YFTuna Bonanza

[Mark Laboccetta]

The guys coming back from Costa Rica have whaled big time on the XXL yellowfin tuna action. I've been receiving a bunch of pictures from some of them and here they are. All of these fish went 185 to 275lbs. I don’t think a single YFT over 100lbs was even caught by a hook and line fisherman in the whole state of Virginia where I live this year.

Well, maybe one of those days I'll get my chance at one over 100lbs sigh, in the meantime I’ll live vicariously through their efforts and be satisfied that our Virginia and North Carolina waters are as bountiful as they are!

Nice job you lucky @#$!& !! :thankyou

I should also point mention that before Greg Pickerings 307lb YFT record the previous record stood at 277lbs by Mark Barville and Jerry 272lb picture is bridging the gap! And just to think they were all using medieval weapons...

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

Here are a few more awesome Kodak moments of the XXL footballs.

 

[rigdvr]

GR tells me theres another run during a certain summer month that nobody has hunted...yet. We might make an exploration journey. Interested?

 

[Amphibious]

holy christ! those are some serious fish!!!! nice job! one day, one day.....

 

[Capespearo]

Awesome fish ! The 1 pic of the diver close up underwater looks suspiciously like a marlin ?

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

GR tells me theres another run during a certain summer month that nobody has hunted...yet. We might make an exploration journey. Interested?

Mike, thanks for considering me for this trip. I'll tell you ahead of time that summer is not the best time for me to go anywhere for more than a weekend.
It's probably like charter season for you, if we don't work hard in the summer we don't live to see winter Sounds like Amphibious wants to go though! Go get'em!

Mark

 

[Freediver81]

hey miles,

you've got competition!!! rofl


you've got a great recipe for all that tuna on the recipe section!


Damn thats a lot of Sashimi :duh

 

[Chauggie]

Mark,
They obviously could have shot the marlin, did they? From the picture it looks like they drove up to it and hopped in the water for a photo. But, pictures can be deceiving.
Chauggie

 

[Amphibious]

That is some serious Fin Porn!

if you guys ever need a trip Medic/EMT give me a call

 

[shaneshac]

JEEEEEEEEEEEEZ

Welll done boys

Where's the Wasabi

 

[rigdvr]

no they didnt shoot the marlin. The boat operators are very protective of their marlin fishery as it attracts anglers from all over. The captains rule on these CR tuna trips...shoot a billfish and the trip is over :ban

 

[rigdvr]

Mark...did you ever make it to the big easy? Talked to Bill D yesterday and forgot to ask. Looks like the hoos are starting to show...wont be long now.

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

Mark,
They obviously could have shot the marlin, did they? From the picture it looks like they drove up to it and hopped in the water for a photo. But, pictures can be deceiving.
Chauggie

Chauggie-Shooting a marlin isn't half as exhilirating as shooting a tuna or a wahoo and even less when it's just been caught and released on 50 pound tackle and is tired As you can imagine you don't just swim up behind a frisky one either with your KodaK.

I must say I'm also glad it's frowned upon in Costa since here in the States the best way for us to get a bad rap is if we start shooting billfish. The sporties make their livelyhood releasing billfish and it's a lot of fun which is the concensus for not killing them. I shot a big sail once in Guatemala years ago and that was enough. Many divers I know who have had chances to shoot them again or for the first time haven't been able to squeeze the trigger as they marveled at sir his Blue Majesty. The all stearing eye goes right through you. I always wondered though if I had a 500-1000lb blue marlin broad side me what I would do It would be easier for me to make up my mind if I knew the locals would apreciate the meat and it wasn't frowned upon in the country I was diving. Sorry to get off the subject...

Mike-Every week this fall I started thinking about going the next week it would blow. Maybe in January or February if I manage to fake out the weather I'm sure there will be a fair share of 100+ pounders poked if its a good winter season down there...

Mark

 

[mustangmermaid]

Great Photos! and a Great catch!

 

[rcerdena]

YEAH!! thats fish!!!
Nice pictures and congratulations to the lucky ones who hunted them!

I still remember my encounter with a tuna school (4 of them), close to the shore, unexpected....I had my 90 cms, one band, not attached to the buoy....I still managed to do some water skiing with (and after I shot) the big one. I really wasn't thinking...I was lucky and I didn't loose my speargun, but lost the fish...

The time will come!

Saludos,
Roberto

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

I'm glad you guys and gals liked the pictures. I did too and only wished I had been there to partake in a piece of the action

It turns out Cameron Kirkconnell who is the guy biting the yellowfin sickle in one of the shots (1st place 2003 Hatteras Open) just speared the blackfin tuna IUSA world record somewhere off the Keys this weekend. Jerry Guerra (L in the picture of three sitting on the boat) also broke the current IUSA world record with his Costa Rican 272lb yellowfin by 11lbs. Jerry's also a three time veteran of the Hatteras Blue Water Open and does well every year. GR Tarr, the other guy pictured in the middle of the trio, also speared a 240 pounder I think and he was 2nd in this years Blue Water Open. As you can imagine these boys are all pretty good shots...

Mark

 

[rigdvr]

headed to Tampa to dive with GR and Sasa Saturday/Sun...then on to the keys to confirm W.R. rumors...

 

[Iyadiver]

Drool......Drooling....Drooled...that's all I can say...

 

[shaneshac]

Yeah im still droooling too

 

[Mark Laboccetta]

Well here are a few more low blows from them :ko and an official confirmation to your rumor. The rest of the pictures just weren't appropriate for the light hearted. Dead fish look better under water.

We actually spear fish this size pretty commonly in Hatteras. The Hatteras tournament is a blast because all these big hitters in the pictures duke it out for three days over the wrecks. Nole Karcher pounded hard on the pack this year with a repeat win comprised of a #63 yellowfin, a hefty mule #73 mule (AJ), a #30 something Cobia, and the most popular blue water fish in Hatteras an African Pompano. I'm really looking forward to next year. He did this in two days with a maximum of 5 fish allowed to be weighed in by meets end. Diversity in ones hunting ability for several species over a couple days is a true sign of a champion.

Oh yeah, the pictures, and once again happy holidays fellas.