Local Yellowfin With Bongo Joe

Lucky for us, Dave's friend Pete had booked a trip on the charter boat
Bongos and invited all of us to go. Dave, Douglas, Pete, and I all met
up earlyThursday morning to go chase the local yellowfin tuna everyone
had been catching on the paddies and under the porpoise schools. We got
down to Davey's locker at 5 am to meet Joe and Marty, load the boat and
head off in search of theYFT's.
We met up with Pete's friends and
our six pack was complete and ready to roll. We stopped by the bait receiver and filled
the tanks with bait, bigger dean and mini mack. Then tried making some mackerel in
front of the jetty for nothing.
Joe headed out towards the 277 and
turned it south towards the 43 running a course over the 289 as we
headed towards the border. We baited a few paddies forNada and kept
going until we started to see some life. We were a few shy of the 289
when we saw some terns working. As we got closer we could see breaking
fish under the birds. We put the boat in close proximity to the birds
and threw some bait which instantly got boiled on. It was game on with
all rods bendo and mass mayhem going on in the corner. The bite lasted
about 45 minutes with 16 or 17 fish boated in the 15 to 25 pound range.
Much better grade of fish than I expected.
We continued the search
for more birds and porpoise schools which we found one that cooperated
that ended our day with 21 fish total and one fish towards the 35 lb mark.
As
we sped in towards Newport we ran into huge bird schools with the local
5am to 5pm boats chasing them trying to get baits to the fish for very few
fish. Joe's idea to make the run paid off for us and we really had a
good day of fishing while it lasted.
I really look forward to the next trip before the year comes to an end.
Hope you find some time to catch a few. Until the next trip.

Ben

The Passing of My Mentor.

Dear Friends I am sad to tell you that on September 6th, 2009 my favorite fishing friend passed onto the big waters in the sky. He was my best friend, fishing buddy, most knowledgable guy I knew, he was my dad. Ben Secrest Sr. was the one that gave me my start in the world of fishing which has lead to a lifelong passion and career letting me do what I love to do.
Without his love and support throughout the years I would have never been able to attain my dreams and aspirations. He always had time to take me fishing and enojoyed his self no matter what the conditions were. From the days of bluegills with a small hand made cane rod to fishing his love, the green bass, my dad was my hero. He was always there no matter what, his support and guidance have shaped my life, and those of you who knew him have an idea of what I am talking about. The man never had a harsh word to say about anyone and loved my mom whole heartedly.
I hope the pond he is fishing has a load of 8 to 10 pounders and its all topwater, his favorite technique to fish. Send a prayer out for old Ben, a true fisherman and the greatest man I ever knew.

I hope all your time on the water is memorable.

Till the next time.

Ben