FDNY Brothers Team Up For A Great Day Tuna Fishing Aboard The Downeaster Mary Alice

8/14/2023 Pete Carey, Kevin Profitlich, Jimmy McCabe, Bobby Maynes and Tommy May departed Montauk Marine Basin and were underway at 12:30 am for what turned out to be another exceptional day fishing aboard the 31’ Downeaster Mary Alice. Four hours later at 10 kts placed us 40 miles from Montauk. Kevin running the deck had the trolling gear in place with Jim and Bob’s help an hour before sunrise. Trolling proved ineffective so we switched over to jigging. A team effort by all who attended. Pete marked some big fish on the screen and it wasn’t long before a 90lb Bluefin hit hard and almost spooled the reel on me. At first I thought I was snagged on the bottom, but Kevin said “You have a fish on there, how fast do you think we’re drifting!” Having not much line left on the spinning reel, Pete backed down allowing me to refill some of the spool. Great job by Kevin, Jim and Bob coaching me, as I’m a newbie at tuna fishing and surely would’ve lost this fish if it had not been for them. After close to an hour fighting him, I passed the rod off to Bob who fought him for another half hour. Hats off to Captain Pete who made as many turns on the wheel as we made on the reel keeping the large bluefin out of out propeller, shaft and rudder. Great Day!! Tommy May FDNY Retired