Team Gunslinger/Raymarine (Defiance) Report
Big Thanks To Mitch, Ken, Zac and the rest of the WTC Crew. The event came out very well, and is getting bigger and better every year. Ken and the guys looked absolutely wiped out last night from all of the work, Just wanted to let them know they are appreciated. They did a great Job for one of my Favorite Groups, "The Wounded Warriors"
I took some of my Dad's clients out on Wed. So that gave me opportunity to scout out some areas. It turned out not to help too much because when we put in on Sat. The temp had dropped a bunch. We basically started out at 47 over 52. One of the other Defiance boats (Hawaiian Style) had fished that area on Friday so we felt it would still be good. We actually pulled our biggest fish out of the cold 58.5 degree water there. But we just could not Get the bite rippin. So we started working our way west. We ended up at around the 50 over 125.02. We had a Defiance boat report (Thru-Bolted) that it was pretty wide open so we started working that zone. At about 2 pm it broke wide open for us and we left boiling fish at around 3 pm to make the run in. It was definitely a late bite for us. We had around 25 in the boat before we went out to that area and put another 23 or so on in the last couple of hours. Hope this helps anyone headed out. We ended with 48 fish on a pretty lumpy day. Thanks to all, it was a great event.
We just had the Ilwaco OTC Event a couple of weeks ago, where a couple of teams weighed 5 fish over 130lbs. I estimated our string to be about 120lb. So I thought that we might be on the Podium, but didn't think we had a good enough 5 to win. But when we got back, and I watched some of the other Top Teams come in with lots of fish, but very few big ones, I thought we might have a chance.
Our weight came in at 121lbs for our 5 fish and it turned out that was enough to take first place. We also took the Most Fish Pot with 48 that were all donated to a great cause, "Northwest Harvest Food Bank"
Tommy's Team "Usual Suspects" came in 2nd and also won the Biggest Fish pot with a 32lb Pig!
Team Kora, last years defending champs came in third.
It was really cool, as there were 5 Defiance Teams in the Tournament. I wish I could of gotten a good pic of all of us together.
Team Thru-Bolted fished a great tournament and got a wide open bait stop going that we joined in on for the last hour and a half of our day.
Team Hawaiian Style- Had a great tournament as well. He fished on Thursday, so he had some good recent intel for us. I hadn't fished since Wed., so having him there to scout some great areas was a huge help. Thanks Tom!
Team Deviant- Was awesome. First time he had ever been Tuna Fishing in his Boat!! Weather was sloppy and he powered through and weighed a good string of fish. He has been Fishing with "Hawaiian Style' and he was obviously taking good notes on how to throw down on the Albies!
Team Usual Suspects- Tommys Team, don't need to say much more, these guys are hard core and some of the best fishermen that I know.
Team Little Boat- It is not a Defiance Boat, but we have adopted him into the Defiance Family. If he wouldn't have had engine problems he would have been a contender for sure. Darryl knows the live bait game well.
On a great weekend like this one, it is hard to imagine that it can get much better. But it did. There was a point at the end when they had all of the Wounded Warriors come up front for some recognition and they talked a little about each one. As they walked up front, everyone stood up and gave them a standing ovation. It brought incredible emotion to me, I really found myself forgetting about the Tournament and the Win and thinking about how grateful I am for heroes like these great men and women. What a great organization to support. There was one Wounded Warrior who was not up front however. Bret DiFrancisco. He is a BDer and fishes full time on Tommy Donlin's team. He didn't go up front, but is one of my heroes as well. It was great to have him on my boat on Wed. and hear his stories about his injuries and the great sacrifices that his Brothers in Arms made for our Safety and Security.
Thanks Wounded Warriors for all that you have done for us!!!
Here are some pics of the event. I don't have a lot, but perhaps my team members will add some more over time. Thanks to all who participated.
Team Gunslinger/Raymarine (Our Battle Wagon "The Gunslinger")
I took some of my Dad's clients out on Wed. So that gave me opportunity to scout out some areas. It turned out not to help too much because when we put in on Sat. The temp had dropped a bunch. We basically started out at 47 over 52. One of the other Defiance boats (Hawaiian Style) had fished that area on Friday so we felt it would still be good. We actually pulled our biggest fish out of the cold 58.5 degree water there. But we just could not Get the bite rippin. So we started working our way west. We ended up at around the 50 over 125.02. We had a Defiance boat report (Thru-Bolted) that it was pretty wide open so we started working that zone. At about 2 pm it broke wide open for us and we left boiling fish at around 3 pm to make the run in. It was definitely a late bite for us. We had around 25 in the boat before we went out to that area and put another 23 or so on in the last couple of hours. Hope this helps anyone headed out. We ended with 48 fish on a pretty lumpy day. Thanks to all, it was a great event.
We just had the Ilwaco OTC Event a couple of weeks ago, where a couple of teams weighed 5 fish over 130lbs. I estimated our string to be about 120lb. So I thought that we might be on the Podium, but didn't think we had a good enough 5 to win. But when we got back, and I watched some of the other Top Teams come in with lots of fish, but very few big ones, I thought we might have a chance.
Our weight came in at 121lbs for our 5 fish and it turned out that was enough to take first place. We also took the Most Fish Pot with 48 that were all donated to a great cause, "Northwest Harvest Food Bank"
Tommy's Team "Usual Suspects" came in 2nd and also won the Biggest Fish pot with a 32lb Pig!
Team Kora, last years defending champs came in third.
It was really cool, as there were 5 Defiance Teams in the Tournament. I wish I could of gotten a good pic of all of us together.
Team Thru-Bolted fished a great tournament and got a wide open bait stop going that we joined in on for the last hour and a half of our day.
Team Hawaiian Style- Had a great tournament as well. He fished on Thursday, so he had some good recent intel for us. I hadn't fished since Wed., so having him there to scout some great areas was a huge help. Thanks Tom!
Team Deviant- Was awesome. First time he had ever been Tuna Fishing in his Boat!! Weather was sloppy and he powered through and weighed a good string of fish. He has been Fishing with "Hawaiian Style' and he was obviously taking good notes on how to throw down on the Albies!
Team Usual Suspects- Tommys Team, don't need to say much more, these guys are hard core and some of the best fishermen that I know.
Team Little Boat- It is not a Defiance Boat, but we have adopted him into the Defiance Family. If he wouldn't have had engine problems he would have been a contender for sure. Darryl knows the live bait game well.
On a great weekend like this one, it is hard to imagine that it can get much better. But it did. There was a point at the end when they had all of the Wounded Warriors come up front for some recognition and they talked a little about each one. As they walked up front, everyone stood up and gave them a standing ovation. It brought incredible emotion to me, I really found myself forgetting about the Tournament and the Win and thinking about how grateful I am for heroes like these great men and women. What a great organization to support. There was one Wounded Warrior who was not up front however. Bret DiFrancisco. He is a BDer and fishes full time on Tommy Donlin's team. He didn't go up front, but is one of my heroes as well. It was great to have him on my boat on Wed. and hear his stories about his injuries and the great sacrifices that his Brothers in Arms made for our Safety and Security.
Thanks Wounded Warriors for all that you have done for us!!!
Here are some pics of the event. I don't have a lot, but perhaps my team members will add some more over time. Thanks to all who participated.
Team Gunslinger/Raymarine (Our Battle Wagon "The Gunslinger")
Next, my take on the weekends event:
Let the good times roll!
A few words about this effort.
About the crew:
Of course there was Bo, Mr. Defiance. A real great skipper and hard working guy.
Casey, Lamination shop manager for Defiance. A true working man and a heck of a nice young man. Fast learner and great all around. Casey has fished with the team the last couple of years and earns his ride the hard way. Great to have the master builder aboard to see his enthusiasm for the design and the end product.
Mike,
A buddy that hadn't done the tournament thing but an excellent fisherman and a never say die attitude. He brought the Go Pros and we had a lot of fun messing with them even on the tourney day, it was all about the gaff cam, the head cam, the tower cam...Good stuff, can't wait to see the end product of all his efforts. He's a hardcore fishing maniac and I'm glad he jumped in with us.
Eric,
Mike's buddy who I have fished with many times. Easy going and another hard woking man. An electrician by trade and just gets the job done with a smile all the time.
Both Mike and Eric were my invitees for some others who couldn't make the show. What a great thing to share the time and the success with these two deserving fellas.
Dave(me),
Volvo repair guy and fishing freak. I have had the good fortune to get involved with the Gig Harbor chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers years ago, which led me over time into the fire. It's been a great time learning all the different things from all the great anglers I have had the pleasure of fishing with.
To sum it up, pretty much a true working mans crew putting our heads down, doing the work, and having a great time together...Friends fishing for a great cause, combining lady luck, with some knowledge and skill to make it to the podium.
It all couldn't have come together without the great support of a lot of friends in the Defiance family. We networked, shared the work, and got the work done in a true team fashion and it was amazing to have that kind of community.
I am super grateful to be a part of each and every one of these events. The WTC is special in it's own way to me with the Wounded Warrior program. I'm a veteran and fortunately didn't have to do combat time but I feel deeply connected with the great men and women who serve our country each and every day.
We had the pleasure of taking Carl out for a little salmon time on Sunday morning. Carl fished with Wayne on the See Ya Saturday for the tourney. What an adventure that must have been. Thanks Wayne!
Aboard the Gun Slinger we trolled the north beach for a few hours and managed to bag a couple of nice kings. I think Carl had a pretty relaxing time. We also rode back to Lewis-McChord together and had a lot to talk about. Looks like a dinner with Carl to have some salmon on Wednesday is the next plan.
Thanks to all the people who participated in this event, fishing teams to volunteers. It was truly Classic.
A few words about this effort.
About the crew:
Of course there was Bo, Mr. Defiance. A real great skipper and hard working guy.
Casey, Lamination shop manager for Defiance. A true working man and a heck of a nice young man. Fast learner and great all around. Casey has fished with the team the last couple of years and earns his ride the hard way. Great to have the master builder aboard to see his enthusiasm for the design and the end product.
Mike,
A buddy that hadn't done the tournament thing but an excellent fisherman and a never say die attitude. He brought the Go Pros and we had a lot of fun messing with them even on the tourney day, it was all about the gaff cam, the head cam, the tower cam...Good stuff, can't wait to see the end product of all his efforts. He's a hardcore fishing maniac and I'm glad he jumped in with us.
Eric,
Mike's buddy who I have fished with many times. Easy going and another hard woking man. An electrician by trade and just gets the job done with a smile all the time.
Both Mike and Eric were my invitees for some others who couldn't make the show. What a great thing to share the time and the success with these two deserving fellas.
Dave(me),
Volvo repair guy and fishing freak. I have had the good fortune to get involved with the Gig Harbor chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers years ago, which led me over time into the fire. It's been a great time learning all the different things from all the great anglers I have had the pleasure of fishing with.
To sum it up, pretty much a true working mans crew putting our heads down, doing the work, and having a great time together...Friends fishing for a great cause, combining lady luck, with some knowledge and skill to make it to the podium.
It all couldn't have come together without the great support of a lot of friends in the Defiance family. We networked, shared the work, and got the work done in a true team fashion and it was amazing to have that kind of community.
I am super grateful to be a part of each and every one of these events. The WTC is special in it's own way to me with the Wounded Warrior program. I'm a veteran and fortunately didn't have to do combat time but I feel deeply connected with the great men and women who serve our country each and every day.
We had the pleasure of taking Carl out for a little salmon time on Sunday morning. Carl fished with Wayne on the See Ya Saturday for the tourney. What an adventure that must have been. Thanks Wayne!
Aboard the Gun Slinger we trolled the north beach for a few hours and managed to bag a couple of nice kings. I think Carl had a pretty relaxing time. We also rode back to Lewis-McChord together and had a lot to talk about. Looks like a dinner with Carl to have some salmon on Wednesday is the next plan.
Thanks to all the people who participated in this event, fishing teams to volunteers. It was truly Classic.
Final note:
Our team's victory secured us an invitation to the 2013 IGFA World Offshore Championship in Costa Rica next April. Let's see if we can make it to that party. Time to save some cash!
Here are a few more pics:
Gun Slinger ready for battle in the morning.
Me with a nice tuna.
Mike up on the tower Sunday afternoon.
Carl and I with a couple of beautiful kings.
Here are a few more pics:
Gun Slinger ready for battle in the morning.
Me with a nice tuna.
Mike up on the tower Sunday afternoon.
Carl and I with a couple of beautiful kings.
Some more pics that are now up on the WTC photobucket page. Check your team photos there. Thanks to Glenn and Cami for the awesome work with the cameras. It was so nice to have you both there to record everyone for posterity.
Good fishing!
Gunslinger baby yeah!
Acres of tuna.
Go team!
See your teams photos here:
Garibaldi here we come.....
Next stop the Garibaldi leg of the Oregon Tuna Classic
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