Cape Cod Fisherman Writes 1st Review of Hit Discovery Channel Show "Fighting Tuna"

Oct. 30, 2012 - PRLog -- Yesterday evening I got a text message from my buddy and fellow tuna addict Jason Mazzola about the Discovery Channel show Fighting Tuna.  Apparently the show was all about Cape Cod Bay tuna fishing.  My first thought was, “how in the world did I not hear about this?!”

Needless to say I tuned in to Discovery at 10pm to check it out and I was not disappointed.

The show features 4 captains who are all dead set on hooking and landing fish that can bring as much as $20,000 (but often bring much less).  Of course the one thing Cape Cod is notorious about-the weather-is keeping everyone stuck on the docks during a late October bite.

These guys fish out of relatively small boats, especially considering how rough areas like Stellwagen Bank, Cape Cod Bay and George’s Bank can become.  If it’s blowing hard on the dock, you can bet your chum bucket the wind is howling at George’s-150 miles east of Cape Cod.

Things start off with Paulie Stern, who has a reputation for catching big tunas and lots of them.  He’s heading to Stellwagen, which is where we were fishing last week.  The fact these guys fish the same areas I fish (and maybe you as well) made the show super interesting and relevant.  Paulie is known as a “fish killing machine” who would “much rather be on the ocean than on land.”  Sounds like a good guy to have a beer with.

Anthony is the youngest captain in the fleet who’s running the 35 foot Ocean Raider.  He fishes a little differently than the other guys (at least in this episode) and prefers to troll and keep on the move instead of anchoring and chumming.  I liked seeing how he rigs up his trolling baits-I suppose I should be taking notes!  Anthony is in a constant search for the “ecosystem” of bait, birds, whales and tuna.  Things start off slow for him but he quickly heats up 150 miles east of Cape Cod at George’s Bank.

Captain Donnie Brag had the most epic quote of the entire show.  “I’m Elvis, I’m back and I’m pissed.”  Enough said.  Donnie is off to Stellwagen with Paulie

The day bite at Stellwagen seems slow but things turn once the sun sets.  Paulie hooks up during the night on the Bank but trouble close to the boat causes the line to snap.  First mate Richie Lucas takes the blame and things get a little tense for a moment-but not nearly as intense as on National Geographic’s Wicked Tuna, which I appreciated.

The next morning Donnie runs into one issue that just about everyone who fishes off Cape Cod can relate with-dogfish.  The doggies are killing him and his bait supply.  Does this sound familiar to anyone reading this?  It sure does to me!

Back at George’s Bank, a long ways from the rest of the fleet is Anthony and his crew.  He’s teamed up with Carmine Z. (no chance of spelling his last name!).  Carmine is a custom home builder on Long Island and is out tuna fishing just for the sport of it.  The commercial guys don’t seem all that crazy about Carmine, which is expected.  I think they are alluding to the recreational versus commercial attitudes which is a kind of humorous, but accurate all at the same time.

Carmine calls Anthony in on some life in the form of whales, birds, bait and tuna.  Almost immediately upon placing baits in the water Anthony hooks up with a tuna that just dumps line from his 130.  Everyone’s all fired up on Anthony’s boat while Carmine and crew look on enviously.

While Donnie gets killed by dogs back at Stellwagen, Anthony and crew fight their fish for 30 minutes and successfully land a 95 inch plus giant.  It was one hell of a nice fish to say the least.

This was the first giant that mate Alex had ever caught so in tradition Alex took a bite from the heart after the guys swam the fish for a while to cool it down and preserve the meat.  The time spent taking care of the fish paid off big time, as their 532 pound (head intact) tuna would end up fetching $21/pound at auction in Japan.

Word about Anthony’s catch spreads quickly throughout the fleet and it isn’t long until Donnie is scratching his head, wondering if making the long run to George’s is worth the gas, time, risk and effort.  Donnie caught at 3,000 pound great white shark back in 1986 off Long Island with Frank Mundez.  Mundez is regarded as the inspiration behind Jaws according to the show.  Donnie admits that despite his fame early on, he just likes to go fishing and sell his product-which I found to be very cool.

100 plus miles north of Anthony is Paulie, who is still hammering away at Stellwagen Bank.  Paulie finally gets a take from a fish that starts things off with drag peeling run.  Tricky part is that with 5 rods out, the fish has entangled itself with the other lines.  In true tuna fisherman fashion Paulie keeps his cool, clears the tangle and allows mate Richie to go to work.  15 minutes later Paulie fires the harpoon deep underneath the boat and sticks the tuna with pin-point accuracy.  

It was an impressive shot to say the least.  The fish is no monster tapping out at 250 pounds.  Still a sellable Bluefin but according to Paulie, “the one I caught last week could of ate that one.”  I believe him.  According to the show he caught a 975 pounder the week before.

The show ends with Paulie and Anthony unloading their catch.  Paulie sells his catch to Bob Kliss from North Atlantic Traders.  The fish will go to the domestic market and fetches $18 a pound for Paulie.  Not a bad price.

Anthony’s fish is headed to Japan.  Once the fish sells in Japan, everyone takes a cut and whatever is left over goes to Anthony.  The tuna fetched $21 a pound which makes his fish a 10K tuna.

Next week it looks like the crews are heading to George’s Bank.  I guess everyone got excited about Anthony’s nice fish!  The preview clips Discovery shows are action packed and it looks like quite a few fish are hooked.  It also looks like quite a few fish are lost.

Either way this show was a nice surprise for a Tuesday night.  If you have ever fished Cape Cod Bay, Stellwagen Bank or George’s Bank for tuna you will probably enjoy it.  Even if you have not fished these areas I think Discovery is doing a nice job and the show is at least worth a check.

For more information on Cape Cod giant bluefin tuna fishing, be sure to check out http://www.myfishingcapecod.com.