West Coast Angler - Long Range Fishing Reports

Bill Roecker for FishingVideos.com & the San Diego Sportfishing Council

Net Update

December 3, 2007

On Marks, Porpoise

Qualifier 105 skipper Eric Weldele wrote on November 30: “The boat sure got a nice fresh water rinse today.† When I got up this morning it was raining pretty good and it basically rained on and off throughout the day.† But that did not stop us from fishing.† Today was by far our best day of fishing.† First thing this morning we got on a spot of fish that ranged from 60 to just over 200 pounds.† After getting some of those we got on another spot right away and spent the rest of the day drifting on the same spot.† It sure was nice not to have to move the boat from sometime before 7:00 am until somewhere around 6:30 at night.†

“For our efforts we managed to catch fish that ranged in the 50 to 200-pound range.† It was an absolutely beautiful day, aside from the rain.† We had some heart breakers again today.† There was one standout fish that the hook pulled out on, just inches from the gaff.† It was by far bigger than any of the other 200-pounders that we had already captured on the stop.† In a way it was slightly disappointing, but that’s just the way it is, there was nothing more we could possibly do.† We had already had a wonderful morning and that is just part of fishing for big fish.† Things are going to happen and some fish are going to get away.†

“We ended our trip with one final fish that taped out at over 200 pounds and are currently enroute for San Diego.† We have a long travel ahead of us and are looking forward to the rest and relaxation of traveling home.† Everybody aboard the boat has had a wonderful trip and there are many personal bests currently on their way home.”

At the Pt. Loma Sportfishing dock December 3 Weldele offloaded his 28 anglers aboard the ten-day Baker Reels-Performance Tackle charter and weighed the best of the catch. There were six tuna over 200 pounds.

Joseph (“Loreto Joe”) Chinovsky of Culver City got the best tuna, a 227-pounder, using friend Harvey “The Hook” Segal’s rig: a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook, with 130-pound Big Game leader, 130-pound Jin Kai line on a Baker-modified Penn 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod. He said the fish fought for 45 minutes.

Don Sullivan won second and third places for tuna of 219 and 210 pounds. He used a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Blackwater Spectra on a Tiagra 50 W reel and a Calstar 7460 XH rod wrapped by Jim Trelickes.

“These are my first two cows,” said Sullivan. “The first one boiled up on my bait at the bow, ten feet away. He came up quick. The second one took an hour.

“You know, I bought your book Fresh One several years ago,” continued Sullivan, “and the first thing that happened was I tried a whole squid on a jig like you suggested, and got a huge white seabass. I bought my ticket for this trip through The Friends of Rollo, the way I buy all my tickets.”

Curtis Owens of Perfection Tackle took a 217-pound yellowfin tuna.

Frank Knebel of Phoenix got a 203.8-pounder in 45 minutes. He used a sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound big Game line and Spectra, a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod.

Jeremy Jorda of Long Beach got a 200.8-pounder, with a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, 130-pound Seaguar leader and 100-pound Izorline on a TLD 30 reel and a Calstar 700 XH rod.

Big Fish Or Bust

Vagabond returned to Point Loma Sportfishing under owner-skipper Mike Lackey’s hand on December 3, after a ten-day trip with 18 anglers. Three fish were over 200 pounds.

“Awesome fishing,” was Lackey’s comment.

Dan Cash of San Diego had the best fish, a 257-pounder that took a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. “I credit the crew,” he said. He used 100-pound Ande line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Penn 50 SW reel and a home-wrapped Calstar 6455 XH rod. The fish fought for an hour.

Rick Hobbs of Santa Cruz won second place for his 233-pounder, after it beat him up for an hour and a half. He said he fished with a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, with 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Iorline Spectra backing on n Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

“He stayed close,” said Hobbs. “He kept charging the boat.”

Chris Cruger of Encinitas took 25 minutes to whip a 220.4-pounder. The third-place fish took his sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 100-pound Izorline and 80-pound Line One Spectra on a Baker-modified Penn 30 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Tagged & Released

Royal Star arrived at Fisherman ‘s Landing with a very good catch of cows on December 3. Summing up his last day of fishing on November 30, skipper Tim Ekstrom wrote: “At daylight we were actually fifteen miles from where it happened, maintaining the ever important spread between boats that enables us to collectively cover such tremendous amounts of area. One (radio) call just after daylight and we were flying towards the zone that ended up being at its best for only about five or six hours. Had we not received the call, or not had access to the information, it likely would have been a very different day.

“It wasn’t though. We made the move, got right in the game, and began what was to become an epic day of action on giant yellowfin with five big bruisers over two twenty five, and about 25 others from 140 to 195 pounds. Throw in a handful of other “smaller” seventy to one twenties and it made for a fitting, Ekstrom-trademark, ninth inning spectacular finish to our trip. Probably as good as the action itself was the fantastic change of pace as our entire day consisted of two prolonged drifts that enabled every angler to spend all the time he/she wished at the rail fishing as opposed to the “run and gun” style fishing we had been practicing the previous two days. The ability to settle in, watch the dramatic spectacle of huge yellowfin plowing through baits all around the boat, and enjoy the whole picture free of the sometimes frantic pace of offshore tuna fishing is a coveted opportunity. Not that we don’t enjoy or appreciate wide-open action. A good mix of both styles on any voyage is simply ideal.

“That said, we had our fill of drift style action yesterday that again proved the statement I made a couple of days prior about the law of averages applying to every mortal out here. I’d love to tell you that we found the secret method, or had an extra edge to oust our competitors, or were the best because of some secret technology we possess, but I can’t. Yes we put ourselves in the right place at the right time. Yes we managed our bait supply to take full advantage of such an opportunity if and when it came along. Yes the local knowledge we have acquired from fishing this area extensively during the past five seasons was a huge factor in the equation. But, a disproportionate share of good luck is what made the biggest difference between our incredible score and an average score today. Not that we didn’t earn it. We, or more appropriately I, have taken some lumps down here during the past couple of voyages so perhaps today’s success was more about justice than luck. I’ll let you all decide. Either way we will take it.”

There were ten tuna over 200 pounds. His best-ever tuna, a 280-pounder, won first place for Bruce Kelly of Lemon Grove. He said he got it with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw ringed hook. He used Sato crimps (as did everyone on the boat who got a big fish, according to maker-distributor Gary Sato) on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Power Pro Spectra backing on a Penn 50 SW reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod.

Jim Kirkpatrick of Tempe got as 259-pounder for second place. It bit a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pouund pink Yo-Zuri line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.

Todd Burkdoll of Visalia won third place for a 244.9-pounder. He bagged that fish with a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, tied to 100-pound Triple Fish line and 130-pound Line One Spectra, on an Avet 50 SDS reel and a Calstar 760 H rod. The fish fought for an hour.

“He wanted to stay alive, “ said Burkdoll. “He fought like he wanted to kick my butt.”

Frank Matsuhara of Gardena got a 251-pounder with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Kurt Schaefer, scientist at the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission, said he and his helper tagged and released about 100 fish, including 35 tuna from 10 to 100 pounds that were tagged with geo-locating archival tags. Schaefer got his personal best tuna on the trip as well, a 251-pounder. He said he used a sardine, a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Blackwater Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Shimano six and a half-foot rod.

Skip Howard of Visalia took a 221-pound tuna with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XH rod.

Doug MacBlane of Redwood City caught a 210-pounder with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used a Daiwa SLT 50 W reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

“It took and hour and a half,” said MacBlane. “I tried my best.”