fishinone
07-06-2014, 02:43 PM
First off let me thank WebMaster Jeff of FNN for the May Tips and Tricks Contest. I won a Gift Certificate for this trip for my Bait-N-Wait when the Striper are Picky
write up.
My friend, Striper Mike joined me on the trip. We had been seeing reports of WSB and big halibut coming from the Northern Channel Islands. We hoped to get in on some of that but knew that we were pushing the time frame. For us it wasn't to be but the quality of the rockfish easily made up for it.
We stopped in the middle of the night to jig squid. We could see schools of squid mobbing the lights but at the first stop they didn't float. The jigging was slow, we were making bait but only 1 or 2 at a time. This was the first time that I had seen the squid so reluctant to grab the jigs. Another party boat came by and sent the crew down to yet another boat who had the squid floating. When they filled there quota and pulled away we pulled in and they mobbed the Pacific Islanders light. Captain Dan and the crew filled the live wells and packed as many as they had room for for later.
Our first stop for white sea bass was promising. In know time we had 4 people hooked up. As it turned out 3 were short and had to be released but it was looking good. The Captain had put us on the fish right off but the fish had other plans. For most of the day the one keeper on our boat ( about 12 lb.) was the only WSB in the fleet. We saw a few halibut landed on boats nearby but we didn't get any.
After a valiant effort and many stops Captain Dan moved us out to the rockfish spots.
The Rockfishing was stellar. I've never been on a rockfish bite with both numbers and quality fish before.
I definately got my PB Red Snapper, Chuckhead and Blue Bass, all on one drift!
Mike and I were on the back of the boat and both caught fish after fish. Fish were coming over the rail steady around the boat. The crew worked steadily filling sacks and counting fish. It was like a fire drill.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115505_zpsa1213d4b.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115505_zpsa1213d4b.jpg.html)
Here's Mike with a couple nice reds.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115811_1_zpse13882db.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115811_1_zpse13882db.jpg.html)
These are my biggest red snapper.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115646_zps005a9088.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115646_zps005a9088.jpg.html)
Mike got our only keeper ling cod.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115943_1_zps21eec1fb.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115943_1_zps21eec1fb.jpg.html)
Here are some of my chuckleheads.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115928_zps737feeff.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115928_zps737feeff.jpg.html)
Here a typical catch. Look at sacks on the right. We kept fishing until the boat limit was reached. Even the people who didn't fish, went home with a limit of rockfish.
Thanks again Jeff, for the Gift Certificate!!
Thanks to the crew of the Pacific Islander also!
The Pacific Islander is a class act. The crew were top notch! Their careful instructions and teaching put many people on fish. I mean people who would have caught much less otherwise. They also busted hump to keep the experienced guys fishing and maximize their catches.
write up.
My friend, Striper Mike joined me on the trip. We had been seeing reports of WSB and big halibut coming from the Northern Channel Islands. We hoped to get in on some of that but knew that we were pushing the time frame. For us it wasn't to be but the quality of the rockfish easily made up for it.
We stopped in the middle of the night to jig squid. We could see schools of squid mobbing the lights but at the first stop they didn't float. The jigging was slow, we were making bait but only 1 or 2 at a time. This was the first time that I had seen the squid so reluctant to grab the jigs. Another party boat came by and sent the crew down to yet another boat who had the squid floating. When they filled there quota and pulled away we pulled in and they mobbed the Pacific Islanders light. Captain Dan and the crew filled the live wells and packed as many as they had room for for later.
Our first stop for white sea bass was promising. In know time we had 4 people hooked up. As it turned out 3 were short and had to be released but it was looking good. The Captain had put us on the fish right off but the fish had other plans. For most of the day the one keeper on our boat ( about 12 lb.) was the only WSB in the fleet. We saw a few halibut landed on boats nearby but we didn't get any.
After a valiant effort and many stops Captain Dan moved us out to the rockfish spots.
The Rockfishing was stellar. I've never been on a rockfish bite with both numbers and quality fish before.
I definately got my PB Red Snapper, Chuckhead and Blue Bass, all on one drift!
Mike and I were on the back of the boat and both caught fish after fish. Fish were coming over the rail steady around the boat. The crew worked steadily filling sacks and counting fish. It was like a fire drill.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115505_zpsa1213d4b.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115505_zpsa1213d4b.jpg.html)
Here's Mike with a couple nice reds.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115811_1_zpse13882db.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115811_1_zpse13882db.jpg.html)
These are my biggest red snapper.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115646_zps005a9088.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115646_zps005a9088.jpg.html)
Mike got our only keeper ling cod.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115943_1_zps21eec1fb.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115943_1_zps21eec1fb.jpg.html)
Here are some of my chuckleheads.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq265/fishinone/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115928_zps737feeff.jpg (http://s454.photobucket.com/user/fishinone/media/4th%20of%20July%202014/20140705_115928_zps737feeff.jpg.html)
Here a typical catch. Look at sacks on the right. We kept fishing until the boat limit was reached. Even the people who didn't fish, went home with a limit of rockfish.
Thanks again Jeff, for the Gift Certificate!!
Thanks to the crew of the Pacific Islander also!
The Pacific Islander is a class act. The crew were top notch! Their careful instructions and teaching put many people on fish. I mean people who would have caught much less otherwise. They also busted hump to keep the experienced guys fishing and maximize their catches.