Tunaslam
08-12-2010, 03:01 PM
Fishing with Dave Robinson, on his 28’ Farallon “Hooked”, with friends Ron and John. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Harbor at 5:15 am Wednesday morning. Picked up some sensational Sardines, before clearing the harbor at 5:45am. Our destination being San Clemente Island, close to the East End, near White Rock. The skies were overcast, per normal this summer, and the wind was out of the West at about 6-8 knots, with the seas having only a minimal bump, allowing us to cruise at 20 knots. We were leery about the forecast, which had bounced around the last few days from windy to almost decent. So far so good?
The wind picked up to over 10 knots as we reached the Mackerel Bank, some 10 miles or so from the Island. We spotted our first white caps shortly thereafter. Reached our beginning destination at 8:15 am, and by then there was plenty of popcorn surrounding us, yuk, not a good start to the day? Dave anchored us up in ten fathoms, with some good signs of bait. The current was running uphill, as was the breeze!
My first cast of a slimy green Sardine, on 20 pound test line, with a short fluorocarbon leader, resulted in a solid hook up. Got the Yellowtail within 15 feet of the boat, and whack, a big knot head seal smokes me. The run stops, I crank like a mad man, then can’t gain an inch. He rises about 50 yards out, holding the tail of the Yellow in his mouth and I am not yet broke off? I pull the tail away, but to no avail as this time the seal is headed for China. Almost spooled, I tighten the drag, I gain line, once again a race, the seal wins. Pulled in this meager part of what remained of my small Yellowtail.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1067.jpg
We now had four seals on us, and Dave stated “this is hopeless, let’s move”. Stopped at White Rock, less than a half mile from our starting point. Now the wind was against the current, so that a bait cast off the stern, swam up to the bow and beyond. No bueno? Besides the seals followed us up there. Yikes, what a pain! Continued west, within minutes of anchoring up the seals were on us? Dave moved in tight to the kelp and reefs. The seals didn’t follow, however the Calico’s would only bite for a short time and then cease, and many were lost to the kelp stringers anyhow.
Dave was anxious to try out Shimano’s new lure, “The Waxman” a 7/8 oz plastic lure, mimicking a minnow or small sardine. After 35 casts Dave finally got bit by this monster bass!
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1068.jpg
Another 50 casts produced several more Calico’s. Despite the disappointment on catching fish, I have to admit he could cast the lure nearly a 100 yards on straight 30 lb. Spectra, right into the weeds, since the lure used a double hook (Albacore style), although it was face up, not down, allowing the lure to skim through weeds! To be fair the lure didn’t have justice on it’s side, with the conditions. To prove a point, Dave handed off several of these lures to Chris, a friend of Dave’s who we met at Pyramid Head. They had fished the backside in sloppy conditions, catching a few Reds. Chris later hailed us and stated that hey these lures are awesome, we caught seven Calico’s in a eight casts, up to seven pounds up the front side of the island. However, even their bite died out soon.
We played musical chairs for awhile, picked at the bass, watched the Dreamer anchor up next to us, and do a little of the same. Dave decided to head back East, fast, to lose the seals that had followed us. We passed a number of Sport Boats from San Diego, how sad that is, knowing that 1 ½ day and 2 day trips had no Albacore to chase and electing to fish at SCI? What a crap year so far! Wind, cold water, dirty water, and few fish 100+ miles away, and now gone, bummer?
Pyramid offered us some relief from the wind and radical currents. We continued with a slow pick on the Calico Bass, and settled for quality over quantity. We have been spoiled on some earlier trips, catching and releasing well over 100 Calico Bass. Today we probably totaled under sixty. Yet we did get a few picture moments before releasing them.
Ron was the hot stick for the day, with numerous big Calico Bass such as this one.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1069.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1070.jpg
John found a couple of big boys too!
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1073.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1074.jpg
Ron with a bigger model.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1071.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1072.jpg
Even I got in on the action, despite being salty after losing the Yellowtail.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1079.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1080.jpg
These Bald Eagles kept us entertained occasionally.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1075.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1076.jpg
Dave made a move to get us out of the relentless wind, right into a cove off Pyramid. It was crazy that just 200 hundred yards away, the wind was howling, yet the cove offered unreal protection?
John caught the big’n of the day, nearly seven pounds.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1077.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1078.jpg
We called it a day at 4pm. Captain Dave put in quite an effort to get us on some fish. Mother Nature had other ideas, sure wish Mother Wind would take a long vacation? The ride home was not pleasant, yet we made it home safely in less than three hours, albeit beat up a little!
Thanks Dave, hope the season improves soon.
Hook up!
Cory
The wind picked up to over 10 knots as we reached the Mackerel Bank, some 10 miles or so from the Island. We spotted our first white caps shortly thereafter. Reached our beginning destination at 8:15 am, and by then there was plenty of popcorn surrounding us, yuk, not a good start to the day? Dave anchored us up in ten fathoms, with some good signs of bait. The current was running uphill, as was the breeze!
My first cast of a slimy green Sardine, on 20 pound test line, with a short fluorocarbon leader, resulted in a solid hook up. Got the Yellowtail within 15 feet of the boat, and whack, a big knot head seal smokes me. The run stops, I crank like a mad man, then can’t gain an inch. He rises about 50 yards out, holding the tail of the Yellow in his mouth and I am not yet broke off? I pull the tail away, but to no avail as this time the seal is headed for China. Almost spooled, I tighten the drag, I gain line, once again a race, the seal wins. Pulled in this meager part of what remained of my small Yellowtail.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1067.jpg
We now had four seals on us, and Dave stated “this is hopeless, let’s move”. Stopped at White Rock, less than a half mile from our starting point. Now the wind was against the current, so that a bait cast off the stern, swam up to the bow and beyond. No bueno? Besides the seals followed us up there. Yikes, what a pain! Continued west, within minutes of anchoring up the seals were on us? Dave moved in tight to the kelp and reefs. The seals didn’t follow, however the Calico’s would only bite for a short time and then cease, and many were lost to the kelp stringers anyhow.
Dave was anxious to try out Shimano’s new lure, “The Waxman” a 7/8 oz plastic lure, mimicking a minnow or small sardine. After 35 casts Dave finally got bit by this monster bass!
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1068.jpg
Another 50 casts produced several more Calico’s. Despite the disappointment on catching fish, I have to admit he could cast the lure nearly a 100 yards on straight 30 lb. Spectra, right into the weeds, since the lure used a double hook (Albacore style), although it was face up, not down, allowing the lure to skim through weeds! To be fair the lure didn’t have justice on it’s side, with the conditions. To prove a point, Dave handed off several of these lures to Chris, a friend of Dave’s who we met at Pyramid Head. They had fished the backside in sloppy conditions, catching a few Reds. Chris later hailed us and stated that hey these lures are awesome, we caught seven Calico’s in a eight casts, up to seven pounds up the front side of the island. However, even their bite died out soon.
We played musical chairs for awhile, picked at the bass, watched the Dreamer anchor up next to us, and do a little of the same. Dave decided to head back East, fast, to lose the seals that had followed us. We passed a number of Sport Boats from San Diego, how sad that is, knowing that 1 ½ day and 2 day trips had no Albacore to chase and electing to fish at SCI? What a crap year so far! Wind, cold water, dirty water, and few fish 100+ miles away, and now gone, bummer?
Pyramid offered us some relief from the wind and radical currents. We continued with a slow pick on the Calico Bass, and settled for quality over quantity. We have been spoiled on some earlier trips, catching and releasing well over 100 Calico Bass. Today we probably totaled under sixty. Yet we did get a few picture moments before releasing them.
Ron was the hot stick for the day, with numerous big Calico Bass such as this one.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1069.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1070.jpg
John found a couple of big boys too!
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1073.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1074.jpg
Ron with a bigger model.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1071.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1072.jpg
Even I got in on the action, despite being salty after losing the Yellowtail.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1079.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1080.jpg
These Bald Eagles kept us entertained occasionally.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1075.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1076.jpg
Dave made a move to get us out of the relentless wind, right into a cove off Pyramid. It was crazy that just 200 hundred yards away, the wind was howling, yet the cove offered unreal protection?
John caught the big’n of the day, nearly seven pounds.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1077.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1078.jpg
We called it a day at 4pm. Captain Dave put in quite an effort to get us on some fish. Mother Nature had other ideas, sure wish Mother Wind would take a long vacation? The ride home was not pleasant, yet we made it home safely in less than three hours, albeit beat up a little!
Thanks Dave, hope the season improves soon.
Hook up!
Cory