Oregon Tuna Classic

The Oregon Tuna Classic reeled in thousands of pounds of tuna last weekend, producing happy fishermen along with happy food banks.

Thirty-seven teams caught 4,045 pounds of tuna last Saturday during the third leg of the tournament in Charleston, and food banks along the South Coast can also expect an additional 2,100 pounds of fish that were donated.

With great crowds and decent weather to greet the fishermen, Charleston Port Manager Jim Pex thought the tournament went well.

“Outstanding, actually. It was a pretty booming event,” he said. “There were people all up and down the boat basin.

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Tags: Charleston, fishing, offshore fishing, Oregon Tuna Classic, tournament, tuna

Oregon Tuna Classic: Go or No Go?

Waves may quell part of tuna event

While it’ll still be a good time raising money for a good cause, the Oregon Tuna Classic might not reel in much tuna this year.

Charleston will host the food bank fishing fundraiser for the second year in a row this Saturday, but organizers fear heavy seas might not permit the actual fishing part.

“It’s a lot of fun, and we get to help out a good cause,” Port Captain Jim Pex said. “A lot of families come, so it’s a pretty good crowd.”

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Tags: fishing, Oregon Tuna Classic, tuna, Weather

Catching Albacore Tuna In Bandon!

Yesterday I was fortunate to have picked the perfect day for tuna fishing off of the Oregon Coast.

The time was 5:30 am and the fog was still keeping the sun at bay.   10 anglers left bandon aboard the Prowler owned by Prowler Charters of Bandon.   As we came across the bar there were rolling 4 foot swells and all was well.

By 7:15 the water temperature was around 62.5 degrees.  We set 8 lines in the water and drew our numbers for the order we would land fish.  I drew number 2 which means when number one catches his fish, I get the next one.  

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Tags: albacore, Bandon Oregon, Deep Sea, fishing, Off Shore, Prowler Charters, tuna

Best Albacore Tuna Catch EVER!

It is time for the yearly makeover here on The Harvester, taking her from a heavy hauling machine to a sleek albacore tracking machine. We start by taking off the hauling equipment like the crab block, long line hauler and the deck table that we use for holding and setting the long line gear. Then give the boat a heavy scrubbing, paint the trim, and add the small hydraulic tuna pullers and landing table. All this takes about four days. Meanwhile in the evenings we keep a close eye on the terrafin sea surface temperature charts. They tell us where the water temperature is ideal for the albacore,between 60 and 65 degrees. Over the past couple of  weeks we have seen that the warm water has moved from 100mi to 40mi off the coast of Charleston.

On the Hunt: Once we’re in the warmer waters we slow the boat to six knots and throw out nine jigs that vary from 5 to 150 feet behind the boat.   They drag a few inches below the surface in the prop wash “disturbed water behind boat”.   Albacore mostly travel in groups so they can corner schools of bait fish up against the surface.  When they do this the surface is disturbed just like the water behind the boat. So when the harvester drives over some albacore they rise up thinking all that action means chow time.  They bite the jigs swimming very fast, once hooked they dive down making the line behind the boat tight.

This is when the fun starts, we grab the line and slap it in the tuna puller that pulls the fish close to the boat then we hand pull them the last ten feet to the stern and yank them on. Once they are landed they are bled and packed in ice.  Last year we averaged 90 fish per day, the first half of the  season was more like 150 fish per day. As the season goes on they fatten up and don’t feed as much so they’re harder to catch, but if you want BBQ fresh tuna later season catch is the best. We can expect good albacore fishing now through the middle of October so get out  the BBQ and pressure canner because it’s tuna time.

First Trip:

We left at four in the morning on Tuesday the 9th of July and fished half the day afternoon Tuesday and all day Wednsday for 330 fish at 65 miles off the coast of Winchester bay average size 15 pounds for 6000 lbs total. Weather was good and we offloaded and are heading out again. We expect to have fresh canned tuna available by this Monday.

Second Trip:

Best albacore fishing we’ve ever had. We pulled 527 fish on Saturday the 11th of July and 180 on Sunday  for more than 10,000 lbs of albacore tuna on our 34 foot boat (that’s a record) The guys at the cannery just about crapped their pants and had to hire on some more workers to finish processing (they are still cutting even now ha ha).  We were 32 miles off Winchester Bay taking a chance on close in fishing. We hit the mother load and plugged our little boat. No other ships in sight the whole time sorry guys.. you were too far out!

So the canned albacore we JUST CAUGHT are available for you and your family. You can order on line and/or visit our spot at the Eugene Farmers Market Sat 18th. We are working on local pickup locations in Coos/Curry  which will be ready soon — We’ll let you know.   A lot of other boats have fresh albacore on the docks, just keep a look out for signs near your local harbors.  We have some available  but we’re on a hot streak so not sticking around on shore too long!!

Local Pickup now Available for Langlois & Coos/Curry by arraignment.

Capt Tyler and the Harvester Crew

Tags: albacore, fishing, tuna

Tuna fishing in full swing

Tuna are finally in range of recreational and charter fleets. In the past few days the boats of Prowler Charters, out of Bandon, have taken 125 nice albacore tuna. The news has spread like wildfire and droves of boats are gearing up for this exciting fishery. The tuna are out approximately 20 miles and you will have to check Terrapin temperature charts to find at least 59-degree water. The warmer water has moved into the area in long fingers and it’s necessary to find these edges.

Not only is albacore tuna one of the finest table delicacies, but it may rank as one of our top game fish. I had reports of a 43-pound tuna being taken offshore from Charleston. That would be one heck of a fight! You will need to be very careful in smaller boats traveling these distances across an open ocean. I highly recommend that you fish with a buddy boat so you can stay in communication. You’ll find more fish this way and have a much safer trip.

Tags: albacore, charters, Oregon, tuna

Bandon, Coos Bay, Charleston Fishing Charters

Betty Kay Charters – Join us for fun and adventure on our our fishing trips! Captain Bill and Captain Kathi are ready to give you a memorable, fun fishing trip. They will go all out to find and get you fish! Captain Bill and Captain Kathi will give you helpful tips and assist you. Your safety and fun is our focus.

7788 Albacore, Charleston, OR 97420 (541) 888-9021 www.bettykaycharters.com

Chinook Charters
93762 Raymond Ln., North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 662-0964

Prowler Charters – It’s time to enjoy some of the best deep sea charter fishing on the Oregon Coast. Departing from Bandon By The Sea and traveling across the Bandon bar we make our way to the fishing ground, just minutes from the dock!.

325 First St. SE, Bandon, OR 97423 (541) 347-9126 www.prowlercharters.com

Salmon Harbor Charters

495 Beach Boulevard,Winchester Bay, OR (541) 271-2010 www.salmonharborcharters.com

Strike Zone Charters – Owned and operated by husband & wife team Scott & Casey Howard. The Howard family has operated Deep Sea Salmon Fishing Charters in Winchester Bay since 1962. Strike Zone Charters was formally known as Gee Gee Charters.

465 Beach Blvd, Winchester Bay, Oregon 97420 (541) 271-9706 www.strikezonecharters.com

Tags: Bandon, bottom fishing, Charleston, charter fishing, Coos Bay, halibut, Reedsport, tuna, Winchester Bay