F/V ISLA
Captain D. Jared Hourihan
MEET THE CAPTAIN
Captain D. Jared Hourihan
USCG 50 Ton Master Captain
Registered Maine Guide
Captain Daniel "Jared" Hourihan has a lifetime of experience fishing on Casco Bay and on the Gulf of Maine. What started as an obsession with inshore fishing at a young age progressed to a full fledged addiction to chasing Bluefin Tuna offshore as an adult. After crewing on a charter boat in High School and College, Jared made the jump to Commercial Tuna Fishing on his own boat in 2017. After years of catching one of the most amazing fish that swims with friends and family, he is looking to share the thrill of catching Giant Bluefin Tuna with you. After fishing year round on Isla the past couple years from Boothbay, Maine to Bimini in the Bahamas, Jared discovered that there is truly nothing that can compare to the excitement of catching a Giant Bluefin Tuna.
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Contact us today to book your trip of a lifetime.
THE BOAT: F/V ISLA
Isla is an Albin 28 Flush Deck with a reliable Yanmar 315hp Diesel Engine. She has been updated with the latest Furuno Electronics and customized specifically for Giant Bluefin fishing.
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Albin 28's are known as the most seaworthy boats in their class, and Isla has comprehensive safety gear and has passed her USCG Dockside Commercial Fishing Safety Exam for greater than 100 Miles offshore.
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Enjoy your day offshore with comfortable seating, an enclosed pilot house, plenty of storage, an enclosed head (bathroom), a queen berth and a single berth. Isla has been set up to be safe, comfortable, and ready to fish.
THE GEAR
Giant Bluefin Tackle
Isla is equipped with the best tackle available when fighting Giant Bluefin out of the rod holder including:
Accurate ATD-130 and Shimano Tiagra 130 Reels
CMS Chatham Special Rods with Winthrop Guides
Shark Fishing Light Tackle & Fly
For sharks on light tackle and fly we have the following gear on board:
Shimano TLD25 Reels and Connley Custom Rods
Hardy and Cheeky 12wt - 16wt Reels
Hardy, Orvis and TFO Rods 11wt - 16wt
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GALLERY
TRIPS
I am disappointed to announce that we are going to be taking the 2020 season off from both charters and commercial tuna fishing. Isla 1.0 was put under contract prior to COVID and the sale just recently closed. Given the current state of the tuna fishery and tourism industry we are going to hold off on the planned bigger and better boat this season. We do have some plans in the works for 2021 and will keep our Website, FB and Instagram updated.
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Giant Bluefin Tuna are one of the largest and fastest fish that swim, and are also one of the hardest to catch. Since the early 1900s when Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway began catching these fish on rod and reel they have been one of the ultimate angling accomplishments. While the gear has improved since the early 1900s, Giant Bluefin are still challenging to hook, and often harder to land. This is not a big numbers game and we often go weeks without a bite. However when the bite is on multiple hookups in a day are not uncommon. Our most productive time of year has been Mid-July through November, with the fall offering the best chance at a Giant.
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For a more action packed day on the water we also offer light tackle shark charters as well.
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Any tuna 73" or larger caught on a charter is the property of the boat, however your next trip will be on us.
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If weather will not allow for a scheduled trip offshore you will have the option of an inshore trip on Casco bay for $450, a full refund, or a trip scheduled for another future date. Trip departure is always at the discretion of the Captain.
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Overnight 18 Hour Tuna Trip - 2 Anglers Max
Not Available in 2020
This is how we fish commercially. We will run offshore in the dark, catch bait and set tuna lines overnight. This trip offers the best opportunity to hook a Giant Bluefin with multiple tides to fish and allows us to travel to fishing grounds further from Portland depending on the bite. Groundfish and baitfish will be the target while waiting for the bite. There is nothing like getting down and tight at sunrise on the Gulf of Maine.
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Shark or Tuna Day Trip 8 Hours - 4 Anglers Max
Not Available in 2020
A day trip is a great way to experience offshore fishing on the Gulf of Maine. Sharks are the more productive catch on a day trip with our chum slick attracting them directly to the boat. Targeting Tuna is also possible in late summer and fall when we have a shorter run to the grounds. Whether Shark or Tuna fishing we will be jigging for bottom fish and bait all day and frequently see whales, porpoises, and ocean sunfish. A day trip is a great first step if you are looking to experience offshore fishing on the Gulf of Maine.
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