West Coast Angler - Long Range Fishing Reports

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

Net Update

December 6, 2007

Balloon, Last Day

The Seeker Rods/Soft Steel 13-day trip aboard Shogun with skipper Norm Kagawa ended December 6 when the boat arrived at Fisherman’s landing with five cows and a good catch of smaller tuna. The best fish wasn’t in the jackpot. Peter Gutierrez of Monrovia hooked his 254-pound whopper on a sardine under a balloon just after dark on the last day of fishing.

“The captain was saying we had to leave and we should reel in,” said Gutierrez. “So I started to reel, and it came tight and there he was. It was way after dark when I got him in an hour and 20 minutes later.”

The big tuna ate a sardine on an Eagle Claw 8/0 hook. The rest of the gear was 130-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on a Cal Sheets-treated Penn 50 reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXXH rod.

Peter won the Seeker Trophy for his fish, even though he wasn’t entered in the jackpot. The trophy was presented by Seeker president Joe Pfister, who is back up and working after a bout with chemotherapy. Joe said he now has a clean bill of health, though he lost weight.

Stan Greco of Simi Valley won first place for a 235-pound tuna. He bagged that fish with a sardine on an 8/0 rionged Super Mutu hook,, 100-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra, on an Avet 502 reel and a Calstar 7460 M rod.

Jake Ehret, a Marine from Jacksonville, FL won second place, for a 230-pound tuna. He also got his fish after dark, but he pulled it in after only 15 minutes. Jake said he used a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 760 H rod.

“It’s my first trip,” said Jake, “and my first big fish.”

Pat Doyle had the fish of the year in the 2006-07 season, a 323-pounder also caught on Shogun. This trip Doyle had to settle for third place, for his 211-pounder. He said he got it with a sardine on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook, 125-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Izorline Spectra on a Penn 50 VSW reel and a Seeker 6455 XXH rod,, home-rapped by his wife.

The cow catch was filled out by a pair of 210-pounders. The first was caught by Jeff Stephens of Anaheim, on a sardine and a 6/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He used 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra on an Avet 50 SDS reel and a Seeker 6463 XXH rod.

The second 210-pounder was taken by Laurens Rhinelander of San Diego, with a sardine on a ringed 8/0 Eagle Claw hook and 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Blackwater Spectra. He used an Avet 50 SDS reel and a Calstar 7460 H rod.

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

Net Update

December 5, 2007

“Don’t’ Let Go!”

The tenth annual George Davis trip aboard the Polaris Supreme arrived at Fisherman’s Landing December 5, after spending ten days in southern waters with a super ultra-light load of seven anglers, including chartermaster Davis. There were five tuna over 200 pounds in the catch. One fish was well over 300 pounds.

The big fish came in at 347.8 pounds, caught by Kevin Stokes, who is studying video making and cinematography, working on his B. A. in digital video at Mt. Sierra College in Monrovia. The giant yellowfin bit a sardine on a 6/0 Mustad 7691 hook tied to 100-pound P-Line and 130-pound Spectra on one of the boat’s rigs: a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod. It fought for 35 minutes.

“He didn’t fight too hard,” said Stokes. He just laid there like a big cow. I almost lost him at the end, because his circles went all the way across the stern. They got him with four gaffs and lifted him over the rail.

“My best tuna before this one was 180 pounds. It fought harder. I may have this one mounted. Next, I’ve got to go back to work and to school.”

Stokes said he does freelance work in video.

Eleven-year-old Gunnar Johnston outscored the men by taking two cows; two yellowfin over 200 pounds. One of his fish weighed 217.8 pounds and won second place. The other went 209 pounds. Gunnar goes to Marinotha Christian Academy, and races motocross. His dad Craig Johnston is a construction manager in Orange County and was close by when Gunnar hooked his big cow.

“I was up the rail,” said Craig, “and I saw him get bent, and I shouted, ‘don’t let go of that rig,’ and I saw him pull back harder.”

Gunnar got the fish to gaff in 45 minutes, after it bit a sardine on a 6/0 Super Mutu hook on 130-pound Izorline fluorocarbon leader tied to 100-pound Momoi line and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

“It’s my first long range trip,” said Gunnar. “It’s fun, hooking up and catching these big fish.

Craig Johnston said his son had been on one and two-day trips before, but this was his first long range venture.

“My best fish before was a 30-pound albacore or a dorado,” said Gunnar. “I want to do it again.”

His dad felt the same way. “He was bit hard at first,” said Craig, “but he did his work in the corner.”

Charlie Middleton of San Pablo took a 213-pounder and won third place. He said it bit a sardine on an 8/0 Gamakatsu hook tied to 100-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Power Pro Spectra on a Penn 80 SW reel and a five and a half-foot Ugly Stick rod. The fight lasted 20 minutes.

“The best fishing was during the squalls,” said Charlie. “That’s when I hooked this one. He took me around the boat twice. There was a lot of 18-inch squid around.”

Jim Jacobs of Murietta had never been fishing before. “I didn’t know how to hold the pole,” he said.

Jacobs got a 202.6-pound tuna after a 40-minute scrap. It bit a sardine on an 8/0 Mustad 7691 hook, also on one of the boat’s rigs.

“My first trip,” said Jacobs, “and my first fish.”

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

Net Update

December 4, 2007

Sinker with Rubber-Band

By Paul Sweeney

Seventeen passengers aboard Intrepid arrived at Point Loma Sportfishing December 4 with skipper Danny Nichols, after a ten-day open-party trip to the Southern Banks and Alijos Rocks. “The weather was nice,” said Nichols, “but we got a day of rain down south.”

Larry Brown, of Playa Del Ray caught the two best fish, a 157.8 and 139-pound yellowfin. “Danny saw metering fish on the sonar, so I used a sinker with a rubber-band and within minutes, I was bit.”

Larry fished a 9/0 Mustad 2005 hook on 80-pound P-Line, an Avet HX reel on a Hastings Challenger rod. “It’s a new series with new technology,” Larry remarked about the recently introduced rod. “It’s just been released on the market.”

Buzz Brizendine, owner-skipper of the Prowler, is helping out the Intrepid as a crewman. His son Ryan, who works at Fisherman’s Landing Tackle Shop, was aboard as an angler.

“I love the boat,” said Ryan, who landed his biggest yellowtail ever; a 45.6-pound Alijos mossback. “It has every amenity that you’d ever need, and Danny’s a great Captain.”

Ryan took 15-minutes to fight the yellowtail after it bit a fly-lined sardine on a 4/0 Mustad 94150 J hook, 50-pound Izorline Topshot with Izorline Spectra, a Penn 12T reel modified by Cal’s 2-speed, and a Calstar Grafighter 700 H rod.

“Ryan’s fun to fish with,” continued Larry. “He’s a good angler, but it’s easy when you start out young with good instruction.

“I came out for the big fish, but Danny finally decided that they weren’t co-operating and we should go have some fun. He took us up the line and we fished yellowtail. All of the passengers loved it.

“I’m doing two chartered trips on the boat next year. One will be with 976-Tuna and the other will be with SportfishingReport.com.”

Xavier Lopez of Riverside was second for a 71-pound tuna, and Vern Roberts of Naturita, CO was third with a 67-pound yellowfin.

“This was my first long range trip,” said Xavier. “They took real good care of us.”

Trio Rocks Cow

“It was good fishing on quality fish,” Owner-Skipper Sam Patella said after he returned American Angler to Point Loma Sportfishing December 4 after traveling to the Southern Banks. “You should be booking trips now.”

Twenty-six anglers aboard the Bob’s Sporting Goods charter finished with six tuna over 200-pounds; including a 294-pound “community fish.” John Liu of Los Angeles hooked the big bruiser, quickly handed off to Liwei Liao, who fought for the majority of the fight before giving it to Jay Maeda who finished it. All three represented Bob’s Sporting Goods on the trip.

The trio used an Owner offshore hook, 130-pound Blackwater Fluorocarbon, an Accurate 50 reel, and a Calstar 6460 XX H rod.

Jim Hall of Poway, who caught a 212-pounder on the last day fishing, witnessed most of the 294-pound yellowfin’s fight. “It was just a devil-fish,” said Jim. “Once it got dark, it got real squirrelly.

“We had some good sticks on this trip, a lot of good anglers.”

Russ Kimura of Sacramento took first place in the jackpot with a 260-pound tuna that bit a fly-lined sardine on a 4/0 owner hook, 80-pound Izorline, a Penn 50 International reel, and a Calstar rod custom-wrapped by Yo’s in Gardena.

“The trip was great,” said Russ. “And the fishing was just awesome.”

John Wilson placed second with a 232-pound tuna but was not present for the jackpot photo. Joe Rubio stood in for him.

Ed Quinten of Carlsbad took third with a 215-pound yellowfin.

Jim Beck of Huntington Beach had a 211-pounder that “pulled pretty good.”

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.”