Late report as I had to work for a week in San Diego before flying home on saturday. Took the Aug 21 - 25 4 day supposedly chartered by "Let's Talk Hook-Up" abord PS.
Had to work on monday Aug 20 so I took the late flight to SD. Got in a bit afyer midnite. Of course, my rod case was in the oversized and was the last thing off the plane. Took a $8.50 cab ride to Point Loma and got settled in hotel room a bit after 1:00am. It was a long day so despite my excitement I did get a few hours shut-eye.
Made it to Fisherman's Landing. This was my first long range trip and I was alone so I did not know exactly where to stand, where to go, what the etiquette would be etc. A kind soul pointed out to me how I had butted in line and should go to the back,...
Eventually we were getting ready to board when Captain Tommy Rothery came out and said we would be delayed leaving because we were waiting for Guadalupe permits! Woohoo! I was stoked. We watched as the Royal Polaris and Searcher took off while we twiddled ouur thumbs. After boarding we told that permits were being driven up from TJ and so we went to the baot tanks, and loaded up scoop after scoop. We then had lunch right there (very unusual) and came back into the dock! Finally permits in hand we motored out past the point,...
There was a lot of grumbling about leaving after 4:00pm and how much time we had lost. Made friends with Rick Maxa of the radio show Let's Talk Hookup and he showed me the San Diego and double San Diego. Very easy knot to tie and the only ones I used all trip. During our seminar though he denied any sponsorship so there were no free t-shirts or other presento's.
We stopped at a paddy on the way out for 7 fish. 6 nice yellowtail and one dodo. We battened down the hatches and headed for the albacore grounds. What a night! The worst sea conditions I have ever experienced. I was getting air in my bunk, the hull was shuddering, things sounded like they were breaking loose and the sound of wretching through the halls in the lower bunk area. I have very good sea legs and did not need the rail or the toilet but most did! The next morning Capt Tommy said over half the baot was sick and it was some of the woorst weather he had seen on 2 years.
Morning found us on the albie grounds with large swells, heavy winds and we ready to fish. I had an OK day and landed 4 nice albies. One man we did not see but once. He finally came out about 3:00pm to stretch his leags and get some fresh air. After standing for a minute or 2, he ran to the rail and let go whatever was left in his gullet (not much) then back to his room. He did not have a good trip.
Next day was lights out! Best fishing of my life. Wall to wall albies with many stops of multiple hookups. I was especially hot. Guys were yelling at me "are you hooked up again?!" I couldnt believe my luck. Almost every bait I threw got bit. Well over double digit fish for the day. Including the jackpot fish a whopping 41.4lb albie. Thank God for the 2 speed! That night Tommy said we would not be making for Lupe but would plug the boat with albies. Meanwhile we met up with RP and Searcher and handed off their permits to them. We were on a 4 day, the RP and Searcher were each on 5 days so they had an extra day to scout it out.
Next day was more of the same, not quite as lights out as the previous day but limits (15) for whoever wanted them. Up to this piont I could not buy a hit on the troll. I am usually pretty lucky trolling for salmon so I was really hoping for a jig strike on the big gear. I hated the boat gear and finally offered a friend I had made a beer for every troll rotation if I could use his trolling set-up, a Calstar and Tiagra. Well, that was the ticket for me! Only yellowfin TUNA! landed!!!! I was stoked. I was already limited on labies and giving away fish or grabbing tags from ppl and then a yellowfin hit the deck! It was 26.2lbs and everyone was yelling out for "Portland John".
Capt was watching closely for ppl being limited out and when we were close he said that would do it for albies, let's head to Cortez Bank and try for some yellows. We did that but the water was cold and only 7 or 8 sheepshead were landed on dropper loop rigs. I was throwing irons for yellows but did not hook up. Got to try out Rick Maxa's ULUA's both of them - 9 and 10 footers. Holy Moly those are some big sticks!
We tore down our gear and headed back to the albie grounds to give out bait to the Searcher. They and the RP had returned from Lupe with only scratch fishing for a few small yellowfin. We were laughing that we didnt go to Lupe but caught a bigger yellowfin than they did!
Got in early on sat morning and waited for the docks to open. Capt Tommy gave another seminar about unloading precedures, warnings about dockside poachers and said we were a good crew. He said they would like to run this same charter again next year and yes, there would be t-shirts.
Back at the dock I wieghed up the JP fish for a $180 score. Ran into Fisherman's Landing and got myself another GRaphiter with my winnings! Turned in 461lbs of whole fish to Five Star.
Here is a small write-up of our trip and a pick of the JP winners.
http://www.fishingvideos.com/news/in...hive=2007-8-25
If you've ever thought about long range fishing, dont delay! I have another trip scheduled for Sept 25th.
wraith
Polaris Supreme - 4 day (long)
CR dog
I can't wait for retirement!
Linear Mode
