Author name: Mason Tidewell

Tips and Tricks

How I Caught My First Bluefin Tuna off Cape Cod — And What I’d Do Differently

There are fishing trips you forget a week later, and then there are the ones that burn themselves into your memory. Catching my first bluefin tuna off the coast of Cape Cod was the latter. It was hard, humbling, and unforgettable — and I made more than a few rookie mistakes along the way. Here’s the full story, from prepping the gear to landing the fish, along with what I’d do differently if I could do it all over again.

The plan was ambitious: chase school-sized bluefin in late June just outside Stellwagen Bank, a hotspot for tuna off the Massachusetts coast. I had some offshore experience, but this was my first real shot at bluefin.

Our setup was a 28-foot center console, and we were rigged with 50-wide conventional reels spooled with 80 lb braid backing and 100 lb mono topshots. I opted for fluorocarbon leaders — 130 lb — crimped to 8/0 circle hooks. We packed a mix of topwater plugs, trolling lures, and the real prize: live mackerel we caught at first light near Barnstable Harbor.

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Beginners

Top 5 Mistakes New Sea Anglers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Saltwater fishing looks simple from the outside: cast a line, wait, reel in dinner. But the reality is more complex — and the ocean is quick to punish inexperience. Whether you’re stepping aboard a charter for the first time or taking your own boat offshore, it’s easy to make mistakes that can cost you fish, gear, or worse.

Here are the top five mistakes new sea anglers make — and how to avoid them so you spend more time catching and less time cursing.

1. Ignoring the Tides and Currents

The Mistake:
New anglers often head out without checking the tides or current flow. They’ll fish a dead tide expecting action, or anchor in a spot with too much current for their gear to hold bottom.

Why It Matters:
Tide and current drive saltwater feeding behavior. Many species — from stripers inshore to cod offshore — bite best during moving water, especially around tide changes. Anchoring in a strong current can also be dangerous and frustrating.

How to Avoid It:
Use tide apps or local tide charts and plan your trip around the best windows. Learn to read the water: if it’s completely still or ripping too fast, it’s probably not the right time or spot. Talk to local tackle shops about how tide affects your target species in that area.

2. Bringing the Wrong Gear

The Mistake:
Using freshwater gear or undersized tackle offshore is a classic rookie move. A 3000-size spinning reel and medium rod might land a …

Trip Logs

A Day in the Deep: My Offshore Fishing Trip from Sunrise to Sunset

Some days on the water feel like work. Others remind you why you fell in love with fishing in the first place. This was one of the good ones — a full day offshore, chasing whatever the ocean threw our way, from sunrise until the last light faded. No cell service, no deadlines, just blue water and the thrill of the unknown.

Here’s how it went down — the fish we found, the mistakes we made, and why I’ll never forget this day.

4:30 AM – Harbor Lights and Pre-Trip Rituals

We pulled into the marina just as the sky was starting to bleed from black to purple. A light breeze stirred the air, and the docks creaked quietly. It was one of those mornings where the coffee tastes better, the gear feels lighter, and your gut says, “This is going to be a good one.”

We were fishing aboard a friend’s 29-foot center console, rigged for offshore work. Rods were pre-rigged the night before — trolling setups with 50-wides, spinning rods with poppers and jigs, and bottom rigs just in case. Coolers were packed, sandwiches wrapped, and the bait — fresh mackerel and a few ballyhoo — was iced and ready.

By 5:15, we were throttling out of the harbor into the gray dawn.

6:30 AM – The Steam Out and the First Sign of Life

It took a little over an hour to run 30 miles out, past the nearshore reefs and into deeper bluewater. Water temp read …

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