NC Kayak Bluefin

Hey, I thought you guys might enjoy this story and would like to share. Anyways, I'm the angler in this story and was fishing with my Accurate BX2-500 reel off the coast of Hatteras, NC from my kayak. Turns out to be the new world record overall biggest tuna caught by kayaker. - Matt Shepard

Heres the story and some pics by Ric Burnley-

Kayak Bluefin

I was cooking Fajitas for my family when Captain Scott Warren of the Big Tahuna called from Hatteras. He had a day off, the weather was forecast to be tolerable, and he offered to take me and my buddies to target bluefin in our kayaks. While finishing the fajitas, I scrambled to pull together a crew and by midnight, Lee Williams, Matt Shepard, and I were heading for Hatteras.

We crashed on the boat and met Scott and mate Kenny Koci when they arrived shortly before 6AM. We loaded kayaks, tackle, and gear then pulled away from the dock just as the sun was rising.

For the past month, the bluefin bite has been phenomenal off Hatteras, North Carolina. Boats running to the edge of the Gulf Stream have been catching 100 to 200 pound bluefin by chunking, jigging, trolling and even throwing top water poppers. This was the first time anyone fishing out of Hatteras would try to catch one of these fish in a kayak.

We got to the temperature break and landed right in the middle of the fish. Before we launched the kayaks, Kenny put out a couple baits to prospect for fish; within minutes both lines were hooked up. We worked those fish to the boat; each around 50 pounds. While we ran back to the break to launch the yaks, we put another bait out. That lasted less than a minute. After boating another 50 pounder, Scott kept the baits in and took us to the break where we launched the kayaks.

As usual, the weatherman was wrong about the conditions. Our forecasted 10 to 15 turned into 15 to 20 and 2 to 4 was more like 3 to 5. But we had come so far and worked so hard that we weren't going to let the weather get in the way of making history.

Each of us carried two medium heavy jigging rods; one rigged with a vertical jig and one baited with a naked ballyhoo. The idea was to drift/troll the ballyhoo while dropping the jig on fish marks. Scott would troll down the line ahead of us and inform us over the radio when he marked fish. Then we would drift behind him while jigging.

I hooked up first, but it was only a 5 pound albacore. A few minutes later, Lee hooked up with a bigger fish. Much bigger. One second, Lee was bobbing next to me wildly jerking on his jigging rod, the next second he was being dragged through the 3 foot chop and 5 foot swells while screaming and hooting. A minute later his line broke and the fight was over, but we were all amped about the action.

We continued to work the edge. Drifting in the 3 knot current and wind while watching giant hammerheads watch us, passing through hundreds of Portuguese man-of-war jellies, and catching a glimps here and there of swirling tuna. Each of us hooked a half dozen fish, but each battle would only last a few minutes before these powerful fish would break the line or pull the hook. Even though we were all experienced anglers, nothing could prepare us for the explosive speed and mind-bending power of these tuna. Each encounter unfolded the same way: a bluefin would hit like a freight train, whipping the kayak around into the wind and seas, then take off dragging us at up to 7 knots while emptying the spool of line in seconds. When we would increase the drag to the point of being yanked out of the yak, the line would break or the hooks would pull. But each time we lost a fish, we learned a valuable lesson.

After several hours in the water, and dozens of fish hooked, fought and lost, we finally figured it out.

As the conditions worsened, and we considered pulling the plug, Matt hooked into a big fish that pulled him from the warm water into the cool. He held on while the tuna dragged him and emptied his reel. After a half mile the fish slowed and took the fight deep. Matt let the tuna tow him around, gaining line when he could, loosing line when he couldn't, and waiting for the fish to tire out.

An hour and a half and 2 and a half miles later, the fish gave up and came to the surface. Lee was poised to stick the huge fish with a gaff, but the tuna turned towards the boat and Kenny reached out with his gaff and ended the battle.

The crew celebrated like Super Bowl champions. Matt was hoisted out of his yak and into the handshakes and back slaps from his fellow anglers. His fish weighed 166 pounds; the first bluefin caught off Hatteras by a kayaker.

223# Cow on the TwinSpin 50

FINALLY A SPINNING REEL TOUGH ENOUGH TO MAKE THE COWS COME HOME.

I have been fortunate enough to have been a long range fisherman for going on 5 decades, catching more than my fair share of big fish. During that time I took off 15 years to raise my son. When he was old enough I came back to find the industry, which had not changed much in 30 years, had made some enormous advances in the way of fishing gear. New reels and hollow Spectra had become a world changer. Though my old gear had seen their fair share of battle it was clear the newer gear would make life easier for a 15 year older version of me.

Having been in the Aerospace Manufacturing business most of my life, building hardware on everything from the Apollo engines to the Space Shuttle main engines, I am more than aware of quality, engineering and attention to detail in everything I purchase. When I discovered Accurate Grinding, a machine house offering products to the Aerospace Industry, was building fishing reels I knew I had to investigate. I arranged to have a tour of the facility and immediately fell in love with their Platinum ATD and Boss line of state of the art reels.

I have always pushed the envelope in fishing gear and now I found a company whose gear I could push but knew the reels could take it and give even more. No one was fishing 30 size reels for cows at the time yet I was convinced this was the way to go as these ATD's had the power and stamina to do the job. Adding to my craziness I had the folks at Accurate add high speed gears and a longer crank arm to go with a more aggressive cam. My very first 17 day, after acquiring a number of these ATD and Boss reels, proved I was right. I was fishing next to folks using 80 and 50 wide gold reels and here I was fishing small silver (Platinum) colored gear. Those same folks thought I was crazy but the results spoke for themselves as I had beyond an
epic trip. The small but powerful reels gave me an edge over the bigger and heavier gear used by others. Today, more and more folks are fishing smaller and smaller reels as manufacturers such as Accurate have gone to the next level in meeting the needs of anglers world wide.

Years past and I grew anxious to try other unused techniques in Long Range fishing. I have always believed Spinning reels are the ultimate stealth tool to get a bait into the zone in Pick bite situations. Unfortunately the old spinners did not hold up well to the bigger and meaner fish we were encountering.

When I heard Accurate was contemplating building an advanced line of Salt Water Spinners I knew I would have to own some. The first to arrive was the Accurate 12 TwinSpin and did I have a ball with that. Tuna, Wahoo, Yellowtail, Albacore etc. were handled with no problem. Soon after a 20 size TwinSpin was part of my arsenal. With the added line capacity Yellowfin Tuna to 140 pounds were landed with out ever being spooled. This became one of my go to reel for trips 8 days or less as I found I was hooking up more often than most using conventionals.

One can only imagine the disbelief of more conservative anglers who could not believe a Spinner could be used for Long Range Applications. But the results were impossible to dispute. Spinners could get the bait into the zone with little effort by the bait. Casting had almost no
harmful effects on the Anchovies or Sardines being used as I could gently land the bait on the water much further away from the boat.

Since most of my trips are now 10 - 17 days, targeting cow size tuna (Tuna over 200 pounds), I knew I would never get a Giant on a spinner at least not the ones available at the time. Then along came the Accurate TwinSpin 50 and man did that reel get the juices flowing. Finally a Spinner built as tough as the fish I was targeting. After setting up the new reel on a appropriate Super Seeker 6463XXXH rod I only had to hook up to the right fish.

Over the last two seasons I split my time using the Accurate ATD's and the new 50 size spinner. Though I caught plenty of big fish on the big Spinner the cows I hooked up to were all caught on the ATD's. Finally, In January of 2010, aboard the Intrepid, I hooked into what seemed like the right fish. There was a ton of hooting and hollering and I am sure some folks were laying odds I would not land the fish. Sure enough it happened. The majority of the fight was actually not difficult and the TwinSpin 50 handled the big fish beautifully. As usual in cow fishing, the end game had its challenges, yet the big tuna ended up on the deck. It is important to remember fishing from an anchored long range boat with twenty or more other anglers with lines in the water is all together different from being in a panga or sports fisher as we are not in a position to chase down a big fish. Therefore the gear and the angler generally take more of a beating. This big fish taped out on the boat at 213#'s and actually weighed 223#'s, on a certified scale, at the dock.

As noted previously, I have been Long ranging for well over 4 decades. However, I can remember hooking into and landing my first big fish as a kid. The feelings I had at the time are shared with most fishermen I speak with. Making deals with your inner self, promising to be a better person, etc. if only you would be allowed to land this fish of a life time. Additionally I remember enjoying the experience as only a kid can. Those feelings have faded over time as many more big fish were landed. Catching a Cow on the Accurate 50 TwinSpin brought back all the feelings I had as a kid catching my first big fish. Not many things in this world can make you feel young again but catching big fish on a spinner is one of them. I cannot wait to do it again and perhaps feel the same as I did as a kid when I landed my second big fish.

Thank You to Accurate Fishing for creating a series of reels with the performance and looks of a Ferrari yet built like a Mack Truck. Be it a Boss Extreme, Platinum ATD or Twin Spin, Accurate has made me a believer in all they are trying to accomplish.

Jamie Massion

www.AccurateReels.com

Congratulations Bob Michener - 40 Cows

A shout went up from Bob “Scrappy” Michener of Oxnard when his 210-pounder was weighed in San Diego after getting off the Red Rooster III.

“It’s my 40^th cow,” said Bob. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this! He’s long and skinny, and he pulled hard. I got 36 of the 40 on Accurate reels.”

Bob said his tuna ate a sardine on a 12/0 Mustad circle hook tied to 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, 100-pound Izorline mono and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on an Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 760 XH rod.

Report by Bill Roecker at FishingVideos.com

www.AccurateFishing.com

Accurate SR-50 Spinning Reel lands first Long Range Cow on Spin Gear.

Likely the biggest story of the trip was the catching of a 213-pound tuna by Jamie Massion of Calabasas on an Accurate spinning reel. It was the first cow to be caught on spinning gear. He’s been trying to do it for a couple of years, as have several other anglers, but this time he was there at the proper moment.
The fight lasted an hour and a half, he said. The fish bit on a sardine on a 5/0 Mustad Hoodlum J hook. He used 90-pound Momoi leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate TwinSpin 50 reel. His spinning rod was custom-built by Bob Sands Tackle, a Super Seeker 6463 XXXH model, with the guides on “the wrong side,” of course.
He fished the rig on the rail, he said, with the aid of a device he calls “Thunder Down Under,” a cradle of sorts to keep the rig up off the rail, so the line goes back and forth without rubbing.
“I’m not sure what to say about it,” he told Roecker. “This is my second season of trying.
It was a major achievement, and the fishing community has been waiting for it longer than Massion has been trying.
Congratulations from your friends at Accurate on a job well done.

Crouse lands a 332 Super Cow on an Accurate BX2-50

Another story of small reels big fish has been written.
Jeff Crouse of Costa Mesa, a maintenance supervisor in the Long Beach Unified School District, got the biggest, a 332.5-pound giant yellowfin, after a long fight.
“He was straight down for three hours,” said Crouse, who winched the tuna up after it ate a sardine on a 9/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate BX-2 50 reel and a Super Seeker 2 x 4 rod.

322# Yellow Fin on ATD-50

American Angler Sportfishing

www.AccurateFishing.com

Congrats Jeff Tedmori, Possible Junior All-Tackle Record

Shauna Barton for Izorline and David Choate for Accurate were the chartermasters aboard the Intrepid when she returned for a ten-day trip January 5.

"We spent four days down on the lower banks," Intrepid captain Kevin Osborne said after docking at Point Loma Sportfishing January 5, 2010. "We also spent a day on the Ridge for some wide-open yellowtail, and maybe a potential world record grouper."

Sixteen-year old Jeff Tedmori of Newport Beach caught a 216.4-pound tuna on the kite as well as his potential Junior All-tackle record 206.4-pound tuna. Jeff flylined a sardine on a 6/0 Owner Super Mutu hook, 130-pound Seaguar Premier line, an Accurate BX2-50 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXX rod.

Chartermaster David Choate's potential World Record gulf grouper was caught using a Mustad hook, 130-pound Seaguar using Sato Crimps and Jerry Brown glue, 100-pound JB Line One Hollow Spectra, an Accurate ATD 30 reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXX rod.

"You don't have time to click into a harness," David said after describing getting bit by a grouper.

Report by Paul Sweeney with FishingVideos.com

www.AccurateFishing.com

Successful Trip on the Intrepid

Sun. Jan 3, 2010 aboard the Intrepid: We are traveling up the line in beautiful weather with a great feeling on the boat. We made a few stops for some Yellows and some nice sized Calico Bass along the way. Tomorrow we will make a stop for some Rock Cod fishing to finish off the trip. The trip has been a big hit with our guest from the Cow fishing to the WFO Yellowtail stops and the Giant Grouper caught yesterday, to the fun atmosphere we have here on the Intrepid. Today was a blast, just like all the days spent this trip. The perfect weather all week long helped out as well. The Cow count this trip was 12 over 200 lbs and another 38 between 130-190 lbs. That brings our score to 66 Cows and 7 Super Cows so far for the year. We are stoked to say the least!! Thank you to all our friends who have made it happen this year and a BIG CONGRATS TO YOU ALL!! We would like to thank the Nilsen's and Accurate Reels for this sponsored trip. The reels worked flawlessly and made this catch a reality for many first time Cow Hunters. The open faced Accurates are easy to work and very strong when pulling on the Giants. Thanks again Jack.

The Intrepid Team

Our ETA is 5:30 am Tuesday morning.

www.AccurateFishing.com

Looking back on the ATD 12

I was lucky enough to recently spend my vacation doing what I love the most on the water: fishing cows. Those big, round, sickle finned yellowfin that are the ultimate in long range fishing.

After getting home I got around to unpacking my reels from the trip about a week later. (Don’t gasp—I cleaned them on the boat.)

Reaching into the reel bag, I picked up my Accurate ATD 50 topless first. Thoughts of the 202 pounder I got on the “big reel” popped into my head. Then I grabbed the “little” ATD 12 and thought about the 252 I got on it. I replayed the fish in my head—the cast, the long soak, the bite, the dumping 400 yards of line, the end game—it all came back to me.

Sometimes anglers come up with realizations about their trips after they get off the boat. This was mine.

The “small reels, big fish” saying that Accurate pushes is real and here to stay. There’s a time when the added advantages of a small reel—castability, mainly—are the differences between getting bit and watching.

Some guys like to say, “You can’t fish cows with that thing!” “Kid, you’re going to have your work cut out for you if you get bit by a cow using that.” This is what the other guys sometimes say when they see a little reel like an ATD 12.

But they don’t keep this in mind: you can get over 500 yards of 100-pound hollow Spectra on the ATD 12. Back in the days of fishing straight mono on 50 wides, anglers were still “only” getting around 500 yards. The little reels have the drags, they have the gears, and they have the line capacity.

So here are my questions: What’s the difference? Why can’t a guy fish a little reel that has the same general capabilities as the stuff—like 50s and 80s—that was standard back in the mono days?

Some might say that you have a bigger spool—a bigger barrel if you will—with a 50-sized reel. And you do. But the little reels are so beefed up and a so tuned in, that anyone who is comfortable with a rod and reel can catch a cow on a little reel.

After all, sometimes the “little” things turn up “big” results.

Brandon Hayward

Western Outdoor News

www.AccurateFishing.com

Kevin & Stas - Cows and Super Cows

Kevin Leong and Stas Vellonakis represented Accurate on the recent Royal Star trip to "cow country.

We are proud to have these anglers on the Accurate Pro-Staff Team. They are two of the most talented of all Long Range tuna anglers. Their reputations and fishing accomplishments are legend throughout the San Diego Long Range fleet.

www.AccurateFishing.com