Here's the fabulous catch on the Indy...

Independence docked December 20 with a remarkable catch of giant yellowfin tuna. The ten-day trip with 25 anglers, skippered by owners Mark Pisano and Paul Strasser finished up with 16 cows, or tuna over 200 pounds. The crowning glory, though was the weighing of three tuna over 300 pounds on the Point Loma Sportfishing certified scales.

Independence docked at dawn Dcember 20 with three super cows

The trio of super cows went 356.2, 350.8 and 302.8 pounds! Such a lineup hasn’t been seen at the San Diego sportfishing docks for about a decade.

The biggest fish, caught by Dan Taketa of Lompoc, nearly broke into the ranks of the all-time top ten tuna taken by long rangers. At 356 pounds, it was only about six pounds short of making that mark.

“It took about an hour and a half to get him in,” said Dan. “When he bit, he just kept on going. He was hard to stop.”

Taketa said he hooked his fish on a sardine and a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu circle hook. He used 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 50 S reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod. He also got a 210.8-pound yellowfin.

Dan’s monster nearly spooled him, and a couple of other anglers did get spooled by the big fish around the Indy.

“It was a fantastic trip, the trip of a lifetime. Our best bite was a sunsetter,” remembered skipper Pisano, “and we got about 20 fish that day. Other days, there weren’t so many. But everyone aboard got a 100-pounder. We released four marlin, and there were uncountable dorado up to 30 pounds.

“The big tuna down there are a bit scattered, but they bunch up enough for sportfishing. We found most of ‘em on meter marks. They were electronics fish. The water was from 77.5 to 78.5 degrees, and there’s a pretty strong uphill push of current.”

His partner Paul Strasser said, “They’re right about where they were last year.”

“Do you think that might be part of their migration route?” I asked. “Maybe a loop on the top part?”

“It sure looks that way,” said Strasser.

The Indy Jackpot Winners are joined by Skippers Mark Pisano, Paul Strasser and crew

Curt Kamada of El Segundo won second place for a 350.8-pounder that ate a sardine on a 4/0 Mutu hook. Curt said he tied that hook to a Basil topshot of 100-pound Izorline, tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Will Fish 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod. He also took a 220.3-pound tuna.

“It was a two-hour fight,” he allowed. “He bit on the slide. I dropped back with a six-ounce torpedo sinker. Then he took me around the boat three times.”

Joe Armstead of Mountain View won third place for a 302.8-pound tuna. He said it was a 40-minute fish that took a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu. He fished with 100-pound Izorline, 130-pound Power Pro Spectra, a Will Fish 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Craig Ronholm of Solana Beach just missed the super cow class with his 295.6-pound tuna. He said he got it after an hour-long fight.

“It kicked my butt,” he remarked. The fish bit a sardine on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook on a boat rod, with 130-pound Izorline, 130-pound Spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

The Indy is in for Christmas, and will leave again shortly after that holiday.

*****

Seems that 135 spectra with 100 mono scored top honors. The AA's last post from their charter master recommended 130 mono-- 4/0 and 5/0 Mutus work. Will Fish frames on Shimano TLD 50 worked. Avets worked.

We ought to be just fine with what we have.

I caught a 200+ on the will fish 50LRS last year. They really set the reel up right. I have it spooled with 130 hollow with about 100 yds. of 200 hollow spiced in at the end, and used wind on leaders made from 130# leader material.
Also used EC 8/0 circles, to keep the line away from the tuna teeth.

The reel performed great with > 30# of drag. With the added T-Bar handle, had plenty of cranking power.

The stock reel was weak in the frame, but the upgrade fixes that.

I wouldn't consider 80# in cow town.
Even 100# is on the light side, but a circle hook will help.
100# main line with a sinker, swivel, and 3' leader is sometimes the ticket.

Hopefully, your rods are up to the reel capacity.

Chark sells the Seeker 659XXXH, which is one of the cheapest cow sticks and works very well, and is easy on the back.