Squid Spreader

Squid Spreader

Going Tuna Fishing off the Virginia Coast

"I wasn't quite expecting this" was the remark from our angler as we fitted him to the harness and urged him to be patient as the bluefin steadily took line off the reel, with no sign of stopping.

We had pushed hard to be among the first boats to set lines off the Virginia coast on this overcast July morning. We had set the center line, locally known as the way-way back or simply WWB. The rig consists of a bird, daisy chain of artificial squid and green machine. Within seconds of placing the rod in the rod holder, and before we could set the second line, we were hooked up to a nice bluefin tuna.

Moments later we boated our second fish, a #40 class yellowfin on another daisy chain as the bulk of the fleet were about to throttle back and begin setting lines. This was tuna fishing - Virginia style.

While this day we were successful, the season saw much of traditional tuna fishing knowledge proved worthless. Things that were not supposed to happen, did. Any seasoned Virginia angler will tell you that bluefin arrive first, eating cedar plugs in 20 fathoms. Farther offshore, yellowfin might appear, along the canyon edges.

Anglers were pleasantly surprised when sizable schools of small bluefin appeared along the canyon edges at the beginning of the season. Meanwhile yellowfin were absent, at least in the first weeks. Inshore, where bluefin were supposed to be, anglers found hordes of enormous bluefish which destroyed nearly any lure fished. Setting 4 lines would not be possible before all rods would go down.

Just 3-4 miles away lucky boaters could be in small bluefin, while those inshore were facing the monster blues. Eventually the bluefish invaded even the canyon waters, something that simply does not happen, ever. Tournament anglers in search of the season's first marlin suffered horrific tackle losses as the hungry bluefish bit thru hundreds of ballyhoo rigged on mono leaders.

Eventually, the bluefish subsided and anglers began to key on the tuna. Most experienced boats enjoyed excellent catches in the troll using a variety of daisy chains and spreader bars. Initially the bluefin were small, and their behavior was quite odd. They would eagerly attack 6 inch squid daisy chains while 9 inch lures were ignored. Small squids rigged on a spreader bar were equally effective. Many of the normally effective lures went untouched.

Upon examination of the stomachs, small squid were found, which correlated with the marks of bait that most anglers were detecting on their fish finders. Soon after the initial flood of small fish, events changed for the better. Yellowfin appeared, and a much larger class of bluefin entered the area. Suddenly larger spreader bars, full size green machines and 9 inch squid daisy chains drew the attention of tuna.

Boats reported 100+ lb tuna crashing spreader bars right at the stern, jumping completely out of the water before taking the hook. Meanwhile yellowfin took spreaders or daisy chains up close some days, while other days all the fish came on the WWB line.

Another local rig that saw success has been gaining popularity in recent years. Anglers will pull a specially rigged ballyhoo as much as 350 yards behind the boat. Most anglers use a very small or no skirt. Most anglers choose to utilize a long leader, 20' or more, attached to the main line with a small wind-on swivel. The rig is trolled at 6-7.5 knots in 20 -100 fathoms, depending on where the big bluefin have taken up residence. This rig is very effective in the dead of summer when bluefin are deep and refuse to bite other trolled baits. Fish over 100 lbs are common and some exceed 200.

Catches of tuna remained consistent thru August for those anglers that were able to capitalize on the fishes' preferences. Unfortunately Hurricane Katrina took her toll, scattering the fish and leaving shreds of Sargasso on every square foot of ocean.

A few days of fair weather allowed anglers to return to fishing. Anglers working the steep drops in 500-1000 fathoms found themselves in battles with big eye, sometimes multiples.

About the Author

For tips on volleyball tactics and volleyball techniques, visit the Volleyball Drills website.

Squid $69.99 Tegan Coddington Squid - Stretched Canvas Print

The Squid And The Whale $5.99 The Squid And The Whale

Squid! $11.65 Driven ashore by hunger, a female giant squid brings terror to a remote Scottish fishing village. Back in the sea she meets Jamie, a young diver enthralled by the water, who sparks a primal reaction. But does she need a meal or a mate? Tensions rise as the community struggles to understand and deal with a mystery, a threat and a cold-hearted attempt to kill or capture the creature. In a battle for survival, justice and the environment, Jamie, aided by a beautiful Spanish vet, fights desperately to save the squid, as the story builds towards its final, gripping climax.

Giant Squid and a Squid of the Fishermen $49.99 Du Casse Giant Squid and a Squid of the Fishermen - Giclee Print

Baby Squid $24.99 Baby Squid - Photographic Print

The Squid and the Whale $19.99 The Squid and the Whale - Poster

The Spreader $17.54 No Synopsis Available

Umbrella Squid, 1854 $49.99 Umbrella Squid, 1854 - Giclee Print

USB Squid $9.99 Ok, you caught us: we lied to you all. The USB Squid is not a real squid, as squids have 8 legs and 2 tentacles. Heck, it's not even an octopus - they have 8 arms. The USB Squid has four arms, so it's sort of more a quadropus. But it more than makes up for its name with the special function of its arms. Just plug the USB Squid into your last USB port, and now you have four USB ports. The biggest difference between the USB Squid and other USB Hubs is the USB Squid's arms can bend in any direction (so all your USB cords don't have to be coming from the same place!) And this USB connector is compliant with USB 2.0 standards. Let's see a real squid do that! Product Specifications Turns 1 USB port into 4 11" long from plug to hub USB 2.0 compliant

Swimming Reef Squid $39.99 Paul Sutherland Swimming Reef Squid - Photographic Print

Umbrella Squid, 1835 $49.99 Antoine Chazal Umbrella Squid, 1835 - Giclee Print

Transparent Larval Squid $39.99 David Littschwager Transparent Larval Squid - Photographic Print

A transparent larval squid $39.99 David Liittschwager A transparent larval squid - Photographic Print

A reef squid hunting $39.99 Jennifer Hayes A reef squid hunting - Photographic Print

The Black Dahlia Murder Squid Sticker $4.99 THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER SQUID STICKER

Spreader - Adjustable spreader bar $58.99 Color: Silver; Material: Metal; Special Features: Kinky; Length: 25"; Product Type: Spreader; Manufacturer: Kinklab

Squid Squid Mug by CafePress $15 The perfect size for your favorite morning beverage or late night brew. Large, easy-grip handle. Treat yourself or give as a gift to someone special. Measures 3.75 tall, 3 diameterDishwasher and microwave safe Squid Mug The perfect size for your favorite morning beverage or late night brew. Large, easy-grip handle. Treat yourself or give as a gift to someone special. Measures 3.75 tall, 3 diameter. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Gateway of the Squid $39.99 With its wildly flailing tentacles and massive snapping jaws, the giant squid is the largest guardian creature the heroic divers have ever faced! Can they unlock the gates to the underwater temple, avoid the hidden traps and escape with the key?

Colossal Squid $81.25 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, from Greek mesos (middle), nychus (claw), and teuthis (squid)), sometimes called the Antarctic or Giant Cranch Squid, is believed to be the largest squid species in terms of mass. It is the only known member of the genus Mesonychoteuthis. Though it is known from only a few specimens, current estimates put its maximum size at 1214 metres (3946 feet) long, based on analysis of smaller and immature specimens, making it the largest known invertebrate. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 108 Publication Date: 2010/07/29 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.25 inches

Pair of Squid (Loligo Sp $24.99 Jeff Foott Pair of Squid (Loligo Sp - Photographic Print

A Display of Squid for Sale $39.99 Michael S. Yamashita A Display of Squid for Sale - Photographic Print

Emperor Penguins in Search of Squid $34.99 Bill Curtsinger Emperor Penguins in Search of Squid - Photographic Print

Laughing Squid Patch $3.5 Laughing Squid Patch Patch Quality black patch with an embroidered high tech. squid in green. Comes with a really sticky backing. Technology, art, culture.

Atreyu Giant Squid Men's T-shirt $20.99 GIANT SQUID - MEN'S T-SHIRT

Colossal Squid - $12.99 Known as the Kraken by seafarers of old, and made legendary through books and film, the Colossal Squid has proved a subject of endless fascination for scientists and sailors alike. This program takes a look inside New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, where specialists gather for the first scientific examination of an adult Colossal Squid. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Squid Squid Stadium Blanket by CafePress $60 A school of squid frolic in icy shallows. Squid Stadium Blanket Snuggle up to a good book while you snuggle under this super-soft Throw Blanket. Perfect for the couch, the car or an evening ball game, this cozy stadium blanket keeps you toasty. A generous 50 x 60, depending on who's asking, it might even be big enou

The SQUID Handbook $265 This two-volume handbook offers a comprehensive and coordinated presentation of SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices), including device fundamentals, design, technology, system construction and multiple applications. It thus bridges the gap between fundamentals and applications, and will be a valuable textbook reference for graduates and for professionals engaged in SQUID research and engineering. It will equally be of use to specialists in multiple fields of practical SQUID applications, from human brain research and heart diagnostics, via airplane and nuclear plant testing to prospecting for oil, minerals and buried ordnance. The first volume presents the theory of SQUIDs, their fabrication from low- and high-temperature superconductors, the necessary readout electronics, and the design and performance of practical direct current and radio-frequency SQUIDs. It concludes with an overview of the most important SQUID system issues. In addition, an appendix summarizes the foundations of superconductivity that are necessary to understand SQUIDs, while a glossary and tables of units and constants are also included. The second volume is devoted to applications.

Vampire Squid $79.66 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis, lit. vampire squid from Hell ) is a small, deepsea cephalopod found throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world. Unique retractile sensory filaments justify the Vampire Squids placement in its own order: Vampyromorphida (formerly Vampyromorpha), which shares similarities with both squid and octopuses. As a phylogenetic relict it is the only known surviving member of its order, first described and originally classified as an octopus in 1903 by German teuthologist Carl Chun, but later assigned to a new order together with several extinct taxa. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 124 Publication Date: 2010/08/21 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.29 inches

Colossal Squid DVD New $10.99 Colossal Squid DVD New Colossal Squid: Colossal Squid is a landmark television event that presents the dramatic capture of a massive squid off the coast of Antarctica, and the groundbreaking research to discover the secrets of one of the ocean s most elusive and mysterious creatures. Squid Invasion: Invasion of the Giant Squids takes you to the front lines with one of the world s leading experts on Huboldt Squid, Marine poaching ranger, diver and filmaker Scott Cassell has been studying and filming Humboldt Squid in Baja for 13 years and has learned a great deal about their behavior. Synopsis: Colossal Squid: Colossal Squid is a landmark television event that presents the dramatic capture of a massive squid off the coast of Antarctica, and the groundbreaking research to discover the secrets of one of the ocean s most elusive and mysterious creatures. Squid Invasion: Invasion of the Giant Squids takes you to the front lines with one of the world s leading experts on Huboldt Squid, Marine poaching ranger, diver and filmaker Scott Cassell has been studying and filming Humboldt Squid in Baja for 13 years and has learned a great deal about their behavior. Format: DVD Runtime: 86 Year: 2010 Studio: GAIAM Director: Discovery

Laughing Squid Orange $1.99 Laughing Squid Orange Vinyl Sticker Quality vinyl sticker with picture of a high tech Laughing Squid. These come to you in a four pack of orange. Technology, art, culture.

Laughing Squid Blue $1.99 Laughing Squid Blue Vinyl Sticker Quality vinyl sticker with picture of a high tech Laughing Squid. These come to you in a four pack of blue. Technology, art, culture.