it. After that I just held the fish in my arms trying to remember everything about it - like how the small yellow fins on its back / tail rotate, the size of the sickle and the amazing patterns on its head. We didn't weigh the fish, but apparently it was in the 50-60kg bracket. Here are the photos of me and my fish(for all the other pictures go the 'Chronicles of a Blue Water Hunter' thread):
After the thrill of landing my YFT, I was content to just dive with these magnificent creatures. As I became more relaxed around them, they came in closer and closer until they were snatching chum no more than a foot away from my mask - it was magical, certainly one of the best days I have spent in the ocean.
None of this would have been possible without Miles so a huge thank you man. He didn't know me from Adam, and yet he not only let me tag along, but also lent me his gear and took time to teach me when I went wrong - Bru you’re a legend!!!
I am now back in Scotland dreaming of warm water teeming with life……… South Africa - I'll be back!!!!
:t :t :t
Miles picked me up at 3 in the morning. To say I was excited (albeit tired) would have been a major understatement - I had only been in SA for 3 days and I was getting to go bluewater hunting for Yellowfin tuna. We met up with the rest of the crew at the local petrol station to fill up with fuel and sardines for chum. 300 Litres of fuel later (does any SA spearo do things by halves?) we went and started loading / fuelling up the boat. Everyone on the trip spoke Afrikaans so I didn't get everything that was going on, but was surprised to see some of them drive off in the direction of the petrol station - apparently we needed more fuel - this was turning into a bit of an epic already!!! Once loaded up we set-off at around 6. The forecast inshore was not so good, but 10nm offshore it was supposed to improve. Got absolutely nailed on the way out and even got to practice our man overboard drill when a hat flew into the water - HECTIC!
The original plan was to hit some YellowTail off the point before trying for Tuna, but the sea was really rough and in the interests of not losing a diver we carried on to the Tuna grounds. Unfortunately en-route we found one of the fuel tanks had a split (fortunately a small one) and then that the VHF only worked intermittently. Undaunted we made it out to the Tuna grounds. There were a few other boats out there, with some vying for the best positions behind the Longliners. These boats (for those, who like me, had never seen them) put out long lines (no surprises there then, but I mean like 7km or so with maybe 4000 baited hooks on a line, ok I'm guessing but you get the idea). They leave the lines for a few hours and then bring them up. Some fish fall off the lines in shallow depths which attracts various marine predators, while others are drawn to the head and guts that gets thrown off the longliners when sorting the catch. Anyway the result is TUNA-TIME!!! Unfortunately when we arrived they hadn't started work yet so we put in a few lures and started trolling. One of the other boats landed a YFT - all I saw was a flash of silver while the fish was landed. However the knowledge that YFT were in the area really whet my appetite. Suddenly Miles said 'YellowFin' after looking at the FishFinder, and in about 2min flat (no joke - this guy is class) he had reeled in the lures, started chumming and switched to baited lines. Sure enough "zz zz zz zz zz zz" one line starts running, then "zz zz zz zz zz" line 2 goes. Now everyone is diving into harnesses, pulling in other lines, getting gaffs ready etc. The first YFT gets boated - the most beautiful fish (and easily the largest) that I have ever seen. Then Miles gives me the chance to fight one - and oh my goodness, rod and reel is tough work, but after 10-20mins I had landed my first YFT - as far as I was concerned this day was already absolutely amazing, but I was about to find out it gets even better as I suited up ready to get in the water.
I was kindly given first go with the Tommy Botha rig and 1.5m Rob Allen Carbon Tuna gun (fitted with twin 16mm rubbers). Unfortunately my Bluewater diving technique I think it is fair to say is primitive (hey it was my first time) - I am used to diving reefs and so it only felt 'right' when I was down at 15-20m. Fortunately Miles was on hand to point out that perhaps I should stay near the chum and a bit shallower. Couldn't have had better advice - and soon started seeing the Yellowfin. It was everything I imagined and more. They corner so fast and are so streamlined - it would be amazing to see them attack a live bait ball. Now I was fired up and ready to try and shoot one, when inexperience once again got the better of me. I continually misjudged the distance that they fish was from me. The first shot I took, the fish must have been 20m+ from me - it didn't even flinch - hilarious!!! Anyway eventually I worked it out and after being dropped in behind a longliner I nailed my first YFT. I shot him face-on just behind the head, but I only found that out afterwards. As soon as you pull the trigger that fish is gone! I shouted back to the boat 'Tuna, Tuna, Tuna' and another diver swam out with a killshot gun. I could then start fighting the fish from the Tommy Botha float, which by the way is an awesome piece of kit for blue water hunting. After 5min or so the fish was in view and after reaching the end of the bungee, it was time to put in a kill shot. Anyway I swam down and put the second shot through the fish behind the gill plate aiming for the spine. The fish was really tired now and I was able to grab it, but it kept on breaking loose - the power in these fish has to be seen, to be believed. Eventually though I was able to despatch it. After that I just held the fish in my arms trying to remember everything about it - like how the small yellow fins on its back / tail rotate, the size of the sickle and the amazing patterns on its head. We didn't weigh the fish, but apparently it was in the 50-60kg bracket. Here are the photos of me and my fish(for all the other pictures go the 'Chronicles of a Blue Water Hunter' thread):
After the thrill of landing my YFT, I was content to just dive with these magnificent creatures. As I became more relaxed around them, they came in closer and closer until they were snatching chum no more than a foot away from my mask - it was magical, certainly one of the best days I have spent in the ocean.
None of this would have been possible without Miles so a huge thank you man. He didn't know me from Adam, and yet he not only let me tag along, but also lent me his gear and took time to teach me when I went wrong - Bru you’re a legend!!!
I am now back in Scotland dreaming of warm water teeming with life……… South Africa - I'll be back!!!!
:t :t :t
