Tunaslam
12-12-2013, 11:00 AM
We went fishing Wednesday, 12-11-13 with Dave Robinson on his 28' Farallon, “Hooked” with crew Ron, Jim and Stan. Our destination being San Clemente Island. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Beach at 5:15 am, clearing the harbor by 5:35 am.
After incurring a deep freeze for the last few days, wind and rain, the window of opportunity opened up. The forecast called for calm seas all day. Despite being chilly when we left the dock, the jackets came off at 8:30 am and the sweat shirts by 9am. It turned into a balmy Southern California day on Lake Pacifica, no less.
With all the wild looking clouds in the sky we expected a great sunrise? We were somewhat disappointed with the end result. In addition, this picture was retrieved from the deleted “recycle bin” as I lost most of my pictures while editing my photos, the new Internet 11 Explorer crashed and all my photos went into cyber space? I was bummed, but at least I retrieved a few photos from the trip that I felt were inferior, weird:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3071_zps1ca17b1a.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3069_zpsff3e9ccb.jpg
Dave set a course for the East End of SCI, targeting an area of fishing on the backside of the Island, fishing depths between 200 and 300 feet for the targeted Reds, Lings and other bottom critters.
While rounding the corner of the Island, entering Pyramid Cove, there were a few lobster boats anchored or tending their pots, but no other boats were visible. The cove was grease calm, making the ride uphill on the backside extremely favorable.
It wasn’t long before Dave found the hard bottom spot he wanted to start with. We began drifting, with solid Red marks on the meter from near bottom to 30 feet off. There was little current; however the Red’s didn’t care, as we were all hammered within seconds of reaching the bottom, if you even got there?
Four of the five of us came up with nice Reds, while one decent sized Santa Maria was caught. Most of us were using Lucanus lures, or a Jax jig, and I added a shrimp fly to my rig. Our second drop resulted in a few more Reds, another Santa Maria and two Bocaccio.
Although drifting slowly, we were off the hard bottom quickly, as this was not a large reef like some that we fish over there as long as ˝ a mile. Dave set us back up on the same rock, but on the other side. The Reds turned into Coppers and we caught several Bank Perch to go with Bocaccio and more Santa Marias.
With a very nice start to the day we made a short move to another area and caught more of the same.
Here is a picture of several Reds I caught, smile Cory, that’s why I first deleted it and always take two, pictures when possible:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3072_zps6c9f149d.jpg
Here is Jim with a nice Copper Rockfish:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3075_zps9e2b93bb.jpg
Here I am with a nice Copper:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3077_zps48215d0f.jpg
That is it on the pictures, sorry. We were essentially limited out by noon, and would have been earlier had Dave not wanted to do some exploring, which is always a fun thing to do when the fishing is so good and the conditions ideal.
At 1:30 pm we headed back to the dock and could of water skied all the way home to Newport Beach. We ended the day with 30 Reds, 7 Coppers and an assortment of others to make our limits!
I tried to convince Dave to make a stop in the shallows and see if any Whitefish, Calico Bass or Sheephead, wanted to play? Everyone was content and wanted to get home for a change in daylight? Why we would then miss the sensational Christmas Decorations in Balboa, darn!
The ride home at 27+ knots was smooth as silk, arriving at the harbor at 4:00 pm, after slowing down to clean fish outside the breakwater, and docked by 4:18 pm. We were five very happy anglers, having enjoyed a fantastic day on the water, both fishing and weather wise. The water temps outside the harbor, in still grease conditions for early evening, was 60 degrees. The only bad part in arriving early was facing the horrendous traffic at this hour. Took me nearly 1.5 hours to go from Newport to Diamond Bar, yikes! Could of rode a bike quicker.
Thanks again Dave, you are the King of Red fishing at the Island. Great fishing with you again Jim, Ron and Stan, hope we can share a rail together soon.
Hook up!
Cory
After incurring a deep freeze for the last few days, wind and rain, the window of opportunity opened up. The forecast called for calm seas all day. Despite being chilly when we left the dock, the jackets came off at 8:30 am and the sweat shirts by 9am. It turned into a balmy Southern California day on Lake Pacifica, no less.
With all the wild looking clouds in the sky we expected a great sunrise? We were somewhat disappointed with the end result. In addition, this picture was retrieved from the deleted “recycle bin” as I lost most of my pictures while editing my photos, the new Internet 11 Explorer crashed and all my photos went into cyber space? I was bummed, but at least I retrieved a few photos from the trip that I felt were inferior, weird:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3071_zps1ca17b1a.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3069_zpsff3e9ccb.jpg
Dave set a course for the East End of SCI, targeting an area of fishing on the backside of the Island, fishing depths between 200 and 300 feet for the targeted Reds, Lings and other bottom critters.
While rounding the corner of the Island, entering Pyramid Cove, there were a few lobster boats anchored or tending their pots, but no other boats were visible. The cove was grease calm, making the ride uphill on the backside extremely favorable.
It wasn’t long before Dave found the hard bottom spot he wanted to start with. We began drifting, with solid Red marks on the meter from near bottom to 30 feet off. There was little current; however the Red’s didn’t care, as we were all hammered within seconds of reaching the bottom, if you even got there?
Four of the five of us came up with nice Reds, while one decent sized Santa Maria was caught. Most of us were using Lucanus lures, or a Jax jig, and I added a shrimp fly to my rig. Our second drop resulted in a few more Reds, another Santa Maria and two Bocaccio.
Although drifting slowly, we were off the hard bottom quickly, as this was not a large reef like some that we fish over there as long as ˝ a mile. Dave set us back up on the same rock, but on the other side. The Reds turned into Coppers and we caught several Bank Perch to go with Bocaccio and more Santa Marias.
With a very nice start to the day we made a short move to another area and caught more of the same.
Here is a picture of several Reds I caught, smile Cory, that’s why I first deleted it and always take two, pictures when possible:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3072_zps6c9f149d.jpg
Here is Jim with a nice Copper Rockfish:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3075_zps9e2b93bb.jpg
Here I am with a nice Copper:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Dave-SCI/100_3077_zps48215d0f.jpg
That is it on the pictures, sorry. We were essentially limited out by noon, and would have been earlier had Dave not wanted to do some exploring, which is always a fun thing to do when the fishing is so good and the conditions ideal.
At 1:30 pm we headed back to the dock and could of water skied all the way home to Newport Beach. We ended the day with 30 Reds, 7 Coppers and an assortment of others to make our limits!
I tried to convince Dave to make a stop in the shallows and see if any Whitefish, Calico Bass or Sheephead, wanted to play? Everyone was content and wanted to get home for a change in daylight? Why we would then miss the sensational Christmas Decorations in Balboa, darn!
The ride home at 27+ knots was smooth as silk, arriving at the harbor at 4:00 pm, after slowing down to clean fish outside the breakwater, and docked by 4:18 pm. We were five very happy anglers, having enjoyed a fantastic day on the water, both fishing and weather wise. The water temps outside the harbor, in still grease conditions for early evening, was 60 degrees. The only bad part in arriving early was facing the horrendous traffic at this hour. Took me nearly 1.5 hours to go from Newport to Diamond Bar, yikes! Could of rode a bike quicker.
Thanks again Dave, you are the King of Red fishing at the Island. Great fishing with you again Jim, Ron and Stan, hope we can share a rail together soon.
Hook up!
Cory