We chartered a boat out of Longport and headed for the deep Atlantic with captain Frank Kurek and his son. What a great day! This was the flattest I have ever seen the waters off of New Jersey. Even so, a few of us were a little sea sick, but only a little. The first mate set up the fishing rods and out riggers and we were trolling for tuna just a few miles out.

Mark was sitting next to the first line to hook into a fish and with help from the first mate got to the fighting chair and landed a small tuna just big enough to keep. A while later I got my chance! This fish was either running toward the boat or already off the hook. As he came up to the stern I could see that he was only a foot long, way too small to keep. So I dropped the rod tip and let him spit out the hook.

The next few hours were quiet. We took turns sitting in the chair which was the only soft thing to sit on. Time went by, the boat went east, then west, then east. Bill was next, fighting his fish up to boat, but it got off before the first mate could gaff it. Back and forth, we kept looking for another fish. With only an hour or so of daylight left we started talking about heading to the captains favorite night fishing spot. When a reel sang out. Fish on!

Brian, lucky Brian, was in the chair and got first shot at this fish. This was his first tuna ever and it was a BIG one. He pumped the rod and tried to reel in line, everyone else was shouting advice. Brian pumping, people shouting, the fish just kept taking line. The first mate said something like, "Oh shit", when he caught a glimpse of the fish. After about an hour of fighting this monster Brian was completely spent and Mikey took over. Brian was exhausted but the fish was tired also and Mikey finally started getting line in. It took almost another hour to get this fish to the boat and four of us to bring it on board. Both Brian and Mikey were limp from their battle. Unfortunately there was no scale in Longport, but we figured this monster went around 200 pounds.

The Trophy

It was well after dark by the time this fish was landed and we headed for captain Kurek's favorite night spot. Once again the first mate set the rods and then started cutting chum. This was a good time for me to catch some sleep. It would take an hour or so to attract any fish. After a short nap I came out and took the chair. A couple of times a reel would buzz for a few seconds, but no fish. It just wasn't my day, or night, or something.

All through the night we took turns. Mikey hooked into a shark, but that was it. At dawn the first mate set up the outriggers again and we started trolling our way back to shore.

Twin 454's humming away for four hours turned into twin 454's pounding on my brain so I gave up and went to sleep. I guess this sailor doesn't do well with engine noise. Just as well, nothing else happened on the way in.

It was late afternoon when we left the captain and the rest of our party at the dock, happily chopping up tuna to rush back for another engagement.

If you're looking for a once in a lifetime thrill ... and fight, you should trade in your Dacron for a day and try tuna fishing. Even those of us who didn't catch a fish have a memory to cherish for life. Our thanks to Frank and his son for a great day on the water.