Author Topic: Blue fin tuna trip at Prince Edward Island -Canada (Read 12074 times)

Big Van · « **on:** September 18, 2013, 02:43:23 PM »

Hi Guys

Me and Sarel from Backline Adventures went with the ladies to Prince Edward Island in Canada two weeks ago. We had a great trip and the money spent was worth it. It was great to see these huge fish feed and also how well the fisheries is administrated there. The following rules apply to the charter boats. If they had four strikes for the day they must return to the harbour. If you have caught a fish, must the boat return to the harbour and obtain a new permit to fish the afternoon again.

It was nice to be only two anglers on the boat as we had theoretically a chance of a fish a day each. Yes I know fishing is not theoretically as we also found out.
Day 1- We arrived 3h00 at our destination after 27 hours of flights and transfers. We were at the dockside at 06h00 ready for action. We got our allocated boat and headed of to the fishing waters. We hooked the first fish within 30 minutes and Sarel was on for about twenty minutes and it broked the line. Ten minutes later did I took the second strike and was also broken off within ten minutes. Third strike went to Sarel and again fish off within 30 minutes. We asked the guys to upped the leader strenght to 400lb. Next strike was mine and after about 45 minutes we landed a 650lb fish.

Day2- Our decision was Sarel must get a fish even if it took a whole day. Luckily the first fish was on within 10 minutes after we started to chum. Sarel fought this fish for about a hour before we saw it the first time. It was a big Mama. We landed it a couple of minutes later and it measured 111 inches calculating to a 900 lb fish. Excellent fish and released in good condition. We headed back to the harbour for a nice brunch and to obtain new permit for the afternoon. We chummed the afternoon for about 5 minutes and the next moment was the fishfinder full of big fish. We had more than 5 fish maulling the mackeral right at the side of the boat. We hooked up on a gigantic fish right next to the boat. I fought ot for about 2 hours and then it showed itself to us ten meters from the boat. It was certainly a grander. Well the fish won the fight the line broke with fish just under the boat.

Day 3- We had our first fish on just after seven and Sarel was fighting it. He got the fish at the boat after a hour. Fish estimated at 700 lb. We chased to the harbour to be firts boat back and to have a nice brunch. They allowed us to get back at sea at 12h00 and we got into a fish within 5 minutes after we started to chum. This was a lazy fish as we had it at the boat within 25 minutes. I needed such a fish as I was still sore of the battle with the grander the previous day. Your hands and arms take big punishment if you fight it out of the gunnel. The second fish was estimated at 500 lb.

We then started to help the other boats in the fleet to get fish. It is amazing to see how the boats work together. I have never seen a guy shout or wave to get out of their chum lines. It is actually a lot of nonsense. These guys come together and all chum together. If a fish is on will the boats scram away from the direction the fish is going and clear up for the boat to follow the fish. More than three fish were caught during the afternoon this way. We have caught fish on live bait , on a kite, on dead mackeral chum and with a balloon. Definately going to do kite fishing from the boat for sailfish it is spectacular to see the bite.

Willie · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2013, 02:48:59 PM »

Wow

great report and well done!

Fishy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2013, 02:51:36 PM »

Nice report and

on the big fishy...
Totally green with envy...

Prego · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2013, 02:56:51 PM »

Trip of a lifetime and I am sure on many a anglers bucket list

Its great how well regulated their fishery is

Big Van · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2013, 03:03:53 PM »

Photos of Sarel's 900lb fish and more

Big Van · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2013, 03:07:49 PM »

More fish photos and photo of boats chumming

JFE · « **Reply #6 on:** September 18, 2013, 03:16:20 PM »

with envy as well. Nice trip report, you are trully blessed with such an adventure

SAfish · « **Reply #7 on:** September 18, 2013, 03:21:44 PM »

Great report, it must have been amazing to feel the power of those big fish!

Cam Mundy · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2013, 03:28:48 PM »

Well done guys good to see you made the most of the opertuinity and caught som epic fish to boot excellent work.

Kumz · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2013, 04:00:49 PM »

Great report... Fantastic catches.... I am jealous ...

Spickerish · « **Reply #10 on:** September 18, 2013, 04:26:48 PM »

Trip of a life time!!

Nice report and photo's!!

Seventenths · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2013, 04:37:32 PM »

Awesome, awesome awesome!!!

Happy Dog · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2013, 04:43:28 PM »

brilliant well done

dugong · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2013, 05:41:05 PM »

Lekka trip Big Van!! Give some more details on the approx costs if you don't mind??
My wife and I are looking at doing a trip that way and could include the fishing if possible?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2013, 05:56:17 PM »

Awesome stuff Stephan! What an epic trip!

Corks · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2013, 06:55:52 PM »

What an awesome experience to see those fish up close and personal and to feel their power

Great report

Gerhard · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2013, 06:58:32 PM »

Amazing stuff!!!!

Big Van · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2013, 10:16:05 PM »

It was really a privilege to catch these fish. They were swimming in small schools together and you just find while chumming that the sounder gets full of fish. You only start then to throw the baits out and normally within a couple of minutes will you be on for the fight. These fish are real bruisers. You need two guys to take the rod to the back gunnel otherwise will you lose the rod. The strike drag is at 45lb and increased to 60 lb when the hook up is good.
You fish with130lb reels with 200lb backing and 200 lb nylon top shot. The grander I had on ran the first time about 400meter into the backing. You pull with your left hand as hard as possible the line and roll up the slack with the right hand. Many times can you not pull a millimeter out of the fish. It has taken the nylon line out to the backing about 8 times before it showed itself on the surface. When it saw the boat it just took off and ran about 150 meters at 60 lb drag. They are very strong I doubt if you would be able to catch it in deep water as we fished mostly in 20 to 30 meters of water.
Cost for the fishing is $1250 for the boat a day and accommodation you look at $200 a day. Our flight cost was R30 000 per person but it was trips to NewYork and Miami included. You are fairly guaranteed to get hooked onto a fish but 40percent chance of landing one.
The website of the charter is www.peibluefintunacharters.com or google Bruce brothers charters at Prince Edward Island

blender · « **Reply #18 on:** September 18, 2013, 10:49:52 PM »

Thanks for sharing your adventure Big Van, this illustrates what can be achieved with good management and responsible utilization of resources.

strandloper · « **Reply #19 on:** September 19, 2013, 12:04:35 AM »

WOW!

EPIC trip guys!!!

Thanks for sharing.

There is an opportunity for me to fish Stellwagen Bank out of Massachusetts next month. This is the same area where the Wicked Tuna guys fish, but will see if I can get a decent boat and how the fishing looks over that time.