Jackpot Jimmy
07-13-2011, 09:58 AM
I got a PM last month from Scott (CAPT’N) asking me if I was interested in volunteering for Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club’s 60th Annual Kids Trip out of Pierpoint Landing. I remember seeing last year’s report from Marguerite (Native Gal) and noticing what great a time they had, so I decided to volunteer.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/033-3.jpg
I got down to Pierpoint on Sunday and met up with Scott and his son Arthur (FishyBoy), Marguerite and her friend Greg, and Emilio. I also met some of the folks from LAARC, and one familiar face that I met through another aspect of the fishing industry, Mensa-Man Will Ebersman.
Not long after the supply truck came and we unloaded all the fishing and food supplies. While dinner was being prepared we set up the rods with dropper loops. I was over with Marguerite and Greg and while we shot the breeze, we were quite the team in getting the rods situated: Marguerite would string them and Greg and I would tie the dropper loops. With many people helping out, it didn’t take very long at all to get 200 rods set up for the kids. All that needed to be done was rigging the terminal tackle, which we did the next day on the boat.
Then it was time for dinner. Dinner was awesome – they had salad, coleslaw, hot dogs, tri-tip, chicken, ribs, garlic bread, and much more. It was then that I learned from Greg that Marguerite had been working up an appetite all day. In fact, they went on the Southern Cal morning ½ day, where she had ½ a burrito, then later on lunch, and all afternoon, Greg told me she was asking when dinner was ready (this sounds a lot like me at a family gathering). So after dinner when we were all pretty full from that great dinner, she was ready for dessert (just like all of us) and Greg joked that she worked up another appetite. We had a lot of laughs.
After dinner, we went down to the Toronado and claimed our bunks where we would sleep for the night. Then quite a few of us proceeded to have a tournament right there on the docks. FishyBoy, Native Gal, Greg, and I were having a blast catching and releasing some tomcod and smelt. I quickly smoked the competition using my finesse rig with a small strip of squid. We had a point system where we would gain points for the fish we caught and gain less if the fish was small, and lose points for certain reasons. I was sad when I didn’t gain any points for an L.D.R. (Long Distance Release). Haha…but anyway we had a blast fishing until about midnight and then we hit the hay. P.S. I was the high stick of the evening, with 11 tomcod and 4 smelt.
We woke up around 5am and headed off the boat to go set things up for breakfast. Breakfast included bagels, muffins, danish, cookies, croissants, coffee, and orange juice. Meanwhile our group met up with more in our group, including more FNN’ers Russ, Geordy, and Art (forgive me if I forgot anyone). Then the kids started to come along with their group leaders and they got to partake in breakfast before boarding the boat.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/007-61.jpg
Not long after the Enterprise and the City of Long Beach rolled in ready to load the kids on the boat, along with the Toronado and Southern Cal, which were already at the dock. Our boat would be the Southern Cal, and after loading the kids we started to rig up the sinkers and hooks on the rods. After that was dealt with, Scott gave a little speech about what to expect, and he stated the most important rule of all – NO RUNNING. We headed out of the Federal Breakwater where we were quickly greeted by some friendly dolphins, much to the excitement of the kids. Meanwhile, I took this as a great picture taking opportunity.
Leaving the harbor…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/008-53.jpg
The kids were throwing bait on the deck over the side, and these birds were following us…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/009-48.jpg
Greg and Marguerite
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/010-47.jpg
Checking Out the Bait
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/011-38.jpg
All the kids pushed to the bow to check out the dolphins…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/012-35.jpg
Dolphin watching on a fishing trip cost extra, right?!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/013-31.jpg
We headed out west to get some anchovies from LBBC’s bait boat the “Provider”. They were giving out floating bait crowders to the boats. While loading bait the kids were very interested in what was going on but we had to keep them at a distance while the crew was putting scoops of the ‘chovies into the tank. Meanwhile, one of the volunteers was throwing a metal jig and caught the first fish of the day, a nice legal sand bass! Afterwards, we headed south to the fishing grounds.
Getting Bait
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/014-35.jpg
More Kids Looking Around
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/015-28.jpg
First Fish of the Day!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/016-22.jpg
Marguerite and Scott…NG seems to be working up another appetite. :LOL:
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/017-20.jpg
Throwing Bait!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/018-16.jpg
After a short move, we were at the fishing grounds. The captain circled around and ordered the deckhand on the tank, Philip, to throw chum steadily and finally to brail a scoop. After that we were anchored up and started fishing.
Kids Getting Ready to Fish!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/019-11.jpg
Getting Ready to Chum
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/020-11.jpg
The fishing was slow to start with only a couple sculpin coming over the rail. The captain repositioned the boat and we got on the fish. I started helping out a couple of kids but one in particular named Alex, who hadn’t caught a fish before. It was then that the barracuda started to come up on the other side of the boat, so we moved over there and I hooked and handed him his first fish, a barracuda! Albeit it being short, a first fish is a first fish! Meanwhile, this kid caught a nice legal barracuda!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/021-9.jpg
I tried to get Alex another barracuda and I hooked one for him that took off running! I’m thinking this might be a legal one and the captain stood by on the gaff. It fought for a while while Alex was reeling him in, but unfortunately the hooked pulled and the fish was lost. I told Alex that’s okay, we’ll get another one. On the next drop we got through the barracuda and Alex pulled up a legal sculpin! He was very happy to be catching some fish, as others were too, including this girl who got a nice sculpin!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/022-7.jpg
But then the bite slowed down and the captain elected to move further east to a spot that holds more sand bass. On the move, Marguerite finally worked up enough of an appetite to have lunch, as did most of us volunteers and the kids, too. Chef Emilio was in the galley working away with FishBoy Arthur as his assistant. Together they made some really good hamburgers and hot dogs!
Marguerite eating so she can work up another appetite (this was the running gag of the entire trip, on land and boat :LOL).
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/023-7.jpg
I guess Greg has an appetite, too!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/026-3.jpg
Chef Emilio
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/027-3.jpg
Emilio and FishyBoy making lunches for the kids and volunteers…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/028-3.jpg
Once we were stopped, the sand bass started biting like crazy, but the bite died soon after and the captain repositioned the boat better on the spot, and we started catching them again. Greg and I hooked and handed some nice sandies to these kids, respectively.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/024-5.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/025-4.jpg
I worked hard to get these kids more fish but it wasn’t in the cards for me. After a while it was time to head back home. Looking at the fish cooler, we had a pretty nice total catch with sand bass, barracuda, sculpin, and rockfish. On the way back the volunteers sat back and chatted about the day of fishing.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/030-3.jpg
On the way back in we passed the Queen Mary. The outside doesn’t look so good…I wonder if they’d ever consider making it a reef…?
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/031-3.jpg
It looks good from a distance anyway, but not up close. After we got back in the kids went up the ramp to receive their trophies and the group leaders were very happy. I looked on the roster and the kids on our trip were mostly from Boys and Girls Clubs up in the Newhall/Santa Clarita area, among other groups present on the Southern Cal.
As all the boats were getting back in, we found out the final tally, and it turns out that the Enterprise beat us in the most fish, but hey, second’s nothing to sneeze at! Meanwhile, we undid all the reels and separated the two-piece rods and put them in bins to be stored for next year! After that, we loaded up the truck and went home, happy and content on the work we did today for those kids.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/032-2.jpg
I had a blast with my friends from Team 57 and it was nice meeting Russ88, Greg, Emilio, and others who were on the trip. In between helping the kids and as you just read about, we had a lot of fun, shared a lot of laughs, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I want to thank the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club for putting this great event on – I think we all got through to these kids in hopes that they will become fair people in our society. I can’t wait for next year!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/033-3.jpg
I got down to Pierpoint on Sunday and met up with Scott and his son Arthur (FishyBoy), Marguerite and her friend Greg, and Emilio. I also met some of the folks from LAARC, and one familiar face that I met through another aspect of the fishing industry, Mensa-Man Will Ebersman.
Not long after the supply truck came and we unloaded all the fishing and food supplies. While dinner was being prepared we set up the rods with dropper loops. I was over with Marguerite and Greg and while we shot the breeze, we were quite the team in getting the rods situated: Marguerite would string them and Greg and I would tie the dropper loops. With many people helping out, it didn’t take very long at all to get 200 rods set up for the kids. All that needed to be done was rigging the terminal tackle, which we did the next day on the boat.
Then it was time for dinner. Dinner was awesome – they had salad, coleslaw, hot dogs, tri-tip, chicken, ribs, garlic bread, and much more. It was then that I learned from Greg that Marguerite had been working up an appetite all day. In fact, they went on the Southern Cal morning ½ day, where she had ½ a burrito, then later on lunch, and all afternoon, Greg told me she was asking when dinner was ready (this sounds a lot like me at a family gathering). So after dinner when we were all pretty full from that great dinner, she was ready for dessert (just like all of us) and Greg joked that she worked up another appetite. We had a lot of laughs.
After dinner, we went down to the Toronado and claimed our bunks where we would sleep for the night. Then quite a few of us proceeded to have a tournament right there on the docks. FishyBoy, Native Gal, Greg, and I were having a blast catching and releasing some tomcod and smelt. I quickly smoked the competition using my finesse rig with a small strip of squid. We had a point system where we would gain points for the fish we caught and gain less if the fish was small, and lose points for certain reasons. I was sad when I didn’t gain any points for an L.D.R. (Long Distance Release). Haha…but anyway we had a blast fishing until about midnight and then we hit the hay. P.S. I was the high stick of the evening, with 11 tomcod and 4 smelt.
We woke up around 5am and headed off the boat to go set things up for breakfast. Breakfast included bagels, muffins, danish, cookies, croissants, coffee, and orange juice. Meanwhile our group met up with more in our group, including more FNN’ers Russ, Geordy, and Art (forgive me if I forgot anyone). Then the kids started to come along with their group leaders and they got to partake in breakfast before boarding the boat.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/007-61.jpg
Not long after the Enterprise and the City of Long Beach rolled in ready to load the kids on the boat, along with the Toronado and Southern Cal, which were already at the dock. Our boat would be the Southern Cal, and after loading the kids we started to rig up the sinkers and hooks on the rods. After that was dealt with, Scott gave a little speech about what to expect, and he stated the most important rule of all – NO RUNNING. We headed out of the Federal Breakwater where we were quickly greeted by some friendly dolphins, much to the excitement of the kids. Meanwhile, I took this as a great picture taking opportunity.
Leaving the harbor…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/008-53.jpg
The kids were throwing bait on the deck over the side, and these birds were following us…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/009-48.jpg
Greg and Marguerite
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/010-47.jpg
Checking Out the Bait
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/011-38.jpg
All the kids pushed to the bow to check out the dolphins…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/012-35.jpg
Dolphin watching on a fishing trip cost extra, right?!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/013-31.jpg
We headed out west to get some anchovies from LBBC’s bait boat the “Provider”. They were giving out floating bait crowders to the boats. While loading bait the kids were very interested in what was going on but we had to keep them at a distance while the crew was putting scoops of the ‘chovies into the tank. Meanwhile, one of the volunteers was throwing a metal jig and caught the first fish of the day, a nice legal sand bass! Afterwards, we headed south to the fishing grounds.
Getting Bait
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/014-35.jpg
More Kids Looking Around
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/015-28.jpg
First Fish of the Day!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/016-22.jpg
Marguerite and Scott…NG seems to be working up another appetite. :LOL:
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/017-20.jpg
Throwing Bait!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/018-16.jpg
After a short move, we were at the fishing grounds. The captain circled around and ordered the deckhand on the tank, Philip, to throw chum steadily and finally to brail a scoop. After that we were anchored up and started fishing.
Kids Getting Ready to Fish!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/019-11.jpg
Getting Ready to Chum
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/020-11.jpg
The fishing was slow to start with only a couple sculpin coming over the rail. The captain repositioned the boat and we got on the fish. I started helping out a couple of kids but one in particular named Alex, who hadn’t caught a fish before. It was then that the barracuda started to come up on the other side of the boat, so we moved over there and I hooked and handed him his first fish, a barracuda! Albeit it being short, a first fish is a first fish! Meanwhile, this kid caught a nice legal barracuda!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/021-9.jpg
I tried to get Alex another barracuda and I hooked one for him that took off running! I’m thinking this might be a legal one and the captain stood by on the gaff. It fought for a while while Alex was reeling him in, but unfortunately the hooked pulled and the fish was lost. I told Alex that’s okay, we’ll get another one. On the next drop we got through the barracuda and Alex pulled up a legal sculpin! He was very happy to be catching some fish, as others were too, including this girl who got a nice sculpin!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/022-7.jpg
But then the bite slowed down and the captain elected to move further east to a spot that holds more sand bass. On the move, Marguerite finally worked up enough of an appetite to have lunch, as did most of us volunteers and the kids, too. Chef Emilio was in the galley working away with FishBoy Arthur as his assistant. Together they made some really good hamburgers and hot dogs!
Marguerite eating so she can work up another appetite (this was the running gag of the entire trip, on land and boat :LOL).
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/023-7.jpg
I guess Greg has an appetite, too!
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/026-3.jpg
Chef Emilio
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/027-3.jpg
Emilio and FishyBoy making lunches for the kids and volunteers…
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/028-3.jpg
Once we were stopped, the sand bass started biting like crazy, but the bite died soon after and the captain repositioned the boat better on the spot, and we started catching them again. Greg and I hooked and handed some nice sandies to these kids, respectively.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/024-5.jpg
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/025-4.jpg
I worked hard to get these kids more fish but it wasn’t in the cards for me. After a while it was time to head back home. Looking at the fish cooler, we had a pretty nice total catch with sand bass, barracuda, sculpin, and rockfish. On the way back the volunteers sat back and chatted about the day of fishing.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/030-3.jpg
On the way back in we passed the Queen Mary. The outside doesn’t look so good…I wonder if they’d ever consider making it a reef…?
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/031-3.jpg
It looks good from a distance anyway, but not up close. After we got back in the kids went up the ramp to receive their trophies and the group leaders were very happy. I looked on the roster and the kids on our trip were mostly from Boys and Girls Clubs up in the Newhall/Santa Clarita area, among other groups present on the Southern Cal.
As all the boats were getting back in, we found out the final tally, and it turns out that the Enterprise beat us in the most fish, but hey, second’s nothing to sneeze at! Meanwhile, we undid all the reels and separated the two-piece rods and put them in bins to be stored for next year! After that, we loaded up the truck and went home, happy and content on the work we did today for those kids.
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo358/Jackpot-Jimmy/032-2.jpg
I had a blast with my friends from Team 57 and it was nice meeting Russ88, Greg, Emilio, and others who were on the trip. In between helping the kids and as you just read about, we had a lot of fun, shared a lot of laughs, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I want to thank the Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club for putting this great event on – I think we all got through to these kids in hopes that they will become fair people in our society. I can’t wait for next year!