Ocean going (Tuna) advice

Wood Zeppelin · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:58 am Post subject: Ocean going (Tuna) advice

I've been boating for a long time, but in small boats (~16'). I'm planning to move up to a 22'. I'm interested in going out the in the ocean, but have no experience other than being on a Westport Salmon charter. I'm interested in going out for Tuna which is 50-100 miles out!

Can a 22' do that? Weather dependent?

If that's too far, what is a 22' capable of?

What's the first thing a newbie should know/do to prepare for going out in the ocean?

kaelc · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 10:12 am Post subject:

Yes, you can go for Tuna in a 22. I have fished Tuna commercially and have about 5 years of west coast experience and I’m hesitant to go in my 25. Weather knowledge and boat handling skills, combine with safety and navigation knowledge and equipment are key. This is all before you learn about ocean temperatures, spotting signs of tuna and actually learning how to catch them. I’d like to go with some friends and charters a few times first but having two young kids makes it tough. Off California may be the easiest safest but I’m on Vancouver Island and the weather can change quickly. If you are determined and get a 22 find the c-brats and c-dory owners who do and others on Facebook and bloody decks and plan to travel with them.

PaulNBriannaLynn · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 10:56 am Post subject:

The 22 c-dory isn't the best boat for offshore west coast albacore fishing. The fishing grounds are a long ways out, and if conditions go south, it would pound you to death coming back in. Not to mention fuel capacity is an issue in a 22 going 100 miles offshore. It's been done, but you'd be better off in a heavier deeper V hull.

I have a friend that fishes Westport for Tuna. He runs a 26' SeaSport with a volvo diesel. That is a much more appropriate boat for this type of fishing IMO

hardee · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:36 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 1:01 pm Post subject:

The 22 does not have a self bailing cockpit. I would consider this essential for 'offshore" work.

Second is range--if you are serious about going 100 miles out--that will be in the vicinity of 5 hours out and back--10 hours of travel. Then how much fuel would you use when on the grounds? How about if you run into foul weather and you are pounding into it (most of the time breezes blow toward or up and down the coast, but there. are exceptions...

Rule of thumb is 1/3 of fuel out, 1/3 back, and 1/3 reserve.

nordicstallion · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:54 pm Post subject:

I’ve had 3 trips out for albacore before I bought my 19. Once out 17 miles with a meathead local in a 22’ boat, never again, he was a complete idiot. He talked big but had no idea what he was doing & he had to stop another boat to ask how to get home!!! Once with experienced fishermen in a 19’ boat,40 miles out, very big swells & large ship traffic but ok & doable. Third time,60 miles out with a hotdogger in a nice 22’, concerning with lots of heavy fog banks & no radar!! All 3 boats were deep v. I Bought & rigged my 19 dreaming of albacore but ultimately reconsidered going out there in a flat bottom. There are many, many things that could go wrong out there & I ultimately reconsidered that madness. Far quicker, safer, cheaper & easier to buy tuna off a commercial boat and not put ones person & boat in jeopardy.

kaelc · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 10:45 pm Post subject:

Easier and cheaper is not the point of any of my fishing and smoking! Tuna is in the cards some day did Island Magic, but lots of fish to catch before it happens.

Wood Zeppelin · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:29 am Post subject:

Wood Zeppelin · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:36 am Post subject: C-dory V's

For example:

https://gary5410.smugmug.com/C-Dory-21--Pro-Angler/Pro-Angler/i-GmV9jTK/A

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:39 am Post subject:

I don't normally poo-poo somebody's ideas, but this sounds like a bad one to me in all honesty. If I were considering doing something along the lines of what you are proposing with a trailable boat, I would want something with a deep v around 26-30 or so feet, capable of a 30kt cruise, and a 300 mile range. And even then, you will still have to carefully pick your days. 50-100 miles out is really far to run in a boat (like the 22) that isn't fast, doesn't hold that much gas, and can beat the crap out of you when it's rough. I know everyone on here says just go slower and it will be fine, and a lot of times they are right, but there are times where you cannot do that. I am always impressed with what the 22 will do and how much punishment it will take, but I don't think it is the right boat for what you are proposing - so many better choices.

Foggy · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 8:16 am Post subject:

My thoughts on this. First, honestly answer these questions, to yourself:

How much do you know about your boat and power source and have you
performed prior diligent inspection of each?
On the water, are you able to remedy problems with either should you need to?

How are your weather analysis/prediction skills?
What do you do if the weather varies suddenly from the predicted (local variation)?

Do you have communication ability beyond VHF range?

What would you place in your ditch bag?

Just first thoughts.

Aye.

localboy · Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:52 am Post subject:

One of my co-workers has a tuna boat out of Depoe Bay, OR. IIRC it's a 36' Bertram with twin diesels. Deep V, enough speed to "find" the tuna, enough range to "search" for the tuna and get home and 36 feet of offshore, blue water design.

The ocean is nothing to screw with...

Wood Zeppelin

Thank you everyone for your great advice! I've come to the conclusion that I won't be doing Tuna, at least not on my own.

My question has evolved to two more questions:

(a) How much difference do C-dory "Venture" (and pro-angler - see photo in previous message) hulls make over flat ones?

(b) Salmon are not very far offshore.. What about going out a short run for Salmon in a CD22?

forrest · Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2021 12:58 am Post subject:

I've never went offshore for tuna but have taken a few 30 mile trips for halibut. Sometimes I can't even keep up with the charters. I've arrived at the spot only to see the deep v's leaving with their limits. A couple of the trips were 3 hours of hell getting there, catch a couple of halies and then 3 more hours of hell back. Our boats aren't made for wind chop on an ocean swell.

That said, a nice Whaler was fueling up today at the fuel docks while I was. After 3 days fishing he bought 127 gallons(2-300 hp mercs). After 4 days of fishing going out 20 plus miles each day I bought 76 gallons. Honda fuel flow gauges said I used 68.2 while traveling 224 miles. The kicker uses on average around 2 gallons per day.The Whaler captain said it takes him 1 gallon to go one mile. I usually get a little over 3 miles to a gallon on the ocean.

PaulNBriannaLynn