Check out some incredible catch and release footage of arguably the hardest fighting gamefish in the sea - the giant Bluefin Tuna.
by Colin Sarfeh
In late summer and early fall, the quiet coastal community of Ballantyne’s Cove comes alive. There is a bustle amongst the locals, and the attention of the town turns towards the sea. The small 40-slip marina goes barren as all vessels head outside of port, their captains with one thing on their minds.
Where have all the boats gone? Simple answer: the giants have arrived.
Below: The serene morning hours at Ballantyne's Cove.
Nova Scotia is Canadian big game fishing’s best kept secret. Every year, from August through October, the cooler North Atlantic waters meet with the warm eddies from the Gulf Stream, creating the perfect conditions for monster gamefish to thrive. Towards the middle of June comes the first sighting, by the end of August the waters are teeming with them – Giant Bluefin Tuna.
Below: Captains and crew prepping for battle.
Captains and crew start getting their boats ready and prepare their gear for battle – there is a lot of work to be done before venturing out into the land of giants. There are no flashy yachts here, folks – these guys are hardcore Lobstermen, converting the same boats used to harvest lobster commercially to run their giant Bluefin charters. Days before the fishing begins for Bluefin, the boats head offshore to harvest Herring and a few Mackerel for bait. These baits are kept “fresh dead” and used to chum the waters to get the tuna frothing.
Below: Lobster Boats - in August and September they are platforms for tackling monster tuna.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are the largest of the tuna species, with many fish caught every year exceeding 1,000-pounds. Fishing for Bluefin in Nova Scotia offers anglers the serious opportunity to catch a world record – the current record was caught in 1979, weighing in at 1,496-pounds – and was hooked in the same waters fished by Ballantyne’s Cove charter captains. Having the chance to feel the raw power of one of these fish on the end of your line is a reward in itself.
Below: Captain Dale "Zappa" Trenholm and crew baiting up.
Until recently, this fishing for these monsters has been a highly controversial topic due to the decline in Bluefin Tuna stocks. The big tuna have come back in strong enough numbers over the past few years enough to convince government officials to open the fishery to a select number of boats in the industry. It is because of the efforts of some of Ballantyne Cove’s charter boat captains, including Dale “Zappa” Trenhom, AJ Francis, and James “Chuy” Roberts, that there has been a significant change to the views of fishing for these giants. With a visionary approach, these guys have proven that we have a lot to gain from a strict hook and release program for Giant Bluefin Tuna. Now, Ballantyne’s Cove captains offer fishermen the chance of a lifetime to battle these brutes.
For a short six-week window, this newly developing sportfishery gives boats the opportunity to run charters targeting the tuna that enter these northern waters in late summer. Strict regulations are enforced for catch and release purposes, such as minimum tackle requirements, the use of barbless circle hooks and fighting chairs, and maximum fight length time.
Below: Captain Tony Berkowitz traveled all the way from Cabo San Lucas to experience Nova's Bluefin fishery.
The benefits of the hook and release program are two-fold. First and foremost, the Bluefin Tuna fishery in Nova Scotia is sustained because of a decrease in commercial fishing; and, with an increase in scientific tagging involvement, valuable information has been and will be gained over the years. These special charters also act as an economic stimulus for the local communities that live off the sea, as clients pay top dollar for the opportunity to fight one of the ocean’s largest predators. Though, commercial fishing for Bluefin tuna is almost certain to be halted, this hook and release program targeting these amazing fish through charters is seen by Nova Scotia’s fishermen as a way to maintain incoming resources for their local economy.
Below: Giant Bluefin ready for release.
These charters are 100% catch and release; however, the locals are given a small recreational quota, by purchase of permit only, of a once per season “harvest day”, in which captains are permitted to take one fish per boat. These fish sustain local families for the long winter season, as the fish are processed and sold to help with expenses for food and housing. The winters in Nova Scotia are brutally harsh, and one fish alone goes a long way into helping support charter boat families.
Below: Zappa Charters - Capt. Zappa at the helm backing down on a fish.
Now, onto the fishing…
During the short window the government has granted access to this recreational giant Bluefin fishery, the boats head outside of the marina for a short 5 to 15-mile run to the grounds. Unlike most tuna fisheries where fish are caught in deep offshore waters, these schools of giant Bluefin are chummed up on shoals in 200-feet of water or less. The “shallow” water gives anglers a better chance of bringing in the fish quickly for release and ultimately aiding the tuna’s survival – hooking a giant Bluefin in deep water is almost a certain loss or break-off.
Weather in this region can change drastically from day to day, on land or at sea, letting you know that Mother Nature owns this place. Calm seas can turn on a dime and leave you with snotty conditions – it’s the name of the game if you want to catch a grander tuna!
Once on the grounds, the fish are chummed up in huge numbers by forming a “slick” in the water with oily Herring baits. When the tunas arrive, the show begins. The waters start churning with action as 800-1200 pound fish crash on the chummed baits. Fishing becomes insignificant for a few minutes, as charter members are left in awe of the spectacle – grander tuna being hand-fed a mere few feet from the boat. Words simply cannot describe this scene, as fish six to eight times heavier than most humans display the rawness of nature right before your very eyes. For those who have seen a school of crashing tuna, one can only imagine the scene when that school’s average fish size is 1,000-pounds.
Below: Chumming 'em up with herring; two "slobs" crash on chummed bait; swimming with giants (ridiculous size difference)
As you begin to gain a grip on reality, thoughts start to turn to fighting one of these leviathans on rod and reel. When recreational fishing for giant Bluefin, you must abide by a different set of rules and regulations. The use of barbless, non-offset, heavy-wire circle hooks in 9/0-11/0 are a must, as well as fighting the fish from a fighting chair and harness – 130W unlimited reels with 130-pound line are the standard tackle used. With the tuna still frothing at chummed baits, get yourself strapped into the chair and harness – your cockpit for the next hour or so.
Below: Renowned marine life photographer Tony Ludovico captured some amazing shots while on a Pelagic film trip to Nova Scotia.
Once your bait is tossed over the side, it’s only a matter of seconds before you’re hooked into the fish of a lifetime – a freight train hits your line and your reel starts screaming, making you think that the thousands of yards of 130-pound line your reel is spooled with simply won’t be enough. When the initial run is over, settle into your stride as it’s a give-and-take game from here on in. These fish are stubborn, which means you have to be stubborn as well – give them an inch, they’ll take a mile! As the fight nears its end and the fish surfaces, a crew member leaders the fish as the captain tows it to be revived and released.
Below: Team Pelagic's Josh Temple and Ron Kawaja strapped in for the long haul as they battle Bluefin Tuna 5-7x's their size.
Below: Tony Berkowitz shows how to fight these brutes with Capt. John Gavin of Tuna Adventures and Jarad "Dingo" boshammer at his side.
On harvest day, when captains and crews are allowed to take one fish per boat, the weigh-in and offloading brings in the entire town to witness the size of the Bluefin up close. The giant fish are lifted from the boats by a crane and hauled off on pallets to be weighed and sold for processing.
Below: Group shot with a grander Bluefin Tuna.
Nova Scotia has an incredible fishery for giant Bluefin Tuna. Most of the boats that are allowed to run charters guarantee that their clients will hook the fish of a lifetime. If you are interested in fighting some of the biggest fish in the sea, look no further than Ballantyne’s Cove – Land of the Giants!
Below: A happy Southern California angler with his 940-pound Bluefin Tuna.
If you are considering heading to Nova Scotia to try out this incredible fishery, look up one of these captains and their charters:
• Zappa Charters – Capt. Dale “Zappa” Trenholm
www.zappacharters.com – (902) 386-2669
• Tuna Adventures – Capt. AJ Francis
www.tunaadventures.com