West Coast Angler - Long Range Fishing Reports

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

Net Update

January 28, 2008

Cowboy Cuts Out Supercow

Tom Rothery took PIER founder Tom Pfleger and eight other anglers on a 17-day excursion that started on the inside, visited the outside and came back to the inside to finish off the trip with six cows; tuna over 200 pounds. (“Inside” means off the coast of southern Baja, and “Outside” means the Revillagigedos archipelago and the Hurricane Bank.)

“All our days were good,” said Rothery, “except for the time we spent off Clarion Island where there were a lot of krill balls and green water. The wahoo on the Hurricane were a little bigger than usual. The skin fishing was good on all methods.”

Tom “Cowboy” Fullam of Oceanside pulled off the coup of the adventure when he decked a tuna that taped out around 280 pounds. When Rothery hung it on the scales a shout went up from the gathered spectators, as the fish hit 303.4 pounds on the certified scales.

“He bit on the slide,” said Cowboy, “and he went down right away. He fought for an hour and a half, and then he came up on the bow. He’s my best fish.”

Tom said he dropped in a sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Spectra on a Tiagra 50 W reel and a five and a half-foot Calstar rod.

Roger Foster of Orange won second place for a 261-pounder. Foster got his big cow (his best-ever fish, in only 20 minutes) and a 259-pounder with sardines. He said he used sardines on 8/0 hooks with 130-pound P-line and 130-pound Spectra on one of the boat’s rigs, featuring a Penn 50 SW reel and an unidentified rod.

Chugey Sepulveda, senior research scientist for Pfleger’s PIER Institute, caught a 228-pounder with sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound line and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 30 W reel and a Penn five and a half-foot rod.

Pat Jaeger of Bishop, a mountain fishing guide, got a 215-pounder in 40 minutes, after it ate his sardine on a 6/0 Eagle Claw hook. He fished with 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon and 130-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 SW reel and a custom Calstar Baja Boomer rod.

Chartermaster Tom Pleger said two of the ongoing projects for PIER are a kelp study and a tagging program. The archival tagging study for white sea bass may provide some answers for questions long in the asking regionally, such as where the fish go and what they do when they’re not in local waters and available to anglers.

“We’ll offer rewards,” said Pfleger, “and we’ll put out about 100 archival tags.”

Polaris Supreme will be her berth in for boat work for the next few weeks.

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

Net Update

January 22, 2008

Hurricane Bank Flip-Flop: Tuna to Wahoo

By Paul Sweeney

“We had a bonanza afternoon on the last day,” Skipper Jeff DeBuys said after returning Independence January 22. “And we had two very good days on tuna at Hurricane Bank, and then the conditions flip-flopped and all the tuna left. But that’s when the wahoo came in.”

The 16-day Avet-Ozaki charter returned with six cows, yellowfin tuna over 200 pounds.

“We had a good group of people,” charter master Rick Ozaki said, “and our last stop was great. We were on a long soak on a pretty good meter mark. Once the sun dropped, twelve anglers hooked up one by one, right on down the line.”

Ten minutes was all it took for Allen Smith of Santee to take home top spot in the jackpot with a 235-pound yellowfin. Allen used a 5/0 Hayabusa hook, 100-pound Seaguar Premier fluorocarbon, 100-pound Yo-Zuri Hybrid line, an Avet 50 Topless reel and a Calstar 7465 H rod.

“I got 13 wahoo at the Bank,” said Allen. “All on Raider jigs.”

San Diego Angler charter member Don Rolstad of Bonita placed second for a 226.4-pound tuna caught on the kite. Don used a live flying fish on the boat’s gear to haul it in.

“I’m 80 years old,” Don said, filling out his San Diego Angler Official Weight Receipt. “And I exercise regularly, but I didn’t exercise enough for this trip. He fought quite well.”

Dave Rocchi of Cypress placed third with a 206-pound yellowfin tuna. Dave hopped on the Indy a day after returning from his 10-day charter aboard the Royal Star January 5. Dave fished a sardine on a 7/0 Hayabusa hook, 100-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, an Avet STS 50 reel and a Seeker 6460 XH rod.

“It’s been 26 days for me,” remarked Dave who reps Yo-Zuri, Hayabusa, Newell and Seaguar. “My wife is used to it, this isn’t our first rodeo.”

Tony Dekruif of Manhattan Beach saw his last bait out turn into a 206-pounder. Tony used a 6/0 Hayabusa hook, 100-pound Yo-Zuri line, an Avet 50 reel and a 6455 Calstar rod.

Frank Bartell of Buena Park was disappointed when his 200.8-pound tuna was weighed at Pt. Loma Sportfishing Certified Scales. “I only wanted a 100-pounder,” he exclaimed, “and I missed it by a hundred pounds!”

Frank fished a sardine on a 6/0 Hayabusa hook, 100-pound Yo-Zuri line, an Avet 30 reel that he won on the boat, and a Calstar rod. “This fish was frisky,” he noted.

First time long ranger Wayne Silger of Fresno caught a 170-pounder. Wayne was highly appreciative of Jeff and the Indy’s crew.

“I’ve already signed up for next year,” he said. “This was my first tuna trip of any kind. That boat was just awesome.”

The Indy also brought back an archival tag, passed on to Ed Everett of the IATCC for analysis. Ed said the tag would reveal the sex, diving depths, internal body temperatures, sea temperatures, time and date.

“It looks like it was tagged a couple months ago on the Royal Star,” remarked Ed. “They were down at the Lusitania where Jeff said this one was caught. We don’t see much movement from the fish at the Banks. Down by the Equator, we see a lot of distance traveled.”

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

Net Update

January 20, 2008

Woman Scores Hurricane Cow

The Loftus & Martin open charter aboard the Qualifier 105 returned to Pt. Loma Sportfishing at dawn January 20. Joe Crisci was skipper on the 16-day excursion, which produced three cow tuna and numerous fish on the cusp of the 200-pound marker, as well as a good take of wahoo.

The best tuna was caught by Tom Kelleher of Corona del Mar, a 241.6-pound tusker that chowed on a double sardine kite rig and the boat’s loaner gear for the purpose.

“It took an hour and 15 minutes,” said Tom. “I saw it hit, then the balloon marker came off. He took me from the stern corner up to the bow on the other side. He’s my second-best fish ever. I could tell my gear was maxed.”

Second skipper Cal Link said Tom’s boat rig had two 9/0 Eagle Claw circle hooks on 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Big Game Spectra, an Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 6465 XH rod.

Chris Green of Riverside won second place for a 215.2-pounder he got with a mackerel on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. He said he used 100-pound Maxima line and 100-pound Spectra on a Penn 50 reel and a Calstar 6465 XH rod.

“He kicked my behind,” said Chris. “He’s my biggest fish.”

Jackie Fitzpatrick of Pacific Grove won third place for her first cow, a 211.6-pound yellowfin she bagged with the double sardine rig on the same boat outfit used by Kelleher to get the jackpot winner. She also got a tuna that weighed 194 pounds, and the trip’s best wahoo, a 70-pounder that won an award.

“He jumped out of the water and onto the bait,” Jackie said of the bigger tuna. “Then he took off right away. I’m saving up to do this again next year.”

Qualifier 105 will be in port for her annual boat work over the next few weeks, said skipper Joe Crisci.

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

Net Update

January 19, 2008

Pelagic Super Cow From Hurricane

A 307-pound yellowfin tuna was caught by Pelagic rep Sonny Jones of Santa Ana, who was chartermaster aboard the Red Rooster III on a 15-day trip with 20 anglers, co-sponsored by Catchy Tackle. The boat arrived at H&M Landing January 19. Andy Cates skippered the trip, and Wayne Martin and Fred Knilans were aboard to represent Catchy Tackle.

Few 300-pounders have been caught at the Hurricane Bank in recent years, although the bank has produced many fish over 200 pounds.

“I was fishing a big skipjack for bait,” said Sonny. (Skipper Cates said the skippie weighed about six pounds.) “When he bit I let him eat it for at least 30 seconds. My best fish before was a 220-pounder. I was thinking this one was at least a 200-pounder or a shark, and I tried to stop the take with two fingers while he was swallowing the skipjack, with no luck. After the hookset I couldn’t get any line on at all for at least two minutes, and Andy said I had a really big fish.

“Thirty minutes later we could see that it was a big fish. He fought for an hour. He’s my personal best.”

Skipper Andy Cates said the boat had six cows. “It was a pick bite,” he added. “The wahoo gave us the action we needed.”

Sonny Jones’ super cow came on a 10/0 VMC hook, he said, tied to 130-pound Momoi leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra aboard a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Calstar Boomer rod wrapped by Glenn’s Tackle.

Mike Butler of Sonoma won second place for a 239.5-pound tuna. “He was on for an hour and a half,” said Butler, “and he got me in tangles. I had to fight him twice.”

Butler baited a chunk on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook and 130-pound Momoi and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 760 XH rod.

Art Green, Newport CPA, took two cows and third place for one that weighed 234 pounds. “He fought hard,” said Art, who used a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu on 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon leader and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He fished a Penn 70 VSW reel and a Seeker 6463 XXH rod.

Art also got a 215-pounder on his birthday, and a wahoo on one of the unusual jigs he makes of diverse parts; this time a Shrek figure with plenty of tinsel.

Henry Maze of Dublin, CA bagged a 227.5-pounder with a double sardine rig on the kite. He used the boat’s rig and said his best previous tuna was a 150-pounder.

“I also got six wahoo,” said Henry, “and to me that was the next best part.”

Lewis “Mark” Dennis of Woodland also borrowed a boat rig to subdue a 215-pounder with a squid under a balloon.

The Rooster was scheduled to leave again the same afternoon with skipper John Grabowski at the helm, on an Accurate reels trip with Dave Choate as chartermaster.

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

Net Update

January 16, 2008

Hot Tuna: Accurate Trip Scores Inside

Brian Kiyohara brought American Angler home from a ten-day Accurate reels trip to southern Baja’s offshore banks January 16. The trip scored nine tuna over 200 pounds and a good catch of smaller fish. Accurate rep Gary Teraoka of Torrance was the chartermaster, and provided reels and rods for anglers who wanted to try them.

“We had super weather the whole time,” said skipper Kiyohara. “It was a nice trip.”

Joe Gigliotti of Cota de Caza won first place for the trip’s best tuna, a 268-pounder that took his sardine pinned to a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook.

“He bit about 100 feet from the bow,” said Joe, “and he took a third of my spool. He came up to the surface off the stern, then he torpedoed the boat and we gaffed him while he was still pretty hot.

Joe said he used a 130-pound Momoi wind-on leader by JAK, 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Shimano Talus seven-foot rod.

Doug Rodricks of Mammoth Lakes, a guide for Sierra Drifters Guide Service, won second place for a 234-pound tuna. He also had a 225-pounder. Doug fished a mackerel bait for the big one, on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used an Avet 50 W reel and a 655 XXH Calstar rod.

“It took an hour and ten minutes,” said Doug. “He’s my best fish ever. He was very active.”

Jackie Larkin of El Cajon won third place for a 222.5-pound yellowfin. He dropped in with a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook on 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Izor Spectra on an Avet 50 SDS reel and a custom Calstar 7465 H rod by M&M. The fish fought for 45 minutes, “…up and down the side a couple of times,” said Jackie.

Ted Windham of Mission Viejo got a 222-pounder with a mackerel on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook. He used 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 with a Baker conversion and blueprinting by Cal Sheets.

“It took 18 minutes,” said Windham. “He bit up the side and came up on the starboard stern corner.”

Rodin Morales of San Diego took a 218-pounder with a mackerel on a 7/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he used a leader of 130-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon, tied to 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Tiagra 50 LRS reel on a Calstar 6460 XXH rod built by Noah’s Tackle.

Chartermaster Gary Teraoka also reps for Izorline. He’s from Torrance, and got a 211-pound tuna with a mackerel on a 9/0 Eagle Claw 2004 hook. He fished with 130-pound fluorocarbon, 130-pound mono and 130-pound Spectra, all from Izorline, with a surgeon’s knot for a connection. He fished an Accurate 50 reel and a custom Calstar 760 H rod from Yo’s Tackle.

“The rod was new for Christmas for me from my wife,” said Gary. “This open-party group took instruction really well. After the first day they fished together like a charter group”

Jeff Bott of Snohomish, WA bagged a 207-pounder on a mackerel and an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook. He said he fished with 130-pound Izorline and 130-pound Line One Spectra on a Penn 50 VSW reel and a Seeker 6463 XXXH rod to do the job in 45 minutes.

Wes Cogan of Ken’s Custom Reels in Oceanside got a 202.5-pounder on a sardine and a 5/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He fished a 130-pound leader of Blackwater fluorocarbon tied to 130-poundSpectra on a loaned Accurate 50 reel and a Calstar 7465 XH rod.

“I got him in 35 minutes,” said Wes. “It was an awesome trip.”

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

Net Update

January 4, 2008

Biggest Fish Ever

By Paul Sweeney

“We held our own out there and we found some good quality fish,” Red Rooster III Skipper Julio Ochoa said after returning 15 anglers to H&M Landing January 4. The New Year Special nine-day charter returned two cows; yellowfin tuna over 200 pounds.

The top fish, a 274-pound tuna, went to Robert Dreessen of Buena Park, CA. Robert fished a sardine on a 6/0 Owner Super Mutu hook with a 130-pound Izorline wind-on leader, a Penn 50 SW reel and a Calstar 755 XXH rod.

“He’s my biggest fish ever,” said Robert. “This was my first trip longer than five days, and I loved it. There was no stress and very few tangles. I’m already signed up and ready for my 15-day next year.”

Ray Maestro of Wilmington, CA took second for a 190-pound yellowfin that fought him for an hour and a half. “Everyday got better and better,” he said.

Third place went to Jeff Steinhardt, of La Jolla with a 157.2-pound tuna. “The trip started off slow,” said Jeff. “But it picked up to the point where there were cows boiling and jumping off the stern. We had a great crew with great food. We were treated very well.”

Honorable mention went to Chris Stavaridis of Venice for a 240-pound kite fish. Chris’s kite rig fished a sardine on a 8/0 Owner hook, 130-pound Izorline with 130-pound Jerry Brown Spectra, a Cal-Baker Penn 80 narrow custom reel and a Calstar 7465 rod.

“The ride down had some high seas,” said Chris who posed at the scales with his girlfriend Allison Shuman. “But then it was like sheets of glass the rest of the way. I’m disappointed the trip ended!”