BIGEYE TUNA CAUGHT DURING OFFSHORE TRIP BY ENSENADA BOAT BLACKJACK

Nov. 20, 2004, Steve Ross, Blackjack, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico Fishing:

On Saturday, I was a guest aboard Mike Kraus' 26-foot Skipjack "Blackjack" a long term Marina Coral tenant. In 5-foot windy seas, we made our way to the 238 spot on the inner bank. Ensenada fishing waters warmed from a chilly, green 58 degrees inshore to a blue 64 degrees offshore, where a single jig strike was produced. This was a 4-pound albacore who ate a trolled Yozuri. "It's the smallest albacore I have ever seen in my life," I remarked.

Blackjack then ran over to the 450 spot and a bigeye tuna inhaled a pink jet head. The bigeye weighed 14 pounds which is the same model my boat "Bad Dog" has been catching in that area for the past month. The species was verified by Gail Ross, who inspected the striations on its liver.

Bait was purchased from an Ensenada Mexican boat named "Linda" in the backside of Ensenada Harbor that has a net attached to its boat and they sold us a bait tank full of quality 6-inch anchovies. Blackjack had 2 jig strikes and boated both fish with no follow ups, with heavy chumming on the jig strikes.