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BFT

Don Jorge - 7-16-2016 at 10:17 AM

Sportfishing for the last 2 years in southern California Pacific oceans has been an unprecedented and unforgettable experience.

This year has set up to be just as good and it already has brought something none of us ever expect to see again locally in our lifetimes: big bluefin tuna.

After fishing 2 -3 days a week for the last 4 weeks chasing the BFT, seeing so many pop up and sinkout quickly and only catching yft and pesky yellowtail we finally got one. Not the biggest out there but biggest BFT put on our boat.

Took 10 minutes to land it, pith it, bleed it and take the picture. It was bled and on 80 lbs of ice withing 20 minutes of being hooked. It weighed out an even 80 lbs on a certified scale.

Caught on a live mackerel which have been a bear to make with the warmer waters. I was using a Seeker rod with Shimano TN 50 reel spooled with 450 yards of 100 lb braid attached by a double uni to a 5 ft long, 100 lb test fluorocarbon leader tied on to a 4/0 ringed Gamakatsu circle hook via an improved uni knot. Right gear, right fish, right nice.

The meat is fatty and firm, exudes fishy oil and is such a nice color.

This meat is going to taste great.

55steve - 7-16-2016 at 11:29 AM

Excellent!

fdt - 7-16-2016 at 12:01 PM

Mucha carne buena!

woody with a view - 7-16-2016 at 01:12 PM

NICE!!!

BornFisher - 7-16-2016 at 01:42 PM

WTG!!! CONGRATS!!!!!

Bajaboy - 7-16-2016 at 07:19 PM

I have a feeling one or two more might be hitting the decks on September 3....right Woody?!

BajaBlanca - 7-16-2016 at 07:27 PM

That is a beaut of a fish and your smile tells it all.

Pacifico - 7-16-2016 at 09:44 PM

Nice fish!

woody with a view - 7-17-2016 at 05:23 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy

I have a feeling one or two more might be hitting the decks on September 3....right Woody?!

O YEAH!

Udo - 7-17-2016 at 10:54 AM

Should make excellent sashimi, as Shari would say.

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

This meat is going to taste great.

Sweet!

<< Enjoy it while you can! >>

.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-17-2016 at 02:39 PM

Hola,

CONGRATULATIONS...GREAT REPORT !

short and sweet on how you set up your gear.

very nice to see someone that knows how to take care of their catch and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

the fish reports are saying the fish are finally biting, not just sinking out.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Taking care of the catch

Don Jorge - 7-18-2016 at 05:54 AM

We always take lots of ice in insulated "kill bags" on our fishing trips. We try and get the fish on board quickly and use clean gaff shots away from the meat.

Once the fish is over the rail we always pith and bleed the fish immediately. A quick picture sometimes and on ice the tuna goes. We use lots of ice which we brine to keep the temperature colder longer.

We know what a rare and special experience large bft are on the water and in the kitchen. We do everything we can to ensure all of the meat is well cared for and preserved. Sashimi, sushi, seared or grilled it is a delicious protein experience.

What we cannot consume fresh has been vacuumed packed and froze at -10F.
That fish we will can in Cortez Ranch olive oil. Some are packed in only oil, some have capers, jalapenos, garlic or ginger added. So good!

This brings up an observation we have made over the years. Why cannot the Baja sport fishing operations begin to treat the fish they catch as the fine food it is. Fresh caught fish deserves to be treated as fine food from hook to table.

fishbuck - 7-18-2016 at 12:01 PM

Very well done. The fish gods will be please...

willardguy - 7-18-2016 at 12:08 PM

any of it hit the smoker? my local fish market source for vacuum packed smoked tuna has been out for months!

Don Jorge - 7-18-2016 at 12:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy

any of it hit the smoker? my local fish market source for vacuum packed smoked tuna has been out for months!

No, we do not smoke bft. I Feel it is too good to wreck with marinades, sauces and such and the fat and oils so abundant in the meat we prefer to keep in the meat, not on a drip pan.

Yellowfin we smoke sometimes but we prefer to can yellowfin in half pint mason jars in either olive oil or in water.

bezzell - 7-18-2016 at 06:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

Sportfishing for the last 2 years

bwhahahaha
it's only a sport, if both parties are armed !

Slaughterfishing. Let's keep it real.

Don Jorge - 7-18-2016 at 07:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bezzell

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

Sportfishing for the last 2 years

Slaughterfishing.

Slaugterfishing!!! I like that! I do not have a problem slaughtering protein, be it soybeans, navy beans, heifers, elk, deer or tuna. Know your food!

Have not had much luck trolling this season, but you have!

bezzell - 7-18-2016 at 07:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

Quote: Originally posted by bezzell

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

Sportfishing for the last 2 years

Slaughterfishing.

just keepin' it real.
(animal protein = mistake. know your food

)

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-18-2016 at 08:14 PM

Hola,

to each his own.

Don Jorge...you are the man !!!! i like your report on how you handle your fish.

re: smoking bluefin...my son likes ( and so do we ) to smoke the bellies and they come out great.

i like to take some of the bellies and fillet out the ribs and skin and make sashimi out of it. YUMMM !

we also broil or bbq the collars. another YUM !

after filleting, we take a spoon and scrape the bones for almost every morsel.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

bezzell - 7-19-2016 at 08:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT

Hola,

to each his own.

yea, you mean within the human species right!
CLASSIC!

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-19-2016 at 08:45 PM

yes...mr. troll.

DA RAT .. NO BIEN SALUD FOR YOU !!!!

BajaBreak - 7-30-2016 at 09:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

This brings up an observation we have made over the years. Why cannot the Baja sport fishing operations begin to treat the fish they catch as the fine food it is. Fresh caught fish deserves to be treated as fine food from hook to table.

It's a shame that a healthy, and sustainable (if harvested correctly) protein source gets decimated due to a lack of regulation. Same old song, I know.

Don Jorge - 8-1-2016 at 07:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBreak

Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge

It's a shame that a healthy, and sustainable (if harvested correctly) protein source gets decimated due to a lack of regulation. Same old song, I know.

Sip, same old song indeed BajaBreak.

Yet I respect commercial fisherman and the tough task they perform of providing protein to people who cannot capture or raise their own protein. Regulation and enforcement are symbiotic, mutually dependent and fail when not in the presence of each other. Not much one can do about that in a country where people are voiceless, especially foreigners, except vote with your money.

However, still hope that someday Baja "sportfishing" operators would include in their services a program of proper care for the catch after it is on the boat. Insulated fish bags, well froze ice, brine solution and proper handling of the catch would enhance their operations and contribute to better reviews and better eating fish. Fresh fish properly cared for is only available to small percentage of people and should be valued for the great food it is.

On a side note the BFT are still around, still as hard to catch as ever and it seems they have been teaching the YFT how to act similarly. Two days in a row, Saturday and Sunday, found nice schools of good size 40-60 lb yft which were dialed in on micro anchovies and could not get them to go on sardines, jigs or macs. Which is why when we do catch some we do not waste the good luck.