Channel Island Rockfest 4-18-10 Lotsa pics!!!!!! Warning-LONG POST!

[Greg Madrigal]

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but I finally made it out on the Reel Obsession w/Patty & Farmy. I left the O.C. at 3:55am and made it up to Woodland Hills right at 5. We loaded up my shtuff & headed out to Ventura Harbor.

We made it there around daybreak, and the truck friggin died at the spot just in front of the ramp..Yikes, we are all wondering what the hell to do and figured our day was shot cuz we couldn't launch. So we paid some dude 20.00 to launch us and we simply left the truck to deal with later.

Is that a rake on the mast?! WTF?!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing018.jpg

Omar & his lil bro
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing020.jpg

We headed out in a slight westerly breeze due west…Capn Paddyhttp://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing019.jpg

to the 12 mile spot for nada after dropping to 300’

We gave that place a couple of fast drifts, then headed to the NW tip of Santa Cruz.

It was breathtaking! The cliffs, the wild flowers, the rocks, caves, etc! What a privilege to be out there!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing032.jpg
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http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing037.jpg

We arrived there to instant hookups in 130’ of water. The fishing was a consistent pick on lots of rockfish-Chocolates, reds, chuckleheads, and crappie too! LOL! You’ll see later on in the post!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing024.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing040.jpg

A double…
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing043.jpg

Paddy goin’ Bend-O
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing048.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing050.jpg
Farmy with a choco

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing048.jpg

This one had been feasting on brittle stars
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing051.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing073-1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing062-1.jpg
The day was perfect except for the wind which gained velocity as the day wore on. Handily, Patrick carried his trusty sea anchor, and plastic cc surround to keep us dry and ON THE FISH! WTG Paddy-Seriously, that thing is a killer fishing machine!


The only ling of the day-I am embarrassed!

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing056.jpg
Um, careful with the knives in rough seas there Omar!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing060.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing067-1.jpg

Paddy w/a fatty
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing068-1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing061-1.jpg


Hey! Who is that behind that "crappie"????? Is it…Naw, couldn’t be… Check out the bend-O in the background:)We didn't know what this pesky fish ws that we kept hooking so we called em crappie! LOL!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing046.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing069-1.jpg

We then cruised over to Santa Rosa for a hali drift.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing057.jpg Their was tons of bait in the water and lots of birds, but no luv 4 us. After a couple of chill drifts, we headed back to Santa Cruz to load up on more rockfish. All 3 of us had new rods to break in-Me, a new 7’6” Terramar with a Calcutta 200 loaded with 10lb. P-line. Damn! What a way to break it in!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing071-1.jpg

Was close to JP fish of the day if not it.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing072-1.jpg
BTW- I LOVE THIS ROD!

Omar even got his whitefish on here(STOKED HE WAS!!)
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing093-1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing076-1.jpg

We then cruised up the leeward side of the isle to escape the wind. We fished for bass, but could only manage a few whitefish.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing095-1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing094-1.jpg


Look closely in this pic for the seagull and orange starfish....Where's Waldo?????

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing096-1.jpg
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Check the caves and arches in thes pics....
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing103-1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing097-1.jpg

We the drifted for hali for nada b4 heading back to the harbor. The ride home was with the swell and not bad at all.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing111-1.jpg
Patrick called Vessel Assist from sea to get a tow. They were to have a tow truck for the boat, the truck, and all 4 of us back 1 hour to the Valley! We arrived back around 6ish and Paddy’s wish came true, the truck started right up! It “fixed” itself magically! LOL! We called off Vessel Assist cleaned the fish, and gave away a few fish skeletons to a local Asian man who was fishing the dock. To each his own!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing110-1.jpg

I want to dedicate this post to Paddy for having me aboard. Thank you, it was a PERFECT day on the water, and certainly not too short which is how I roll on my boat. We had around 30 fish, and I took home a few dozen fish tacos!
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/gregmadrigal/VenturaFishing109-1.jpg

I also learned about some pretty killer new bands on that station we listened to. Listening to the Temper Trap as I write!

19 hours later I was back in bed having nightmares about work. Arggghhhh :/

GM<><

[NY4Reels!]

Crazy wat to start the day, but it turned out to be pretty exceptional. Awesome pic's and real nice variety of RF! WTG Guys!

[BIGRED KILLA]

O BOY Nice job out on the water guys nice rock fish esp on the lighter setups, looks like Greg is a great photographer killer pics dude.




Bigred

[Hitts0n]

Nice pics,great looking fish and cool read Greg ! I cant wait to get back on the salt! Channel Islands huh...I got a buddy with 2 boats out there,imma have to hit it ! Thanks !!

[rusty6]

that looks like you guys had an awesome day. oh and the crappie are blue rockfish

[Troutman65]

Nice report Greg. Congrats .

[farmacist]

Good fishin' w/ you greg. Thanks for takin pics and postin up. As always, thanks paDDy for another killer trip on the Reel Obsession. Remember you can't spell Reel Obsession without SESSION!

[paDDy]

Had a great time fishing with you Greg, Farmy and nice to see Farmy Jr on the salt. Nice checking out the new water as I have never fished that part of Santa Cruz/ Santa Rosa Island on a private boat. We will get on it better next time now that I know what the structure is kind of like. Thanks again guys had a great time killing the fishes with ya.

[kgselect]

Nice trip to the Islands. Is that a 23' or 26' Seaswirl? I'm trying to determine what would be the most practical offshore boat. Thanks.

[murrieta angler]

Very nice day on the water Greg,
Looks like you guys had an excellent time out there, minus the halis, but there is always next time for them.
Thanks for the long report and pics galore,
Robert

[paDDy]

Its a 04' 2601. It works great offshore and thats where I love to fish. Just make sure you buy what your truck can tow. Otherwise a new boat and truck hearts the pockets a bit.

[DockRat]

Great pics and post. Did you see the Painted Cave ?
Been wanting to checkout Painted Cave, looks pretty insane.

Painted Cave info.

One of the largest and deepest sea caves in the world, Painted Cave, is found on the northwest coastline of Santa Cruz. Named because of its colorful rock types, lichens, and algaes, Painted Cave is nearly a quarter-mile long and 100 feet wide, with an entrance ceiling of 160 feet and a waterfall over this entrance in the spring.

http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/santa-cruz-island.htm

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn59/ksbran/Painted%20Cave%20and%20Prisoners%20Cove/painted_cave15.jpg

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss150/sburman/OceanPics018-2.jpg
DR

[Beeracuda211]

I'm glad you guys got Greg out, he was going insane and making me go insane LOL.... Good Catch anytime your aboard with Farmy your bound to catch a damn crappie!! LOL

[bones]

Great report Greg!
When I saw your header I thought this was going to be a real long report but it's perfect.
Great way to spend the day and congrats on the Rockfest.
I like your guys STYLE as far as just going on with the slay and saving the truck concerns for the end of the day.
Those rockfish made some real good tacos the other night!