Article by Larry Jock
Readers of the Coastal Fisherman will recognize the name of Capt. Mark Hoos on the charter boat, “Marli”. We had an opportunity to interview Capt. Mark about the charter business and tuna fishing out of Ocean City.
How long have you been Captain of the “Marli”?
12 1/2 years!
How did you get involved in charter fishing?
I enjoyed sport fishing and decided to subsidize the expense of the trips.
What is your favorite thing about being a Charter Boat Captain?
The gratification of finding and catching fish for my clients.
If you could change one thing about charter fishing, what would it be?
I would change the anglers concept of what a good day is. Many people gauge the day on only the catch. There are many more aspects that make up a great day on the water.
The “Marli” has been the top tuna boat in the Ocean City Marlin Club for the past 12 years.
What do you attribute your success to?
Hard work and drive.
What is the most tuna you have boated in a single season?
We caught 600 plus tuna one year in the mid 2000's
What is the heaviest tuna you have ever caught on the “Marli”? Anything interesting about the fight/catch?
It was a 79-inch giant bluefin tuna. I was jumped by three giants while fishing at the Hot Dog. We caught and released the 79-inch fish and pulled and broke off the remaining two.
What type of preparation do you do BEFORE a tuna fishing trip?
I review the projected weather and current sea temps.
How has tuna fishing changed since you started?
Tactics and techniques have changed greatly. We finesse the tunas with lighter leaders, green sticks, planners and other techniques. Years ago, it was more basic.
Are there any new technologies out there that has really helped put more tuna in the box?
The use of fluorocarbon leaders has definitely increased our catch of tuna.
Do you prefer to troll or chunk for tuna?
I prefer to troll. The bite is more fierce and you stay much cleaner!
It has perplexed me why we don’t see as much chunking for tuna anymore, especially when gas prices were high. I know some local tackle shops used to go through a pallet of butterfish in a day. Now they may not go through one in a year. Why do you think chunking has gone by the wayside?
You need the correct conditions to capitalize on chunking.
I know there is a lot of friendly competition on the docks when it comes to tuna fishing. Do the Captains work together or is it every man for himself?
Most of the charter fleet will work together; however, most captains have a select core group that share information. The more information the captain contributes, the more benefit he will receive in the future.
When you are heading offshore, do you have a specific location in mind or do you analyze the conditions on the fly to determine where you will drop your lines?
I always have a game plan prior to leaving the slip. Plan your work and work your plan.
What conditions do you look for when going after yellowfins?
Temperature, color changes and bait.
Is it the same if you are targeting bluefins?
Temperature and color changes don’t play as much of a role, but you must have bait.
Fishing for bigeye tuna has really gained in popularity over the last several years? Do you enjoy fishing for bigeye tuna? Why?
I enjoy bigeye tuna fishing. The bite is normally explosive, violent and very exciting to watch!
What conditions do you look for when you are going after bigeyes?
I like blue clean water with a lot of bait.
What is your favorite set-up (spread) when trolling for yellowfins?
A mixture of ballyhoo's spreader bars.
If you had one “go to” artificial lure for trolling for yellowfins, what would it be?
A "Tracker" by Iland Lures.
How big of a role do temperature breaks play when you are targeting tuna?
Temperature breaks play a major role during the early season.
How do you determine if you are going to fish the hot side or the cold side of a temperature break?
Locate the bait.
Do you find that tuna bite best when seas are calm or rough?
I catch many more fish in rough seas.
Have you noticed a difference between sunny and cloudy days?
Yes, I like sunny conditions especially when it's rough.
When you are trolling, what speed do you prefer to troll at?
When I am trolling for tuna, I like to go at 4 - 8 knots, depending on sea conditions.
Do you vary your speed during the course of the day?
Yes, I vary my trolling speed until I find the ultimate fish catching speed for that day.
Do you troll at a different speed for bluefins versus yellowfins?
Yes, I prefer to slow my speed when fishing way backs.
Do you like to troll in a straight line or do you have any maneuvers that you have found help raise fish? I know Tred Barta always advocated changing speeds and zig-zagging.
A hard turn can work really well when marking non-biting fish.
Is there a tactic that you use when trying for multiple hook-ups? What happens after you get your first hook-up?
Stretch out the leading bite to capitalize on additional bites.
If the fish aren’t cooperating, what is the first thing you do when trying to get a bite?
Entice the bite by altering our speed and course.
Yellowfins are known for sometimes being leader shy. What size leader do you use when trolling for yellowfins?
We use 100 lb. fluorocarbon leader.
Do you use a different size fluorocarbon leader when you are chunking?
Yes, we drop down to 40 lb.
What is the biggest mistake you see Captains make when targeting tuna?
Leaving fish to find fish.
What is the biggest mistake you see anglers make when fighting tuna?
Trying to muscle the tuna. Strength does not overpower a tuna. A good steady rhythm will defeat most fish.
Over the last couple of years, we see more boats “greensticking” for tuna. Do you utilize a greenstick on the “Marli”? How does that method of tuna fishing work?
I will deploy the green stick under the correct conditions. You need the tunas in a school and staged around bait or structure. If the fish are spread out, the green stick is not as effective.
What tips would you give aspiring charter boat captains?
Dot your "I's" and cross your "T's" with your clients. Always include and explain the game plan throughout the day.
Capt. Mark Hoos and the charter boat, “Marli” can be found on “C” Dock at Sunset Marina.
