FAQ Planning for Your Tuna Trip

Before we get to your checkoff list, keep in mind every step of the way:  SPACE IS LIMITED!  Your sleeping quarters and deck space needs to be kept to as few items as possible. You can't fish it there's no room on deck!

FLOAT 4
Orientation & Loading Your Belongings:  Varies. Time provided at check-in the day of departure.

Departure Time: Varies. You'll be informed during Orientation.

Please be checked in and on board for orientation ON TIME!

Due to unloading previous anglers, getting FBI (fuel, bait, ice), weather, and cleaning for your trip, tuna trips are never exact.

Bloody decks are not only common on tuna trips; they are welcome! Blood will be splattered literally everywhere. So, dress accordingly. You don't want to spend two days sleeping and fishing in blood-soaked clothes.

What to Bring

If you have a sea bag/duffle bag of some such, that's best.

• Boots. Change of shoes. Multiple pairs of socks.
• Clothes for 3 days on board. Dress in layers from light-wear to full cold, windy, rain gear. Don't forget skull caps (baseball caps will blow off in wind)
• Bedding: Sleeping bag and pillow. (And toothbrush, please!)
• Coolers: If you're going as a group or two or more people, meet at the charter office and combine all your food/drink items into as few coolers as you can. Lock up the rest in your vehicles in the office parking lot. Even then, the captain and crew might request even less coolers on the deck. Ten people cannot bring ten medium-to-large coolers and expect to run around the deck. There's just not enough room. No Styrofoam Coolers whatsoever!
• Food & Drink: We have coffee and potable water. Bring your own bottled water,  juices, fruit, and meals.
• Beer & Liquor: Beer and spirits are allowed: Getting stupid drunk is not. Everyone is out there to have fun and if someone becomes intoxicated, they'll be removed from the deck. If someone becomes uncontrollable, the USCG has ways of making life very uncomfortable (as do we). We prefer you bring non-glass items.
  
• Fishing License: There is no fishing license for 'tuna.' Beginning in 2006, a saltwater fishing license is required to fish for albacore. Anglers can purchase either a saltwater angling license, or combo license, or a multi-day stamp.
  

You can purchase a salmon license at our office, at a local state-approved vendor in your area, or online here.

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Bringing Your Own Tackle
You are not required to bring any tackle. We provide everything you'll need. There are those few exceptions out there that have solid experience and wish to use their own gear:

• Braided line is not allowed for obvious reasons
• We recommend a  6' to 7’ medium-action rod, rated for #20 to #40.
• Experienced anglers will bring several rods:
  • One for casting plastics
  • One for dropping irons
  • A couple bait rods with different line sizes:  25-lb to 40-lb

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Additional WDFW tuna info:
Tuna Stats for Washington Coast
Tuna Info for Recreational Fishery