Location: Underway to Galapagos
Today was our first full day on our 6-day passage from Panama City to the Galapagos islands. Since our departure, we have traveled 2 degrees due south; as I write, our position is N 5* 39.390 W 79* 56.922. Today, I had the 8-12 watch in the morning, where I set out my trolling rod, and Henry put out two handlines. We had a pretty nice watch where we flushed and cleaned the dinghies and jibed just before lunch. Lunch was Maya Ls Cobb Salad bowls and they were pretty good, she always makes really good baked chicken. Anyway, we had our cleanup, then went below deck for an Oceanography lecture and a navigation session for the Seamanship class. It was at the start of Seamanship when it happened.
I dont think Ill get used to dropping everything in an instant, grabbing my PFD, and running to the stern to fight a fish. It really keeps us on our toes. I feel like we can sense a disturbance in the force throughout the whole boat when we have a fish on. When I ran back to the stern, Ben was on the rod, reeling to no avail. Whatever creature was on the other end of the line was monstrous. The line had already gone out to the white bottom braid, and for a second, I was like, OMG, we might have to cut our line. Henry and I reeled in while I worked on tuning our drag, not really, we just set it to maximum power, and still the line was being pulled out. When shifting with Henry, I kid you not, the rod snapped in the rod holder, so I was like, we gotta do this old-fashioned style. Whatever was out there, it had taken out a good 200 yards or more of line and was still going. All the boys pulled up to the stern, and we took turns where three guys were holding the rod, and one was reeling. We got into a rotation of 9 of us boys going through until we were exhausted, then switching out.
Jake was the goat on the reel. He did most of the work, and he ripped the line in faster than all of us. I kept dogging him on calling him Wyoming. While the group kept fighting the fish I ran down into the Port 6-stack to grab my gaff hook and some nylon line I bought in Bonaire and started lashing the gaff to the end of our boat hook. I remember looking up and seeing the whole gang up on the stern, all working together to fight this fish, and it was just super cool. Morgan G, Harrison, Harry, Henry, Jay, Ben, Mac, Jake, and I all had reel time fighting the monster fish. Harrison was reeling when Morgan saw the first flash of blue light, which told us we were on a BIG Tuna.
We kept looking in anticipation waiting for our next look as our line was getting closer and closer. Then we saw for the first time in absolution, in the wake of Vela, a BIG Yellowfin Tuna swimming sideways side to side. Sam was snapping videos and pictures of it all as I called to clear the onlookers from the stern and ready the gaff. Mac unclipped the lifelines and, then joined me on the gaff as we waited for a good shot. It was a long way to the surface, around 10 feet, so Mac and I were on our stomachs. Mac saw a shot, and he got a really clean hook just before the tailfin, distal about 2 inches from the bottom. It was at this moment I was hoping so hard that my lash job was gone be good. We pulled her up in a moment of suspense until we got it over the rail, and a wave of euphoria hit us. I was so Jonesed, but the Tuna was flailing about the deck, so I grabbed my knife and cut the line free, and then Mac and I dragged it to midships with the gaff. We dispatched it quickly with the billfisher, then started taking pictures of us posing with the fish. We got some gold material out of this fish, some of which will be attached to this blog. Anyways, Mac started filleting it, and I tell you, this fish produced some of the most pristine-looking tuna steaks Ive ever seen. They were literally bright red, perfect marbling, some with an iridescent hue. Morgan C grabbed a bottle of soy sauce from under her bed, and we all took turns trying out slices from Mac. Some of the best Tuna Ive ever eaten. I would say this Yellowfin Tuna was around 90-100 lbs and around 3-4 feet long. We froze a lot of the meat for the rest, of course, and Maya and Henry cheffed up the rest for dinner along with their KFC bowls. Henry made this ceviche recipe he learned from a Honduran man, and Im telling you right now that that shit was gas. During dinner, we Jonesed and saw some dolphins swimming alongside Vela with the sunset. Today was a good day.
Also, sorry for breaking the rod, Dad I think it got good use catching two yellowfin and one skipjack with it, though! Thanks for supplying me with the experience and gear. Maybe we will have a tuna steak waiting for you in Tahiti!
Also, thanks to Nanny and Papa because his original Penn Reel made this fish easy. Excited to come out to New York soon! Love James
Mom and Sophie, keep jonesing, and yes, Sophie, I have no rizz on god. Mom tell Kelen that we will be going to Texas Roadhouse when I get back.
Maya, I dont know if you still read these, but I did NOT cast spells on you. Also, genuinely hope you get well and maybe wear your glasses next time 🙂