Tunaslam
08-02-2012, 09:53 AM
I went fishing Wednesday, 08-01-12, for a 1 day trip, on the Sport Boat Aztec out of Seaforth Landing in Mission Bay. I left my home in Diamond Bar at 7:20pm Tuesday evening; and arrived in Mission Bay at 9pm. I was all set to go to Rosarito to fish with Bill, when I noticed the Aztec was fishing a one day trip and the recent scores, combined with projected great weather offshore, fired up my senses for chasing Tuna, having not caught one so far this year. Since I could not go on a 1.5 day trip, having to work on Thursday, the 1 day trip worked out great. Called Bill and advised him of my change in plans, no worries, as we had only discussed my coming down as a maybe anyhow. Bill had planned to run to the finger bank to search for Tuna and Tails, which was a long shot, with a back up plan of fishing for Lings and Reds if the exotics made no appearance.
We boarded the Aztec at around 9:30 pm with a scheduled departure time of 10pm. We were already baited up and pulled away from the dock right on time. The boat was expected to contain a light load, however, when all was said and done, we left the dock with 27 excited anglers. Guess the 1 day trip was quite appealing to all? Captain Mikey announced that the plan was to run down to a zone some 75 miles south and hope for a school of Bluefin to set up on by grey light. After daylight we would search for Kelp Paddies and signs of Tuna.
We woke up to very calm seas, a first for me offshore this year after many trips. The skies were overcast, the water temp 66.8 degrees, and the water color a crystal clear deep blue. We had not quite reached the desired area at grey light and there were no sonar readings so far. Captain Mikey elected to put out the trolling rods and begin the search for fish.
At a little after 6:30 am the first couple of small Kelp Paddies yielded no fish, then a bait tank size Kelp was located and as we pulled up on it, Yellowtail were being marked. All lines in the water, but no bites for a few minutes, then our first couple Yellowtail were hooked. These Tails were big and put up quite a fight, as only two hit the deck, the first one being over 20 pounds and the second Yellowtail being the eventual Jackpot winner, approaching 30 pounds.
The 20 pounder:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2250640x480.jpg
The 30 pounder with Captain Mikey assisting:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2249480x640.jpg
Both proud anglers:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2251640x480.jpg
We moved on and found another decent size Kelp Paddy, and this one also held some Yellowtail. My first bait in the water was inhaled, and good sized Yellowtail made a bee line for the Kelp, then suddenly sounded, thank you Lord. I was using 30 pound line with the same test Flouro Carbon leader. The 18 pound Yellowtail put a valiant fight before being gaffed by Captain Mikey.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2252640x480.jpg
A few more Tails were landed, then suddenly a few Bluefin began boiling around the boat, and a few were hooked by those fishing the lighter gear. I replaced my 30 pound outfit with my 20 pound using a #2 Mutu Circle hook, and Flouro Carbon leader. I cast my first bait off the bow of the boat where I saw some boils. As per usual a long soak was required to get bit. My lively sardine was out about 200 feet from the boat when I decided to pump the bait in a few yards. I felt the thump, quickly put the reel in free spool, and the line began screaming out, put the reel in gear and wound down tight, fresh one!
The Bluefin Tuna made a nice run, then sounded and we were joined by another angler with a hook up. We proceeded to do the tuna two step and each landed our fish, both about the same size, 15 pounders. I believe we succeeded in landing all five Bluefin hooked, with the biggest being 25 pounds. My cookie cutter size 15 pounder:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2247640x480.jpg
The Tuna sunk out just as quickly as they arrived, and we were back on the troll. An hour later, after several small kelp paddies yielded nothing, a large Kelp Paddy was located and as we approached it Captain Mikey announced it was loaded with fish. Almost every bait in the water was bit instantly; it was mass pandemonium in the stern. Many fish were lost. My fish was in a four way tangle, and by the time I got out of the tangle, the big Tail was locked in the Kelp and broke off a short time later.
No worries, the Yellowtail were in a feeding frenzy, and you could see free swimmers everywhere. I tossed a sardine and hung on as it didn’t take three seconds to get bit. I was fishing 25 pound line now and fortunately we were farther away from the kelp paddy as this Yellowtail also wanted to get there, and just failed by a small margin. Myself with a bit bigger fish this time, around 20 pounds.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2253640x480.jpg
Several anglers began throwing iron and were bit, so I grabbed my 40 pound Yo Yo jig stick and got short bit on my first cast down deep. On my second cast I was hammered on the third wind, and it was game on. Even with 40 pound this Yellowtail headed straight for the Kelp Paddy, stopped and I gained a little line, then continued on, repeated that process several times before falling short of it’s goal, whew, these Tails are tough guys! Tuckered out from the long run, I make quick work of bringing the fish to gaff. I think we put 25 Yellowtail on the boat on this Paddy. A move back up to Paddy, after drifting probably a good ¼ mile away, resulted in no re-bite, having obviously pulled the fish away from the Paddy! We most likely lost as many as we hooked on that stop. Some pictures:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2262640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2259640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2257640x480.jpg
Deckhand Nathan with a big’n:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2256640x480.jpg
Deckhand Nathan assisting the kids with their big catch:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2255480x640.jpg
Junior displaying his first Yellowtail:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2254480x640.jpg
I believe all three young’ns on the trip were successful in catching a Yellowtail with deckhand assistance and also most every adult? We spent the rest of the day Kelp Paddy hopping, with a few isolated Yellowtail here and there. I added two more Tails to my total, ending the day with a limit of Yellowtail and the one Bluefin Tuna, a very sweet day indeed.
My stash:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2265640x480.jpg
Captain Mikey called it a day at 4:30 pm, announcing we wouldn’t be back to the dock until 10pm. The final Yellowtail count was 46, with one Dorado and five Bluefin Tuna. That is a very long 1-day trip, and they were headed back out again too!
A bunch of happy anglers:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2261640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2263640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2260640x480.jpg
What a fun day on the big pond! Can’t wait to fish with the great crew on the Aztec again soon.
Hook up!
Cory
We boarded the Aztec at around 9:30 pm with a scheduled departure time of 10pm. We were already baited up and pulled away from the dock right on time. The boat was expected to contain a light load, however, when all was said and done, we left the dock with 27 excited anglers. Guess the 1 day trip was quite appealing to all? Captain Mikey announced that the plan was to run down to a zone some 75 miles south and hope for a school of Bluefin to set up on by grey light. After daylight we would search for Kelp Paddies and signs of Tuna.
We woke up to very calm seas, a first for me offshore this year after many trips. The skies were overcast, the water temp 66.8 degrees, and the water color a crystal clear deep blue. We had not quite reached the desired area at grey light and there were no sonar readings so far. Captain Mikey elected to put out the trolling rods and begin the search for fish.
At a little after 6:30 am the first couple of small Kelp Paddies yielded no fish, then a bait tank size Kelp was located and as we pulled up on it, Yellowtail were being marked. All lines in the water, but no bites for a few minutes, then our first couple Yellowtail were hooked. These Tails were big and put up quite a fight, as only two hit the deck, the first one being over 20 pounds and the second Yellowtail being the eventual Jackpot winner, approaching 30 pounds.
The 20 pounder:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2250640x480.jpg
The 30 pounder with Captain Mikey assisting:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2249480x640.jpg
Both proud anglers:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2251640x480.jpg
We moved on and found another decent size Kelp Paddy, and this one also held some Yellowtail. My first bait in the water was inhaled, and good sized Yellowtail made a bee line for the Kelp, then suddenly sounded, thank you Lord. I was using 30 pound line with the same test Flouro Carbon leader. The 18 pound Yellowtail put a valiant fight before being gaffed by Captain Mikey.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2252640x480.jpg
A few more Tails were landed, then suddenly a few Bluefin began boiling around the boat, and a few were hooked by those fishing the lighter gear. I replaced my 30 pound outfit with my 20 pound using a #2 Mutu Circle hook, and Flouro Carbon leader. I cast my first bait off the bow of the boat where I saw some boils. As per usual a long soak was required to get bit. My lively sardine was out about 200 feet from the boat when I decided to pump the bait in a few yards. I felt the thump, quickly put the reel in free spool, and the line began screaming out, put the reel in gear and wound down tight, fresh one!
The Bluefin Tuna made a nice run, then sounded and we were joined by another angler with a hook up. We proceeded to do the tuna two step and each landed our fish, both about the same size, 15 pounders. I believe we succeeded in landing all five Bluefin hooked, with the biggest being 25 pounds. My cookie cutter size 15 pounder:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2247640x480.jpg
The Tuna sunk out just as quickly as they arrived, and we were back on the troll. An hour later, after several small kelp paddies yielded nothing, a large Kelp Paddy was located and as we approached it Captain Mikey announced it was loaded with fish. Almost every bait in the water was bit instantly; it was mass pandemonium in the stern. Many fish were lost. My fish was in a four way tangle, and by the time I got out of the tangle, the big Tail was locked in the Kelp and broke off a short time later.
No worries, the Yellowtail were in a feeding frenzy, and you could see free swimmers everywhere. I tossed a sardine and hung on as it didn’t take three seconds to get bit. I was fishing 25 pound line now and fortunately we were farther away from the kelp paddy as this Yellowtail also wanted to get there, and just failed by a small margin. Myself with a bit bigger fish this time, around 20 pounds.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2253640x480.jpg
Several anglers began throwing iron and were bit, so I grabbed my 40 pound Yo Yo jig stick and got short bit on my first cast down deep. On my second cast I was hammered on the third wind, and it was game on. Even with 40 pound this Yellowtail headed straight for the Kelp Paddy, stopped and I gained a little line, then continued on, repeated that process several times before falling short of it’s goal, whew, these Tails are tough guys! Tuckered out from the long run, I make quick work of bringing the fish to gaff. I think we put 25 Yellowtail on the boat on this Paddy. A move back up to Paddy, after drifting probably a good ¼ mile away, resulted in no re-bite, having obviously pulled the fish away from the Paddy! We most likely lost as many as we hooked on that stop. Some pictures:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2262640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2259640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2257640x480.jpg
Deckhand Nathan with a big’n:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2256640x480.jpg
Deckhand Nathan assisting the kids with their big catch:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2255480x640.jpg
Junior displaying his first Yellowtail:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2254480x640.jpg
I believe all three young’ns on the trip were successful in catching a Yellowtail with deckhand assistance and also most every adult? We spent the rest of the day Kelp Paddy hopping, with a few isolated Yellowtail here and there. I added two more Tails to my total, ending the day with a limit of Yellowtail and the one Bluefin Tuna, a very sweet day indeed.
My stash:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2265640x480.jpg
Captain Mikey called it a day at 4:30 pm, announcing we wouldn’t be back to the dock until 10pm. The final Yellowtail count was 46, with one Dorado and five Bluefin Tuna. That is a very long 1-day trip, and they were headed back out again too!
A bunch of happy anglers:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2261640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2263640x480.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Aztec/100_2260640x480.jpg
What a fun day on the big pond! Can’t wait to fish with the great crew on the Aztec again soon.
Hook up!
Cory