Tunaslam
04-01-2012, 03:32 PM
Fishing on the Aztec, out of Seaforth Landing on a 1.5-Day trip: that left Friday night on 03-30-12. On my way down to San Diego I picked up my good friend Rick in Placentia. We arrived in Mission Bay after facing heavy traffic at 6:15 pm Friday evening. The Aztec was baited and ready to go. We cleared the dock and exited the harbor at 7:15pm.
Captain Mikey announced the game plan for the trip. We would arrive down the coast at about daylight and begin fishing the deeper waters, and if the weather allowed, continue into shallow water to concentrate on Lingcod and Whitefish. Weather was expected to be decent in the morning on Saturday and very windy in the afternoon, with gale force winds expected for Sunday.
The ride down the coast was extremely pleasant, and at 6am, Captain Mikey issued a wakeup call. We will be fishing in about an hour, in 300 to 450 feet as long as the weather co-operated. Breakfasts consisted of Bacon, Eggs and Potato Burritos, or add some Chicken Chorizo which I provided courtesy of my company.
Setting up on our first drift at just over 300 feet the current was ripping. A one pound weight scoped out in a matter of seconds. It was slow a slow pick for some Bank Perch, Green Spots and Starries. Fishing with a Gangion, I could only catch a few Nursery fish on the first few drops, and then came up with a decent sized Red on my third drop. Christen also came up with a nice Red:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1994640x480.jpg
I had switched to a 2 pound weight and on the next drift I got hammered when reaching the bottom. This fish was taking drag, must be a Lingcod? Yep, the head shakes on the way up were distinctive, surely a Lingcod. Captain Mikey stuck him near the head. Maybe 12 pounds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1996640x480.jpg
On the next drift a few more Reds were caught. Here is a picture of a couple of the big Reds that I and Brian caught:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1997640x480.jpg
Captain Mikey combed the area, hoping for a more consistent bite; however, it remained a very slow pick. If you fished hard, you caught a nice fish here and there. Although we caught a few more Reds, the excitement was over the Lingcod being caught. A few more pictures:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1998640x480.jpg
Todd with a Big Red:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2001640x480.jpg
Todd with a few more Reds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2002640x480.jpg
And a Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2004640x480.jpg
John’o made the announcement for lunch: enjoy a Hamburger, Cheeseburger, and Patty Melt or double Cheeseburger with Bacon, enjoy it with a cold Beer or Soda!
We were very fortunate as the weather was better than expected throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, although the current and bitter cold of the water seemed to keep the fish off the chew. At 2pm, the wind that was expected earlier arrived with a vengeance. At first it was 10-15 knots, then rising quickly to 15-20 knots. Fortunately the seas were still fairly light in swells. Captain Mikey decided it was time to abandon the deeper water and head for the shallows, at the same time head north to shorten the distance home for the expected violent weather forecasted ahead.
Surprisingly upon arriving in the new area, the Reds and Lingcod were on the chew, although the fast drift accounted for countless losses of tackle. You had to stay tight to the bottom to get a bite, and the bottom was rugged and unforgiving. I lost two Jax Jigs, several 1.5 and 2 pound weights each, plus a three pound weight. It was lingcod city for those lucky and talented enough to avoid the pitfalls of bottom grabbers, IE: the Rocks:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2011640x480.jpg
More drifts and more Lings and Reds caught:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2006640x480.jpg
Rick with a big Red:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2007640x480.jpg
Rick and fellow angler with Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2009640x480.jpg
I ended the day with this double, a nice Lingcod and huge Johnny Bass:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2013640x480.jpg
At a 6:45 pm, with the wind and seas building Captain Mikey announced it was time to head home. The uphill climb was taxing, but doable at slower speeds to allow us to eat. For dinner, cook John’o served up a spectacular tasty Meatloaf, Garlic mashed potatoes, Corn, Fresh Rolls and Salad. Desert was Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce.
For me it was lights out at 8pm, and I slept great until about 2am, when we got the snot kicked out of us. Those last 40 miles were an *** kicker! We arrived at Mission Bay at 8am, thankful for a safe trip home, with decent fishing for our efforts. I was bummed as my good friend edged me out on the Jackpot, a 3oz difference separating the winner and second place.
The crew of Shon and Jamie worked their tails off to provide excellent service to all, kudos guys, you did a great job! Thanks so much Captain Mikey for a great adventure and safe passage home in difficult conditions. Can’t wait to join you all on a future trip.
Hook up!
Cory
Captain Mikey announced the game plan for the trip. We would arrive down the coast at about daylight and begin fishing the deeper waters, and if the weather allowed, continue into shallow water to concentrate on Lingcod and Whitefish. Weather was expected to be decent in the morning on Saturday and very windy in the afternoon, with gale force winds expected for Sunday.
The ride down the coast was extremely pleasant, and at 6am, Captain Mikey issued a wakeup call. We will be fishing in about an hour, in 300 to 450 feet as long as the weather co-operated. Breakfasts consisted of Bacon, Eggs and Potato Burritos, or add some Chicken Chorizo which I provided courtesy of my company.
Setting up on our first drift at just over 300 feet the current was ripping. A one pound weight scoped out in a matter of seconds. It was slow a slow pick for some Bank Perch, Green Spots and Starries. Fishing with a Gangion, I could only catch a few Nursery fish on the first few drops, and then came up with a decent sized Red on my third drop. Christen also came up with a nice Red:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1994640x480.jpg
I had switched to a 2 pound weight and on the next drift I got hammered when reaching the bottom. This fish was taking drag, must be a Lingcod? Yep, the head shakes on the way up were distinctive, surely a Lingcod. Captain Mikey stuck him near the head. Maybe 12 pounds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1996640x480.jpg
On the next drift a few more Reds were caught. Here is a picture of a couple of the big Reds that I and Brian caught:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1997640x480.jpg
Captain Mikey combed the area, hoping for a more consistent bite; however, it remained a very slow pick. If you fished hard, you caught a nice fish here and there. Although we caught a few more Reds, the excitement was over the Lingcod being caught. A few more pictures:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_1998640x480.jpg
Todd with a Big Red:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2001640x480.jpg
Todd with a few more Reds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2002640x480.jpg
And a Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2004640x480.jpg
John’o made the announcement for lunch: enjoy a Hamburger, Cheeseburger, and Patty Melt or double Cheeseburger with Bacon, enjoy it with a cold Beer or Soda!
We were very fortunate as the weather was better than expected throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, although the current and bitter cold of the water seemed to keep the fish off the chew. At 2pm, the wind that was expected earlier arrived with a vengeance. At first it was 10-15 knots, then rising quickly to 15-20 knots. Fortunately the seas were still fairly light in swells. Captain Mikey decided it was time to abandon the deeper water and head for the shallows, at the same time head north to shorten the distance home for the expected violent weather forecasted ahead.
Surprisingly upon arriving in the new area, the Reds and Lingcod were on the chew, although the fast drift accounted for countless losses of tackle. You had to stay tight to the bottom to get a bite, and the bottom was rugged and unforgiving. I lost two Jax Jigs, several 1.5 and 2 pound weights each, plus a three pound weight. It was lingcod city for those lucky and talented enough to avoid the pitfalls of bottom grabbers, IE: the Rocks:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2011640x480.jpg
More drifts and more Lings and Reds caught:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2006640x480.jpg
Rick with a big Red:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2007640x480.jpg
Rick and fellow angler with Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2009640x480.jpg
I ended the day with this double, a nice Lingcod and huge Johnny Bass:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec-15%20day%20trip-01-27-12/100_2013640x480.jpg
At a 6:45 pm, with the wind and seas building Captain Mikey announced it was time to head home. The uphill climb was taxing, but doable at slower speeds to allow us to eat. For dinner, cook John’o served up a spectacular tasty Meatloaf, Garlic mashed potatoes, Corn, Fresh Rolls and Salad. Desert was Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce.
For me it was lights out at 8pm, and I slept great until about 2am, when we got the snot kicked out of us. Those last 40 miles were an *** kicker! We arrived at Mission Bay at 8am, thankful for a safe trip home, with decent fishing for our efforts. I was bummed as my good friend edged me out on the Jackpot, a 3oz difference separating the winner and second place.
The crew of Shon and Jamie worked their tails off to provide excellent service to all, kudos guys, you did a great job! Thanks so much Captain Mikey for a great adventure and safe passage home in difficult conditions. Can’t wait to join you all on a future trip.
Hook up!
Cory