Jackpot Jimmy
06-12-2011, 09:06 AM
I was invited to go on the Toronado with the gang from Philip Friedman Outdoors Radio, who does frequent charters aboard sportboats which are perfect for the beginner angler and experts alike. I fished with this group aboard the Tradition last May when the barracuda were going nuts up in the Santa Monica Bay, so I knew already it was going to be a fun time.
Like the last trip, this trip was one of perfect timing as the barracuda showed in great numbers the day before at the Huntington Flats. I packed up my jigs and headed down to Long Beach Friday morning. This was my first time going to Pierpoint Landing and I was happy to find out that the location was very convenient relative to the freeway. When I got there, I was met by my friend Sergio Fainsztein and we boarded the boat. Then all the others started rolling in, and on this trip we would have two great captains – Captain Larry Moore, who ran sportboats for years and knows the area very well and now a partner on Captain On Board, and Captain Jeff Jones of “Captain On Board”, a business which takes private boaters out to get them familiar with their boat. Then we had Joe and Dawn Davis of Berkley and Pink Fishing, respectively. We also had regular PFO anglers David Mendrin, Al James, and Jorge Bocanegra. All the others came on board before six o’clock, but where was the life of the party? It turns out Philip couldn’t make it today but we all thought of him as we were slaying the barracuda.
Our crew today consisted of Captain Ray in the wheelhouse, Josh in the galley, and Dan and Aaron out on deck. We headed out over to the bait receiver where we picked up a great mix of anchovies and sardines. Once under way, Captain Larry Moore gathered all the anglers on the sundeck and gave one of the best seminars anywhere. He talked about the different techniques for barracuda fishing and the issue with safety, as well as different bait rigs. The seminar was timed perfectly as it seemed that just as soon as it was over, Capt. Ray spotted a sportboat with birds working ahead, and we all got ready for the barracuda!
Captain Larry Moore brails a scoop as we slide into a spot of barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/005-82.jpg
We slid into our first spot, but I think the barracuda quickly moved on so we moved on too, and on our second stop, we got into them. They were biting jigs voraciously for most everyone, but I couldn’t get bit! So I broke down and went to plastic and sure enough I got my first, not one, but three, and then I was ready to go back to the jig, but this time I tied on my approved barracuda killer, a green and white Pep 5. That was my good luck charm and I caught the rest of my barracuda on that jig.
Me with a log barracuda caught on a green and white Pep 5.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/006-67.jpg
Sergio Fainsztein with a nice big barracuda caught on an Owner plastic lure.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/007-57.jpg
David Mendrin and Al James looking serious as they try to catch another big GAR.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/008-49.jpg
Meanwhile, on this second stop, David Mendrin, who regularly goes to the PFO radio show at Angels Stadium and the pre-show bash at Hooters, was fishing a yo-yo iron and got nine at the first stop. Unfortunately the tip of his rod broke, but that didn’t deter him as he grabbed another rod and went right back at it. We had a nice long bite at this stop but then the main school turned north and we followed close behind until we got on top of them again.
David Mendrin with two of his biggest barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/013-28.jpg
Nice one David!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/014-32.jpg
For the rest of the morning, the name of the game was run and gun but every stop was a good one with nice big barracuda flying over the rail. My friend Sergio tried out a big Gulp lure that was so unorthodox that he said it shouldn’t get bit, but it did and I think he got a couple on it. Those that were fishing bait got bit on dropper loops as well as fly lining. And the whole time jigs were getting bit very well. Unfortunately, a stiff breeze came up and we had a little bit of a problem with sea lions, so the barracuda scattered a little bit, so Captain Ray decided to work north and look around a little bit.
We put the hook down on a good mark that looked like a little bit of bass on the meter. We didn’t get any bass but the barracuda came through again and we had five minutes of wide open fishing, but after those five minutes it petered out to nothing again. But the good news was we had plenty of barracuda on the boat and everyone was all barracuda’d out! So, we headed on in for the barn. Jackpot went to Ron Hobbs with a big barracuda! On the way back we reflected on the day’s fishing and shot the breeze until we pulled into the dock at Pierpoint Landing.
Jorge Bocanegra with a couple of nice big barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/015-23.jpg
Ron Hobbs with a nice big barracuda and possible contender for jackpot…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/016-18.jpg
Another possible contender!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/018-12.jpg
More nice barracuda for this lucky angler…it seemed like he was always hooked up!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/019-8.jpg
Nice row of barracuda for another lucky angler!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/020-9.jpg
Time for jackpot! Al James throws up a possible contender…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/021-7.jpg
Ron Hobbs throws on his possible contender, and…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/022-5.jpg
Ron wins the jackpot! Great job!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/023-5.jpg
After weighing up jackpot, Captain Larry Moore holds up a couple of nice barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/025-2.jpg
On the way home…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/026-1.jpg
This was my first time on the Toronado and I love the layout of the boat with its low rail, nice sizable sundeck, and the nice galley. The crew today was top notch. Ray up in the wheelhouse worked very hard to get us on the fish, and he definitely succeeded! Josh in the galley made some really great food…I had a breakfast plate and a polish sausage sandwich during the day, and both were excellent! Aaron and Dan down on deck were very personable and attentive, and right there when you needed a gaff. I will definitely come back fishing on this boat in the future for an overnight trip or another ¾ day charter.
The PFO group is a great one to fish with and I look forward to fishing with them again in the near future. Great times, great fishing!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/024-3.jpg
Like the last trip, this trip was one of perfect timing as the barracuda showed in great numbers the day before at the Huntington Flats. I packed up my jigs and headed down to Long Beach Friday morning. This was my first time going to Pierpoint Landing and I was happy to find out that the location was very convenient relative to the freeway. When I got there, I was met by my friend Sergio Fainsztein and we boarded the boat. Then all the others started rolling in, and on this trip we would have two great captains – Captain Larry Moore, who ran sportboats for years and knows the area very well and now a partner on Captain On Board, and Captain Jeff Jones of “Captain On Board”, a business which takes private boaters out to get them familiar with their boat. Then we had Joe and Dawn Davis of Berkley and Pink Fishing, respectively. We also had regular PFO anglers David Mendrin, Al James, and Jorge Bocanegra. All the others came on board before six o’clock, but where was the life of the party? It turns out Philip couldn’t make it today but we all thought of him as we were slaying the barracuda.
Our crew today consisted of Captain Ray in the wheelhouse, Josh in the galley, and Dan and Aaron out on deck. We headed out over to the bait receiver where we picked up a great mix of anchovies and sardines. Once under way, Captain Larry Moore gathered all the anglers on the sundeck and gave one of the best seminars anywhere. He talked about the different techniques for barracuda fishing and the issue with safety, as well as different bait rigs. The seminar was timed perfectly as it seemed that just as soon as it was over, Capt. Ray spotted a sportboat with birds working ahead, and we all got ready for the barracuda!
Captain Larry Moore brails a scoop as we slide into a spot of barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/005-82.jpg
We slid into our first spot, but I think the barracuda quickly moved on so we moved on too, and on our second stop, we got into them. They were biting jigs voraciously for most everyone, but I couldn’t get bit! So I broke down and went to plastic and sure enough I got my first, not one, but three, and then I was ready to go back to the jig, but this time I tied on my approved barracuda killer, a green and white Pep 5. That was my good luck charm and I caught the rest of my barracuda on that jig.
Me with a log barracuda caught on a green and white Pep 5.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/006-67.jpg
Sergio Fainsztein with a nice big barracuda caught on an Owner plastic lure.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/007-57.jpg
David Mendrin and Al James looking serious as they try to catch another big GAR.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/008-49.jpg
Meanwhile, on this second stop, David Mendrin, who regularly goes to the PFO radio show at Angels Stadium and the pre-show bash at Hooters, was fishing a yo-yo iron and got nine at the first stop. Unfortunately the tip of his rod broke, but that didn’t deter him as he grabbed another rod and went right back at it. We had a nice long bite at this stop but then the main school turned north and we followed close behind until we got on top of them again.
David Mendrin with two of his biggest barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/013-28.jpg
Nice one David!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/014-32.jpg
For the rest of the morning, the name of the game was run and gun but every stop was a good one with nice big barracuda flying over the rail. My friend Sergio tried out a big Gulp lure that was so unorthodox that he said it shouldn’t get bit, but it did and I think he got a couple on it. Those that were fishing bait got bit on dropper loops as well as fly lining. And the whole time jigs were getting bit very well. Unfortunately, a stiff breeze came up and we had a little bit of a problem with sea lions, so the barracuda scattered a little bit, so Captain Ray decided to work north and look around a little bit.
We put the hook down on a good mark that looked like a little bit of bass on the meter. We didn’t get any bass but the barracuda came through again and we had five minutes of wide open fishing, but after those five minutes it petered out to nothing again. But the good news was we had plenty of barracuda on the boat and everyone was all barracuda’d out! So, we headed on in for the barn. Jackpot went to Ron Hobbs with a big barracuda! On the way back we reflected on the day’s fishing and shot the breeze until we pulled into the dock at Pierpoint Landing.
Jorge Bocanegra with a couple of nice big barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/015-23.jpg
Ron Hobbs with a nice big barracuda and possible contender for jackpot…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/016-18.jpg
Another possible contender!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/018-12.jpg
More nice barracuda for this lucky angler…it seemed like he was always hooked up!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/019-8.jpg
Nice row of barracuda for another lucky angler!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/020-9.jpg
Time for jackpot! Al James throws up a possible contender…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/021-7.jpg
Ron Hobbs throws on his possible contender, and…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/022-5.jpg
Ron wins the jackpot! Great job!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/023-5.jpg
After weighing up jackpot, Captain Larry Moore holds up a couple of nice barracuda.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/025-2.jpg
On the way home…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/026-1.jpg
This was my first time on the Toronado and I love the layout of the boat with its low rail, nice sizable sundeck, and the nice galley. The crew today was top notch. Ray up in the wheelhouse worked very hard to get us on the fish, and he definitely succeeded! Josh in the galley made some really great food…I had a breakfast plate and a polish sausage sandwich during the day, and both were excellent! Aaron and Dan down on deck were very personable and attentive, and right there when you needed a gaff. I will definitely come back fishing on this boat in the future for an overnight trip or another ¾ day charter.
The PFO group is a great one to fish with and I look forward to fishing with them again in the near future. Great times, great fishing!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/024-3.jpg