By Chris Avena
The annual American Outdoor News Montauk tuna trip is always a highlight of my summer, and this year was no different. In the early morning hours of August 9 th long before the first hint of daylight I began my journey to Montauk Point, Long Island. The roads were quiet, the world still asleep, and I rolled into town just before 2 a.m. A quick stop at 7-Eleven was in order to grab the essentials: a few bags of ice for my cooler and a box of hot coffee for the colorful cast of characters joining me on this much-anticipated offshore fishing adventure. From there, it was only a ten-minute ride to the dock, where the My Joyce, our charter for the day, waited patiently for her crew.
Mike, the first mate, arrived around three to begin prepping the boat for our day on the Atlantic. By 3:30, everyone had arrived, gear in hand and ready to go. The camaraderie was already in full swing as we loaded our equipment onto the boat and found our spots in the cabin for the ride out. Once Captain Ken fired up the engines, we pushed off from the dock, easing down the channel and past the iconic Montauk Lighthouse a silent sentinel as we slipped into the inky blackness of the Atlantic Ocean.
The coffee was flowing, bagels were passed around, and laughter filled the early morning air as we motored toward deeper water. Slowly, the eastern sky began to change, the darkness giving way to a streak of orange along the horizon. By 6 a.m., the ocean came alive. Far off in the distance, we spotted the unmistakable spray of whales breaking the surface, their massive forms rolling gracefully through the waves. Dolphins joined the spectacle, racing alongside the My Joyce as if escorting us to the fishing grounds. Overhead, flocks of stormy petrels skimmed the surface, snatching up small feeder fish, a sure sign that bigger predators our intended quarry weren’t far behind. It reminded me of sitting in a deer stand, watching the forest slowly come to life. Only here, the forest was the boundless Atlantic.
While the tuna wasn’t cooperative, the day was far from a loss. Mike and Captain Ken worked tirelessly, scanning the horizon for signs of activity, adjusting our spread, and changing tactics on the fly. They trolled every productive-looking stretch, altered speeds, switched lures, and tried multiple depths. At one point, we even pulled in the lines and each of us worked the jig, hoping to find a hungry school of bluefin tuna. They worked the fish finders and the radios, listening for chatter from other captains, comparing notes on where the fish might be holding. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that we weren’t the only boat striking out that day—word came back that all of the other captains were coming up empty. The fish were out there somewhere beyond the 30-mile mark, but for reasons only they know, they just weren’t feeding where we were.
But that’s fishing—and part of the adventure. The ocean doesn’t hand out trophies on demand, and some of the most memorable trips have nothing to do with the weight of the cooler at the end of the day. We still had the thrill of the chase, the sight of whales and dolphins in the wild, and the kind of conversations you only have when you’re miles offshore with no cell service. We swapped hunting and fishing stories, passed around snacks, and took in the vast beauty of the Atlantic. As we headed back toward Montauk Harbor, the lighthouse came back into view, standing proud against the late afternoon sky. The ride in was filled with laughter, good-natured ribbing about “the one that got away,” and the shared understanding that we’d all be back to try again. Because in Montauk, every trip is a story—and the next one could be the one where the rod bends and the reel screams with the run of a lifetime.
I would be neglectful if I didn’t take a moment to recognize the people and companies that helped make our annual Montauk adventure such a memorable event. This trip simply wouldn’t have been the same without the support of our incredible sponsors—Everest.com, MotionEaze, Ugly Stik, Plano and Igloo Coolers—each of whom played a part in making the day more enjoyable for everyone on board.
Everest.com, the one-stop marketplace for outdoor gear, helped ensure we were equipped for a long day at sea. From high-quality apparel to essential tackle and accessories, their commitment to supporting the outdoor community is second to none Motion Eaze known for its effective motion sickness relief, kept everybody comfortable and ready for action no matter how the ocean swells rolled in. Igloo Coolers—an American classic—kept our drinks cold, our food fresh, and our catch (had we landed one) perfectly chilled from the first drop of the lines to the last pull of the day. Ugly Stik—trusted by anglers everywhere for its strength and dependability—gave us the confidence to take on anything the ocean had in store. And Plano, with their rugged tackle boxes and reliable fishing gear, kept everything organized and within reach when it mattered most.
It’s partnerships like these that turn a good fishing trip into an unforgettable adventure. We’re proud to work with brands that not only share our love of the outdoors but also value the camaraderie, tradition, and experience that comes with it. As much as we look forward to hooking into that trophy bluefin on the next trip, it’s the people—both on the boat and behind the scenes—that make the American Outdoor News Montauk Tuna Trip something special year after year.