FastcatsFishing
An angler in a fighting harness leans back into a bent rod with the deckhand beside him

August to December

Bluefin tuna, caught and released

Giant Atlantic bluefin off the Cornish coast. Big, fast and fought on stand up gear, then sent back to fight another day.

Bluefin returned to Cornish waters in numbers a few years ago and Jerry was one of the skippers invited on to the original CHART tagging programme. He has fished every season since, running close to sixty tuna trips a year, and now holds a three year Catch and Release Recreational Fishery licence after completing the Angling Trust training.

In his words, it is Formula One fishing. Fish estimated at 600lb have come to the boat. On a good day the sea is alive with fin whales, gannets and tuna crashing bait on the surface.

Trips are limited to four anglers so everyone gets proper time in the chair. Spectators can sometimes come along, ask when booking. Bring warm waterproof layers, food and drink, and something for seasickness if you are prone to it. Everything else is on the boat.

Weather calls the shots in autumn. If a day is blown out you will be offered the next free date rather than a rough trip nobody enjoys.

Season
Mid August to mid December
Anglers
Maximum four per trip
Departs
Port Pendennis Marina, Falmouth
Method
Trolling, catch, measure and release
Licence
Three year CRRF permit, Angling Trust trained
Tackle
All rods, reels, harnesses and lures supplied

A day on the tuna

How it goes

  1. 01

    The run out

    Dreamcatcher cruises at 20 knots, so the grounds are under an hour away and you spend the day fishing, not travelling.

  2. 02

    Finding the fish

    Birds, bait balls, fin whales and busting tuna. Jerry reads the water and the Simrad, Charlie sets the spread.

  3. 03

    The hook up

    You go into the harness and the fight is on. Twenty minutes to an hour of pure power. Triple hook ups happen.

  4. 04

    The release

    The fish is brought alongside, measured, photographed in the water and released as fast as possible. That is the whole point.

From the deck

This season so far

A bluefin tuna on the surface beside the boat, held on a lip grip ready for releaseA young angler in a harness bent into a tuna rod with the deckhand coaching behind himLooking down from the deck at a bluefin tuna being held alongside for taggingA laughing angler leans over the gunwale holding a big bluefin on a lip gripThe deckhand reaches down to steady a bluefin tuna at the side of the boatTwo anglers laughing on deck, one strapped into a fighting harness

Fish welfare

Looked after, every time

Every bluefin is handled to the UK CRRF rules: fought on heavy gear so it comes in fresh, kept in the water alongside the boat, measured and released with the minimum of fuss. Jerry helped shape the fishery from its first tagging season and is a firm believer that the welfare rules are what keep it world class.

"A massive amount of work has been done to make this possible. The fishery has evolved over the years and I genuinely feel it's a good thing. It helps the welfare of such a magnificent fish and looks after a world class fishery."
Jerry Rogers, after completing the CRRF skipper training

Tuna dates go fast

The season is short and most weeks are booked before it starts. Get your name down early, or ask about late cancellations.

Book a dateCall 07968 986027