Tunaslam
04-01-2011, 11:29 AM
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1369.jpg
Happy anglers: Bob, Captain Dave, Ron and myself holding big Reds off a honey hole on an early afternoon drift, which yielded a dozen Reds.
Fishing Thursday, 03-31-11 with Dave Robinson on his 28' Farallon, “Hooked” with crew Ron, Bob and Nouri. Our destination being San Clemente Island. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Beach at 5:15 am, clearing the harbor by 5:35 am. There was just a faint hint of grey light peaking in over the Dana Point hills, where a sliver of a moon was still visible, clear skies, with lots of bright stars, including the planet Venus, twinkling just under the moon.
As the sun began to approach the horizon, it began a beautiful sunrise which always puts a plus sign on the day’s start!
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1353.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, where a residual lump was present, however, still only a light breeze, then the seas returned to grease conditions as we reached a distance 10 miles of San Clemente Island.
While rounding the corner if the Island, entering Pyramid Cove, there were a few light boats anchored off China Point, and it looked like the Sport Boat Thunderbird off Desperation Reef. Only saw possibly one other private or sport boat down near the West End all day. Water temps started at 58.5 degrees, with a dirty green color, which is still a bit chilly for the exotics, yet very ideal for Rockfish. Later in the day the water cleared a bit and reached 61.4 degrees. Nothing like calm seas and a hot sun to improve conditions in a heart beat?
Moving down the backside of San Clemente Island encountered some bigger swells, fortunately with only six-knot winds; which forced us to reduce our speed just a little.
A couple of miles later, we began drifting in an area past China Point in 280 to 300’ on good hard bottom, with scattered marks on the meter. At first there was little current, and the Rockfish sure didn’t seem to want to chew, despite good meter marks. Most of the fish caught were on the small side, with a couple of bigger Santa Maria’s and Starries, as plenty were used for bait on the Jax or other jigs. Very few Reds were caught, and they were also on the small side.
Some of the Santa Maria’s were huge; as I caught a double on the Jax jig and Shrimpfly combo!
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1374.jpg
Myself with one of the few Reds caught early, which were on the small side.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1367.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, with a number of doubles for the day. I did use the Lucanus occasionally, also with some success, although difficult to keep the babies off the hooks. Dave and the others alternated with using the Lucanus lure, and iron in the deeper water. We picked away all morning, moving from spot to spot with similar results. Some pictures of the morning’s activities in beautiful conditions.
Dave with a Bank Perch that was obviously glad to find him?
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1363.jpg
Myself with a Barber Pole and Santa Maria.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1361.jpg
At 1pm and a decent amount, yet a disappointing quantity of mostly smaller fish in the fish bag, Dave pulled up on a spot generally known for its solid Red population. It wasn’t a big area, yet the small hill was absolutely loaded with meter marks. Most of us never hit bottom, and it was instant hook ups for all five of us. My line just stopped somewhere near the bottom, and as I took out the slack, I could barely turn the handle on the reel, with my rod bending over double, with wicked head shakes. Everyone stated as they reeled on their fish, feels like Reds to me! Wow, the Reds were finally on a serious chew!
Captain Dave holding up a nice Red, caught on the Lucanus, with Bob hooked up in the background.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1371.jpg
I came up with a double on the big Reds!
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1375.jpg
Ron with a nice Red.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1368.jpg
Dave with a Bocaccio and Red.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1365.jpg
Bob with a nice Red.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1360.jpg
Everyone also got bit on their second drop, and this time I came up with a Bocaccio and a Red. We were off the hard bottom now, as a few Sand Dabs came up on their third drop. Dave moved back for another shot, but some of the Reds turned into Bocaccio, Bank Perch, and more Santa Maria’s.
With limits of quality Rockfish now in the bag, it was time to make a stop in the shallows and see if any Whitefish, Calico Bass or Sheephead, wanted to play. We spent an hour on the anchor for a couple of keeper Whitefish and Sheephead, with many smaller ones released. More Rockfish were caught and released, and still no Calico Bass bit today.
The weather remained fantastic with now maybe 10 knots of wind. It was early; however, we called it a day at 3:00 pm, with plenty of fish to clean for dinner.
The ride home at 27+ knots was smooth as silk, arriving at the harbor at 5:45 pm, after slowing down to clean fish outside the breakwater, and docked by 6:15 pm. We were five very happy anglers, having enjoyed a fantastic day on the water, both fishing and weather wise. The water temps outside the harbor, in still grease conditions for early evening, was now up to an incredible 66 degrees, wow! Maybe, just maybe things are going to take off soon?
Thanks again Dave, what can I say, another super trip together. You always put us on the fish, no matter how long it takes to find them. Great fishing with you again Bob, Ron and Nouri, hope we can share a rail together soon.
Hook up!
Cory
Happy anglers: Bob, Captain Dave, Ron and myself holding big Reds off a honey hole on an early afternoon drift, which yielded a dozen Reds.
Fishing Thursday, 03-31-11 with Dave Robinson on his 28' Farallon, “Hooked” with crew Ron, Bob and Nouri. Our destination being San Clemente Island. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Beach at 5:15 am, clearing the harbor by 5:35 am. There was just a faint hint of grey light peaking in over the Dana Point hills, where a sliver of a moon was still visible, clear skies, with lots of bright stars, including the planet Venus, twinkling just under the moon.
As the sun began to approach the horizon, it began a beautiful sunrise which always puts a plus sign on the day’s start!
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1353.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, where a residual lump was present, however, still only a light breeze, then the seas returned to grease conditions as we reached a distance 10 miles of San Clemente Island.
While rounding the corner if the Island, entering Pyramid Cove, there were a few light boats anchored off China Point, and it looked like the Sport Boat Thunderbird off Desperation Reef. Only saw possibly one other private or sport boat down near the West End all day. Water temps started at 58.5 degrees, with a dirty green color, which is still a bit chilly for the exotics, yet very ideal for Rockfish. Later in the day the water cleared a bit and reached 61.4 degrees. Nothing like calm seas and a hot sun to improve conditions in a heart beat?
Moving down the backside of San Clemente Island encountered some bigger swells, fortunately with only six-knot winds; which forced us to reduce our speed just a little.
A couple of miles later, we began drifting in an area past China Point in 280 to 300’ on good hard bottom, with scattered marks on the meter. At first there was little current, and the Rockfish sure didn’t seem to want to chew, despite good meter marks. Most of the fish caught were on the small side, with a couple of bigger Santa Maria’s and Starries, as plenty were used for bait on the Jax or other jigs. Very few Reds were caught, and they were also on the small side.
Some of the Santa Maria’s were huge; as I caught a double on the Jax jig and Shrimpfly combo!
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1374.jpg
Myself with one of the few Reds caught early, which were on the small side.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1367.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, with a number of doubles for the day. I did use the Lucanus occasionally, also with some success, although difficult to keep the babies off the hooks. Dave and the others alternated with using the Lucanus lure, and iron in the deeper water. We picked away all morning, moving from spot to spot with similar results. Some pictures of the morning’s activities in beautiful conditions.
Dave with a Bank Perch that was obviously glad to find him?
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1363.jpg
Myself with a Barber Pole and Santa Maria.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1361.jpg
At 1pm and a decent amount, yet a disappointing quantity of mostly smaller fish in the fish bag, Dave pulled up on a spot generally known for its solid Red population. It wasn’t a big area, yet the small hill was absolutely loaded with meter marks. Most of us never hit bottom, and it was instant hook ups for all five of us. My line just stopped somewhere near the bottom, and as I took out the slack, I could barely turn the handle on the reel, with my rod bending over double, with wicked head shakes. Everyone stated as they reeled on their fish, feels like Reds to me! Wow, the Reds were finally on a serious chew!
Captain Dave holding up a nice Red, caught on the Lucanus, with Bob hooked up in the background.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1371.jpg
I came up with a double on the big Reds!
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1375.jpg
Ron with a nice Red.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1368.jpg
Dave with a Bocaccio and Red.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1365.jpg
Bob with a nice Red.
http://www.bloodydecks.com/gallery/files/1/9/6/100_1360.jpg
Everyone also got bit on their second drop, and this time I came up with a Bocaccio and a Red. We were off the hard bottom now, as a few Sand Dabs came up on their third drop. Dave moved back for another shot, but some of the Reds turned into Bocaccio, Bank Perch, and more Santa Maria’s.
With limits of quality Rockfish now in the bag, it was time to make a stop in the shallows and see if any Whitefish, Calico Bass or Sheephead, wanted to play. We spent an hour on the anchor for a couple of keeper Whitefish and Sheephead, with many smaller ones released. More Rockfish were caught and released, and still no Calico Bass bit today.
The weather remained fantastic with now maybe 10 knots of wind. It was early; however, we called it a day at 3:00 pm, with plenty of fish to clean for dinner.
The ride home at 27+ knots was smooth as silk, arriving at the harbor at 5:45 pm, after slowing down to clean fish outside the breakwater, and docked by 6:15 pm. We were five very happy anglers, having enjoyed a fantastic day on the water, both fishing and weather wise. The water temps outside the harbor, in still grease conditions for early evening, was now up to an incredible 66 degrees, wow! Maybe, just maybe things are going to take off soon?
Thanks again Dave, what can I say, another super trip together. You always put us on the fish, no matter how long it takes to find them. Great fishing with you again Bob, Ron and Nouri, hope we can share a rail together soon.
Hook up!
Cory