NC Giant Tuna Report (PICTURES)

More reports available at Tidal Fish
http://www.tidalfish.com

Riptide Charters writes:
We are back and we return victorious!

Team Riptide and Team Split made the 800+ mile journey to Atlantic
Beach, NC to tangle with one of the biggest and baddest fish in the
ocean. The giant bluefin tuna!

The trip started with plenty of research and preparation prior to
departing. There were many people that were instrumental in making our
trip happen (I'll thank them all at the end)

We headed south on Sunday the 5th around 0800 A.M. The trip took allot
longer than planed due to the slower average speed and the excessive
fuel burn in the trucks pulling the big boats. We arrived almost 15
hours later.

Once there Jim and J.C. were waiting (they flew down) They had our
slips ready and we splashed the boats and loaded our gear on board.
Then we turned in for a well-deserved nap.

Monday morning came quickly and we were up at 0500. After a quick
breakfast we went to the marina and readied the boats for the day. We
took our time getting things just right so we arrived on the fishing
grounds at a leisurely 0900. It was our first day and we were planning
on it being more of a "practice day" than an actual fishing day.

That plan was shot to hell when at 0915 Split calls out on the radio
"We're tight!" FIFTEEN MINUTES OTW AND THEY ARE TIGHT!!!!!! We are all
stunned! While Dana works the fish within sight of us we all wonder if
this is a fluke or an omen of things to come. Ten minutes later we get
our answer. The 70VSW on the starboard side of the Riptide startles us
all as it begins to scream at a furious pace! Mike C is in the harness
and we are now in the game!

AWESOME pictures available at
http://www.tidalfish.com/boards2/vt....22115&id=51252