PNW Freedive Spearfishing Tournament!

[NWh2oman]

Hey Casey, what does a charter boat typically run to go out to the tuna grounds?

[No I'm Josh]

Originally Posted by philip.graber

once I pool some spare cash selling black market used neoprene underwear I'll overdose on Dramamine and coffee and head out there to try my hand...

What are you going to try with your hand?

[philip.graber]

[No I'm Josh]

[diver pat]

I am lucky, the albacore here are often only a mile or less out, so a typical day out in my little rubber duck is $20 worth of gas. The fish are not usually big - average 3-6kg, but the occasional 10kg plus one comes through, as well as skipjack tuna. Stuffed up a striped marlin last year. Blues and makos are an issue too.

[No I'm Josh]

You're loving that! Tuna at close and cheap proximity... the things dreams are made of.

[orspearo666]

Originally Posted by Devildiver

I've spoken with the charter boats out of Newport about taking divers - they're willing to do it for the same price as the h&l guys. It seems as though we have enough "interested" divers to schedule a trip. Whose ready to actually do what they say they're going to do?

sign me up. ive been itching for an excuse to hook up a float rig for a while.

[philip.graber]

Does anyone know about how large the average albacore is off the Oregon coast? Also, what other blue water species are prevalent in case finding albacore is a bust?

[orspearo666]

the average ive taken on H&L go about 25lbs. i would assume a midsized school would all run close to that. ive heard the biggins can go 40lbs(!)

as far as other pelagics, ive heard tell of dorado (rare), striped marlin (even rarer), yellowfins and skipjacks, and braodbills. ive never had the pleasure of running into any of these. from what i understand, it has to be really, really warm for those other species to show up.