? HI Tuna fishing

[mundiem]

I have getting my ducks in a row to take my 212cc Hydra Sport 150 Yamaha off shore tuna fishing at HI. I have a 80 gal tank and I figure that I burn 4 gals per hour. So HI trip should be good?

I have my permit.
I have (what I think) is the tackle. Penn 6/0 and 4/0.
I have (what I think) is the baits. Daisy chains, spoons, plugs, witches and other stuff. Planers too.

I see buddy trips coming up all the time and I have seen tuna being caught.

Now the big question is, with all the wind that we have been getting, what kind of day do I need to look for for Hi.

I also see HO's and I am thinking about doing that one time if someone is going out of HI.

I am a newbe looking for guidance from the experienced and anxious to catch a tuna in my boat.

[Capt. Fred]

I've fished a 21 footer out of HI and if you pick your days and watch the tide in the inlet it can be done. ( I fish a 25 foot HS now and all this still applies) The inlet can be bad even on a good day if the tide is falling against the wind or a swell so be careful with that. Going as a buddy boat or HO'ing with someone is a real good idea especially the first couple of times and if you really want to get an education then charter one of the local guys. (Bite Me, Sushi, Reliance are all excellent boats and crews and contributors to Tidal Fish) One of the other issues in the spring is that the good water is farther out. In the summer you can get into great fishing sometimes as close as ten miles and sometimes even closer than that. Also, make sure you've got all the proper safety gear and I would suggest an EPIRB too. Hatteras has the most variety of any place I've ever fished. You can almost always find someting else to target if your first plan doesn't work out. I've done well there and I don't know the offshore area well at all yet. Good luck!

[GAW]

I would suggest 10-15 kt wind or less and out of the SW or W. Any wind from the E SE or NE makes the inlet snotty, especially in a outgoing tide. Anyyhing out of the N tends to pile up the wind waves in the Stream. Also be wary when a front is forecasted to come through within the next 24 hrs or so. Often they pass through before the forecast. Also, a good rule of thumb is when you turn to port out of the ferry channel, if there is any roughness or significant swell between there in the point of HI, the inlet is going to be bad for a 21' boat