Capt. Donna Piraino with her first giant bluefin tuna weighing 475 pounds.
By Captain Donna C. Piraino
I never really thought I’d ever want to fish… until I met Jamie (now my husband). He’d go off for the day with his friends and come back with pretty cool stories of fish caught, and lost (those were ALWAYS bigger than the caught ones). He and Wayne Corliss invited me out on Wayne’s boat one weekend and I couldn’t get ENOUGH of those schoolie stripers – one after another after another. It’s a fever, a disease, a passion. Yes… it’s a passion. And it’s my passion.
Jamie finally bought a boat of his own and we would spend every weekend and most weeknights fishing. We really have found a common bond so rare in relationships today – this fishing thing. Then, Jamie came home with the announcement, “ I’m going tuna fishing.” I replied, “Not in a 17-foot boat you’re not!” Great, our first argument… unless you want to count the fight over “who ate the last chocolate pudding…” So, he bought a bigger boat (who won that argument?) and off we went tuna fishing. Jamie landed a few small fish over the following years, but those blue bullets eluded me every time I hooked up. We were using spinning rods – and bluefins are an incredible sport-fish to battle on light gear! Again and again, they would break off on me, and I tried not get frustrated, but my patience was wearing thin. Jamie decided that it would be better to use Shimano 50’s and use a standup harness. We hooked up many times over the past five years, but again and again I’d lose them. Pulled hooks, chaffed leader, wrapped around the anchor, broke off on the motor, rubbed off on the bow. Anyone who knew my history would call me “the biggest loser.” Hey, if the shoe fits, right? I believe I have at least 20 hours into losing a dozen tuna.
On October 11th, we landed the first giant bluefin on REEL EZ. Our good friend, Steve Herdman, was the angler after I had lost ANOTHER tuna just an hour prior to Steve’s hookup. It was an epic two-hour battle that landed a 450-pound beast on our deck. This year, we have hooked up more times than I can count…. again that curse haunted me. On October 17th, the morning greeted me with a brief shower and a double rainbow. Jamie, Steve and I spent a little time catching mackerel to use for live bait and chum, and off we steamed to Jefferys Ledge. We anchored up at 10:30 a.m. (yes, 10:30 a.m.), and as I reeled up yet another pollock off the bottom, I stared at that red balloon keeping a mackerel 25 feet below us. As I stared, that balloon ripped away through the water, and this was it. This was MY day. All of the lessons have been learned, all the advice from fellow anglers surged into my head. Keep that rod bent, don’t lean over that gunnel, tighten that drag as far as you can stand, and then go two clicks more. If the fish rushes the boat, DO NOT stop reeling until you see that hook with no fish on it. During the chaotic boat side frenzy, keep your hand on the spool and back off the drag. Rough seas, big fish, but a determined crew.
I may have reeled that monster in, but it takes a team to land it thanks to one awesome harpoon shot by Steve and an amazing boat handling by Jamie. We hooked up at 11:15 a.m. and boated the fish at 12:15 a.m. One hour on standup with a Shimano 50, 100 lb test mono, 180 lb test leader and a 9/0 hook holding a bridled 17-inch mackerel and I had my first giant bluefin tuna. It was 89 inches long and weighed about 475 pounds – I am one proud lady!
Donna and Jamie Piraino are both USCG licensed Charter Boat Captains. Donna operates Go Girl Fish Fishing Charters in Gloucester, MA. For more information, visit Go Girl Fish Fishing Charters Facebook page that is updated weekly with new fishing adventures..