Tunaslam
03-06-2011, 09:58 AM
Fishing Saturday, 03-05-10 with Dave Robinson on his 28' Farallon, “Hooked” with crew Kevin, Jeff and Dan. Our destination being San Clemente Island. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Beach at 5:15 am, clearing the harbor by 5:50 am, with flat calm seas ahead of us, and a beautiful sunrise beginning to appear on the horizon.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_130711461.jpg
Dave set a course for the East End of SCI, targeting an area of fishing on the backside of the Island, beginning with deep water fishing for the targeted Reds, then moving in to the shallows for some fun fishing on Whitefish, Sheephead and other assorted bottom critters. The ocean was grease calm until we reached the second ocean outside the East end of Catalina, and then turned to a light wind chop, until reaching the lee of San Clemente Island.
As we past Pyramid Cove, there were a few private boaters off China Point, and it looked like the Sport Boat Thunderbird off Desperation Reef. Water temps were at 56 degrees, a bit chilly for most fish, except Rockfish? The backside of San Clemente Island was still rather calm, with some signs of building swells and about six-knot winds.
We began drifting in an area Dave had not fished before, off the backside of the East End. At first the rockfish didn’t seem to want to chew, as the bites were on the slow side, a few Reds, a couple of big Santa Maria’s and Starries, plus lots that were bait size. A couple of re-sets on the reef, and the fishing improved.
Captain Dave holding up a Barber Pole Rockfish, caught on the Lucanus, and Kevin with the biggest Red of the day, six pounds.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131211466.jpg
Myself with a decent sized Red.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131011464.jpg
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_130911463.jpg
I was using my standard outfit of an 8 oz. Jax Jig with a shrimp fly located 18 inches above the iron. I stayed with this combination, as it worked very effectively today, however, the Shrimp Fly did out fish the Jax Jig, with only a few doubles for the day. In the shallows I switched to a duel hook dropper loop setup with five ounces of lead. Dave and the others mostly fished with the Lucanus lures in the deeper water, and all did well.
Fishing slowed after a few more drifts in this new area, which yielded about a half dozen Reds, one Bocaccio, and plenty of Santa Maria’s and Starries. The wind was picking up, and the scope out increasing, as Dave made a move down the backside, before the conditions worsened to a point where the run uphill would not be pleasant.
Fishing for our standards was slow at best. We made drifts in deep water and at around 200’, and none of the areas were as productive as we had hoped, except for the big Santa Maria’s and Starries. On one drift we did find somewhat of a Copper Rockfish hole, as Dan and I caught a couple of decent sized Coppers, as did the others.
Dan and I with some Copper Rockfish, plus a Santa Maria.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131511469.jpg
After about ¾ limits of Rockfish, it was time to get out of the wind, which at 11am, had reached in excess of 15 knots. We anchored off some reefs in 80 to 150’ of water. On our first stop in the shallows, the fishing was not up to expectations, very small rockfish, although I caught a decent size Bocaccio, one of only three caught today, maybe they are becoming scarce?
The great things about Dave’s knowledge of the Island are the numerous small rocks that he has marked on his GPS. It took about four tries until we found a rock that produced a steady bite on a variety of fish. Whitefish and Sheephead, Treefish, Sugar Bass, Blue Bass, Perch, etc. all added to our counts, plus more Reds, Coppers, and Starries. No Calico Bass today though?
Myself with a typical Whitefish.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131911473.jpg
Jeff catches a shallow water Red.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131811472.jpg
Kevin with some Whitefish.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132211506.jpg
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132111505.jpg
Captain Dave with a Whitefish.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132411508.jpg
Dan and Jeff with Sheephead
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132611510.jpg
The weather continued to build in the afternoon with winds over 20 knots, and gusts to 25. The 28’ Farallon held anchor real well, despite the unfriendly conditions. The fish were still biting and we were all having a blast. Bites were almost instantaneous when you hit bottom with whatever you were fishing with, or in Dave’s case using a sliding sinker somewhere in the water column.
We called it a day at 3:10 pm, with limits of Rockfish, lots released successfully in the shallow water, kept only a few of the twenty Whitefish and a dozen Sheephead we caught. Expecting a rough ride home we left a bit earlier than scheduled, yet everyone had a great time and caught lots of fish.
The ride home, was not too bad, worse part came just before and after the 14 mile bank, arriving at the harbor at 5:40 pm, cleaned fish outside the breakwater, and docked by 6:20 pm We were five very weary, but happy anglers, having enjoyed a fun day on the water.
Thanks again Dave, what can I say, another fantastic trip together. You always put us on the fish, no matter the conditions. Good fishing with you again Jeff, nice meeting you Kevin and Dan, hope we can share a rail together soon.
Hook up!
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_130711461.jpg
Dave set a course for the East End of SCI, targeting an area of fishing on the backside of the Island, beginning with deep water fishing for the targeted Reds, then moving in to the shallows for some fun fishing on Whitefish, Sheephead and other assorted bottom critters. The ocean was grease calm until we reached the second ocean outside the East end of Catalina, and then turned to a light wind chop, until reaching the lee of San Clemente Island.
As we past Pyramid Cove, there were a few private boaters off China Point, and it looked like the Sport Boat Thunderbird off Desperation Reef. Water temps were at 56 degrees, a bit chilly for most fish, except Rockfish? The backside of San Clemente Island was still rather calm, with some signs of building swells and about six-knot winds.
We began drifting in an area Dave had not fished before, off the backside of the East End. At first the rockfish didn’t seem to want to chew, as the bites were on the slow side, a few Reds, a couple of big Santa Maria’s and Starries, plus lots that were bait size. A couple of re-sets on the reef, and the fishing improved.
Captain Dave holding up a Barber Pole Rockfish, caught on the Lucanus, and Kevin with the biggest Red of the day, six pounds.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131211466.jpg
Myself with a decent sized Red.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131011464.jpg
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_130911463.jpg
I was using my standard outfit of an 8 oz. Jax Jig with a shrimp fly located 18 inches above the iron. I stayed with this combination, as it worked very effectively today, however, the Shrimp Fly did out fish the Jax Jig, with only a few doubles for the day. In the shallows I switched to a duel hook dropper loop setup with five ounces of lead. Dave and the others mostly fished with the Lucanus lures in the deeper water, and all did well.
Fishing slowed after a few more drifts in this new area, which yielded about a half dozen Reds, one Bocaccio, and plenty of Santa Maria’s and Starries. The wind was picking up, and the scope out increasing, as Dave made a move down the backside, before the conditions worsened to a point where the run uphill would not be pleasant.
Fishing for our standards was slow at best. We made drifts in deep water and at around 200’, and none of the areas were as productive as we had hoped, except for the big Santa Maria’s and Starries. On one drift we did find somewhat of a Copper Rockfish hole, as Dan and I caught a couple of decent sized Coppers, as did the others.
Dan and I with some Copper Rockfish, plus a Santa Maria.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131511469.jpg
After about ¾ limits of Rockfish, it was time to get out of the wind, which at 11am, had reached in excess of 15 knots. We anchored off some reefs in 80 to 150’ of water. On our first stop in the shallows, the fishing was not up to expectations, very small rockfish, although I caught a decent size Bocaccio, one of only three caught today, maybe they are becoming scarce?
The great things about Dave’s knowledge of the Island are the numerous small rocks that he has marked on his GPS. It took about four tries until we found a rock that produced a steady bite on a variety of fish. Whitefish and Sheephead, Treefish, Sugar Bass, Blue Bass, Perch, etc. all added to our counts, plus more Reds, Coppers, and Starries. No Calico Bass today though?
Myself with a typical Whitefish.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131911473.jpg
Jeff catches a shallow water Red.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_131811472.jpg
Kevin with some Whitefish.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132211506.jpg
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132111505.jpg
Captain Dave with a Whitefish.
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132411508.jpg
Dan and Jeff with Sheephead
http://www.allcoast.com/photos/data/2/103504100_132611510.jpg
The weather continued to build in the afternoon with winds over 20 knots, and gusts to 25. The 28’ Farallon held anchor real well, despite the unfriendly conditions. The fish were still biting and we were all having a blast. Bites were almost instantaneous when you hit bottom with whatever you were fishing with, or in Dave’s case using a sliding sinker somewhere in the water column.
We called it a day at 3:10 pm, with limits of Rockfish, lots released successfully in the shallow water, kept only a few of the twenty Whitefish and a dozen Sheephead we caught. Expecting a rough ride home we left a bit earlier than scheduled, yet everyone had a great time and caught lots of fish.
The ride home, was not too bad, worse part came just before and after the 14 mile bank, arriving at the harbor at 5:40 pm, cleaned fish outside the breakwater, and docked by 6:20 pm We were five very weary, but happy anglers, having enjoyed a fun day on the water.
Thanks again Dave, what can I say, another fantastic trip together. You always put us on the fish, no matter the conditions. Good fishing with you again Jeff, nice meeting you Kevin and Dan, hope we can share a rail together soon.
Hook up!