Tunaslam
11-14-2013, 08:48 PM
It was time to go fishing Thursday-11-14-13 with Dave Robinson, on his 28’ Farallon “Hooked”, with friends John, Ron, Kevin and Jim. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Harbor at 5:15 am. Our destination was San Clemente Island, to the East end hoping to avoid any closures setup according to the Navy?
The seas were extremely calm, not as forecasted; and the skies were also clear with great visibility. It is always nice to start the day off with a surreal sunrise:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3018680x510_zps6efdfe93.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3023680x510_zps6b2dfe89.jpg
We cruised to the Island at 23.5 knots. The ocean was mostly grease conditions, and no matter what direction you looked the Porpoise were out in force. It was unreal that the water temps were still at almost 65 degrees. We reached the East end at 8:15 am and as soon as we passed Pyramid Head we faced a serious washing machine swell. We slowed down to 15 knots and headed right into it. We bounced around for another 30 minutes until we reached a fishable area.
Dave found some good hard bottom with a bunch of fish marks. I was using my usual 8oz. Burnt Orange Jax Jig with a Shrimp Fly tied 18 inches above the lure. Some were using Lucanus Lures and others Jax Jigs. It was quiet at first and then we had a few hook ups. It was almost 100% Bocaccio, with Captain Dave catching a Santa Maria.
We made a move and again nothing happened for the first few minutes, then John got bit, then Ron and Jim. Dave ad I looked back and said WTF? Then I got slammed and so did Dave. Well the others all caught Reds and Dave and I came up with Boccaccio. I dropped back down with my duel knock off Lucanus outfit. I hit bottom and while reeling up I felt a small bite. So I stopped to see if it would fall off and then got hammered. I reeled up about five turns and the fish headed for the bottom screaming off my drag. I got him turned. I gained about 20 to 30 feet and again the fish pulled drag. I continued to wind and half way up it took one last run before Dave stuck him. A very nice 15 pound Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3026680x477_zps379c4295.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3027680x510_zpsbabf3f86.jpg
This was our last long drift as the winds picked up at 9:30am, then white caps were prevalent and scope out became a hindrance? We picked away at the Reds and Santa Maris, and were quickly off the hard bottom, requiring a rapid reset.
Here is Jim with one of our many big Santa Marias:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3028680x510_zps62450256.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3029680x510_zpsd7d2a77e.jpg
Here is Jim with one of his Reds caught today:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3030680x558_zpsacbdbff2.jpg
Dave and I were on the outside looking in for catching Reds, as Ron, Kevin and John caught their share. Dave and I caught mostly Bocaccio?
Then I finally broke the curse and caught a Red too:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3031680x510_zps6a144001.jpg
We scratched up 25 Reds and over 20 Santa Marias to go with a few Chilies and Bank Perch. We all released a bunch of Bocaccio. Then these guys moved in and chased us off the area to do their practice firing:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3032680x430_zps08a92ca9.jpg
The wind was annoying, yet never exceeded 12 knots. We stopped on some more spots off the east end for very little and called it a day at 2:30pm. We didn’t quite make limits of Rockfish kept, and it was time to call it a day at 3:00pm. The ride home was special, as just past the island the seas went grease calm. We cleaned fish a few miles outside the harbor and we docked at 6pm.
Thanks Dave, for another great day of fishing on the big pond.
Hook up! Cory
The seas were extremely calm, not as forecasted; and the skies were also clear with great visibility. It is always nice to start the day off with a surreal sunrise:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3018680x510_zps6efdfe93.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3023680x510_zps6b2dfe89.jpg
We cruised to the Island at 23.5 knots. The ocean was mostly grease conditions, and no matter what direction you looked the Porpoise were out in force. It was unreal that the water temps were still at almost 65 degrees. We reached the East end at 8:15 am and as soon as we passed Pyramid Head we faced a serious washing machine swell. We slowed down to 15 knots and headed right into it. We bounced around for another 30 minutes until we reached a fishable area.
Dave found some good hard bottom with a bunch of fish marks. I was using my usual 8oz. Burnt Orange Jax Jig with a Shrimp Fly tied 18 inches above the lure. Some were using Lucanus Lures and others Jax Jigs. It was quiet at first and then we had a few hook ups. It was almost 100% Bocaccio, with Captain Dave catching a Santa Maria.
We made a move and again nothing happened for the first few minutes, then John got bit, then Ron and Jim. Dave ad I looked back and said WTF? Then I got slammed and so did Dave. Well the others all caught Reds and Dave and I came up with Boccaccio. I dropped back down with my duel knock off Lucanus outfit. I hit bottom and while reeling up I felt a small bite. So I stopped to see if it would fall off and then got hammered. I reeled up about five turns and the fish headed for the bottom screaming off my drag. I got him turned. I gained about 20 to 30 feet and again the fish pulled drag. I continued to wind and half way up it took one last run before Dave stuck him. A very nice 15 pound Lingcod:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3026680x477_zps379c4295.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3027680x510_zpsbabf3f86.jpg
This was our last long drift as the winds picked up at 9:30am, then white caps were prevalent and scope out became a hindrance? We picked away at the Reds and Santa Maris, and were quickly off the hard bottom, requiring a rapid reset.
Here is Jim with one of our many big Santa Marias:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3028680x510_zps62450256.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3029680x510_zpsd7d2a77e.jpg
Here is Jim with one of his Reds caught today:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3030680x558_zpsacbdbff2.jpg
Dave and I were on the outside looking in for catching Reds, as Ron, Kevin and John caught their share. Dave and I caught mostly Bocaccio?
Then I finally broke the curse and caught a Red too:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3031680x510_zps6a144001.jpg
We scratched up 25 Reds and over 20 Santa Marias to go with a few Chilies and Bank Perch. We all released a bunch of Bocaccio. Then these guys moved in and chased us off the area to do their practice firing:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3032680x430_zps08a92ca9.jpg
The wind was annoying, yet never exceeded 12 knots. We stopped on some more spots off the east end for very little and called it a day at 2:30pm. We didn’t quite make limits of Rockfish kept, and it was time to call it a day at 3:00pm. The ride home was special, as just past the island the seas went grease calm. We cleaned fish a few miles outside the harbor and we docked at 6pm.
Thanks Dave, for another great day of fishing on the big pond.
Hook up! Cory