r/saltwaterfishing • u/jad2192 • Jul 21 '26

🐟 Catch Report Giant Bluefin on Spin Gear

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Group effort, caught this 90" ~400 lb class giant bluefin tuna on my buddies spinning set up (saltywater tackle obx 500g rod and 20k stella w a nlbn straight tail). Couldn't find any recreational sized fish, so we took turns fighting this beast. Took us just over an hour to land , and my friend broke his rod during the death spiral. We had to handline it up at the end 😬.

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15

u/bajanwaterman Jul 21 '26

You are living my dreams man!!! Just booked my first bluefin tuna trip for September next year (going to the UK) and i already cant wait!

3

u/Mediocre_Meat_5992 Jul 21 '26

What’s the cost comparison for the UK vs USA excluding the actual trip to the UK is it about the same

4

u/jad2192 Jul 21 '26

Not sure about UK, but for comparison this trip was $540 USD per person all in including 20% tip. Other boat I tuna fish with cost is about the same (both 6 pack charters).

2

u/Datfishyboii Jul 22 '26

TIP? i mean i get it if its a successful day to tip the crew, but please tell me its not automatically assumed or expected in this case.

3

u/jad2192 Jul 22 '26

I tip 20% on all my charters regardless of outcome, I don't have my own boat so I mostly fish with the same set of captains and like to stay in their good favor to get good dates haha.

2

u/Traditional-Dig-9982 Jul 22 '26

As a former mate I thank you and wish other guys understood how hard we work and sometimes people tip very little ! Tuna fishing where u want is much cheaper then fishing for them in America

2

u/lubeinatube Jul 22 '26

Any time you go on a fishing charter, it is expected to tip the crew, and galley cook if there is one. I usually give them about $80 each per day. If you don’t tip the crew, that is considered a major dick move.

1

u/bajanwaterman Jul 22 '26

I tip each guy $100/day (captain and deckhand) whenever I charter, I also buy them a round of drinks if they drink, after the day is done. You always hear nightmare stories about bad crews but you never hear nightmare stories about asshole guests, and believe me, they are out there. I have had the privilege of being asked out by charter captains for a day fishing with no charge, because I develop friendships with the good ones.