Big Coast was on a serious Island mission end of 2024 season, fishing Denny and McInnes Islands a ton…and preparing for the grandaddy of them all…Haida Gwaii!
For the second year in-a-row the Big Coast Albacore Crew was headed North to Sandspit for the 2025 Haida Gwaii Longfin Tuna Poke. It’s always cool to get the old band together, and I was super happy to get my Tuna Captain hat on and welcome Jes McFarlen back on board. He brought his half maniacal compadre Trever Walker and we added Nick Romer and Dick Pic from Bridgeview to the crew.
Now last season we got our asses handed to us fishing this derby. As did everyone. After an opening day 2-3m blowing 30 kind of day things took a turn for the ugly. We’re talking 5m seas and gusts up to 55 knots. Crazy stuff really and Coast Guard shut her down. We spent days drinking beers and watching Deadliest Catch reruns and managed one decent day at derby’s end.
So needless to say, there was a lot of excitement for Year 2 on Haida Gwaii and a potential do-over. The derby was moved earlier to end of August and man…weather cooperated in 2025. But with Haida Gwaii the trip there is half the battle. I watched weather diligently for weeks leading up to the derby and I saw one window coming. There was a Winds Light break for a singular day about a week before derby time. I seized the opportunity and did the 61/2 hour solo run on short notice.
Now this is no trip for the meek or inexperienced. The Hecate is a shallow and potentially very nasty body of water. But I hit it right and blazed from Bella Bella to McInnes Island in near record time. From there it’s a straight shot…point the boat at Sandspit and lock on the autopilot baby.
The run went seamlessly and I enjoyed some chill time prior to Derby. We even had a stellar Chinook day with James McNeice and his kids fishing West Coast. Super cool.
The derby itself couldn’t have gone much better. We fished six straight days and never ventured further than 15 miles offshore. Mostly we fished a cold water break just a couple miles off as satellite imagery didn’t promise much success offshore.
In the end, we had the lead for a few days thanks to a couple 29.5 pounders and finished respectably. We make a habit of never winning these things despite a dozen years trying…but still managed 65 Albacore and a boat load of good times.
Please enjoy our Episode 12 from 2025 Haida Gwaii Longfin Tuna Poke responsibly. And if you ever get the chance…try a troll for the Northernmost tuna you’ll ever battle!
