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View Full Version : Rpt-01-06-11 Finger Ling'n Good!



Tunaslam
01-07-2011, 11:59 AM
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1223.jpg

My twelve pound Lingcod, one of three caught today at the Finger Bank, out of Las Salinas.

Fishing Thursday 1-06-11, with Bill Fisher, on his 18’ Trophy, “Toad Haul”. I left my office in Colten around 3pm Wednesday afternoon, and called Bill just before I crossed the border, a little after 5pm., which let him know I would be arriving in about 40 minutes. It took only ten minutes to cross into Mexico, not too bad!

I arrived at Bill’s quaint Trailer residence on a cliff overlooking the water, some 10 miles south of Rosarito at 5:45pm. On the drive down I enjoyed a beautiful view of the ocean, beaches, and Coronado Islands as the Sun was setting. Would have loved to have taken a picture of tonight’s sunset, yet didn’t see a convenient place to stop before it turned pitch black. Bill offered me a cold one, as soon as I arrived; however, I elected to open up a bottle of Merlot that I brought along. We shot the breeze for awhile, as I caught up on the latest fishing info in the area. A slow bite recently, yet with some rewarding quality on the Reds! We headed out to the restaurant Splash for dinner a few miles south of Puerto Nuevo.

I ordered some fantastic fish tacos, while Bill had deep fried shrimp, and stuffed crab shells. Returned to the trailer, watched the first half of the Laker’s basketball game and crashed.

I was up before the alarm went off at 5:15 am. I am up at 5am for work everyday anyhow? Stepped outside to listen to the surreal sound of waves crashing against the cliffs, with virtually no hint of a breeze. It’s going to be a fine day, especially noting that the morning temperature was 51 degrees, a nice change from the recent high thirties? As we headed south to the boat launch in Las Salinas, patches of high stratus clouds appeared in the distance, as grey light approached over the hills.

We exited the harbor around 6:30am, into calm seas, just like the Sea of Cortez, according to Bill? The course was set for the closest deep water reef, a few miles offshore. The birds were out in force, and as we pulled up near them, we noticed huge schools of Krill. Bill indicated that most likely underneath the Krill were Squid. We were over hard bottom with a little fuzz on bottom, and huge bait balls below us. I dropped down my favorite rig of a 10oz Jax Jig and a Shrimp Fly teaser above the jig some 2’! Bill used his Lucanous rig, and also dropped down a Sabiki rig to see if any squid were under the Krill. Sure enough the small live Squid climbed on the feathers. Bill made about ten pieces of live Squid, while he caught the first Red of the day on his Lucanous lure.

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1228.jpg

I caught a big Sculpin, and we both caught some small Starries, which I cut up for bait. Bill elected to make a run out to the Finger Bank, some 7 miles west of us. The ocean was definitely Lake Pacific, with a beginning 5 to 7 knot breeze, turning into grease calm! Arrived to our first structure spot on the Finger Bank, which was 350’ deep. We noticed only a few scattered marks, both on the bottom and up in the water column some 40’. I dropped down the Jax jig now loaded with a Starry strip of bait. Hit bottom reeled up the slack, took about three cranks, and wham, I am hammered. Hey Bill it’s taking line, got to be a Lingcod? Tightened the drag a bit to keep the fish off the bottom. A bunch of vicious head shakes later, and the long, slow, steady wind up finally produced the big head of teeth, and grey-brown shadow we were expecting. Bill made a great head shot, and the first Lingcod of the day was aboard, an eight pounder.

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1220.jpg

On my next drop down it wasn’t long before I received another aggressive bite, and as I wound the fish up, there was a feisty thrashing that almost always belongs to a good size Vermillion Rockfish! Yep, my first Big Red of the day!

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Bill got bit way up in the water column on his next drop down, and pulled up this healthy Johnny Bass (Olive Rockfish).

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1232.jpg

Bill made a short move to a bit shallower water, a little less than 300’ a couple miles north. Stopped on a good ridge, with scattered marks. I hit bottom and reeled up the slack, dropped back down, then wound up about five cranks and got slammed. Hey Bill, she’s taking drag big time! This is a bigger Ling? She fussed all the way up, and kept me on my toes! Bill sank the gaff, and a big fat lady Lingcod hit the deck. Bled out she weighed 12 pounds, as shown in the picture at the top of the report.

Here’s a face only a Mother could love, maybe not?

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The weather was just incredible! The fishing was a slow pick, yet the quality was fantastic.

Here I am with another nice Red.

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1219.jpg

Bill with another big Red.

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Myself with the only Bocaccio of the day! I guess maybe they are getting extinct?

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1229.jpg

We scratched up a few more Reds and a couple of huge Starries, several Green Stripes, a Barber Pole, and one Copper Rockfish. We were pretty much done, so at a little past 2pm., Bill ran inside to make one last drift closer to shore. The breeze was non-existent, and the flat calm seas a real joy to ride in. Sure did pick the right day to fish. Reached the final area, and my Jax jig was once again inhaled on the wind up off the bottom. Up came the last Lingcod of the day, a six pounder.

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1222.jpg

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1236.jpg

Called it a day at 3:30 pm.

A whole lot of Fish Tacos!

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After cleaning the fish and the boat, while arriving back at the trailer, I ran for the camera.

Now wouldn’t we all like the opportunity to walk 20 paces out of our home and witness this, like Bill does so many times a year?

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1243.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1244.jpg

http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/505/100_1245.jpg

The only bad news was crossing the border in San Yasidro, which took over an hour.

Bill, what a beautiful day, I had such a blast, thanks so much for the invite, and fabulous hospitality, can’t wait until the next trip.

Hook up!
Cory

Jackpot Jimmy
01-07-2011, 04:53 PM
Nice reds and lings Cory...good job and thanks for the report!

JapanRon
01-07-2011, 07:40 PM
Hi Tunaslam,

Read the report twice. Great photo work too !!

JapanRon

k3vin_kim
01-07-2011, 09:33 PM
WOW! Nice catch man. And killer shots of the scenery.

DockRat
01-08-2011, 06:42 AM
Great Report Cory. I am sure missing Baja.
Is the trailer park owned by a guy named Joe and has some surfers there ?
DR

Tunaslam
01-08-2011, 07:58 AM
Great Report Cory. I am sure missing Baja.
Is the trailer park owned by a guy named Joe and has some surfers there ?
DR

Could be, definitely there are surfers renting there!
Cory

murrieta angler
01-08-2011, 09:17 AM
Very nice lings Cory!
Have you ever thought about surf fishing that area?
Looks kinda fishy to me!
Thanks for the report and pics,
Robert
<><

Tunaslam
01-10-2011, 12:48 PM
Very nice lings Cory!
Have you ever thought about surf fishing that area?
Looks kinda fishy to me!
Thanks for the report and pics,
Robert
<><

Yeah, you may be right, I seldom have extra time to try though, might give it some though.
Cory

DockRat
01-11-2011, 06:32 AM
Could be, definitely there are surfers renting there!
Cory I actually had 2 friends move there and several others renting space.
Lost track of those guys, I don't do Mexico anymore.
DR

DockRat
01-11-2011, 06:00 PM
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/ChickenBiscuit/c1ec5525.jpg

elevated
01-13-2011, 11:23 AM
wow great report, awesome pics. After those last pics I need to go for a surf...