Danthony Winslow and Lathan Price (on the right) caught a bluefin tuna weighing 700 pounds using a 23-foot flat-bottom skiff.
Courtesy of Danthony Winslow
For three days, Danthony Winslow and Lathan Price were what they termed “tuna wishing.” They had been drifting live bait for bluefin tuna off the North Carolina coast, enduring sub-zero temperatures in an open 23-foot skiff in the Atlantic, which thankfully remained calm most of the time.
“We’d been out in the cold for three days without any bites,” said Winslow, a 22-year-old commercial fisherman from Morehead City, North Carolina. “And we were freezing cold.” Desperate to change their luck, they decided to try something different on the fourth day. “We took a Mr. Buddy propane heater with us,” Winslow chuckled. “In an open boat, it didn’t provide much heat.”
Price, a 21-year-old charter captain, concurred. “It at least helped take the edge off,” he said. The duo, who have been friends since middle school, were gathered around the heater when their luck changed. They finally received a bite.
Bluefin Tuna Caught from a Skiff
So how do two anglers haul a 115-inch bluefin tuna onto a skiff? They call for extra help on deck.
Courtesy of Danthony Winslow
More than five hours later, they finally got the fish on board — it was nearly half the length of the skiff. The 115-inch bluefin came in at 700 pounds—not a record, but an impressive catch from a small boat.
Both Price and Winslow come from fishing families. Price works as a captain for Legacy Fishing Charters from Morehead City. His uncle, Eric Price, captains the Offshore Outlaw, known from “Wicked Tuna.” Much of Winslow’s commercial fishing involves extended bottom-fishing trips.
With the opening of the tuna season on December 1, their mission was clear. They hoped to succeed on Price’s 23-foot Riddick Bayrunner flat-bottom skiff.
“Tuna come in really close to shore here,” Winslow explained. “We fished in what we call the ‘Shoals’ near Cape Lookout in about 50 to 60 feet of water. We could see the Lookout lighthouse from our spot.”
They were live-lining 3- to 5-pound live bluefish, caught the night before, on 14/O Owner live bait hooks. “We shared the waters with around ten other boats,” Price mentioned.
Action picked up, and several boats were hooking fish, including Price’s uncle Eric. “We spotted some birds and navigated toward them,” Winslow recalled. Then, bam! The tuna started its expected long and fast run.
Battling a Giant Bluefin from a Small Boat
The anglers took turns on the rod secured in a bow-mounted swivel holder. After a few hours, the massive bluefin finally relented.
Courtesy of Danthony Winslow
“They just scream off the reel,” Price explained, using a Penn International 80-wide loaded with a mix of 200-pound braid, a top shot of 200-pound monofilament, and a 200-pound fluorocarbon leader. “This one made a solid run of 400 to 500 yards.”
After maneuvering the boat and closing the gap, they began the hard work. “It took us at least an hour to get him close,” Price said. The duo alternated turns on the rod. After a while, the tuna finally surfaced.
“It popped up and was just gliding on the surface,” Price said. “Then I knew we had something big.”
They managed to bring the fish close to the boat, but the challenge wasn’t over. “You still risk losing them when they get near,” Price warned. “Things can get chaotic.”
The two secured the tuna using a harpoon and a tail rope. The next challenge was getting the fish into the skiff, which GPS indicated had traveled over 12 miles during the struggle.
Luckily, Eric Price was nearby on his boat and eagerly offered assistance. After connecting with Lathan’s skiff, Eric and his two crew members came on board. Together, the five men were able to bring the tuna aboard the skiff. At the dock, the tuna measured 115 inches fork-length and weighed exactly 700 pounds after being cored (head and entrails removed).
Earnings from a Bluefin Tuna
Upon reaching the dock, both anglers struck a deal with a broker. They will have to wait a couple of weeks to determine the tuna’s market value, potentially fetching $10 or more per pound.
Lathan Price’s previous largest tuna weighed 658 pounds, caught on a trip with his uncle. Winslow stated he is not aware of any larger bluefin in his family’s extensive fishing history.
At the dock, they made arrangements with a broker. It will take a couple of weeks to find out how much they will receive at market. They may earn $10 or more per pound.
While waiting for their earnings, Price and Winslow haven’t been idle. Whenever the weather permits, they’re out searching for another large tuna. Although they haven’t had another bite following their catch, it doesn’t bother them as much. “It’ll be a warmer winter now,” Price chuckled.