Blog Entries - August 2008

Landing Sunday

quentin knights

We had quite a good day today....104 fish! We had 8 fish while we were about to get lines in, but it was too dark to continue, which was a pity! Nice sized fish throughout the day....slow but steady fishing! It was very foggy to start with less than 5th of a mile visability at times and all the boats steaming around you at 6+ knots. It got too much so I pulled away from there....we weren't catching anything there anyway so went to a clear patch and started fishing. We're landing Sun [...]

Charisma

quentin knights

The Charisma had 75 big fish yesterday! John will be landing Tuesday.

Good Fishing Good Size Fish

quentin knights

Had a good day today in many ways. Weather was good....lovely and calm! Even saw the sun and had to put sunglasses on....bought them especially for this trip! We had 125 fish nice sized ones. We started fishing right amongst the Spanish from first light and that helped without a doubt, the only problem was it got a bit foggy, with the visability down to a third of a mile. At one point I counted 25 Spaniards around us within a 3 mile range, on the radar. That was nerve wracking I can tell you! Th [...]

Charisma

quentin knights

The Charisma is about 25 miles west of the Nova Spero! Had 46 large fish yesterday. The Charisma is coming into land for Tuesday, next week.

News From John On Charisma

quentin knights

The Charisma is about 25 miles west of the Nova Spero! Yesterday was their third day of fishing and they caught 93 fish! We'll hear more from John tomorrow.

Gigantic Tuna

quentin knights

Hello tuna bloggers! Had 45 tuna yesterday....huge ones....biggest I've ever caught without a doubt! We could only fit two in a box.....gigantic! The boys had quite a job getting them aboard! The weather is a lot better today, less wind and a lot smaller swell....about time too! Peter, a large man to say the least, is a lot happier now, as he reckons he was lured here on flase pretenses....just bringing t-shirts and sun cream! The guys have been out in full oil skins since we got here! He [...]

Better Catch Today

quentin knights

Had a better catch today 76 fish! Got right in amongst the Spanish boats, counted some 50 boats in 12mile range on radar, which is always interesting, as they are all shapes, sizes and colours. Have not heard from our Spanish friend Gervasio yet, hopefully will be able to speak and catch up with him soon....Tom.

Charisma

quentin knights

Fishing has been a bit slow. They have been to sea for 2days now and have caught 150 fish.....BIG fish!

More Strong Winds

quentin knights

Had a good day today...96 fish and good sized ones! Steady fishing all day, which makes it easier especially when fishing in poor weather like we are at the moment. I can honestly say, I have never fished in a swell as big as this, it's got to be 4 metres plus at times, we frequently are losing sight of the horizon and other boats. Diffcult to maintain towing speed of 6 knots, because one second you are going up hill the next down hill! Tom.

Weather Even Worse This Morning

quentin knights

Ok tuna blog fans not such a good day on Sunday only 31 fish, put a lot of that down to the weather and swell. Have had to up the line strength due to the swell parting off the fish...just too upsetting! Had an electrical problem yesterday morning....a quick call to shaun had the problem sorted fortunately! On a lighter note Dickie cooked up a lovely joint of pork....a real lift for everyone at the end of the day! Tom

80 Fish Yesterday

quentin knights

Hard going with weather and that! Had 80 fish....mostly in the morning weather got horrible in late afternoon! The Charisma had similar fishing 30 miles east of us. All systems are go...that's about all folks, apart from wishing my mum a very Happy Birthday on Sunday (one of the crew thought you only looked about 60 mum), and plently to eat and drink...be merry at the Navy Inn in Penzance from me and the guys! Tom

Fishing Is Ok

quentin knights

We're now southwest Ireland on the great Atlantic tuna seas! Fishing is ok...lovely big fish! Plently of Spanish boats around for us to shadow quietly! Fishing went very quiet lunch time onwards even with our Spanish friends, but picked up a little towards the evening. The Charisma is here to the south east of us.

Catch On

quentin knights

We reached the Atlantic tuna grounds at 3am this morning and started to fish at 5:45am.....getting 15 in the first hour or so. I had the last watch and by watching the radar closely I came across a large group of Spanish tuna boats 25 or so with some French pair trawlers. Weather is good at the moment, but forecast is lousey for the next couple of days, just have to get on with it.It's all systems go at the moment, got to go now to get on with it .

Nova Spero

quentin knights

We had 45 large ones today!

Charisma

quentin knights

The Charisma will be going to sea either tonight or tomorrow.

Back To Sea

quentin knights

The goood ship 'Nova Spero' is back on the ocean waves again under a different command, as Shaun is in the Canaries with his family having a well earned break.

My name is Tom McClure, the relief skipper and the best looking blogger the boat has ever had! As Shaun mentioned in his final blog, I have done several seasons catching tuna before so it's not completely new to me. I'm really looking forward to it all, there is nothing more exciting then catching a tuna....such [...]

Homeward bound

quentin knights

We are on the way. The wind has backed southerly and Gervasio is telling us there is poor weather until next Wednesday so a few days in I reckon. I expect Taranteeno is chomping at the bit. We had a crap day yesterday.......10 fish.......sounded similar with Walshie and Gervasio.....gotta take the rough with the smooth. Will be in Newlyn by teatime with 1260 fish and I'm off on my hols....will take-up the reins again on 2nd September so adios and hasta la vista. CAPITANO

Fishing slackens-off. Trip nears its end.

quentin knights

Weather has improved slightly.....W-NW 5 to 7 but still a big ground swell. Last day tomorrow, going home tomorrow night. Can't wait to see Jax and the kids.....off on our hols next week for a fortnight......normally can't afford a holiday but we one it in a spot-the-ball competition.....nice to be blessed by Lady Luck sometimes but fishing has slackened-off a bit, me, Jon and Gervasio have gone our seperate ways searching for the little bambinos. We ended up with 74 fish

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Landings update

quentin knights

Latest landings information is that Nova Spero will be landing Friday evening with 1300 to 1400 fish. Charisma will be landing Saturday with 1000 fish

The weather turns nasty.

quentin knights

All I can say is that today has not been fun, westerly 7 to severe gale 9, sea like a cliff. If anybody wants an exhilarating ride just step aboard my boat on a day like this, it makes a rollecoaster seem like a toddlers merry-go-round at the funfair. Walshie, Gervasio and myself still fishing in the same area....some of the lines being parted at times, especially when towing down the weather; a fish take the lure and dives, crewman tries to hold it, 120 tonnes of Nova Spero gets picked [...]