Yellowfin Tuna on the Lukuna

My good friend Kevin O'Neil is really becoming a heck of a fishing captain! We left Newport Harbor on the trusty 45-foot Lukuna at 5am, jetted to Dana Point for bait, and boogied to the 209 spot to find a HUGE pod of dolphin working the seas. Kevin would position the boat in front of the dolphin, Cole and I would chunk bait over the stern of the boat, and then we would fish live sardines in the wake.
Somewhere between the 209 and the line between the 181 and 182 spots (known on the Lukuna as the Porter Run), Ron Fisk hooked up with a sizable Yellowfin Tuna. He had seen Yellowtail break off anxious anglers like his Dad and himself outside of Avalon all summer. This time he had the patience, and after 30 minutes managed to land the fish on a salt-water spinning reel loaded with 20-pound-test line, 25-pound-test leader, and an Owner Size 1 Mutu Circle Hook.

The Yellowfin didn't jump but made several runs after being brought close to the boat, mostly along the surface so we could see his dorsal fin rapidly cut the water 10 to 40 yards off the boat. Great job Ron!

Check out all the pic's from the day's adventure here (click on the link then click"slideshow").

Watching the thousands of dolphin herd bait and up to 12 boats at a time fish alongside the dolphin was a spectacle that we will not soon forget. Thanks Kev!

Later in the day Kevin and Ron jumped into the water to determine whether this kelp paddy held any sizable fish. They found a giant ball of Mackerel but no Dorado or Yellowtail as hoped. Would you have the guts to swim in open water with a chum bucket hanging off the side of the boat?