At the beginning of autumn, Emil Randemo and Douglas Dahlberg from Outside Travels traveled down to the Ebro Delta with two other sport anglers for a few days focused on bluefin tuna. Also joining the trip was Anders Krus, a Daiwa ambassador and a well-known figure in sport fishing.
The journey down went smoothly, and on arrival we were met by 26-degree temperatures, sunshine, and excellent conditions at sea. The fishing was exactly as active as we had hoped, with plenty of tuna in the area and several occasions when the fish were chasing sardines at the surface. In between, there was plenty of time for swimming, good food, and a few cold drinks after fishing.
Tuna chasing sardines at the surface
The most exciting thing about the fishing was how visual it was. When the tuna found the sardine schools, the surface could suddenly start boiling. Sardines flew out of the water as the tuna tore straight through the schools.
The key was to quickly get into the right position and present the bait where the fish were feeding. On several occasions, we could see the tuna come up and take the sardine or bait at the surface, making the fishing far more exciting than simply waiting for a strike you cannot see coming.
When a bluefin tuna is finally hooked
A tuna strike is difficult to compare with much else. When the fish takes, you immediately feel how much power it has. The line starts screaming off the reel, and then the work begins to regain line and try to control the fish.
We experienced plenty of action and several great fights during the days. It is physically demanding fishing, but above all, it is great fun because so much is happening around you. One moment you are having coffee in the boat and looking for signs of activity, and the next someone is standing there with a fully bent rod.
Triple hookup in the last light
One of the absolute highlights of the trip came in the last light. The entire surface suddenly began boiling with feeding tuna, and all of a sudden we had three fish on at the same time.
Things got busy on the boat. Three rods, two fish, and tuna still chasing all around us. In the end, we landed two of the fish, making it one of those endings to the day that you keep talking about long after the boat is back in port.
If you would like to read more about how we at Outside Travels have organised the trip, you can find all the information about our fishing trip to the Ebro Delta here.
See the fishing trip to the Ebro Delta
Great atmosphere on the boat
A big part of a trip like this is, of course, also the group you fish with. There were four of us on the trip, which means many hours together on the boat, with plenty of talk about fishing, equipment, old trips and everything in between.
With Anders on board, there was naturally also plenty of talk about gear and fishing. He has extensive experience as a sport angler and is an ambassador for Daiwa, so there was certainly no shortage of topics to discuss between bites.
When someone hooks a fish, the whole boat gets involved. Rods have to be moved out of the way, everyone follows the fish around the boat and wants to see what happens. It's a big part of what makes this type of fishing so much fun together.
Swimming, seafood and evenings in the village
After fishing, the pace slowed down considerably. With 26 degrees and sunshine, it was a given that we would have time for a swim when we got back from the sea.
In the evenings, we had dinner in the village, including seafood, paella, wine and beer. It's a part of the trip we really enjoy. You have been fully focused on fishing all day, and can then sit down, eat well and go over the day's events.
The food actually became one of the things we talked about a lot after the trip. Not because it needs to be sophisticated, but because it goes so well with everything else. Fishing all day, going for a swim when you come in and then enjoying a long dinner together in the evening.
A trip we would happily take again
What we took away most of all from the Ebro Delta was the combination. The fishing was the main reason we went and provided plenty of action, but the trip was just as much about spending a few really good days together.
Travelling as a small group, fishing all day, going for a swim when you get back and then heading out for dinner together in the evening is hard to get tired of. Add tuna chasing sardines on the surface and a triple hookup in the last light of the day, and you quickly understand why we are happy to go back.
It doesn't have to be more complicated than that. Good fishing, good food and good people to share it with.