West Coast Angler - Long Range Fishing Reports

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

Net Update

December 9, 2007

Ocean Anglers Eleven

Apollo docked December 9 at Fisherman’s landing after an eight-day trip with just 11 anglers, who visited Alijos Rocks for some nice tuna fishing with skipper J.J. Gerritsen. Many large yellowtail were also caught.

The jackpot winner was Don Kirkendall of Eagle Point, OR. Don took an 88-pound yellowfin tuna on a sardine and a 3/0 Mustad hook tied to 40-pound Izorline. He used an Avet LX reel and a Calstar 700 M rod.

“Like A Mother”

Jeff DeBuys brought Independence home to Point Loma Sportfishing on December 9, after a 15-day trip with 26 anglers. The Save-On Tackle trip fished inside and outside, as far out as the Hurricane Bank.

“It was an epic trip,” summed up DeBuys, who tallied 19 cows, or tuna over 200 pounds.

“Hello from the tired Indy crew,” he wrote December 1 at the Hurricane Bank. “We had a spectacular day today here at the bank. We arrived at 0900 and got situated in no time, and immediately started getting fish. We were steady all day long on these beautiful grade tuna, 130 lb. to 190 lb. and 3 over 200 to 240 lbs. We ended the day with 70 fish for our efforts. Everything was the hot ticket today, sardine, mackerel, chunk, squid, and good kite action till dark. The weather is really good, and we hope it stays that way for a while.”

When Jeff weighed his catch, the big fish weighed 311 pounds. It was caught by Alex Kastaniuk of La Habra Heights, who also got a 207.6-pounder.

“He fought like a mother,” said Alex. “There were times I thought I’d definitely die. He got wrapped up with other anglers four times, and he took me around the boat for an hour and a half. My best fish before was a 190-pounder. I think I’ll have him cut and wrapped.”

Alex said he fished a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader, 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra backing on a Penn 50 SW reel and a Shimano six-foot rod.

Gary Ondrisco of Shelley, ID won second place for a 286-pounder that fell for a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu on 100-pound Seaguar, 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izorline Spectra backing g on a Penn 50 reel and a Shimano Talus rod he won on the boat.

“He fought up high, “ said Gary. “He never sounded and he fought way out for two and a half hours.” Gary also got a 202-pounder.

Chartermaster David Taylor of Downey won third place for a 265-pound tuna. He said he bagged that baby in 15 minutes, after it ate his sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, 130-pound Izorline Spectra, an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod. He also had a 207-pounder.

Bob Buckland of Simi Valley took tuna of 239 and 226 pounds. He fished squid under the kite with the boat’s rig.

Ron Baron of La Crescenta took an hour to beat a 226-pounder. He also got a 222 and a 208-pound tuna. He said he fished sardines on 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks, with 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6465 XXH rod.

Terry Prather of Dallas, TX got a 236-pounder in 45 minutes. He said he fished a sardine on a 9/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound izor Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Truline six-foot rod.

Fernando Rocha of Whittier caught cows of 221 and 214 pounds. He said he fished sardines on 7/0 Mustad hooks, with 100-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 SDS reel and a Calstar 760 H rod. The bigger fish fought for 45 minutes.

Chuck Woyce of Monterey bagged a 210-pounder with a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu an d 100-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon tied to 100-pound Izorline on a boat rig.

Clarence Becker of Victorville caught a 209-pounder on a sardine and an Eagle Claw 8/0 hook, tied to 100-pound Ande line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on an Avet 30 reel and a Calstar 645 rod.

Don Farrell of Laguna Niguel got a 205-pounder on a sardine and a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu on 80-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on a Tiagra 30 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod.

“Very Long Run”

Justin Fleck docked the Excel December 9 after a 16-day Braid trip with 20 anglers. They got 11 cows.

“Today we had a very productive day on tuna out here on these lower banks,” he wrote December 5. “We had beautiful weather which helped in finding the bird schools that these fish are on, and nearly every spot of fish resulted in a hook up. We ended up tagging 45 fish ranging from 50 to 260 pounds, with the average size being 150 to 180. Highlight of the day was Warren “Bergie” Bergman who landed the last fish right after dark, which taped out at 260 pounds.”

Chartermaster Dennis Braid was aboard with his rep Jan Howard. Dennis said he released seven tuna over 100 pounds, the winner of the release contest was Tom Carlisle of Long Beach, who won a $200 gift certificate for releasing nine tuna.

Chris Forster of Valencia won first place, for a 283-pound tuna he brought to gaff in 45 minutes.

“He made a very long run,” said Chris. “He almost spooled me.”

Chris said he fished a sardine on a 7/0 Super Mutu hook tied to 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 30 SW reel and a Calstar 6465 XXH rod.

Warren Bergman of Mira Loma won second place for a 280-pounder. He took it with a mackerel on a 9/0 Mustad hook, with 130-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 SW reel and a Calstar 655 XXH rod. The fish fought for an hour and a half.

Ken Cirks, an Excel regular from Orange, won third place for a 262-pound tuna with the aid of a helium balloon and a skiff ride of an hour and a half. Ken said he used a sardine on a 12/0 Mustad 39960 hook tied to 125-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on a Penn 50 T reel and a cut down Calstar 655 XXH rod. Ken posed with his two sons. Korey is nine, Koldey is four.

Tim Turis of Atlanta got tuna of 252 and 248 pounds. Tim used a squid under the kite for bait. He used 20/0 Mustad 39960 hooks, 130-pound Momoi line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 80 S reel by Cal Sheets and a Calstar Baby Boomer rod.

Andy Marcum of Oceanside caught a 235-pounder in 45 minutes. He fished a double sardine rig under the kite, with 10/0 Mustad 7691 hooks. He used 125-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 80 N reel and a Calstar 755 XXH rod.

Jan Howard of Mission Viejo took tuna of 223 and 210 pounds with sardines on a 10/0 Eagle Claw hooks. She fished with 130-pound Berkley High Test line and 130-pound Berkley Spectra on a Penn 50 SW reel by Cal Sheets and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod she cut down herself.

Gordon Seward of Parma, NV bagged a 216-pounder. Michael Stiny of Goleta caught a 210-pound yellowfin. Mike Lovelle of Boulder City, NV took a 203-pounder.

“They Wanted Trophies”

Andy Cates bought Red Rooster III home to H&M Landing December 9 after the 17-day Rod & Reel Radio charter with 17 anglers. Like the other two boats that arrived just before the Rooster, Cates had opportunity to fish both inside and outside, but chose to stay off southern Baja for his anglers.

“They wanted trophies, they said,” remarked Cates. “And it looked like the 300-pounders might be inside.”

On December 5, Cates wrote, “Our last day here and this morning is showing better sign with a 206 and 216 and a few 100 plus pound fish to go with. We are hoping for a big day here to finish off with. Yesterday we had action on smaller fish in the morning and then later a handful of fish in the high hundreds up to 199 and a whopper of 337 caught by Bud Mauerhaun. Bud has had a great trip with a 273, 270 and now this 337 after a long skiff ride. Not bad for 81 years old. Congratulations Bud.”

The trip ended with 20 tuna over 2000 pounds, including a pair over 300 pounds.

“I’m 83 years old,” Bud Mauerhan, “and this 339.6-pounder is my best fish ever. The best one before this was 256 pounds. I had to go in the skiff for a two-hour ride.”

The ride paid off with the big first-place tuna and two others that weighed 269 and 251 pounds. He said he used mackerel for bait on 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks. He fished with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Seeker 6460 XXH rod wrapped by Smitty G.

Archie Irions of Escondido won second place for the other super cow, a 318.9-pounder. He also got a 219.5-pounder on a dart, a Mega Bait jig, with an Accurate 12 reel.

But Irions’ big fish bit on a sardine pinned to a 5/0 Super Mutu ringed hook. He said he used 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader, 100-pound Momoi line, and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate 30 topless reel and a Seeker five and a half-foot Black Steel rod.

“It took an hour and a half, “ said Archie. “He’s my best fish ever. He bit 40 feet under the boat, and ran out 450 yards. He came up on the stern corner and they put four gaffs in him.”

Bill Walsh of Chino Hills used 45 minutes to bring in a 278-pounder, the fish that won third place. He also got a 207-pound tuna. The big one bit on a sardine and a 6/0 VMC hook. Walsh used 130-pound fluorocarbon, and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 VSW reel and a Baja Boomer rod.

Gerhard Ihde of Malibu took a 276.5 and a 201-pounder. He said he fished a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

Michael Zakar of San Diego took a 267-pound tuna with a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 80 reel and a Calstar 6460 XH rod.

Mike Yamamoto of Hemet caught tuna of 218 and 205 pounds. He fished sardines on 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hooks, and used 100-pound Jin Kai line and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod. The big fish came to the boat in 45 minutes, he said.

Bill Mauerhan (Bud’s son) of Fairfield bagged a 226-pounder with a sardine on a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Spectra on a Tiagra 50 W reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Steve Branscombe of Westminster caught a 217-pounder with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, 130-pound blue Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra. He used an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 765 H rod.

John Keeler of Santa Monica made off with a brace that went 225 and 213 pounds. He fished sardines on 9/0 Eagle Claw hooks. He said he used 130-pound P-Line and 130-pound Spectra on an Avet 50 W reel and a Super Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Larry Martin of Dayton, NV caught a 215-pounder with a mackerel on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he used 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Accurate 50 W reel and a Seeker 6460 XXH rod.

Gary Branscombe of Garden Grove needed only a half-hour to bag a 213-pounder with a sardine on a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound blue Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Jim Kokesh of El Granada copped a 213-pounder in 45 minutes, after it bit on a mackerel and a 9/0 Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound Blackwater fluorovarbon and 130-pound Lin e One Spectra on a Penn 80 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

Ben Kita of LA got a 210-pounder on a sardine and a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.