Tunaslam
08-31-2011, 08:43 PM
Fishing Wednesday 8-31-11, with Bill Fisher, on his 18’ Trophy. “Toad Hall”. I arrived at Bill’s quaint Trailer residence on a cliff overlooking the water, some 10 miles south of Rosarito at 5:45pm; we enjoyed a beer together, then headed out to dinner for fish tacos at Bahia Cantilles.
Our original plan was to go offshore to the Hidden Bank for the wide-open Bluefin Tuna bite. However between Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon, Mother wind decided to make another appearance and spoil our plans.
So we woke up to good breeze, with a deep marine layer. Just past grey light we arrived in Las Salinas, where Bill slips his boat. We exited the harbor around 5:45am, into washing machine seas, and large swells. We began making mackerel for bait a short distance from the harbor. We had plenty within 10 minutes. We also brought along some squid popsicles.
Bill set a course towards Salsapuedes into deep water targeting some tasty Reds! The first couple of drifts resulted in one Red, one medium size Santa Maria, and a small and large Boccaccio. Bill had to work hard on re-positioning the boat, as the wind and current provided a very fast drift. Adjusting to the conditions, Bill re-sets the boat on the hard bottom reef. It was absolutely wide open for the next hour, catching huge Reds, more Bocaccio, a Copper Rockfish and three good sized Lingcod. We were limited out on Rockfish by 8am. Here are some pictures:
Myself with a Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1686.jpg
Myself with a Red and a Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1687.jpg
A Big Red:
[http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1688.jpg
A couple of Reds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1689.jpg
We moved into shallow water to target Sand and Calico Bass. The meter lit up with marks, and almost everywhere we went there was large concentrations of bait. The Sand Bass were wide open, with instant bites on the Mega Baits, plastics, and Lucanus lures. Most of the Sand Bass were in the four-pound range, a few five pounders, with the smallest being three pounds. We released all the Bass, a few short Lingcod, a bunch of Chocolate Rockfish, some Starries, Green Stripes, a few more Reds, and some Johnny Bass.
Some more pictures:
Myself with a dandy Sandy:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1690.jpg
A double on the Lucanus setup:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1693.jpg
Bill with a big Sandy:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1694.jpg
Another one for me:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1691.jpg
Bill with a couple big Fat Sandie’s:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1698.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1699.jpg
A limit of Reds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1700.jpg
Day’s Catch with a few Lings added:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1702.jpg
The popcorn began at 10:30am, white caps by 11am, and off the water by noon, it was getting gnarly out there with big swells, no matter it was still a spectacular day of fishing. The wind was easily blowing 20 by the time we finished cleaning the fish.
Bill called the border and found out it was an 80 minute wait at San Yasidro. He suggested I go to Otay Mesa, which also had a recorded message of a 30-minute wait! Fortunately it took me only 16 minutes, and I was home in Diamond Bar 2.5 hours later by 6pm.
Bill, what can I say, I had a blast, once again you put us on the fish, and they were on the chew! Thanks so much for the invite, and fabulous hospitality. What a fun day on the big pond!
Hook up!
Cory
Our original plan was to go offshore to the Hidden Bank for the wide-open Bluefin Tuna bite. However between Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon, Mother wind decided to make another appearance and spoil our plans.
So we woke up to good breeze, with a deep marine layer. Just past grey light we arrived in Las Salinas, where Bill slips his boat. We exited the harbor around 5:45am, into washing machine seas, and large swells. We began making mackerel for bait a short distance from the harbor. We had plenty within 10 minutes. We also brought along some squid popsicles.
Bill set a course towards Salsapuedes into deep water targeting some tasty Reds! The first couple of drifts resulted in one Red, one medium size Santa Maria, and a small and large Boccaccio. Bill had to work hard on re-positioning the boat, as the wind and current provided a very fast drift. Adjusting to the conditions, Bill re-sets the boat on the hard bottom reef. It was absolutely wide open for the next hour, catching huge Reds, more Bocaccio, a Copper Rockfish and three good sized Lingcod. We were limited out on Rockfish by 8am. Here are some pictures:
Myself with a Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1686.jpg
Myself with a Red and a Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1687.jpg
A Big Red:
[http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1688.jpg
A couple of Reds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1689.jpg
We moved into shallow water to target Sand and Calico Bass. The meter lit up with marks, and almost everywhere we went there was large concentrations of bait. The Sand Bass were wide open, with instant bites on the Mega Baits, plastics, and Lucanus lures. Most of the Sand Bass were in the four-pound range, a few five pounders, with the smallest being three pounds. We released all the Bass, a few short Lingcod, a bunch of Chocolate Rockfish, some Starries, Green Stripes, a few more Reds, and some Johnny Bass.
Some more pictures:
Myself with a dandy Sandy:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1690.jpg
A double on the Lucanus setup:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1693.jpg
Bill with a big Sandy:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1694.jpg
Another one for me:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1691.jpg
Bill with a couple big Fat Sandie’s:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1698.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1699.jpg
A limit of Reds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1700.jpg
Day’s Catch with a few Lings added:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_1702.jpg
The popcorn began at 10:30am, white caps by 11am, and off the water by noon, it was getting gnarly out there with big swells, no matter it was still a spectacular day of fishing. The wind was easily blowing 20 by the time we finished cleaning the fish.
Bill called the border and found out it was an 80 minute wait at San Yasidro. He suggested I go to Otay Mesa, which also had a recorded message of a 30-minute wait! Fortunately it took me only 16 minutes, and I was home in Diamond Bar 2.5 hours later by 6pm.
Bill, what can I say, I had a blast, once again you put us on the fish, and they were on the chew! Thanks so much for the invite, and fabulous hospitality. What a fun day on the big pond!
Hook up!
Cory