As for the motion sickness, me and my buddies took "Bonine" on the last trip and I guess it worked. Our first offshore trip, rouuuuuuugh seas, and we felt great. Dang sure will be taking it again.

Thanks SkeeterR for the help. Is this reel the TLD20 that TOO has spoken of? Wondering about what size/type line to use on this kinda rig. And top shot? I'm guessing this meanings you spool up with one line and finish out with another? What about steel leaders? Seemed like alot were breaking off that night.

_Hey GW: I can bring some wire again but I doubt we will need it on the Floating Rigs. Most of the fish should be near the surface feeding in the rig lights at night....we hope!! With the AJ's durring the day you just have to try to keep them from running off into the rig.

_Last time we were braking off due to the Large Sharks wraping the line on thier body which sawed the line in two. Also there was coral on the rocks where we were fishing that cut some of the lines. Tuna wont bite a rig wth a wire leader that I know of because they are very Line Shy...if they see the flash off a Mono leader they wont bite your bait.

_I saw a New Shimano TLD 25 on Ebay for $115.00 which is an excellent price for that New Reel. Ebay has some great deals if you watch for them .. look in Big Game and Conventional Saltwater Fishing for Rods and Reels.

_Good Luck and See Ya Down South Yall!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bazztex<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Bazztex, thanks for the info. I've been looking around today at rods/reels. Like a kid in the candy store. So many choices. Man, this waiting for months to get to go sure makes time go by slower.

ohhhhhhh...poor hardhead and his wife. still feel bad for them.

Ragman ,I have that 7000 repaired and may try it again. The lures i used were pencil poppers, however i could only catch one tuna per pencil popper as they would break and sink. Other lures used were storm lures . the biggest storm makes . also a lure that looks like a devil horse with twin spinners only . I believe when the yfins are on a bite they will hit anything that remotely resembles bait . I only hope that it happen again in november. I should love to see every one come home with their limit . With tsd and the likes of earl you wont have to worry what to do cause they are both experts .

shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Everyday now I get home and look on here....dont think I can wait! Where is a good place to get some of those iron glow jigs?? I bought some last year and then painted them with glow paint- bt didnt last long!! @ hookups with toothy critters and they were gone. (didnt hav a leader on them). Doh!! Now I know.

I'll have my deposit in by the first of june . also TOO . I'll be able to handle the other Supplies again . About 3 cases be enough? I'll also bring some venison summer sausage . I'll go with the majority on handling the fish cleaning . This may be my best chance for the century mark . I WILL get that fish .

Bazztex- Whatever you feel comfortable with to get out from the boatlights, you'll be fine! Who knows what your trip will call for? You definitely can handle a fish if you hook up with that rig on topwater or iron!

Gres- Good point! You can spend $15 on 2-3 topwater baits for 2-3 fish or $15 on one bait for 4-5 fish! It's your choice!

I acquire and set up my rigs and tackle for each trip as if this is my chance of a lifetime!

So, I spend the extra $s for the best available tackle etc. so in case I'm lucky enough to hook up with my personal best, I'm at least prepared fundamentally to even the odds.

JMO and dos centavos.

_Hey RagMan: Thanks Bud..just looking for an experianced opinion. I can cast that 210 Penn like a champ but was'nt sure about it holding up to a good fish?? I think an Upgrade is in order!! Maybe a Duel, Pro Gear,Boss, or Tiagra??

_I'm no tourist at Tuna Fishing but it's been years since I was on the coast and went regularly. We never fished artificials..just freelined Chunk baits drifting chum slicks or grass lines. Using that Antique Penn Charter Boat Gear was a Reeeeeel Workout too!!!

_We used to catch some Whopper Yellows & occasional Blue Fins ...Black fins and Bonita were like Parranas in the Chum Slicks... back in the 70's when I was on the Morehead City/ North Carolina Coast (USMC).

_That was Big Chunk Bait fishing with 9/0-12/0 Penns..Broom Stick Heavy Solid Glass Rods. Spooled with 80-130Lb Mono & 14/0 Hooks. Seemed like it took 3 days to get one over 100Lbs in with the Slow 1.3-1 ratio in 480ft of water!! LoL! But I was 22 Years Old then not 49 like I will be when we make that Tres Tuna November Trip!!

_See All Yall There Down South!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bazztex<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Scottie, don't know if we got a waiting list, but you betcha if we get a cancellation. As always it'd be great to have you along.
RM, humblely, I can cast most any thing castable. I know the 20 is not on a casting rod, but like you said, with practice???? Don't know if I can stay alive with another off-shore rig in the next few months........ I know, I know, but remember, I'm a bay fishing 'ho, and a hunting 'ho, add another and it's "3 'ho's and you're out". ......... Prefer not to sleep with one open, not to say I'm not really, really, thinking about a castable rig for topwaters..........any idea the weight of those plugs on the link?.......man, I'm atwitchin', thinking about buying a topwater nighttime rig..........
Bazz, bringing plenty of the sausage, need the crackers. RM says the Daiwa sealine rod and 210 would be enough? Man the idea of a level wind worries me. Wonder if those $120-range reels in Offshore Angler would work working plugs(and handling tuna!). The Shimano, Penn's, Diawa's, etc..........GLW's gonna kill me...........
GW, the TLD 25 on that awesome rod last year is the reel SkR bought, I do belive. That rig was awesome, the hands and even the captains all said it was a extremely nice set-up. Asked who's it was, said, "mine", "cough, cough" Top shot is spectra, a bunch to fill the spool, with a leader of from 25 feet to 100 yards or so. Your choice on length...........Know Earl, TsD, Rm are gonna yell at me for this but, I bought the Jerry Brown hollow braided spetra #80 put it on the 20II, and did the "Chinese finger cuff" leader connection. You thread the mono into the hollow JB spetra. add a little of their special glue, and that connection is steamlined and nice! Put over 40# of pressure using my Berkeley scale on the connection. Not a bit of slippage. Hopefully it will be tested this summer......There's all types of connections you can make, Bimini to Bimini knot, or Albright special, Loop to Loop,etc. Tsd, and RM can help you better there. The boat has the wire leaders if needed. As Bazz said sharks fights were breaking due to rolling, rubbing or just getting the wire and hook down the mouth so the mono was finding the teeth. Most likely the first two. Know someone on Tuna II was using a short leader and kept lengthing each time after three or four break-offs. Think it was Bazz.
SkR, seen somewhere about the glow diamond jigs fairly cheap, read something about replacing the split rings and the hook. I'll see if I can find the link, site, something. Figure I'll look into ordeing a number of plugs from either that link of RM's or another. Anybody in for placing an order together? Irons, and/or plugs?
How's the blood drive, SkR?

TOO, Any knowledge of the Penn 555? Penn website says it is a casting reel built to handle tuna. 600yds/20lb line with a 5.3-1 ratio. Wondering about the 20lb. Reel is around $130.00. I wouldn't mind alittle cost for this kinda of top water rig because it could easily be used for catfish or stripers. The Penn 32oLD and 345 GTi are nice looking too but looks like the 555 would be a better casting reel. Comments?

TOO, did some lookking at Shimano's website. The TLD 20 looks nice. 450yds/30lb or 330/40. The TLD 25 was rated at 450yds/40lb. Both with a 3.6:1 ratio. How did you have yours rigged up?

Need to go to BassPro I guess so I can get my hands on some reels. You know, you get em all out on the counter. They're all new and shiny. You cant decide which one to adopt and take home. That TLD two speed looks real nice but if I bought it, my wife is liable to lean me up in the corner with the rifles and rod/reels so I will have to stay some where in the practicle range if you know what I mean.

Hey Too,
I hit a little bump in the road for April , But I am once again in the ranks of the employed. I will be sending along the deposits right before June 1. As I was saying for the Tuna II trip, I really want to show you how the Tady Jigs can work the water. If you can find �em on the internet, Look for the 45�s. These have a big treble hook at the end only. The A1�s have a single hook that runs up the length of the body. The �C� models are a little lighter and smaller in size. All of them are great for casting top water.
GWilliams, I fish Penn 500�s. I have reworked mine with Newall Parts, such as the graphite spool, side plates and base. I�ve also narrowed the body. It�s a lighter reel now, casting a jig for 2 to 3 hours can wear on your arm. With this kit I still get about 250 yds of mono. For the bigger Tuna�s you might think about a Penn 4/0. I live in Richardson so if you ever want to get together at the BassPro some Sat I�ll bring my gear up so you can see what I�m talking about. Drop me an Email and we�ll hook up.

Tight Lines
Beto
Hey, I can't Tune a Piano, but I can Tuna Fish.

Beto, thanks for the info and invite. I will definitely take you up on that. I work in Fort Worth every third day so we could work that out easily. I'll email you my number so we can hook up.

gwilliams- gettting prices on a Shimano Trinidad 20- will let you know by the end of the week what I can get them for. (topwater reel)