Steve Dunham

Along with Steve aboard the 26’ Bertram “Runaway Girl” were his ex-wife Patty, and Joe Marks.

Joe was a local bro who was one of the better tuna fishermen in the fleet and was a ex-black coral diver. As Joe finished placing the rods and reels in their holders, Runaway Girl hits a chop and does a couple of bounces off the water before regaining her stride.

It was a two-day affair in which the heaviest tuna caught in that time period would win top honors. There was prize money for the runner-ups and those who were not so lucky to be in the money had a fun time trying. It will be a few more hours before they reach the fishing grounds they had planned the night before.

Patty settled in on the cabin seat next to the companionway. Joe was standing next to Steve, holding onto the dodger on the fly bridge while talking about the day before. They were out at South Point, a place where they thought a schools of Ahi (tuna) could be found. Actually it was near Kauna Point near a deep underwater ledge where Ono and Ahi are known to be.

There are an abundance of fish, which also means many sharks and the risk of losing most of your catch before boating it. But there wasn’t much happening at South Point regarding tuna and it was still fresh in both of their minds. 

The procedure for landing the fish was prearranged.  Steve would drive the boat until a kook up occurred. His wife would take over the helm, while Steve got into the fighting chair and brought the fish near the boat. Joe would take the leader and Steve would gaff.

Passing Opolu Point at the northern most point of Hawaii, Runaway Girl enters Alenuihaha Channel, which separates Hawaii from Maui. The speed is reduced and the trolling begins. Mid morning and the drag on one of reels begins to scream. In a moment notice Steve is on deck taking the rod out of the rod holder, tightening the drag and leaning back and setting the hook. His wife is at the helm and Joe is bringing in the lines from the other rigs.

Steve is in the fighting chair with the butt of his rod in the cup of his waist holster. The fish takes off and the drag is rattling away as Steve pull back on the rod. The fish stops his run and is catching its breath. Steve senses the moment and begins to reel in the line. The fight goes on with the fish taking off with run after run.

From one corner of the aft of the boat to the other, the line went back and forth during the hour of the fight. The fish got closer to the boat with each reeling. Joe grabs the leader and Steve gets the fly gaff and jump on the swim step. Everything was going according to plan when Joe notices the tuna had been hooked through the maxillary bone (upper lip) by the front snout. Knowing that the fish’s equilibrium was effected Joe yells to Steve “He’s swimming crazy”.

The stern of the boat was rocking in the choppy seas and Steve holding on to the guardrail with one hand and the gaff with the other. Hearing Joe’s warning just as the tuna took a wrap around the out drive of the motor. With the baffling sound of the exhaust flumes from the engine Steve was trying to stab the tuna with his fly gaff.

The rocking of the boat and the tuna swimming crazy Steve wasn’t having much luck gaffing it in. All of a sudden the line snaps! A mild shock ran through Steve’s mind, knowing his prize was lost. Looking down he see the tuna was still in confusion and was swimming around in circles under the boat.  Without hesitation he dove in, taking a deep breath before entering the water.

With fly gaff in hand Steve swam toward the tuna. After a couple missed attempts, the rope on the fly gaff  which was tied to the rail had reached its end. Joe in the meantime was watching from above and was bewildered by the fact that this haole boy was crazy enough to go into the water after the tuna.

He responded in a spontaneous move (grabbing the stick gaff while jumping in) knowing all might be lost if he didn’t do something. Joe saw that the tuna was spiraling deeper. Being a very good diver, he swam after the tuna giving it his all.

With one chance to stick the tuna before it was too deep to follow. Kicking hard, pressing and pulling in his arms faster and faster. He got closer as the water around him started to get darker. Within gaff’s reach Joe with all his might pulled back the gaff. His pull was true and he had a hold of the big tuna.

Floating on the surface Steve with his head down watching the gaffing, says to himself, “one hell of a diver”. Realizing the size of the tuna and that it was still moving. Steve had to go help Joe, in a moments notice Steve swam down and grab a hold of the stick gaff. Joe went up for air and went back down to relieve Steve.  Slowly taking turns in bringing up the fish. After about 20 minutes the two were floating on the surface with the tuna.

They had dodged a bullet in not losing the fish, but the joy of the moment turned to fear. The tuna was bleeding and a cloud of blood was floating around them. Both would look down to keep an eye out for sharks. Not realizing that Patty during the excitement and concern had killed both engines to the boat. The current of the channel had drifted the Runaway Girl some distance from the spot where Steve and Joe were.

There they were in the middle of Alenuihaha Channel, where at any moment the waters could turn shark infested. Steve straddled over a bloody tuna and Joe swimming, both bobbing in seas of 6 to 8 ft.. Watching Runaway Girl which was a 100 yards, drifting further away. Patty finally managed to get an engine running and had the boat returning back for them. Excited about getting her husband and Joe out of the water. She some how killed the engine again. Fortunately the boat was in swimming distance when it stopped, so Joe took off for the boat.