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E.A.R.G.
08-19-2010, 02:12 AM
WARNING SUPER LONG POST!!!


Webmaster Jeff sends me a text Sunday night, "Fishing tomorrow?" Well I'm down!

Monday rolls along, I get work done as fast as I can, then I load up my poles and head to the 99 to pick up snacks and monster shooters, all for 99cents!

Bought some sandwiches from Albertsons, the staple fishing food, and pull up to Webmaster's shortly after noon. As we're loading up the boat I notice that there's no mustard or mayo packets in the sandwiches!!! DISASTER!
"Hey Jeff, you have any mustard or mayo? These albertson's fellas forgot them again!"

Webmaster says, "I've got a little surprise for us, we may not want those sandwiches!"

Turns out webmaster bought a little stove from Big 5, and loaded up the icebox with burgers!! w00t!
Days looking fantastic already!!!

We buy bait at San pedro bait company. The chovies look awesome. Some nicer sized chovies in the mix. If you guys launch outta cabrillo, or even los al, give San pedro bait company a try. Nice staff and a nice clean bait barge with quality bait!

We head straight for the island with our bait tank full and full tanks of gas. Luckily we had glass conditions most of the way. We heard that the yellows were moving out and about around the front side so we gave that a shot. Nobody's home. No bites, no runs, no boils.

Wanting to make the best of the evening bite we try a couple more spots, trying to get a bite to happen. We did the drift and the anchor, with frozen squid, dines, chovies and even small mac with no love.

With the sun setting, we decide to head over to where we'd be making bait for the night. We get our squid light out and it wasn't long before we see squid down a ways below the boat.

Jeff fires up the butane stove while I go at it with the whac-a-mole (trying to catch squid). Reports of easy squid gives me hope for easier whac-a-mole. Sometimes its easier, sometimes its rough. I recall the last time I tried to make squid at Catalina, I caught 8 the whole night! (We metered a ton of squid but they just wouldn't float up)
Pretty soon we see bigger schools of squid starting to come up, but still too deep for a scoop. But every once in a while something would scare them up and I would get a couple. Within an hour or so I had about 20 pieces in the tank. The 2nd hour though, the squid really started floating up and I was getting consistent scoops of 5 pieces or so every 20 seconds. When it became obvious that we'd be getting enough squid, I took a break to eat the fresh cooked burger.DE-freaking-LICIOUS! Maybe cause I got too used to cold sandwiches while fishing... not that they're bad or anything... but this burger is the most delicious thing ever! I wolf it down and get ready for whack-a-mole round 2.
"uhh Jeff. Take a look at this!"
We see the thickest school of squid we've ever seen. They were floating so thick right up to the light. There was more squid than water! Within a couple scoops we had more than we could ever use!!!
There was so much squid that they clogged the drain of thee bait tank! and when we looked, some of the bait had died.
"Need more squid"
and now by this time the squid were so thick It seemed like I could walk on the water! I shove the net in the water and do a scoop. Too heavy to carry. I dump half the squid out of the net. Still heavy but I was able to lift it out.

"We gotta go Eric, these squid are clogging the drain again!"

We anchor up and decide to bail out to where we planned to fish the next morning.

We got to the spot and I decided to toss a line out. 4 foot nurse shark is all that I could account for from the night.
Lights out and knock out.

---------------------------------------------------

Wake up to gray light and toss lines out with fresh squid. Baited and waited, and waited, and waited. No bite. We anchor up to find another spot. Once again the water is glass so we decide to do a drift. Waited and waited and waited. We fire up the motor and look for more promising fishing.
We find a nice patty to rear into and drop anchor. Toss lines out and it wasn't long before we get the first clicker scream. Feels a little bigger than normal calicos, but not the right kind we're looking for. Color! and its whitefish! Big ole whitefish at 2lbs. Next couple fish were also whitefish but they seemed to get bigger and bigger! My previous best whitefish was around 2lbs, and I ended up boating one in the 4-5 lb class! NEW PB WHITEFISH
okay okay, now before you think, wow... how lame. A PB whitefish... please just keep reading.

Then my clicker screams again. This one feels a little different! Wonder what this fish is? Color. Halibut!!


http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010037.jpg


We fish this spot for 1 more whitefish and one PRETTY calico that unfortunately swallowed the hook which gave him an invitation to the dinner party.

We pull anchor and look for some better fishing.
As we're driving over, Skipper Jeff finds promising structure on the fish finger- a really nice drop off that goes from 60-90 real fast. We decide to do a drift. We drive over and cut the engine and toss the lines out. 50 feet. 55 feet. 60 feet and the bite turned on like a light switch. WHITE FISH WHITE FISH WHITE FISH! BIG ole fatties! up to 6 pound whitefish! NEW PB WHITEFISH... AGAIn! I never seen such big whitefish! We were releasing any whitefish under 3 lbs. As soon as the bait hit bottom it was hookup!
I get another hit and I set the hook. This one feels different. Color!. SHEEPHEAD! big one! we net it up! Nice 8 lb sheephead! NEW PB SHEEPHEAD We bounce a few more whitefish on the boat and as soon as the depth hit 90 the bite shut off. 90... 95... 100... 105.. nada.
We fire up the engine and go looking for fish again.

tried closer up to see if we can find some seabass. While we wait Jeff fires up the stove for some smoked sausage for breakfast. DELICIOUS!!! but our baits aren't touched at all!!

We go looking for that drop off again so we can anchor on top of it. First anchor we weren't quite on it and we don't get bit. Anchor up, move, anchor down and the bite went WIIIIIIIDE on premium whitefish! Awesome eating HUGE whitefish!
Just then Jeff hooks up. "Its not a whitefish... get the gaff!" Jeffs fighting this thing and we're wondering what it could be. COLOR! SHEEPHEAD!! and the biggest darn goat I've ever seen in my life! NEW PB SHEEPHEAD FOR JEFF! This thing looked like it had a T-rex for a head! 20lb goat that made my 8lber look like a baby!

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010039.jpg

We fill our limits of whitefish and the sheephead decide to start playing. We each pick up another sheephead. Then it happens, my loomis gl2 with my calcutta and 14lb test gets slammed! I set it and it feels heavy!
I'm thinking big boat like Jeff's. But this one doesn't let up at all! It starts peeling drag and now we're thinking Big sea bass or homeguard yellowtail.
"What lb test you got on there Eric?"
"... I was fishing for whitefish and sheephead... its only 14...."

Jeff runs and ties the anchor off to a buoy and fires up the engine.
"Just in case Eric, we may have to chase this thing down."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
"We gotta go Jeff"

We take off chasing this thing down. Luckily for us its going to deep water. There is NO stopping this thing. Run after Run after Run. I fight to gain 20 yards of line, then it rips off another 50.

"How long have I been fighting this thing?"
"at least 20 minutes. But its getting tired."
"I'M getting tired!"

It keeps running and running. I finally get to see my topshot knot, which lets me know I've got 100 feet of mono or so. Seeing that knot makes me scared and I when I reel in that knot into the spool I give a sigh of relief.
"Eric, you know that knot will come out of the spool at least a few more times."
and it sure did. It was like I was playing tug of war trying to keep that knot in the reel. 7-9 times that knot came back out in vicious runs.

After 40 minutes or so of hard hard fighting we see it coming to the surface.
BIG BIG BIG black sea bass!!!
Estimated to be about 100lbs!! New PB BLACK SEA BASS!!

We snap a couple pics and let her go.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010044.jpg

We head back to our buoy and tie up to our anchor line again. No hits. wait wait wait. Seems like the black sea bass scared the fish away.
Well we didn't want to hit too much chop on the way back, so I start filleting the fish and making preparations to head back.

Not a bad day!!
We're coming back with 2 limits of HUGE whitefish-75 pounds or so, and 4 big sheephead.
For me,
-new whitefish PB
-new sheephead PB
-new black sea bass pB
For Jeff,
-new sheephead PB. (He's actually caught whitefish bigger than these! O_O )


http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010050.jpg


(If you've ever cleaned sheephead, you know they have dense bones, and filleting a 20lber is no fun.)

We pull anchor and start heading back home while I'm cleaning fish. As I'm cleaning a little bird comes and lands on my shoulder. And it stays there! Just chilling. moving a little from my head to my shoulder, to my other shoulder. Not scared of me at all, but just chilling!

So now, I'm covered in blood. I've got a forscher knife in my hand. I'm on a boat on the ocean. And there's a bird on my shoulder.

yeappp I'm definitely a pirate! Honestly, I felt pretty cool right then and there.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010056.jpg

"Eric, you're not a pirate."
"Why not?"
"You don't have an eye patch."


"....... son of a ......"

what a joy a kill. but he was right.
I just went from pirate king, to dumb little boy with bird on shoulder.


Not to be bummed out though, because of an awesome day of fishing. Jeff decides to stop at one last spot so we can fire up the stove and eat the last of our burgers. I toss a line out while Jeff readies the stove.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

feels like a nicer sized calico. But that'd be against the rules because I'm only allowed 11.5 inch calicos.

bring it in close. color. small WHITE SEA BASS!!!

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010066.jpg
undersized... but that really gets the excitement going!!!
If there's one. There's more. And shoot, maybe some will be catchable size, maybe even 30 inches!!

ZZZZZZZZZ Jeff's clicker screams! Picks up the pole. Lets it run. Sets the hook. FISH ON!!! BENDOO!!!!
He starts fighting the fish. Seems like its fighting hard for a 30inch WSB.
COLOR! and it ain't no BABY!!!!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!

I reel in all the other rods!

I guess it saw the boat and flipped out cause now its making good runs!

Jeff brings it close to the boat, sticks the gaff and THUMP!!! 35 lb white sea bass!!! New personal best WSB for JEFF!!!

We leave him flopping and get the lines back out. Jeff reels in a pole to check for bait and as he's reeling it in he gets NAILED right close to the boat. We see color on the hookset!!!
SEABASS!! ZZZZZZ!!! ZZZZ!!!!!

A shorter fight and seabass number 2 thumps on the boat! 20lber!!!
Jeff's got TWO seabass on the boat now!

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010068.jpg


Why am I only getting mackerel and 11.5 inch calicos???

Feel the run. Set hook. MACKEREL.
Feel the run. Set hook. Calico

again and again
Run. Set the hook. MACKEREL... wait.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEABASSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going around the anchor. I pass the pole to Jeff. He goes around the anchor and passes it back. Short pump short pump. But 100 lb black sea bass has took all the ammo from these guns! (haha had to say it. sorry)
Short pumps are so hard to do when your arms are shot and your backs aching!
My pumps are getting longer. But its okay because I'm not on 14 lb test anymore. 25 lb p-line on my avet lx with 50 lb spectra backing. And a circle hook to top it off! You're going nowhere!!!
THUMP!!! 30 lb white sea bass new PB!!!!

This picture doesn't do it justice. It turned sideways so it looks skinny. but the thing had a gut!
http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010069.jpg


And as the bite turned on quickly, it shut off just as quick. We switched baits to small macs now. Every time I tossed out a squid, it would get hammered by 11.5 inch calicos. Instamatic! I caught dozens of them!

Jeff decides to catch a calico too.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010070.jpg

speechless. I caught 25-30 calicos. NONE of them were over 12.


Then he picks up another.

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010072.jpg

????


http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010071.jpg
Another being released.


Baffling I tell you...
Even at clemente. *recall* Jeff caught a 3lb calico. "they're all this size here!" oh really... I tossed out my squid. BAM. 11.5 inch calico. BAM another 11.5. BAM another 11.5.


At one point my squid hits the bottom without being picked up. That's odd. I usually get hit INSTANTLY by 11.5 inch calico. Maybe I got jacked? Maybe the squid flew off on the cast?
I reel in. I feel weight. Kelp? Set the hook just in case. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!
FISH ON!!!!
Shorter fight and THUMP. Seabass number 4 hits the deck!!!


http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010077.jpg


Anyways. The bite has shut off now. Jeff fires up the stove as originally planned. DELICIOUS burgers once again. BETTER EVEn! maybe they were the grilled onions. Maybe the sliced dill pickles. Or maybe a deck full of white seabass.


http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010076.jpg


The sun sets. The bite shuts off and we head in after an amazing day of fishing.


http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp304/ericchungw/P1010074.jpg

Thanks again to the skipper!
Thanks all for reading!

FISH ON!!!!!
-EARG!

NEW PBS 6 total!! EPIC
Jeff- PB sheephead, PB white sea bass
Eric- PB sheephead, PB white sea bass, PB whitefish, PB black sea bass

BrandonFish
08-19-2010, 04:13 AM
Great post made me feel like i was there and wish i was! congrats to you both for a super day

Nessie Hunter
08-19-2010, 07:37 AM
WOW!! What an Awesome report, felt like I was there.. Thanks..

You make it sound easy??
Dang what a Bag of fish and stupendous day of fishing!!!
Congrats to you both...

Which Way Out
08-19-2010, 08:20 AM
I wanna go on the next trip. You guys rocked the water for sure...

chris273
08-19-2010, 08:49 AM
WOW WOW WOW WOW
is all i can say lol
great report &
congrats on all the pbs & getting on the fish you guys
wow

murrieta angler
08-19-2010, 09:44 AM
Dang Eric!!!
That was one epic day of fishing.
Forget the Calico's , with all those Whitefish, Beautiful Sheephead, Awesome WSB and of course a MONSTER BSB, you couldn't ask for a better day of fishing.
Congrats to both you and Jeff!
Thanks for sharing the great report and all the wonderful pictures,
Robert

russ88
08-19-2010, 10:57 AM
Wow what a great trip!!!! Bet you're still stoked...:) Thanks for taking the time and sharing your EPIC trip. Which island did you fish if you don't mind me asking? Congrats to both of you!

JapanRon
08-19-2010, 11:56 AM
Hi E.A.R.G.,

Wow ..... great days of fishing for sure. Most excellent report and pics. You'll remember this one !! Wait !! What no fishing plastics ?!

JapanRon

E.A.R.G.
08-19-2010, 02:13 PM
Great post made me feel like i was there and wish i was! congrats to you both for a super day
Thanks big B. Downey soon? haha


WOW!! What an Awesome report, felt like I was there.. Thanks..

You make it sound easy??
Dang what a Bag of fish and stupendous day of fishing!!!
Congrats to you both...
Thanks Nessie. It was definitely one of the best days on the water!


I wanna go on the next trip. You guys rocked the water for sure...
Thanks. I was stoked as well on the sea bass!


WOW WOW WOW WOW
is all i can say lol
great report &
congrats on all the pbs & getting on the fish you guys
wow
Thanks Chris. We totally weren't expecting the sea bass at all. We just wanted to take a burger break lol!


Dang Eric!!!
That was one epic day of fishing.
Forget the Calico's , with all those Whitefish, Beautiful Sheephead, Awesome WSB and of course a MONSTER BSB, you couldn't ask for a better day of fishing.
Congrats to both you and Jeff!
Thanks for sharing the great report and all the wonderful pictures,
Robert
Thanks again for the kind words! It was definitely a trip to remember!


Wow what a great trip!!!! Bet you're still stoked...:) Thanks for taking the time and sharing your EPIC trip. Congrats to both of you!
Thanks russ!
Next week I'm after the homeguards like the ones you got!



Hi E.A.R.G.,

Wow ..... great days of fishing for sure. Most excellent report and pics. You'll remember this one !! Wait !! What no fishing plastics ?!

JapanRon

Haha thanks J.Ron. I think only you could throw plastics in a whitefish bite haha. Thats why you're J.Ron!

Tunaslam
08-19-2010, 05:36 PM
Totally unreal day on the water, sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And congrats!

webmaster
08-19-2010, 06:12 PM
Once again Eric, EXCELLENT report and great fishing with you.

Sorry, I just couldn't see the pirate thing - It's a sparrow, not a parrot and it's a 12" fillet knife, not a sword. You were looking pretty salty though, I'll give you that!

ghetto dad
08-19-2010, 06:14 PM
damn that took me FOREVER to read!! lol...EXCELLENT REPORT MAN!! DAMN i want to FISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol great job on all those fish guys!!

cjmedina
08-19-2010, 06:48 PM
that was a awesome report. nice fish too

DockRat
08-19-2010, 07:50 PM
Nice trip, freezer filler too,
DR

TroutOnly
08-19-2010, 08:46 PM
What a badass trip,,,,,,,,,,the goat was the ****,,,,,,,,,,,,

marzocchi
08-19-2010, 09:29 PM
wowowowowowowowowowowowowow!!!

Swank909
08-19-2010, 11:22 PM
Dang Eric, your reports get more epic by the day!! That was definately one of the best reports I've read on Fnn! Grats on the new PB's guys!

vince champion
08-19-2010, 11:26 PM
WOW, awesome read awesome report. Just a question were you guys at sci or catalina? i got confuse towards the end when you were talking about the calicos. lol

gletemfeelsteelgary
08-20-2010, 10:02 AM
Ohhhh crap.....what an epic trip guys.....

Dayam....I am almost at a loss for words and that is RARE !



dayam SWEET !

congrats on the ANOTHER TOAD BSB on the boat Jeff !

and congrats to eric for landing that leviathan !

I know that drill, those sucka are like battleing a deisel truck.....huge congrats as I know they end up being a physical challenge after a while with that power they have !

Dayam nice sheepshead there too guys.......DAYAM !

the slay goes on......how come that didn't happen when I went out there ?

Nawww...no way I can complain, I've nailed some seriosly big fish of the Keilani as well but man your trip was one to remember...

Congrats guys....

Nice work !

gletemfeelsteelgary
08-20-2010, 10:04 AM
Once again Eric, EXCELLENT report and great fishing with you.

Sorry, I just couldn't see the pirate thing - It's a sparrow, not a parrot and it's a 12" fillet knife, not a sword. You were looking pretty salty though, I'll give you that!

that bird was WAY COOL !


Not sure about Eric looking Saucy though Jeff !......ohh wait....ohh I see....you said Salty !


Ohhhh.......OK !

2jackedLUNGS
08-20-2010, 12:12 PM
damn great report. that black seabass was a monster. nice job out there.

kpn
08-20-2010, 03:06 PM
Jeff & Eric,
Congrats on the "all PB". It was a great day forsure, wish I was there :Smile:.

KPN.

Wingnut
08-20-2010, 10:31 PM
Damn Jeff, you weren't kidding when you told me that you guys had an epic day. :Shocked:
Well done... congrats on all the fine catches! :Envious:
Excellent report Eric. :Cool:

olfishergal
08-20-2010, 10:32 PM
WoW I have dreamed of days like that!!!! Ever take a lady fisher person out, I would love giving that a try....OFG

webmaster
08-20-2010, 11:15 PM
that bird was WAY COOL !


Not sure about Eric looking Saucy though Jeff !......ohh wait....ohh I see....you said Salty !


Ohhhh.......OK !

Am I detecting some jealousy here?? Sorry Gary, Eric is the saucy one, you're more the spicy type.

You know the rules - what happens on the water STAYS on the water!

E.A.R.G.
08-21-2010, 12:09 AM
haha I'm officially confuzzled.

smokehound
08-21-2010, 12:10 AM
Man.. bruiser yellows, and some nice WSB.. you guys hit the jackpot there.


Gonna be eatin good for a few weeks =D

ztugs
08-21-2010, 10:49 AM
excellent report, and great job out there!

Troutman65
08-21-2010, 10:55 AM
What a great fishing trip . Wow. Congrats . Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the read .

diamondbear
08-21-2010, 02:50 PM
GREAT POST , THE BEST IN A LONG TIME . What a day of fishing .