12/31 & 1/1 rockfish closer/sand bass opener

[k3vin_kim]

Decided to take advantage of my New Years weekend so i called up my boy Sam and went on the Tradition on 2 consecutive 3/4 day trips. I wanted to close out the year on a rock fishing high note and i was curious to see what the boats would do on the 1st of the year.

Day 1:

Woke up at 5 and met up with Sam at the docks. There were 2 others in line with us - John Kim and Ray whom i met the last time i went out (good to see you guys again). A few minutes later, a fellow named Carlos comes and stands in line with us. I would later find out that Carlos is a fellow FNN'er (Lingcod Sierra) - whom i remember from way back in the day. Mucho Gusto amigo.

So that makes 5 of us. The question lingered on in the back of our minds - "do we have enough people for the boat to fish?" but nobody said it. At 6am - Deckhand Morgon opens the gate and says... "let's go fishing guys."

SWEET!

5 people going on the Tradition to close out the season. This was a great start.

Me and friend Sam.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02290.jpg


We board the boat and leave the dock. MAN it's cold!! The air was clean but freezing - you can clearly see the island on the right.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02294.jpg

Captain Steve driving the boat today.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02327.jpg

And Morgon on deck and in the galley.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02303.jpg

We took a 45 minute ride ... somewhere. I don't know where i was hiding in the galley cuz it was too cold to care. The engines died down and i tried something different than i normally do. I rigged up with 2 hooks on the dropper loop. I put 2 size two hooks and a 6oz torpedo on the 25# setup and then 2 size 2/0 hooks and an 8 oz torpedo on the 30# setup.

We drifted throughout the day fishing at depths of 170-210 feet. Strips of squid. The first fish of the morning was this nice rosy red pulled up by Ray.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02298.jpg

Then 5 minutes later i get hit HARD and my instinct had me reel 4 cranks and then put the tip in the air but instead of head shake, my rod loaded up and went south... damn - i was stuck. Took it out of gear and whipped it in the air a couple of times and then it came out... when i started reeling again, a TURBULENT head shake!!! Whatever it was, i managed to get it out of the rock and slowly and steadily cranked it up to the surface.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02300.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02302.jpg

I lost my 8 oz weight but as i swung it over the rail, Morgon comments... "that's a good trade." Which it was.
At around 10am, the sun finally started making somewhat of a change in weather. It was out but the air was still freezing.

Ray putting on the sunblock.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02308.jpg

Sam trying some experimental tactics...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02307.jpg

At the end of our first drift, John lands a snapper.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02309.jpg

And then at the beginning of the second drift, i look over to the bow and see Johns rod BENT!!! But he's real quiet about it. And when someone's rod is bent and their rod tip is in the air, it could mean he's stuck on the bottom. But when someone's rod is bent and the guy is slowly cranking the handle... you know you're about to become REALLY jealous. So as my bait sinks to the bottom, i intermittently look over at the bow as John's still quietly cranking. Then i hear Morgon say - "KEV GET THE CAMERA!" and i'm like - DAMN - what'd he catch?!?!

WTG John! Pulled up this NICE DING A LING on a tiny strip of squid. Murphy's law states - too bad they are out of season. But still - mustve been fun pulling on this dinosaur.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02310.jpg

After the picture the lingcod was promptly released back into the water and we continued on. Drift 3 belonged to my buddy Sam. There's nothing greater than rigging up for a species specific fish and then landing it on your very first drop. Sam puts on a plastic and predicts he's going to catch a sculpin for his kids because they LOVE sculpin meat. He drops and just like that, he pulls up a feisty scorpion from the depths.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02313.jpg

Then on the very next drop, he hooks onto something heavier... Rod loading up and...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02317.jpg

a double sand dab (cue the wa wa wa waaaaa~~~... sound).

What happened next - nobody was prepared for. Once again - Sam's rod loads up and he's cranking slowly.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02311.jpg

On his top hook was a baby COWCOD?!?!?! in 200 feet of water?
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02319.jpg

WOW WTG man! I've never seen one in my life. And you can see John Kim in the picture giving us the official "yeah that's a cow cod alrite" official look.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02320.jpg

After the photo, we immediately threw him back in the water and he swam off safely.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02322.jpg

About 20 minutes over this drift produced a bunch of beauties. I landed a nice little Chuckle head...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02325.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02324.jpg

Aww man, i had a picture of a FAT Starry eye Rock fish but i can't find it right now... I'll upload it later. Then my stomach tells me it's time for lunch. All this fish slaughtering has made me hungry. I ask Morgon if its too late for breakfast (even though it was around noon) and only on the Tradition is food cooked to order - whatever you want, whenever you want. Thanks Morg - this one really hit the spot.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02332.jpg

After brunch, the water really flattened out.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02341.jpg

The wind was nill and the sun was blazing down. Everybody on the boat (all 5 of us) were enjoying ourselves. Fish coming over the rail every few minutes. This was an awesome day.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02328.jpg

Carlos approves.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02329.jpg

The water was glass and we noticed a HUGE BULL KELP sitting in the middle of the pond so Morgon gaffs a piece of it and we were just a bunch of boys being boys...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02334.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02333.jpg

By around 2pm, the boat had their limits. I had a pretty good chance with that red i caught in the morning to win the JP. But i also knew that John and Ray had pretty huge ones too. My red went on the scale and it beat John's red. My red stayed on the scale and then they put on Ray's red.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02344.jpg

Teeter totter... teeter totter... Rays red stayed lower to the ground but it was a close match. NICE RED Ray - congrats on the JP.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02342.jpg

My take for the day...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02346.jpg

Morgon getting busy with it.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02348.jpg

The result...
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/IMAG0204.jpg

End of Day 1: I was astonished to learn that the local rockfishing is EXCELLENT. It turns out that you don't need to travel all the way up to the Channel Islands for an epic day of rockfishing (ahem ... cisco). The Tradition proved that to me today. Thanks Cap Steve for putting us on the spot - BIGTIME!

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02345.jpg

(Sam obviously had more fish than what he's holding here but it was already filet'd by the time we took the group shot).

We got in the dock by 3 pm'ish which was great because we had time to shower up and get ready for the New Year's Eve parties we all had to go to that night. I went home and showered up and took my daughters to Chucke E Cheese's.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/IMAG0207.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/IMAG0210.jpg
and then we did the countdown together. What a great day it was.

Day 2: Sand Bass.

Woke up again at 5am. From the previous day, i knew it was gonna be cold again. Got to the dock at 5:45. I didn't see any of the guys that were there from Friday. However i saw some more familiar faces from previous tradition trips.

Tom, Bill, 2 new chinese guys who i hadn't seen before (but they had the most EXPENSIVE bling'ed out gear i've ever seen!!!), Phil and Jackpot Jimmy. Another day of fishing a BIG boat with plenty of elbow room. NICE.

Steve in the wheel house again and Morgon on Deck. I apologize, i think the Chef's name was... Steve too - i need to confirm that, but he made a breakfast sandwich that was a smidge tastier than Morgon's but only because he grilled the onions. You know i love you Morg.

We were all psyched about the new year and kicking off the structure sand bass season. We made an hour trek down to Santa Monica canyon and it was literally... TWICE as cold as the previous morning. Unbelievable. The morning was so cold, i didn't even want to fish cuz my hands were burning.

We saw the Spitfire out there and a few PB'ers fishing the bass with us. I apologize, i didn't take many pics today because i was in the water the WHOLE day trying to get a bite. I stood up and fished as HARD as i could even though i was cold and tired from the day before.

We fished the anchor all day from 60-75 feet. The key was when the anchor hit bottom, everyone casts around the boat and when someone feels the structure, he says outloud "i found it" - then everyone gathers around that side of the boat and drops around that same vicinity.

Santa monica canyon was very frustrating for me personally because 2 hours into fishing, everybody had gotten at least 1 bass except for me. I tried everything. Lead Head w/mogambo, Chartreuse Lead head, green lead head, glow in the dark lead head... with no love but perch bites. After 3 hours, i had nothing to show for it except a Sculpin.

Meanwhile Jimmy, Tom and Bill were swinging away. Jimmy managed to land 4 here, The chef landed a NICE calico, Tom landed 2 or 3 here with an orange lead head and Bill also landed a few. The chinese guys each landed 1.

I was frustrated but i wasn't letting it get to me because i knew sooner or later would be my time. At around 12 noon we picked up and moved back up the line towards redondo beach. We dropped the pick at Venice Reef and i tied on a 2 oz purple and black lead head. Pinned on a squid that was wrapped around 3 times and on the sink... WHAM! FINALLY landed my sandy.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02349.jpg

Skunk off the back... feels good again. I quickly pinned on another squid and casted out to the structure. Now i remember what a Sand Bass slam feels like again! As it was sinking i was talking to Phil... chit chatting and laughing and then...

BAMMMMMMM!!!! Another consecutive slam but this time was MUCH MUCH harder. REEL REEL REEL REEL REEL SET!!! Phil SCREAMS - GET SOME!!! and i reel and put the tip up and I say over to Phil... "whoa this one's got some weight to..." and i kid you not, before i say "it"... 'bink'.

And Phil goes... "awwww..."

cue the wa wa wa waaaa~~~ sound.

FARMED IT!!! UGH!!! i reeled in my empty lead head (which means i didn't set the hook correctly). I thought i would have been rocked and lost my lead head but it was still on there. Lesson for the day - SET THE HOOK HARDER for sand bass. I know it's been a while but you guys reading this post remember to put the wood on that fishy the next time you go structure bassing.

At the end of the day, i landed a sculpin and a bass. WTG Jimmy landing 6 bass! and Congratulations to Tom for landing the Jackpot Turd-roller!!

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02357.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02358.jpg

The bass fishing never sparked WFO but as the weather warms up and the bass feel like biting, fishing can only get better.

Til next time.

-KK

[Jackpot Jimmy]

Fantastic report Kevin! Thanks for writing it up. My face looks puffier than normal in the picture because I had spent the previous couple of days at Yucaipa fishing trout, the first day in icy cold wind, and the next day in just plain cold...just woke up Saturday morning and my face was swollen.

Anyways hope to fish with you again soon Kevin!

[Ifishtoolittle]

Two very entertaining reports. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the feesh for those two days.

[k3vin_kim]

COLD COLD COLD it was - dude,i had to take a dump so bad yesterday but i didn't want my ***** to stick to the seat.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/dumb-and-dumber.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/dumb-et-dumber-1994-02-g.jpg

[k3vin_kim]

Two very entertaining reports. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the feesh for those two days.

Thanks Ifishtoolittle... come join me in two weeks fri 1/21 on the Legend for some lingcod carnage.

[lingcod sierra]

awesome report and pics kevin. hope too fish with you again amigo

[troutdog]

K3VKIM is a saltwater rockstar...going back to back to bring in the new year!
:Cold Fishing:


Wtg dude, you make FNN a better place with your reports for sure.


TD

[lagunaCOCONUT]

Freaking cool report! Looking to get back in the saddle and nice to hear of the fun reports! Happy 2011!

[k3vin_kim]

CARLOS - I'll see you on the tradition again soon homey.

TD - lol i was gonna make it a trifecta by going again today but it was raining. THAT would have been rockstar status - 3 in a row! But then i wouldn't have lunch money for the week then.

Laguna coconut - where abouts in OC u from? We should hit up a trip in 2011 bro. Thanks.

[lagunaCOCONUT]

Laguna coconut - where abouts in OC u from? We should hit up a trip in 2011 bro. Thanks.

I am in Huntington Beach and Pasadena. I have not been on FN for about 3 years now.. life has been busy! I am looking to wet a line again that's for sure! Whether on a party boat or on my skiff. Thanks for the kind invite! I'd love to fish with you sometime!

[JapanRon]

Hi k3vin_kim,

Very nice report !! Hope to have seen ya at the Basstravaganza today but ....

Thanks,

JapanRon

[DockRat]

Heck of a report. I may have fished with your buddy at JCS KH ?
Talk about elbow room, nice.
I like your Bong.
DR

[k3vin_kim]

J-ron - I know if anyone wud have killed the bass the other day, it wud have been u with your plethera of plastics in only 65 feet of water!

DR - that bullabong wud have totally worked as it was completely air tight. That wud have been a green alternative.

[k3vin_kim]

J-ron - I know if anyone wud have killed the bass the other day, it wud have been u with your plethera of plastics in only 65 feet of water!

DR - that bullabong wud have totally worked as it was completely air tight. That wud have been a green alternative.

[lagunaCOCONUT]

BTW, those are some hefty REDS! I miss rockfishing! Heck, I miss the Fish Tacos! :D

[k3vin_kim]

BTW, those are some hefty REDS! I miss rockfishing! Heck, I miss the Fish Tacos! :D

I know right?! And to think, these bad boys are only 40 minutes from the landing! Blew me away!

[LA Smoker]

You do realize that the business end was just on Ray's titi... right?




http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02334.jpg
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/DSC02333.jpg




Man they're getting big, esp Lizzie. Tell them I said Hi.




http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/k3vin_kim/IMAG0207.jpg

[k3vin_kim]

They ask abt u all the time. I don't kno y but they r afraid of mike... and so am I.

[E.A.R.G.]

sweet!
time for me to go buy some heavy lead heads!

thanks for the report. awesome read

[k3vin_kim]

sweet!
time for me to go buy some heavy lead heads!

thanks for the report. awesome read

No doubt bro- u coming along on the legend in 2 weeks with us?

[E.A.R.G.]

No doubt bro- u coming along on the legend in 2 weeks with us?

this news is foreign to me! whats going on? Are feeshies going to die?

[stepchild]

Heck of a report. I may have fished with your buddy at JCS KH ?
Talk about elbow room, nice.
I like your Bong.
DR

X2...that was a nice thread,thanks for the post and pics

[lagunaCOCONUT]

Ya that area has some real nice Rockfishing spots for sure! I have a few here on the OC area waters that produce some FAT Salmon Groupers and Reds too. I just don't look forward to cranking 300' of braided line and 10 plus ounces of lead! LOL!

[k3vin_kim]

EARG and LC - I just received word from the exwife that i'm free of the kids on the weekends of 1/21 and 2/11 so...

1/21-1/23 Legend 1.5 day
and
2/11-2/13 Pacific Voyager 2 day

let me know if you're able to go.

Stepchild - Thanks for reading man, you're invited too if you can make it.

[ghetto dad]

NICE reports L3gend!! very very nice!

ure girls got big..damn...its been awhile!!

ima try to fish the Tradition this month homie.....ill let you know if i can....we NEED to fish together again brother....

thanks for the report and great pics man.....

[ghetto dad]

earg and lc - i just received word from the exwife that i'm free of the kids on the weekends of 1/21 and 2/11 so...

1/21-1/23 legend 1.5 day
and
2/11-2/13 pacific voyager 2 day

let me know if you're able to go.

Stepchild - thanks for reading man, you're invited too if you can make it.

b.a.l.l.e.r!

[Wingnut]

Kevin and Joe,

If you guys have issues with each other, please address them through PM's and off the board. :Cool:

[Funjunkie74]

My "issue" isn't with Kevin. I've been done with him 8-months ago when I never got a "how are you" text or call. I feel sorry for his beautiful innocent children that their dad is a jacka-s.

As a long time member of FNN, I thought you should know that one of its members is suffering. I thought you should also know that some of your members swept me under the rug when they found out I was sick.
I was doing you and fellow FNN members a favor.

Oh and by the way Arthur, thank you for the well wishes.
You'll probably be tempted to or will terminate my account.
So I'll get my last words in now.

Thank you all for all the years of fish porn and fish tales.
I'm glad that you enjoyed reading my reports when I was actively posting them.
It was always nice to see fellow FNNers on trips, people recognizing "Funjunkie" and the NBU.
I couldn't do much fishing in 2010 and 2011 isn't looking much bright yet.
But if I'm really lucky, I look forward to seeing on your next trip.

Tight lines and cast one out for me.

- Joe "Funjunkie"

[Wingnut]

My "issue" isn't with Kevin. I've been done with him 8-months ago when I never got a "how are you" text or call. I feel sorry for his beautiful innocent children that their dad is a jacka-s.

As a long time member of FNN, I thought you should know that one of its members is suffering. I thought you should also know that some of your members swept me under the rug when they found out I was sick.
I was doing you and fellow FNN members a favor.

Oh and by the way Arthur, thank you for the well wishes.
You'll probably be tempted to or will terminate my account.
So I'll get my last words in now.

Thank you all for all the years of fish porn and fish tales.
I'm glad that you enjoyed reading my reports when I was actively posting them.
It was always nice to see fellow FNNers on trips, people recognizing "Funjunkie" and the NBU.
I couldn't do much fishing in 2010 and 2011 isn't looking much bright yet.
But if I'm really lucky, I look forward to seeing on your next trip.

Tight lines and cast one out for me.

- Joe "Funjunkie"

Joe, I sympathize with your situation and I can't even imagine the hardship that you've been going through. It's understandable why you are lashing out. But I don't think it serves a purpose or believe that it makes you feel better to chastise people who you say swept you under the rug. Don't waste your time on them because they're not important. Focus your energy on those who have stuck with you and stood by your side throughout your ordeal. Your family and true friends, they deserve the remainder of your attention and nobody else. We are all guilty of hoping that situations like yours happen to somebody else, to some other family, but sometimes they do hit home. I was reminded of how fragile life can be with the passing of 57.

You will be in my prayers tonight and thank you for the years of entertaining reports. I will remember them, and you...

When the time come, that you go to sleep with Angels... You shall live in the hearts of those who loved you and will thus never really die or be forgotten.

Arthur

[sansou]

Personally, I don't have the ego or balls to tell you what to do or not to do Joe. You know this of me.

I'm sorry Joe if I'm not keeping quiet on this as you asked, but given the cat's out the bag now, and I know all you are trying to do is call a spade a spade (and you didn't want me to ever start a "pray for Joe" thread here on FNN), so I want the world to know here's the Funjunkie Joe I know and have respect for:

Earlier this year Joe and I had planned another trip to Mexico, to coincide specifically in between his cancer treatment. We both knew it would be a long while before he could go again as he was to start another harsh set of therapy.

As the date approached, I remember both of us getting excited cause there were fish being caught in the otherwise dismal cold waters. Joe was super excited to get back out there again, as we have had some really really nice YT/WSB/Tuna fishing (all caught in the same day on one particular trip...and some lings and reds to boot!!)

We were about 10 days away from our trip, and I was in Colorado when I got a really bad voicemail from Donna that something was wrong with Dana. As we all know now, Dana had a stroke. No one was sure what was to come of Dana at the time. It was a horrible time for many of us that were close to Dana.

Talking to Joe in preparation for our Mexico trip, he knew I was in shambles over what was going on with Dana. As the days approached and I told Joe how I was worried for Dana (as it was unclear then what the prognosis would be), without even my hinting, Joe told me that he wanted to just cancel the trip to Mexico cause I was not in the right frame of mind. I thanked him profusely, and was relieved he offered that, but I also felt very guilty as this was a guy who's going thru some major **** in his life, and might not have a chance to fish Mexico in a long long time. Joe knows he could have forced it a bit and got me to go, and he knew I couldn't turn him down knowing this, despite what was going on with Dana (at the time there was still hope for Dana).

So basically, Joe gave up what could be his last shot at fishing offshore, because he knew it would pain me to go knowing my other buddy Dana was struggling for his life in a hospital bed, and I would likely be postponing another trip to Burbank to the hospital to visit.

As a fisherman and a human being, if that's not unselfish and friend-like behavior, I don't know what is.

That's the Joe I know, and I wish it was a story I could have told Dana in person.

Thanks Joe, what you did was an act of kindness that I won't ever forget.

[DockRat]

Hey Sansou, Welcome back. Your third post since July.
Lets make 2011 a good fishing (and posting) year.
Team 57 Lives On ! Don't fall off the map again.
DR