Tunaslam
06-06-2013, 08:14 PM
After chasing ghosts all weekend at Catalina to no avail, and unmotivated to write a report for the first time in forever, it was good to at least catch something decent on this trip, albeit not the size and quantity we had hoped for.
First time fishing with Jeff on his 24’Skipjack, the “Kolamono”, Wed. 6-05-13, I arrived at Jeff’s house at 3:30am in La Mirada and we headed south to San Diego. We launched out of Shelter Island at 5:15 am, stopping at EB for some very large, healthy and slimy green Sardines, where most survived the entire trip.
Our beginning destination was the Middle Grounds of the Coronado Islands, where we would be targeting Yellowtail. With only three boat trailers in the lot, we didn’t expect to see many other private boaters. We arrived at the Island at 6:30am and no one else was present.
We began slow drifting Sardines in some favorite zones; however, it didn’t take long for the seals to get on us, a definite problem, being the only boat there. We tried running away from them and then drifting, thus soaking a bait, yet it was not long before they found us again. Jeff had a nice hookup on what was thought a Yellowtail, but the seal was on it, the fish went nuts and the hook pulled?
We gave up on this area and began to work south, taking a look at the Ribbon and on to south kelp ridge. We chatted with several other private boaters, one at Pukey Point and another that just arrived to the middle grounds just after we had left. We exchanged our scoops on the results so far, very little and would let each other know if they had any action.
The wind was picking up and it was not looking like a fun day? We ran down to the end of the ridge and began slow trolling again. We got bit by Bonito, Calico Bass and Barracuda. All released to fight another day. Here is a picture of the Calico I caught:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2571680x510_zps1d371778.jpg
Later in our trolling I got slammed and it was game on. As I reeled in the feisty fish I saw a flash of Yellow, oh yeah it was the right kind. Jeff stood by with the gaff and I landed our first Yellowtail.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2573680x510_zps6f29ccb4.jpg
We boxed the area for a while, getting slammed by more Barracuda, shredding our lines. After a few more slides down the kelp reefs and up, Jeff’s rig got hammered and then unbuttoned, and then my rig got bit. The drag was screaming, and this was a better fish.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2574680x510_zpsd05a5381.jpg
We trolled some more and then the seals got on us again. We checked in with a couple of other private boaters, both had hooked fish and lost them. The wind was now at least 15 knots and gusting to over 20. We headed back up to the middle grounds and the swells were also building. It was time to call it a day at 1pm. The ride back was gnarly at best. Back at the dock at 2:30pm, beat up for sure!
We also had a novel experience with customs. After leaving Shelter Island and getting on the 5 freeway, we exited Sea World Drive to put air in a low tire. All of a sudden five Custom officers approached us. They searched the boat and the truck for 25 minutes. I guess we resembled someone who was smuggling drugs or something? Good for them, we want this kind of surveillance to protect the homeland?
Thanks so much for the invite Jeff, can’t wait for our next adventure together.
Hook up! Cory
First time fishing with Jeff on his 24’Skipjack, the “Kolamono”, Wed. 6-05-13, I arrived at Jeff’s house at 3:30am in La Mirada and we headed south to San Diego. We launched out of Shelter Island at 5:15 am, stopping at EB for some very large, healthy and slimy green Sardines, where most survived the entire trip.
Our beginning destination was the Middle Grounds of the Coronado Islands, where we would be targeting Yellowtail. With only three boat trailers in the lot, we didn’t expect to see many other private boaters. We arrived at the Island at 6:30am and no one else was present.
We began slow drifting Sardines in some favorite zones; however, it didn’t take long for the seals to get on us, a definite problem, being the only boat there. We tried running away from them and then drifting, thus soaking a bait, yet it was not long before they found us again. Jeff had a nice hookup on what was thought a Yellowtail, but the seal was on it, the fish went nuts and the hook pulled?
We gave up on this area and began to work south, taking a look at the Ribbon and on to south kelp ridge. We chatted with several other private boaters, one at Pukey Point and another that just arrived to the middle grounds just after we had left. We exchanged our scoops on the results so far, very little and would let each other know if they had any action.
The wind was picking up and it was not looking like a fun day? We ran down to the end of the ridge and began slow trolling again. We got bit by Bonito, Calico Bass and Barracuda. All released to fight another day. Here is a picture of the Calico I caught:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2571680x510_zps1d371778.jpg
Later in our trolling I got slammed and it was game on. As I reeled in the feisty fish I saw a flash of Yellow, oh yeah it was the right kind. Jeff stood by with the gaff and I landed our first Yellowtail.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2573680x510_zps6f29ccb4.jpg
We boxed the area for a while, getting slammed by more Barracuda, shredding our lines. After a few more slides down the kelp reefs and up, Jeff’s rig got hammered and then unbuttoned, and then my rig got bit. The drag was screaming, and this was a better fish.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2574680x510_zpsd05a5381.jpg
We trolled some more and then the seals got on us again. We checked in with a couple of other private boaters, both had hooked fish and lost them. The wind was now at least 15 knots and gusting to over 20. We headed back up to the middle grounds and the swells were also building. It was time to call it a day at 1pm. The ride back was gnarly at best. Back at the dock at 2:30pm, beat up for sure!
We also had a novel experience with customs. After leaving Shelter Island and getting on the 5 freeway, we exited Sea World Drive to put air in a low tire. All of a sudden five Custom officers approached us. They searched the boat and the truck for 25 minutes. I guess we resembled someone who was smuggling drugs or something? Good for them, we want this kind of surveillance to protect the homeland?
Thanks so much for the invite Jeff, can’t wait for our next adventure together.
Hook up! Cory