Westport Ocean Albacore Tuna Fishing
Season: Tuna show up in early July. Trips are usually booked for August and September.
Limits: No Limit.
Checking In: Be on the boat for orientation and check in 2 hours prior to departure.
Prices: Prices include bait gear, and tax.

Description: Try this once, and you'll be hooked. This isn't just a fishing trip, it is a fishing experience, so we had to adjust the description accordingly:

You show up in the evening around seven. The town is quiet, and there is no much going on. A couple guys are already on the boat getting situated. It's near departure time, so the skipper gives the group a thorough explanation of what is about to happen. You leave the dock and head out into the open ocean in the dark. You travel all night to get to the tuna grounds by morning. There are boats out there right now that caught fish there yesterday, and that will be your starting point. As you start to see a hint of daylight you notice a few boats on the horizon. The deckhand grabs the jig rods and starts letting them out one by one to form a pattern behind the boat. The boat is trolling at around six knots, and the sun is just barely starting to come up. The water is a clear dark blue. The deckhand checks the drags on the rods and sets the clickers.

Several sets of eyeballs are glued to the rods. Some people are rummaging around looking for something to eat and getting a cup of coffee. You notice that the guy you talked to last night that has already been on several tuna trips is wearing rainpants. You hear a reel start screaming, and out of the corner of your eye, a pole starts bending. The deckhand yells "Hookup!" and the first guy in line to reel in a jig fish takes off toward the pole. As the deckhand checks it to make sure everything is ok, another pole lights up! Then another! "Three hanging!"

The skipper brings the boat around to a stop and runs back to the bait tank and grabs the bait net. He starts chumming anchovies as he yells, "Sombody reel in those extra jig rods! Everybody else grab a bait rod!" You grab a bait rod and when you get close to the bait tank the skipper yanks out a few feet of slack from your pole, throws a bait on and hands the line above the bait to you. "That side" he says as he points you in the right direction. You drop your bait in the water, put your reel in freespool and with light thumb pressure, you start feeding out slack for your anchovy to give him swimming room. The guy next to you already hooked one on bait. Your anchovy starts swimming away faster and faster, then the line starts zinging off your reel at high speed. You start to count to eight slowly and out loud. As you hit eight you set the hook and yell "Hookup!" Now the work begins...

Difficulty Rating: Medium/High Difficulty. Physically demanding. Not a good trip for someone who has never fished.