PDA

View Full Version : Two Moo-moo Trips 05/08~09 w/pics



JapanRon
05-10-2007, 03:44 PM
Big Halibut For Kids First Trip


Hi there guys,

1) Tuesday’s Report

Went on another ½-day-trip on the SoCal (Southern Cal), out of Pierpoint Landing to fish local waters i.e. Horseshoe Kelp …. close-in with 14 anglers for Rockfish and Bass….. Tuesday. Yet again …..as the season advances, more and more boats I haven’t ridden in a while are …… getting out on the weekdays on a regular basis. Ryan was the skipper, while ‘the other’ Ryan decked, and Myron did galley duties.


Note: Countdown 1: Should beonly a couple of weeks or so, nowmid-May according to past years, till the Summer season starts….. if it hasn’t for your landing already. Don’t Forget!! That’s when the ¾-day boats usually start leaving at 6am and the ½-day boats leave at between 6am and 7am!! You will find that the all-day and or island free-lance moo-moos will commonly leave a little earlier …. typically 5am. Twilight’s will probably start a little later although …. some are offering trips now.

Countdown 2: The new bait barge/receiver should be operable in just about30days as tentatively that’s the estimate made onApril 6th, by someone with the San Pedro Bait Company. Details (probably late!) in my report to follow when known.


Target Fish: Bass and Rockfish


Short Report- Tuesday 05/08

14 guys caught 1Sand Bass, 9 Scuplin, 3 Rockfish, and 1 very nice California Halibut. It was just that kind of day ……. fishys weren’t biting …….. much!! We did ok for the day comparatively speaking. Check out 2 other ½-day boats fish counts for Tuesday!! We had live Squid in the tank.

Two other ½-days boats counts:
15 anglers: 4 Calico Bass 1 Sand Bass 3 Whitefish 12 Rockfish 8 Sculpin
13 anglers: 19 Rockfish 6 Sculpin

(Please widen your view to fit monitor if word-wrap looks off)


Tuesday- 05/08 Jackpot

Winner!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508winner.jpg

Halibut Wins It

Way to go Kid! A Nice Halibut was the winner today. The 12~13-lb fish was caught in a little less than 100 feet of water according to Ryan, using ….. fresh dead Squid on a dropper rig fished at anchor.

Long Report

Heading out through LA Light
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508outthega.jpg


The Days Fishing

Fished Further South ……………………………………........ .Topo!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508Fmap.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508LAtopo.jpg


Grazing in the Pasture

PBer’s ……………………………...........Second ……………………………........... Third
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508pb7.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508pb6.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508pb5.jpg

Fourth ……………………………..............Fif th ……………………………………...Sneak y
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508pb3.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508PB2.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508shelter.jpg


Round-Up

3 Rounds


First Stop
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508widdolfst.jpg

Round 1 Dropped the anchor before 11am. Fished maybe 30min out of the breakwater initially out from the L.A. light in a little less than 100 feet on sandy bottom. Didn’t have a lot of luck (picking up a few fish), even with moving around a number of times so Ryan decided to make a 20 or 30 minute run straight down south. I didn’t ask but I wonder if he wasn’t looking for a little warmer water. Water temperature was in the upper 50’s where we were and it is generally warmer by a couple of degrees further south. Current wasn’t that strong as is often the case with the morning’s fishing.

Setups were dropper loops, Carolina sliding-egg sinker, and good ol’ leadhead/whole Squid rigs. We used both cut Squid as well as some live and lots of fresh dead Squid.


Rough Water
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508roughwat.jpg

Round 2
Got to our new spot a little after noon and pretty much used the same rigs in about the same depth of water. Fishing was easy although there was not much going on in the catching department! After making a number of moves, adjusting to this and that, we could see that there would be little improvement in the bite so back up the line we went to try our luck on a little different area having some bumpy structure. Continued to use the BIG 3 types of rigs while I continued to use Plastics/No Squid strip or attractant. Current picked up a little.


Yet Closer In!!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508widPV.jpg

Round 3 Again, we fished shallow 75 to a little less than 90 feet and there was the usual sandy bottom but …….. also some structure. Felt like a rockpile of some sort as there were hangups on a regular basis ……. that’s the bottom …… not the anglers. Caught most of our fish in this area. We moved a number of times and caught a few fish at each stop but alas …. No real bite ever developed. Let’s face it !!! If you’ve got lots of talented anglers and live squid and still can’t somehow get a bite going or higher count ….. things are tough. Current got stronger and the conditions worsened to where I was ready to go home.

Conditions: Check out the graphics for the water and weather conditions.

Skies were clear and sunny. Air temp stayed in the 50º~60ºs during the fishing day. Constant breeze made things feel cool then down-right cold for us old guys. Jackets felt good most of the day.


Gallery

Beauties of the Trip

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/05082beau.jpg


Fish

Nice Sandbass …………………....................... Wolf Eel …………………............................. ... Hali
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508sandbass.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508wolfeel.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508haliwat.jpg

Easy Check ………………………...................... Converted?
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508fishmeas.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508converted.jpg


Let Them Know

The photos above are just a sample of the fish and things of interest, at least to me, on this trip.Note: If you see a friend in the pictures, let them know they can copy the photo off the report.Directions: Click the right button with the ‘cursor’ on the picture, then click on ‘save picture as’, next choose where they wish to copy the picture, and lastly click ‘save’. Later, they can edit and print the picture at their leisure with a simple photo-editing program.


Tweeking Plastics #28

Tweek in Progress


Plastics

Skunked Again ……………………………………..Usual Spot!!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0411Skunk.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508corner.jpg


Had About 4 Decent Hits

Went thru the usual 10 to 12 combinations of color, size, type and fluorocarbon lb-test leaders. In the real world …. If ya can’t get bit on live Squid ….. with skilled anglers and varied presentations …. ya probably ain’t gonna do too well.

Ended up with lots of exercise and satisfaction that I did all that was possible. I firmly believe that it is very tough to compete with our live bait ‘dunkers’ …….. be it Squid or Sardines. Plastics have a lot better chance against live bait ‘soakers’ but alas we have no surface action as of yet! Just where are them pesky, plastics ripping Barracuda?!

A Few Plastics Colors

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/SBredclr.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/SBgremet.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/SBrealorg.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/SBperl.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/SBColChar.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/SBorage.jpg


Tuesday Out There

Lunar ………………………………………….. .....…Wind Direction and Speed!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508Moon.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508Windmap.jpg

Tides …………………………………………†¦â€¦â€¦â€¦..........................Water Temps!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508Tide.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508WatMap.jpg

Currents!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508current.jpg


Tuesday’s Conditions

Fishing Grounds: Check pics and stats!!

Wild Creatures: Saw some Sealions. Cormorants, Pelicans, and Seagulls pretty much stayed away until it was time to clean fish.


Asides

Aside: For the Moo-moo Novice: Re-rides. As there is ordinarily only one ½-day boat doing only one trip a day (if even that) from a landing during the Winter schedule, we don’t usually have the chance to do a re-ride. In the Summer ….. often a boat(s) will do both a ½-day am and pm run. Having ridden once, if you wish to ride the boat again, a discount is often in place at the landing for the knowledgeable. Many a day, I have ridden the am trip and didn’t get enough so I got on the pm trip too. Some landings allow you to do the pm and then the twilight too if it’s the same boat….. gotta be the same boat normally!

What’s the perk? There are a number of reasons you might want to do a ‘re-ride’.

1) If you didn’t get the fishys, limit, or species you wanted/needed.

2) If you had a killer time, you’ve called in your buddies, and have decided to fish with them.

3) If you wanted to fish that last part of the ‘afternoon’ bite, when ¾-day boats usually have to be heading in, this can be done with the re-ride.

4) The re-ride is normally discounted! One reason why I would do the re-ride is that ……… at some landings ….. the discount is about half an adult fare. I figure 1 full and 1 discounted fare for the ½-day boat is about equal to what I would pay for a ¾-day boats’ full fare. The re-ride or discounted fare varies by landing.

5) More fishing time? If the fishing grounds are close …. lost fishing-time due to travel-time back and forth to the landing is minimal and acceptable.

I’ve gone on the am and then re-rode on the pm ……..then …….. ask for a re-ride on the twilight and was given the ½-fare. They probably thought if I was crazy enough to go, so they were crazy enough to give it to me! Too old for that stuff now!


Last Aside: Boat Etiquette: Ok guys ….. I’ve got another observation that I want to squawk about ….. and I’ve been guilty of making a habit of doing the same thing.

Do you use more than one rod during a trip? Do you then put a no-longer used rod nearby so that it’s ‘handy’, and go get the next rod you’re going to use? If the answer is yes to both questions, I’m betting you’ve, at some time or another, leaned the afore-mentioned rod in that area where the light stands and the main bait-tank are welded together or a similar arrangement at the bow! You know ….. that little corner that is so tempting and safe looking!

I’ve noticed on a number of trips recently that the decks have to contend with the above practice constantly. What’s the big deal? The light stands are built to allow gaffs to be hung on both sides of the light-stand/bait-tank. If rods are leaned up against the gaff poles, they are probably obstructing access to the gaffs by the deckhand ………. especially if there are 4 or 5 outfits with terminal tackle, jigs and whatever else on them that can get hung-up.

If the difference between the deck being able to get the gaff and gaff my (jackpot, personal best, only, record) fish or losing it was the 10 or 15 seconds lost trying to get the gaff out of all the tackle …….. I would be …….. let’s see …….. wishing the same on the guys that had there stuff where it really shouldn’t have been. Most of you can’t tell me you haven’t lost a fish at the rail because the gaff was late!

I am making it a point (from now on) to refrain from putting my stuff in the way and hope you’ll do the same. I hope you do to …..you just might save your own fish!


The SoCal (during refurbishing)

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0502socal.jpg


The Crew

Ryan file photo ….....................Deck-Ryan ……………..Cook-Myron
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0314ryanwhouse.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0319ryancutbd.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0319Myron.jpg


Trips End

Lucky Duck!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0508boatbrk.jpg

End of the Day

Really good bunch of fellow-anglers on the boat. Hey ….. George …. nice to meet you buddy! Saw a couple of guys I recognized but they are kinda camera shy! As is usual, those that wanted them got off the boat with some good fish-taco fixin’s. The boat tied up around 4:00 and I was home before the X-files. Now ………………….


2) Wednesday’s Report


Second Trip

Went To Catalina For Yellows


Hi guys,

Went on a ¾-day-moo-moo trip to Santa Catalina Island for Yellowtail and Calico Bass….. Wednesday. Trip high-light …… the boat landed a couple Yellowtail.

Short Report-Wednesday 05/09

30 or 40 guys caught (besides the couple of yellows) around 1 Calico Bass a piece, a few Scuplin, a handful or so of Sheephead, a whole bunch of Perch and, …… da da …. …… a few Whitefish. We had live Squid in the tank.


Wednesday- 05/08 Jackpot

Contenders!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0509contenders.jpg

Yellow Wins

The 12~13-lb fish were caught on live Squid on the frontside of Catalina south of …… but within sight of Bird Rock! Caught by a gentleman that often does a little this and that on deck to help out. On another subject. Special thanks to deck Carl …. who did an especially super-professional job on deck today.


Summary

Fog ……………………………………........ ....... Fished CAT!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0509fog.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0509catmap.jpg

The Trip

Left the dock at around 7:30 … am (USCG had to inspect us to see if we had a proper ladder) and headed for Catalina. Hit a wide band of fog with slowed us down on the way over. Passed on seeing what time it was once we broke through the fog near the island. Fantastic weather the rest of the time we fished. Had a great time throwing plastics in that beautiful water and kelp strands!! No skunk yesterday!


Gallery for Wednesday

Fish

Buddy-Mike…………………......WTG David
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0509mikeyt.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/0509sheep.jpg


End of Another Day

Great bunch of fellow-anglers on the boat. The boat tied up around 6:30.

JapanRon

SanDimasLMB
05-10-2007, 04:12 PM
very nice report again. also nice to hear that there are some yellows at Catalina. as for the big hali for the kid? Newbies Luck :lol:

EricU
05-10-2007, 04:55 PM
Hey JR,

Bummer on the skunk on Tuesday.

Great to hear the yellows around popping up...live squid too, yee haa!

Thank you for the report and pictures.

Ambassadorhawg
05-10-2007, 07:51 PM
Maybe I mssed it, but what boat did you take to Cat Is. on Weds???

one_leg
05-10-2007, 08:25 PM
Thanks for keeping us up to date Ron.

Your spot in the corner looks nice and clean. I hope next time it's covered with blood!

I loved diving all over Two Harbors especially Bird Rock. Never fished it. Took lots of bugs there though!



One_Leg

JapanRon
05-10-2007, 08:32 PM
Hi Ambassadorhawg,

There are some owner/operators and or skippers that feel there is no value in having fishing reports, of any substance, regarding their fishing trips on the internet. I respect their judgement ......... it's their industry. Me ....... I'm just a guy that likes to fish on the moo-moos .... and write about it. 8)

Nuff said on that subject.

From your handle, I'm thinking that you like using Ambassaduer reels. Is that so and are you using them, as I do, in the salt? Kinda worndering if their are some tweeks I can do to maintain original or increase drag pressure?

Thank you and my fellow-fisher friends here for your interest and willingness to allow me to take your valuable free-time in reading my reports. :)

I know everybodys' time is limited .......... and understand if you can't read every word!! :lol: :lol: :wink:

JapanRon

JapanRon
05-10-2007, 08:42 PM
Hi SanDimasLMB,

I love Catalina and wouldn't mind fishing there even if I got skunked!! I suspect we might have done a little better on the yellows if we had gotten their a little earlier but what do I know.

Once the Summer season kicks in and local 3/4-day moo-moos start leaving at 6am instead of the now regular 7am ....... a few more boats will be willing to go to Catalina.

With the fuel prices so high it's hard for them to justify going at this time on the weekdays as the number of passengers is low. Even later on, expect the boats to take a little longer to get to the island and maybe even asking for a fuel surcharge.

We'll just have to wait and see how things develop.

Thanks for following my reports,

JapanRon

JapanRon
05-10-2007, 08:50 PM
Hi EricU,

Thanks for the kind words.

On the plastics ..... I chose to gamble! I just hope I'm learning something with all the time put in NOT catching fish. Later on ..... when fishing is wide-open ..... everybody will be limiting on anything and how will I know if I've gotten any better than last Sand Bass season! :lol: :lol: :wink:

My ony hope is being able to figure out where, in the water column, the bigger fish are more quickly I guess!

PS: The yellows were being caught on 1/4oz sliding-egg sinkers, #4 hooks, and flourocarbon!

JapanRon

JapanRon
05-10-2007, 08:58 PM
Hi one_leg,

Just wondering ..... is your board handle due to your meeting up with Mr. Whitey over there at Catalina? :shock: And if ...... true to your board name, how do you avoid always just swimming in circles? :roll:

Diving must be a cool. I snorkeled in Okinawa for years and years.

Bloody decks ?!?!..... no way !! As a former deck, when I see blood on the deck .... my instinct is to find the scoop and wash off the spot before the blood dries.

Thanks for following my adventures,

JapanRon

Ambassadorhawg
05-10-2007, 09:14 PM
Hey JapanRon,

No, I do not use Ambassadeur reels. I once used them when they were THEE round baitcasting reel to use but that was way back in the 80's.

My name stands for: Ambassador of Hawgs. It is definately more of a freshwater thing.

I understand about your not posting the boat's name, that's fine. I really enjoy your posts. You supply unmatched detail and effort in every report. Thanks again for that and please keep up the great work!!!

My annual transitioning to "saltwater season" is approaching. I too will be posting in this column in the warm months to come. As soon as the gar get going out on the flats, expect to see me out there with to you!

Until then, stay bent!

Ambassadorhawg

Webfoot
05-10-2007, 09:35 PM
J-Ron, thank you for once again providing us with another detailed and very informative report. I'm too am beginning my transition into the saltwater season and rely on your info to gauge the local fishing. Thank you for you awesome contributions to this site.

fishnfool
05-10-2007, 09:57 PM
Once again very informative Ron....

Saw the news today and Catalina is on fire.....they expect to fight this fire for a week....am curious how close one can get to it with all the smoke..

Prayers out to everyone on the island

halo16
05-10-2007, 10:02 PM
Thanks for the reports 2 in 1 WOW!

I seen the reports and seen the yellows caught on that 3/4 day
I hope a good sign for things to come.

Call me crazy and I may have not done it, but you definatley have respect for the captain and boat to not mention them in you report, if you were asked to do so.

good angler ethics. :)

JapanRon
05-10-2007, 10:40 PM
Hi fishnfool,

Yes ..... for the people especially and how about the poor herd of Bison and the either Bald or Golden Eagle I spotted on the Island on the trip that were right around the two-harbors area. If they get cut off from water ......... !!

thanks,

tsurikichi