4th of July at Catalina on the Spitfire

[troutdog]

For the fourth year in a row ScaryCary and I jumped on a 3/4 trip for the holiday, the crowds are usually light with all the festivities, bbqs etc. Got to the landing around 5:15am and boarded shortly before 6am with a few more people than we expected...although we had about 35 on board we got 2 sweet spots on the port corner, my personal favorite. Crew included Capt Steve, on deck were Morgan, Bobby and Derek in the galley...great crew and one of the main reasons I always make the trip down to Redondo from Tustin.

A beautiful sunrise greeted us as we stopped inside the harbor for bait....
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/sunriseatRedondo.jpg

After grabbing some bait out of the receiver, the bait boat loaded us up with some healthy sardines
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/BaitBoat.jpg

ScaryCary looking ready to slay some fish
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/SCreadyforbattle.jpg

Heading out and getting the gear ready
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/SCriggingup.jpg

Our boat was graced with the presence of a few lovely young ladies, very nice girls and they put quite a few fish on board to boot!
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/Ladysontheboat.jpg

This beast was riding high in the water, I assume it was empty on its way back home
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/Tankershot.jpg

As we approached Catalina the ocean came to life as we spotted a pod of pilot whales, multiple porpoise sightings pushing bait and terns dive bombing on easy meals. About a mile off the island we spotted a fin breaking the water. The crew grabbed a few gaffs thinking it was a mako sunning itself, but as it turned out it was a mola-mola/sunfish and we continued on....pretty cool sight to see in "local" waters!

Got to the spot on the West end after the 2 hour plus run and started chumming up some calicos....bite never got going full bore, but a decent pick nonetheless.
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/CatalinaSpot.jpg

I pulled a nice bass off this spot and decided it would look good on the bbq later that night
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/TD57bass.jpg

ScaryCary had a hot stick and landed his first two boneheads flylining sardines on 10lb test...shoulda made him eat the heart;) The bonies will be soaking at the Vine for catfish in the very near future!
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/SCbones.jpg

Light line and fresh baits were the ticket hands down
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/SCbass.jpg

Relessed a few and kept a few for Mom's dinner
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/TDbasscatch.jpg

JP was a cuda caught by a gentleman that said he went by "Landlover26"...NICE job buddy! The coolest part about the catch was the gaff....Derek was on the rail with rod in hand and quickly reacted with a one handed gaff job as the fish came in hot to the rail. WTG Derek!
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/JPcuda.jpg

Had a great time on the water and was back at the dock by 4:30 in plenty of time for bbq and fireworks. Hope your 4th was as good as ours.:D

Thanks for reading!


TD

[JapanRon]

Hi troutdog,

Excellent report and pics. I'll follow your advice on my Catalina charter trip tomorrow and break out the 8 and 12lb test !!

I'm going to play with some micro-plastic baits too !!

thanks,

JapanRon

[chris]

great report i really like that boat wish i lived a little closer so i could ride it more

[boxl0bster]

great report aaron, love the pics especially the one with the ladies. lol ;)

[pokerface12]

Nice report and thanks for sharing.

[JSAUCE818]

Good job out there TD!

[Ricky-Ray]

Thanks for the great report and pics.

[Trout Nine]

Nice report and pics..WTG TD!

[CalamARI]

Nice 'butt. I mean *ss, I mean bass.

[Funjunkie74]

Nice report TD! Great to see a freshy get a little salty!!!
The Spitfire is a great boat. I gotta get out there soon...hmmm...maybe this Sunday??

Yeah, Ari took the words right out of my mouth....



FJ74

[crappiemike]

Good Report And Pics Td... Hopefully This Sept. I'll Be On That Sucker
At The Fonsworth Bank On Some Nice Yellows....


Cm

[2quikmotorwerks]

nice going out there arron . You should hook a brotha up with some bonita lol holla at ur boy

[Troutman65]

Looks like a nice day on the salt. Thanks for the post and pics.


TM65

[troutdog]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the replies, glad you enjoyed the post and pics....hoping to post more often in the saltwater section now that the bite is turning on! Stay tuned....


Hi troutdog,

Excellent report and pics. I'll follow your advice on my Catalina charter trip tomorrow and break out the 8 and 12lb test !!

I'm going to play with some micro-plastic baits too !!

thanks,

JapanRon

Hope your trip went well Ron, I look forward to your report!


Nice report TD! Great to see a freshy get a little salty!!!
The Spitfire is a great boat. I gotta get out there soon...hmmm...maybe this Sunday??

Yeah, Ari took the words right out of my mouth....

FJ74

I got called a "freshy" :LOL:....deservedly so, but I am determined to shake that label by the end of the summer!;)


nice going out there arron . You should hook a brotha up with some bonita lol holla at ur boy

The bonita pictured on the right was actually named "Omar Jr." and is waiting to come home to pappa, I will hand deliver him to next time I see you at the Vine!


TD

[Wingnut]

Excellent report Aaron, congrats on a successful day on the water. :cool: :D

[Fisherman57]

Very cool Aaron!

Either I need glasses or you need a camera that will focus! :LOL: Everytime I look at your posts I start wiping my eyes......:ROFL:

Thanks for sharing and congrats on a good day!



Dana

[Captain Boracho]

looks like i missed a great trip. Those land tuna were definately keepers!

[Ruger]

Are the cudas good eats or just eye candy?

[BIGRED KILLA]

Thanks for the pics and report i was also out there that weekend to i am very glad i took my 6 pound set up bonies and big macks were every (Mako chum) I even got a 25 inch hali on a pice of squid.We saw u guys out there we anchored a little bit closer in and it was wide open on the calicos not to many legals tho but one 8+ pounder my bro got.Sorry for hijacking the thread thanks again glad you had a blast.






Bigred

[troutdog]

Very cool Aaron!

Either I need glasses or you need a camera that will focus! :LOL: Everytime I look at your posts I start wiping my eyes......:ROFL:

Thanks for sharing and congrats on a good day!

Dana

Might be a little off both:LOL:....no more eye wiping 57, went and got a nice digi camera today compliments of George Bush! Long overdue indeed. Can't wait to take pics up in the Sierras this weekend:Dancing Banana:




Excellent report Aaron, congrats on a successful day on the water. :cool: :D

Thanks Wingnut, look forward to seeing you at LegendsII....will you sign my Dodger hat? :LOL:


looks like i missed a great trip. Those land tuna were definately keepers!

Yes and Yes


Are the cudas good eats or just eye candy?

I hear they are good smoked, but then again what isn't?


Thanks for the pics and report i was also out there that weekend to i am very glad i took my 6 pound set up bonies and big macks were every (Mako chum) I even got a 25 inch hali on a pice of squid.We saw u guys out there we anchored a little bit closer in and it was wide open on the calicos not to many legals tho but one 8+ pounder my bro got.Sorry for hijacking the thread thanks again glad you had a blast.

Bigred

8lb calico:Shocked: SWEET! Congrats to your bro....nice job on the halibut BG, I assume that was NOT mako chum? Thanks for the reply, glad you had a nice day out there too!


TD

[BIGRED KILLA]

Thanks thats what it read on the scale he is lucky all the calico bass was cpr the hali was made for some bomb tacos lol.







Bigred