Jackpot Jimmy
11-01-2009, 10:31 PM
Well, after all that wind during the week, the forecast looked promising, calling for a warm day with relatively flat seas. Dad and I got down to Redondo early as usual after an uneventful drive. We rolled off the dock at 6:00 and headed over to the bait receiver, where we loaded up on some nice anchovies. After that, we cleared King Harbor en route to Catalina. Our crew consisted of Captain Steven Konrady, Derrick in the galley, and Morgon and John on deck.
We soon arrived at the island and got around the corner, and conditions looked pretty good. Once Steven threw back the throttle as we were approaching a spot, we got a double hook up on the troll, and the fishing day started. We found out immediately that they were eager to bite a jig today. At first, they wanted a small jig, like a megabait, a 544, or a Tady AA, but they soon were eager to bite the bigger jig. They were boiling around the boat pretty regularly. Those fishing the stern were pretty much always hooked up. I was throwing a jig up on the bow, and I got my first one on a mint green 544. I also got one on a megabait on 12 pound, and it did not want to die. Our good friend John Petrov managed to catch a jumbo bonito that probably went 12 pounds or so, on a Tady 45. The bite eventually petered out, and we moved on down the island.
At the next spot, we didn’t get into the bonito right away, so some people opted to fish the bottom, but they did eventually come. I managed to get another one on the megabait, and our friend Smitty also got one. We didn’t get any more after that, so I dropped down to the bottom, as was rewarded with some nice whitefish. Others also got some nice calicos and other bottom grabbers. We continued on down the island, and we got another jig strike, and the frenzy started. Everyone was hooked up, and it was pure pandemonium back on the stern. After we got anchored, it was a slow pick. A Fido eventually found us, and the bonito scattered. So, Steven turned the boat around and we went back up the island.
As we approached another spot, we saw literally thousands of bonito just sleeping on the surface. Once we threw some chum, they reacted, and we got another bite going. After a while, we went to the last spot of the day, and had a nice pick on the calicos and some more bonito. We had some pretty good bonito fishing. It wasn’t wide open, but a nice, steady pick nonetheless. The best part was that they were eager to bite a jig. My uncle was out fishing with us, and he got 11 bonito, all plastic and iron fish. Jackpot went to Tradition regular Carlos Rangel with a nice big bonito. Great times, great fishing!
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http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/210-1.jpg
We soon arrived at the island and got around the corner, and conditions looked pretty good. Once Steven threw back the throttle as we were approaching a spot, we got a double hook up on the troll, and the fishing day started. We found out immediately that they were eager to bite a jig today. At first, they wanted a small jig, like a megabait, a 544, or a Tady AA, but they soon were eager to bite the bigger jig. They were boiling around the boat pretty regularly. Those fishing the stern were pretty much always hooked up. I was throwing a jig up on the bow, and I got my first one on a mint green 544. I also got one on a megabait on 12 pound, and it did not want to die. Our good friend John Petrov managed to catch a jumbo bonito that probably went 12 pounds or so, on a Tady 45. The bite eventually petered out, and we moved on down the island.
At the next spot, we didn’t get into the bonito right away, so some people opted to fish the bottom, but they did eventually come. I managed to get another one on the megabait, and our friend Smitty also got one. We didn’t get any more after that, so I dropped down to the bottom, as was rewarded with some nice whitefish. Others also got some nice calicos and other bottom grabbers. We continued on down the island, and we got another jig strike, and the frenzy started. Everyone was hooked up, and it was pure pandemonium back on the stern. After we got anchored, it was a slow pick. A Fido eventually found us, and the bonito scattered. So, Steven turned the boat around and we went back up the island.
As we approached another spot, we saw literally thousands of bonito just sleeping on the surface. Once we threw some chum, they reacted, and we got another bite going. After a while, we went to the last spot of the day, and had a nice pick on the calicos and some more bonito. We had some pretty good bonito fishing. It wasn’t wide open, but a nice, steady pick nonetheless. The best part was that they were eager to bite a jig. My uncle was out fishing with us, and he got 11 bonito, all plastic and iron fish. Jackpot went to Tradition regular Carlos Rangel with a nice big bonito. Great times, great fishing!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/203-1.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/204-1.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/205-1.jpg
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