Tunaslam
04-26-2010, 09:03 PM
Fishing Sunday, 04-25-10 with Dave Robinson on his 28' Farallon, “Hooked” with crew Enrique, John and Jim. Our destination being San Clemente Island. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Beach at 5:15am, clearing the harbor by 5:50am, after picking up a few scoops of sardines at the new bait barge, very nice, although we lost nearly 50% of the dines during the day?
Dave set a course for the East End of SCI, targeting an area of fishing on the backside of the Island, beginning with some fish taco meat, then moving in to the shallows for the quality Calico Bass, now on the chew. The ocean was grease calm, and remained that way the entire day, even getting greasier on the way home. Consequently the ride over was extremely pleasant, as we cruised out at a comfortable 24 knots, and we began fishing around 8:30 am. Although we first took a look at the water temps on the front side to evaluate our bass’n opportunities. Under 60 degrees, yikes! It was 64.5 a month ago?
As we past Pyramid Cove, there were several private boats fishing the boiler rocks inside of Pyramid Head, and the Big Game 90 was fishing outside of China Point. Water temps were right at 60 degrees, a bit chilly? The backside of San Clemente Island contained a lumpy swell, with only a gentle breeze. The current was cockeyed. We drifted in a goofy direction; bow first, with some healthy current running out to sea, despite the swells originating out of the west? The usually hungry rockfish didn’t like these conditions, and bites were on the slow side, a few Reds, plentiful big Santa Maria’s, and a few Coppers, and even fewer Bocaccios, a good thing!
Dave made a number of moves down the backside, and the fishing for our standards was slow at best. After about ¾ limits, it was time to use some of those Sardines for Bass’n. We anchored off some reefs in 80 to 100’ of water. On our first stop in the shallows, the Calicos were slow to arrive, but eventually settled into a nice pick. Nothing particularly big, but Dave was the hot stick on the iron, on a light Tady C, with some home made brown/yellow painting, which Dave preferred. We all placed an order for a copy of his jig.
Captain Dave holding up a nice Calico Bass caught on the iron.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08429965.jpg
Myself with a decent sized Calico Bass.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08539972.jpg
Another Calico Bass
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08439966-med.jpg
John with a healthy ready for spawning Calico Bass!
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08459967.jpg
A couple of seals moved in to spoil the party, Jim even hooked one, hope it hurt good when he broke it off? We anchored up about four more times as we slowly worked our way to the West End, as the Calicos would go off, and then slow down, then go back on the chew again, until Bowser showed up, and scared them off.
Running short on bait, we made a couple of drifts for shallow water rockfish, not much wanted to chew. We had caught Lings, Reds, and good sized Whitefish on these drifts, but not today. Although Enrique and myself did find a couple of hungry Sheephead on the chew.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08499969-med.jpg
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08479968.jpg
Enrique with a nice Calico Bass.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08509970.jpg
The weather was still extraordinary when we reached the West End. In the distance Dave had spotted some birds working, and at 4pm we came across huge schools of Yellowtail in 61 degree, clear blue water, crashing on an enormous bait ball. At times we had Yellowtail surrounding the boat, yet rarely would they come within 200 yards of the boat.
We threw iron at them on a run and gun style until our arms fell off, and they eventually sunk out for good. Captain Dave managed to catch one twelve pound Yellowtail, I hooked one, but the hook pulled immediately. Had a number of them follow the jig to the boat, but wouldn’t eat it? Mixed in with the Tails were huge schools of Log Barracuda, we caught six of those, and were short bit numerous times. When we drifted in near a reef in the area, the big Calico Bass jumped on the iron.
Dave with our only Yellowtail.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08519971-med.jpg
Here is the largest Calico Bass I caught today, about 5.5 pounds.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08559974.jpg
Dave with a Barracuda.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08549973.jpg
We ended the day at 5pm, catching and releasing some 120+ Calico Bass to 5.5 pounds, and ¾ limits of Rockfish, some Bonito, barracuda and a 12 lb. Tail. It doesn’t get too much better than that? A fairly smooth ride home, it was 8pm when we reached the slip, after slowing down to clean the fish and the boat. We were five very weary, but happy anglers, having enjoyed a beautiful day on the water.
Thanks again Dave, what can I say, another fantastic trip together.
Hook up!
Dave set a course for the East End of SCI, targeting an area of fishing on the backside of the Island, beginning with some fish taco meat, then moving in to the shallows for the quality Calico Bass, now on the chew. The ocean was grease calm, and remained that way the entire day, even getting greasier on the way home. Consequently the ride over was extremely pleasant, as we cruised out at a comfortable 24 knots, and we began fishing around 8:30 am. Although we first took a look at the water temps on the front side to evaluate our bass’n opportunities. Under 60 degrees, yikes! It was 64.5 a month ago?
As we past Pyramid Cove, there were several private boats fishing the boiler rocks inside of Pyramid Head, and the Big Game 90 was fishing outside of China Point. Water temps were right at 60 degrees, a bit chilly? The backside of San Clemente Island contained a lumpy swell, with only a gentle breeze. The current was cockeyed. We drifted in a goofy direction; bow first, with some healthy current running out to sea, despite the swells originating out of the west? The usually hungry rockfish didn’t like these conditions, and bites were on the slow side, a few Reds, plentiful big Santa Maria’s, and a few Coppers, and even fewer Bocaccios, a good thing!
Dave made a number of moves down the backside, and the fishing for our standards was slow at best. After about ¾ limits, it was time to use some of those Sardines for Bass’n. We anchored off some reefs in 80 to 100’ of water. On our first stop in the shallows, the Calicos were slow to arrive, but eventually settled into a nice pick. Nothing particularly big, but Dave was the hot stick on the iron, on a light Tady C, with some home made brown/yellow painting, which Dave preferred. We all placed an order for a copy of his jig.
Captain Dave holding up a nice Calico Bass caught on the iron.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08429965.jpg
Myself with a decent sized Calico Bass.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08539972.jpg
Another Calico Bass
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08439966-med.jpg
John with a healthy ready for spawning Calico Bass!
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08459967.jpg
A couple of seals moved in to spoil the party, Jim even hooked one, hope it hurt good when he broke it off? We anchored up about four more times as we slowly worked our way to the West End, as the Calicos would go off, and then slow down, then go back on the chew again, until Bowser showed up, and scared them off.
Running short on bait, we made a couple of drifts for shallow water rockfish, not much wanted to chew. We had caught Lings, Reds, and good sized Whitefish on these drifts, but not today. Although Enrique and myself did find a couple of hungry Sheephead on the chew.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08499969-med.jpg
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08479968.jpg
Enrique with a nice Calico Bass.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08509970.jpg
The weather was still extraordinary when we reached the West End. In the distance Dave had spotted some birds working, and at 4pm we came across huge schools of Yellowtail in 61 degree, clear blue water, crashing on an enormous bait ball. At times we had Yellowtail surrounding the boat, yet rarely would they come within 200 yards of the boat.
We threw iron at them on a run and gun style until our arms fell off, and they eventually sunk out for good. Captain Dave managed to catch one twelve pound Yellowtail, I hooked one, but the hook pulled immediately. Had a number of them follow the jig to the boat, but wouldn’t eat it? Mixed in with the Tails were huge schools of Log Barracuda, we caught six of those, and were short bit numerous times. When we drifted in near a reef in the area, the big Calico Bass jumped on the iron.
Dave with our only Yellowtail.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08519971-med.jpg
Here is the largest Calico Bass I caught today, about 5.5 pounds.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08559974.jpg
Dave with a Barracuda.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_08549973.jpg
We ended the day at 5pm, catching and releasing some 120+ Calico Bass to 5.5 pounds, and ¾ limits of Rockfish, some Bonito, barracuda and a 12 lb. Tail. It doesn’t get too much better than that? A fairly smooth ride home, it was 8pm when we reached the slip, after slowing down to clean the fish and the boat. We were five very weary, but happy anglers, having enjoyed a beautiful day on the water.
Thanks again Dave, what can I say, another fantastic trip together.
Hook up!