exfactor
06-26-2011, 06:09 PM
The coastal waters off Ventura, and Santa Barbara finally warmed up a bit, and with that came the barries, and seabass with a vengeance this week. Wednesdays scores were 100+ seabass for Cisco's alone, not to mention the Island Spirit catching 28 big hali's on on day trip. They had fish to 50 pounds, and had over 70 fish for this week alone.
Reports along the Santa Barbara coast were good as well, and some good scores of halibut, and seabass were passed on to me from my contact group. Been trying to get Jorge out for a day on the pacific, and Sunday was decided to be that day.
We made a plan the night before, and launched at the harbor at 6:30. Ran up to Goleta pier, and found perfect 6 to 9 inch sardines, and 6 to 12 inch greenbacks for the livewell. We messed with bait making until 9:30. Then off to Naples Reef to check out the conditions.
We knew the tides today were light, and chose to bounce ball until 1, when hopefully the tide swing, coupled with the usual afternoon breeze might make for a few good drifts. I started out with a daisy chain of hoochies, and Jorge used his hoochie/sardine combo. We ran a couple lines up and back, and about 10:30, Jorge gets on the board with a nice 14 pounder. Shortly after, I switched over to a hoochie/mackeral combo, and got slammed, but fish unbuttoned. Jorge's 1st fish was hooked in the side, so when this happens, they come up "potato chippen" and make for an akward gaff job, but we handled it like butter.
Jorge misses another bite, then I just get buried on a nice one. I had a 10 inch mackeral trap hooked with a 5 inch hoochie in front. When they bite that rig, your pretty sure it's gonna be a good one, and high fives ensue after a 25 pounder hits the deck.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/exfactor1/DSCN0842_2.jpg
We made a couple more passes through the bite zone, for no more love, so put the bounce gear away, take a few pics, and set up for the drift. Amazingly, the breeze never blew much more then 5 all day. So 1st drift, clicker goes off, and another 15 pounder in the box. We made sandwiches, joked around for a bit, and kept trying for the big one. Jorge commented that the lunch disagreed with his stomach, and could we head to the barn? I'm like, shoot, it's only 2:30, but on the other hand, we've got 50 pounds of halibut in the hold already, and i could live with that, so wind in the gear, boat cleaned, fish filleted, and gear stowed in it's place at 4:30 today. My simcard on the camera was acting up, so I'll add pics when Jorge sends them to me.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/exfactor1/DSCN0846_2.jpg
Arthur has ben on a quest to catch a 40 inch Halibut since I've met him, and I tried to convince him to come with us today, but it wasn't in the cards. So, Arthur, here's to you being the next one on my boat with a doormat to catch buddy.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/exfactor1/DSCN0847_2.jpg
Reports along the Santa Barbara coast were good as well, and some good scores of halibut, and seabass were passed on to me from my contact group. Been trying to get Jorge out for a day on the pacific, and Sunday was decided to be that day.
We made a plan the night before, and launched at the harbor at 6:30. Ran up to Goleta pier, and found perfect 6 to 9 inch sardines, and 6 to 12 inch greenbacks for the livewell. We messed with bait making until 9:30. Then off to Naples Reef to check out the conditions.
We knew the tides today were light, and chose to bounce ball until 1, when hopefully the tide swing, coupled with the usual afternoon breeze might make for a few good drifts. I started out with a daisy chain of hoochies, and Jorge used his hoochie/sardine combo. We ran a couple lines up and back, and about 10:30, Jorge gets on the board with a nice 14 pounder. Shortly after, I switched over to a hoochie/mackeral combo, and got slammed, but fish unbuttoned. Jorge's 1st fish was hooked in the side, so when this happens, they come up "potato chippen" and make for an akward gaff job, but we handled it like butter.
Jorge misses another bite, then I just get buried on a nice one. I had a 10 inch mackeral trap hooked with a 5 inch hoochie in front. When they bite that rig, your pretty sure it's gonna be a good one, and high fives ensue after a 25 pounder hits the deck.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/exfactor1/DSCN0842_2.jpg
We made a couple more passes through the bite zone, for no more love, so put the bounce gear away, take a few pics, and set up for the drift. Amazingly, the breeze never blew much more then 5 all day. So 1st drift, clicker goes off, and another 15 pounder in the box. We made sandwiches, joked around for a bit, and kept trying for the big one. Jorge commented that the lunch disagreed with his stomach, and could we head to the barn? I'm like, shoot, it's only 2:30, but on the other hand, we've got 50 pounds of halibut in the hold already, and i could live with that, so wind in the gear, boat cleaned, fish filleted, and gear stowed in it's place at 4:30 today. My simcard on the camera was acting up, so I'll add pics when Jorge sends them to me.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/exfactor1/DSCN0846_2.jpg
Arthur has ben on a quest to catch a 40 inch Halibut since I've met him, and I tried to convince him to come with us today, but it wasn't in the cards. So, Arthur, here's to you being the next one on my boat with a doormat to catch buddy.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/exfactor1/DSCN0847_2.jpg