Jackpot Jimmy
09-26-2009, 11:02 PM
I got down to Redondo early as usual, and soon, we all headed over to the loading gate. Just before 6:00, Morgon collected everyone’s ticket stubs, and we all boarded the boat. We rolled off the dock right at 6am, and headed over to the bait receiver. We loaded up on some medium to large sardines, and we were off to the island. Our crew consisted of Captain Stevo, Debo on galley duties, and Morgon working hard on deck, as well as pinheads Johnny and Nick. Stevo made his safety speech, informing us that the bonito had come around in the last few days, as well as very good bass fishing. It was sunny on the crossing, until we hit a very ominous looking fog bank. It certainly got cold in a hurry, and this fog bank did not clear until later in the day. However, it wasn’t that bad.
We rounded the West End of the island and soon set up on our first spot. A few of the guys started catching some nice calicos, but then, the Killer Bones came in force. For a while, I got bit every cast by a bonehead, but they wouldn’t get the hook all the way. I did finally get one, and it put up a pretty good fight on 15 pound test. We picked off some more bones, but the bite eventually petered, and we moved on.
Our next spot was very good for the calicos. Several nice bass came out of this spot, including one bass that went 8-1/2 pounds on a digital scale (safely released). Others continued to catch nice calicos, as well as a few more bonito. Most people were flylining sardines, and they would do one of three things. They would swim in the correct direction, swim in the opposite direction, or not swim at all. It got a little frustrating, but those who stuck it out were rewarded. Some guys also lost some more nice bass, but the nicer quality bass continued to come over the rail.
For our last spot, I don’t believe there were any bass caught, but a nice bonito came up, as well as a bat ray caught by Sarge. Anyways, jackpot went to Tradition regular Bill Mozingo with that slug calico. The bonito were all nice quality from three to six pounds. It was a nice day on the water. It was foggy, but a nice day nonetheless. There is still really good bass fishing at the island and the bonito are showing up in numbers. I’m hoping that with this El Nino, we will have a late fall bite on the yellows. That would be absolutely fantastic. As far as today went, like I said, those who stuck it out were rewarded. Great times, great fishing!
Bill’s Slug Calico, Safely Released
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/001-26.jpg
Action Shot
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/002-28.jpg
Nice Killer Bone
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/003-25.jpg
Pair of Nice Bonito
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/004-22.jpg
Group Picture
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/005-30.jpg
Nice Calicos
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/006-19.jpg
We rounded the West End of the island and soon set up on our first spot. A few of the guys started catching some nice calicos, but then, the Killer Bones came in force. For a while, I got bit every cast by a bonehead, but they wouldn’t get the hook all the way. I did finally get one, and it put up a pretty good fight on 15 pound test. We picked off some more bones, but the bite eventually petered, and we moved on.
Our next spot was very good for the calicos. Several nice bass came out of this spot, including one bass that went 8-1/2 pounds on a digital scale (safely released). Others continued to catch nice calicos, as well as a few more bonito. Most people were flylining sardines, and they would do one of three things. They would swim in the correct direction, swim in the opposite direction, or not swim at all. It got a little frustrating, but those who stuck it out were rewarded. Some guys also lost some more nice bass, but the nicer quality bass continued to come over the rail.
For our last spot, I don’t believe there were any bass caught, but a nice bonito came up, as well as a bat ray caught by Sarge. Anyways, jackpot went to Tradition regular Bill Mozingo with that slug calico. The bonito were all nice quality from three to six pounds. It was a nice day on the water. It was foggy, but a nice day nonetheless. There is still really good bass fishing at the island and the bonito are showing up in numbers. I’m hoping that with this El Nino, we will have a late fall bite on the yellows. That would be absolutely fantastic. As far as today went, like I said, those who stuck it out were rewarded. Great times, great fishing!
Bill’s Slug Calico, Safely Released
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/001-26.jpg
Action Shot
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/002-28.jpg
Nice Killer Bone
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/003-25.jpg
Pair of Nice Bonito
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/004-22.jpg
Group Picture
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/005-30.jpg
Nice Calicos
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/006-19.jpg