Oregon Tuna Spearfishing trip in September/October

[Devildiver]

Hey guys,

I'm putting together a Tuna spearfishing trip this fall.

We will be heading out of Newport for 12 hours of beautiful spearfishing on the Oregon coast....chasing Albacore tuna!


Cost will be around $150 per diver + food etc. I have a house at Otter Rock, 10 miles North of Newport so everyone is welcome to stay with me for some pre and post dive fun!


This is a FREEDIVING trip --- NO SCUBA --- unless you bring your own certified dive master (boat policy)

This trip will be a BLAST!!! Conditions vary from light chop with great (10') vis, to sideways rain, 45 degree water temp, and strong current. Either way, we should be able to get onto some big fish!

I am hoping to develop/organize some Oregon spearos, and this will be a great opportunity to meet each other, and do some spearing off of the beaten path.


If you're man (or woman) enough to brave the cold water and stormy weather, come on out!

-Casey

[sticknrelease]

When are you planning on? What size of tuna are you getting into?

[BIGisland Boy]

I'll be back in eugene for school mid september. Wouldn't mind joining you for some dives. I might be interested in going after some tuna depending on when you plan on going. Im already bringing gear cause im doing a scuba class, but I much rather freedive. What kind of gear should I bring as far as guns? I'm bringing them from hawaii and I got wood, carbon, and hybrid guns from 85cm to 63" and all the sizes in between. Do you live in bend? thats quite a ways from the coast and from anything for that matter.

[Devildiver]

The trip date will largely depend on the needs of the group. Whatever works best for those who are going.

We will be hunting Albacore Tuna, which can grow to upwards of 100 pounds. I have never speared for them, so I can not tell you what to expect.

As far a guns go, I'd say bring them all

Spearing the jetties and rocks around Newport a small gun works best due to visibility constraints.

I would bring a big gun rigged with a float line for the Tuna.

I will probably be using a 55" hybrid rigged with a break away float line. As I said before, I've not speared for these guys yet, so i'll be erring on the safe side.

[Devildiver]

I do live in Bend - It's just far enough away from everything. I hate living in big cities! The only thing that's missing here is an ocean full of big fish - then again, getting a degree would seriously suffer if I were that close to the water.

[riobuster]

I was in Newport last weekend during the tuna classic and the guys at the fish cleaning station had fish I would guess about 30 lbs. I was told they were anywhere from 30 to 80 miles offshore.
I didn't ask how deep the fish were. I would think the vis would be better that far out in the open ocean.

[jeffcroci]

Just in case you havnt heard this I thought that I would offer some advice. The standard procedure for hunting albacore, from what I know is to find a school near the surface and then start chumming them heavily to get them within diving range. once they are comming up you taper off the chum to a piece here and there. the fish still keep comming and so you aim at a piece of chum and fire well before the fish hits it because they are swimming so fast. That is the only way that I have hever heard of people spearing them. bring at least a 100 lbs of bait

[Devildiver]

Originally Posted by jeffcroci

Just in case you havnt heard this I thought that I would offer some advice. The standard procedure for hunting albacore, from what I know is to find a school near the surface and then start chumming them heavily to get them within diving range. once they are comming up you taper off the chum to a piece here and there. the fish still keep comming and so you aim at a piece of chum and fire well before the fish hits it because they are swimming so fast. That is the only way that I have hever heard of people spearing them. bring at least a 100 lbs of bait

Thanks for the tip

I've never done this, but I'm not going to wait around for someone to invite me! All of the advice is welcome

[seawolf]

I'm in! Will it be a weekend trip?

[Hunterick]

Originally Posted by Devildiver

Thanks for the tip

I've never done this, but I'm not going to wait around for someone to invite me! All of the advice is welcome

If your avitar is a picture of you, THEN I'M IN TOO

Just messing. I think that would be a good time and look forward to some stories. I lived up that way a few years back so I read the posts in the NW.
I will be going to the gulf this weekend for grouper, snapper and hogs!

will most likely be back in the NW in a year or two.

Rick

[Devildiver]

Unfortunately my avatar is not me.... one of my photography projects though. If it would help get people to come out, I'm sure I could convince her to come out as a beer girl or something.... maybe an albacore sashimi cock-tail waitress

I'm waiting until I've got a solid group of people before deciding when it will be. I figure if we can get 4-8 guys/gals committed, then we can find a time that works for everyone. I imagine it will be on a weekend because most people have jobs and/or school during the week.

Tentative date is late September, early October.

[Samson]

Hey Casey,

Did this trip ever happen? I would love to hear your stories of the days events. I have been wanting to organize a similar trip off the Washington coast near Neah Bay. Have never speared for Tuna so I am looking for all the advice. If your up for a trip, I own the boat so we would not have to charter one.

Cory-

[seawolf]

Originally Posted by Samson

Hey Casey,

Did this trip ever happen? I would love to hear your stories of the days events. I have been wanting to organize a similar trip off the Washington coast near Neah Bay. Have never speared for Tuna so I am looking for all the advice. If your up for a trip, I own the boat so we would not have to charter one.

Cory-

Well, it's too bad you didn't speak up sooner. Casey and I could not find anyone on the Oregon coast for chartering to save our lives. There was an extremely limited window for bluewater hunting on top of that. From one report, I heard that there were also a lot of nasty critters out there to compete with for a bloody fish on a shaft. Better luck next year, I hope.

[diver pat]

I had my first go at spearing albacore here in New Zealand last year, and got 3 in the first hour, only up to 18lbs or so. The next time I shot one then got chased out of the water by a hungry mako. The albacore are good fun, and great on the BBQ. I hope to have a serious shot at them this summer (January onwards)

[FITS]

Not sure if you guys are still down to try this, but i just got to Portland and have all my blue water gear with me. super down to give it a shot.