Capt. Donald McArthur

eagledon@interpath.com

Hatteras, N. C.

Hello. My name is Captain Don McArthur. I own/run the charter boat EAGLE out of Hatteras, N.C. We have been privileged to absolutely the most unbelievable giant Bluefin tuna fishing in the world for the past few years. I find it as unlikely that anyone interested in big game saltwater fishing has not been made aware of this in one way or another. Nothing you can read or hear can be exaggerated. Let me tell you some things you might find interesting.

This past winter on a very windy day, with the wind running 25-30 knots out of the southeast, raining like crazy, we hooked a large bluefin in the 750 to 800 pound range. We had him hooked on a large circle hook on a Penn gold 130 with 200 lb dacron. First thing he did was go directly into the weather for about two hours. Then when he got into deeper water he went to the bottom. By now each of the anglers had taken a turn or two on him and were literally becoming worn out by the huge fish, and were declining turns in the fighting chair, so the mate finished him off after four hours and ten minutes. Man! Those were some happy people on my boat that day. They were unprepared for the size and sheer power of such a fish.

That spectacular example, although not always typical of the extreme size, nor of the wintertime weather here, is an everyday possibility at Hatteras all winter long. Let me describe a more ordinary day, which in itself is beyond belief to many, many fishermen.

We usually think we have a feel for where the fish are schooling because of their location the previous day, or before the just past weather system. If indeed we are able to locate them without too much difficulty, we can mark them quite regularly, on the color scopes, by the thousands. Then, when over a group of them we begin throwing chum overboard and enticing the big fish to the surface of the water. They literally come only five or six feet of the boat when they get into a feeding frenzy. Then you drop a hooked bait in the middle of them and the fun begins immediately. The average size of the fish caught is generally 200 to 400 pounds. I have seen schools of hundreds, if not thousands of them. It seems the really big fish are underneath the smaller, more active ones, which are the ones most often hooked.

One very pretty afternoon, almost no wind, fishing in shirtsleeves, a man was eating his lunch after watching everyone in his party catch several fish and after catching several himself. He turned to me on the bridge with a big green pickle in his hand and asked if I thought we might catch one of the tuna on it. My reply was that I was sure of it! He didn't believe me so we finished with the fish that was presently on the hook, and baited the new hook with that mans pickle. When we began chumming the bluefins came right to the boat just like they had been doing all day. That gentleman was now strapped into the chair and had the reel in gear with about 20 feet of line hanging off the end of the rod. When the mate threw the pickle into the middle of the frenzy it didnt last long. Within about a second or two that man had a 300 pounder going in the other direction quickly. He probably is still laughing about it all, but i swear it to be true exactly as I have described it to you here.

I cannot literally believe that everyone will think these things are told without misrepresentation, but if you know anyone who has been out here in the wintertime, they will tell you. The truth just cannot be stretched into more than what really happens on a regular basis.

Some days the fish are hard to find and you can be disappointed. I guess it is that way with all fishing, anywhere, but we get into them almost every day that the weather allows us to look for them. Some days we might catch a few, some days you might catch 2 or 3 dozen. We always want you to be happy and will do our best to see that you leave satisfied. I have many names of fellows that will gladly attest to any of this on my behalf.

If you are interested in talking with me about it, or more especially of being a part of it, call me at 800 548 0612, or 919 995 6115. You may also drop me an email at: eagledon@interpath.com Check out my web page at interpath.net/eagledon for information on what all else i have to offer during the rest of the year.

Maybe I'll tell you about some good Yellowfin tuna fishing or some big Blue Marlin stories another time. In the meantime, good fishing. Let one go once in a while. You'll be glad you did. eagledon.

Here is a photo showing a typical 300 lb. Giant Bluefin Tuna being released from the side of my boat.