Tunaslam
08-05-2014, 08:25 PM
Departure:-Friday-08-01-14
Fishing on the Condor for the first time, out of Fishermen’s landing on a 2.5-Day trip that left Friday evening on 08-01-14. I left my work in San Bernardino at 2pm and arrived at the dock at 4:00 pm. Once again the parking lot was already full? The boat was not yet ready for boarding.
I met Jim, who shared a cart to unload my gear. I then searched for a parking space on the street nearly a ½ mile away. A few weeks ago I would not have been able to walk that far, still recovering from knee surgery.
They began boarding the boat a little after 5 pm. While waiting in line, cook Bill offered everyone a cold drink, I settled for a cold Tecate Beer, wow was that refreshing, as it was so humid? I signed up and was given Tag #17 for my fish and recording my extra charges on the boat for Beer, Soda, water, Etc. My bunk was already reserved, #28, a double.
Our scheduled departure time was 6pm, and we were off on time. This was a limited load trip of 24 on the 90’ boat, this works! We stopped at EB for some of the best bait that Captain Scott said they had received all year, 5-6” slimy green Sardines. We exited the harbor at 7:00pm. Captain Scott gathered everyone into the galley to discuss the first day’s game plan and introduce the crew of second ticket Mike, then Miguel, Thad and Mike on deck, with Bill as head chef.
Since the Tuna were not far offshore, we were in no hurry? We would target Yellowfin Tuna some 20 miles out, near the US and Baja border, and if they bit well the plan for Sunday were the bigger Bluefin hanging out in US waters further west.
The ride out was extremely pleasant, as the seas were grease calm. The weather forecast for the next couple of days was awesome! At 8pm, Bill set out some tasty Carne Asada and Chicken Tacos for dinner. Yum Yum!
Day 1-Sat.-08-02-14
The engines stopped at around midnight and we began to rock in the trough. As per usual on my first night, I had a restless sleep and was up at 5am for coffee. I sure was not alone, as many were rigging tackle and anxiously awaiting that adrenalin rush of the first call of “Hook up”?
The seas remained grease calm and the air was very humid, with a deep marine layer and a sprinkle here and there. The early morning trollers had no luck and the regular rotation was called out at 6:15 am. At about 7am we came across our first kelp paddy and it was empty.
A call out was made for a change of trolling rotation. Then Captain Scott announced that just ahead were some birds diving on breaking fish. We slowly came up on a school of Yellowfin Tuna. Throw bait, boil, ok everyone get in the water, it’s a big school.
My first cast was bit instantly; “fresh one” and there goes another and another! It was game on! I was fishing 30 pound line, with a 30 pound Flouro Carbon leader and a 1/0 hook. A few minutes later and I hollered gaff. A quick stick by Miguel in the belly and the skunk was off early. Quickly grabbed another sardine, gad they were difficult to catch, so hot? It ran straight away from the boat and I felt that sudden thumb, and the line screaming out. Oh yeah, another fresh one. Ii was a good fight and a quick gaff, this time through the head. I repeated the process one more time with three fish on this stop. A total of 17 were landed, I was off to a great start.
Two of the Yellowfin Tuna I caught early:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3556563x680_zpsca7673d3.jpg
The late call for breakfast came and cook Bill served up some choice pieces of a whole Ham, with scrambled eggs and home fried potatoes. Bill kept the food hot while we were fighting fish.
We occasionally stopped on a Kelp Paddy with all being empty, in between finding breaking fish and catching a few Yellowfin Tuna here and there. It was an eye ball kind of day, find the puddlers or birds and catch some fish. The trolling rigs gathered moth balls, not even a sniff? We slid up on schools of fish and picked off a half dozen at a time. I was lucky enough to get bit on most stops.
Here is “Junior”, ok Cole with the jackpot winning first day Yellowfin Tuna, a little over 20 pounds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3559680x510_zps8f664333.jpg
Angler Tommy with a nice Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3560680x510_zpsd3bdbeea.jpg
Lunch at 1pm was Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches, with chips, too big for me to finish, and wow did that hit the spot, so tasty.
It kept raining during the day, however, I could not tell whether I was soaking wet from the humidity or the rain, who knows, anyhow I changed wet shirts several times. We caught Yellowfin Tuna exclusively off the scanner or eyeball fish under the birds. It was scratch fishing all day and all afternoon. I easily exceeded California limits.
Bill served up some nice Taquitos, Chicken and Beef for an afternoon snack. Washed down with a cold Tecate, oh it was so good. The wind and the rain increased with intensity and the rest of the day was quite slow until dark. It was blowing an easy 25 knots. We ended the day with 101 Yellowfin Tuna, not too bad, considering the boat traffic and unusual weather? We saw no less than three Long Range boats in the area, like the Excel and Independence, interesting?
At 8:15 pm, the call for dinner was made. We were all exhausted and hungry. Salads were served and then the main course of Pork Tenderloins, with Pasta. For desert a Carrot Cake! Oh yeah a great way to end the evening!
Captain Scott announced we would be spending the night in this general area, with some reports of Bluefin Tuna being caught just north of us.
Day 2-Sun.-08-03-14
I woke up at 1am and took a shower, Gad that felt great!
Back up at 5:20 am.
The coffee was outstanding, and the morning seas returned to calm with a residual lump. With no fish under the boat we began trolling rotations at 6am. It was a different morning, and at 7am the sweet sound of ZZZZZZZZZZ and “hook up” was heard! There was a trolling fish, no kidding? There were boils and hook ups all around. I picked up one Yellowfin Tuna during the excitement, out of a dozen landed.
We continued to troll and then Captain Scott announced we were coming up on a nice school of fish. He said these are the big boys, break out the bigger tackle. Reel in the trollers, as we slid into the school. There were a few hook ups and the words “holy smokes” or something else, as the big boys made a run for freedom. Most everyone was not prepared and kissed their fish goodbye! Travis had the right gear with 40 pound line and had the fight of his life. After a valiant effort for some 20+ minutes he landed this 70+ pound Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3563510x680_zps130f4ba6.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3564680x510_zps9c699426.jpg
The picture really doesn’t’ do the big fish justice?
The call for breakfast was made, and Bill served up Bacon, Eggs and Home Fried Potatoes. Shortly thereafter we came up on another school of the big Bluefin. Captain Scott pleaded with everyone to use no less than 40 pound line. Of course many did not listen and got schooled. Snap, pop and oh my, all around us. Out of some 25 hookups over the next two hours we landed 7 more Bluefin Tuna, where a few luckily landed a big Bluefin on light tackle after an hour or more fight.
It wasn’t meant for me, as they never gave me a sniff. At 11:45 am., we landed the last Bluefin. All them huge, as Jim caught the biggest, near a 100 pounds, with a bit of help from crew Miguel:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3566510x680_zps99d55ebf.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3567510x680_zps7b9b5092.jpg
Roger with a big Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3568510x680_zpsf0026585.jpg
Captain Scott was little concerned that so much time was spent to catch only seven fish? It continued to rain off and on most of the morning and finally cleared up a bit by 1pm. We found a kelp paddy holding Yellowtail. It was wide open for about twenty minutes. Every bait in the water was bit. I caught seven Yellowtail and released all, with most at 3 to 4 pounds and one about 6. The Captain and crew urged everyone to not kill these little guys. Despite their encouragement to release, 30 were kept.
Lunch consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich with pesto sauce and chips. Very tasty.
The trollers soon got rewarded with a triple hook up on Yellowfin Tuna and a half dozen bait fish, to be repeated many more times. By 3 pm we were limited out on Yellowfin Tuna (Mexican limits). I caught my second California limit.
Captain Scott asked us what we wanted to do. Most of us suggested, we return to the Bluefin Tuna area, some one hour drive away. So we did. We found a few schools just before dark, yet none wanted to play.
At 8:20 pm dinner was served. After salads the stuffed flank steak was absolutely delicious. A triple Chocolate cake for desert topped off the evening!
The crew pulled fish out of the fish hold for cleaning; this was only today’s catch:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3570680x510_zps5d49d404.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3569510x680_zps457a0056.jpg
I woke up around 2am to nature’s call, and second ticket Mike was doing his rounds. He asked if I had my Camera handy. I said yes and he showed me a very rare warm water species Sickle Cell Prom Fret he caught on a jig during the night.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3572680x510_zpsee87c9f7.jpg
These are strange times?
We arrived in the harbor at 4:45 am. We drifted until time to dock the boat near 6am.
It was my second trip on the Condor and was again special. Thanks to second ticket Mike and all the crew and Captain Scott for a great experience. I met many new friends like Bloody Decker’s Brian, Dennis, Chuck, and Doc from Monterey. Phil, Bo, Travis, Roger, Jim, Dan, son Ryan and Junior Cole.
Hope I can share a rail with everyone again sometime soon.
Hook up!
Cory
Fishing on the Condor for the first time, out of Fishermen’s landing on a 2.5-Day trip that left Friday evening on 08-01-14. I left my work in San Bernardino at 2pm and arrived at the dock at 4:00 pm. Once again the parking lot was already full? The boat was not yet ready for boarding.
I met Jim, who shared a cart to unload my gear. I then searched for a parking space on the street nearly a ½ mile away. A few weeks ago I would not have been able to walk that far, still recovering from knee surgery.
They began boarding the boat a little after 5 pm. While waiting in line, cook Bill offered everyone a cold drink, I settled for a cold Tecate Beer, wow was that refreshing, as it was so humid? I signed up and was given Tag #17 for my fish and recording my extra charges on the boat for Beer, Soda, water, Etc. My bunk was already reserved, #28, a double.
Our scheduled departure time was 6pm, and we were off on time. This was a limited load trip of 24 on the 90’ boat, this works! We stopped at EB for some of the best bait that Captain Scott said they had received all year, 5-6” slimy green Sardines. We exited the harbor at 7:00pm. Captain Scott gathered everyone into the galley to discuss the first day’s game plan and introduce the crew of second ticket Mike, then Miguel, Thad and Mike on deck, with Bill as head chef.
Since the Tuna were not far offshore, we were in no hurry? We would target Yellowfin Tuna some 20 miles out, near the US and Baja border, and if they bit well the plan for Sunday were the bigger Bluefin hanging out in US waters further west.
The ride out was extremely pleasant, as the seas were grease calm. The weather forecast for the next couple of days was awesome! At 8pm, Bill set out some tasty Carne Asada and Chicken Tacos for dinner. Yum Yum!
Day 1-Sat.-08-02-14
The engines stopped at around midnight and we began to rock in the trough. As per usual on my first night, I had a restless sleep and was up at 5am for coffee. I sure was not alone, as many were rigging tackle and anxiously awaiting that adrenalin rush of the first call of “Hook up”?
The seas remained grease calm and the air was very humid, with a deep marine layer and a sprinkle here and there. The early morning trollers had no luck and the regular rotation was called out at 6:15 am. At about 7am we came across our first kelp paddy and it was empty.
A call out was made for a change of trolling rotation. Then Captain Scott announced that just ahead were some birds diving on breaking fish. We slowly came up on a school of Yellowfin Tuna. Throw bait, boil, ok everyone get in the water, it’s a big school.
My first cast was bit instantly; “fresh one” and there goes another and another! It was game on! I was fishing 30 pound line, with a 30 pound Flouro Carbon leader and a 1/0 hook. A few minutes later and I hollered gaff. A quick stick by Miguel in the belly and the skunk was off early. Quickly grabbed another sardine, gad they were difficult to catch, so hot? It ran straight away from the boat and I felt that sudden thumb, and the line screaming out. Oh yeah, another fresh one. Ii was a good fight and a quick gaff, this time through the head. I repeated the process one more time with three fish on this stop. A total of 17 were landed, I was off to a great start.
Two of the Yellowfin Tuna I caught early:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3556563x680_zpsca7673d3.jpg
The late call for breakfast came and cook Bill served up some choice pieces of a whole Ham, with scrambled eggs and home fried potatoes. Bill kept the food hot while we were fighting fish.
We occasionally stopped on a Kelp Paddy with all being empty, in between finding breaking fish and catching a few Yellowfin Tuna here and there. It was an eye ball kind of day, find the puddlers or birds and catch some fish. The trolling rigs gathered moth balls, not even a sniff? We slid up on schools of fish and picked off a half dozen at a time. I was lucky enough to get bit on most stops.
Here is “Junior”, ok Cole with the jackpot winning first day Yellowfin Tuna, a little over 20 pounds:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3559680x510_zps8f664333.jpg
Angler Tommy with a nice Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3560680x510_zpsd3bdbeea.jpg
Lunch at 1pm was Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches, with chips, too big for me to finish, and wow did that hit the spot, so tasty.
It kept raining during the day, however, I could not tell whether I was soaking wet from the humidity or the rain, who knows, anyhow I changed wet shirts several times. We caught Yellowfin Tuna exclusively off the scanner or eyeball fish under the birds. It was scratch fishing all day and all afternoon. I easily exceeded California limits.
Bill served up some nice Taquitos, Chicken and Beef for an afternoon snack. Washed down with a cold Tecate, oh it was so good. The wind and the rain increased with intensity and the rest of the day was quite slow until dark. It was blowing an easy 25 knots. We ended the day with 101 Yellowfin Tuna, not too bad, considering the boat traffic and unusual weather? We saw no less than three Long Range boats in the area, like the Excel and Independence, interesting?
At 8:15 pm, the call for dinner was made. We were all exhausted and hungry. Salads were served and then the main course of Pork Tenderloins, with Pasta. For desert a Carrot Cake! Oh yeah a great way to end the evening!
Captain Scott announced we would be spending the night in this general area, with some reports of Bluefin Tuna being caught just north of us.
Day 2-Sun.-08-03-14
I woke up at 1am and took a shower, Gad that felt great!
Back up at 5:20 am.
The coffee was outstanding, and the morning seas returned to calm with a residual lump. With no fish under the boat we began trolling rotations at 6am. It was a different morning, and at 7am the sweet sound of ZZZZZZZZZZ and “hook up” was heard! There was a trolling fish, no kidding? There were boils and hook ups all around. I picked up one Yellowfin Tuna during the excitement, out of a dozen landed.
We continued to troll and then Captain Scott announced we were coming up on a nice school of fish. He said these are the big boys, break out the bigger tackle. Reel in the trollers, as we slid into the school. There were a few hook ups and the words “holy smokes” or something else, as the big boys made a run for freedom. Most everyone was not prepared and kissed their fish goodbye! Travis had the right gear with 40 pound line and had the fight of his life. After a valiant effort for some 20+ minutes he landed this 70+ pound Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3563510x680_zps130f4ba6.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3564680x510_zps9c699426.jpg
The picture really doesn’t’ do the big fish justice?
The call for breakfast was made, and Bill served up Bacon, Eggs and Home Fried Potatoes. Shortly thereafter we came up on another school of the big Bluefin. Captain Scott pleaded with everyone to use no less than 40 pound line. Of course many did not listen and got schooled. Snap, pop and oh my, all around us. Out of some 25 hookups over the next two hours we landed 7 more Bluefin Tuna, where a few luckily landed a big Bluefin on light tackle after an hour or more fight.
It wasn’t meant for me, as they never gave me a sniff. At 11:45 am., we landed the last Bluefin. All them huge, as Jim caught the biggest, near a 100 pounds, with a bit of help from crew Miguel:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3566510x680_zps99d55ebf.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3567510x680_zps7b9b5092.jpg
Roger with a big Bluefin Tuna:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3568510x680_zpsf0026585.jpg
Captain Scott was little concerned that so much time was spent to catch only seven fish? It continued to rain off and on most of the morning and finally cleared up a bit by 1pm. We found a kelp paddy holding Yellowtail. It was wide open for about twenty minutes. Every bait in the water was bit. I caught seven Yellowtail and released all, with most at 3 to 4 pounds and one about 6. The Captain and crew urged everyone to not kill these little guys. Despite their encouragement to release, 30 were kept.
Lunch consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich with pesto sauce and chips. Very tasty.
The trollers soon got rewarded with a triple hook up on Yellowfin Tuna and a half dozen bait fish, to be repeated many more times. By 3 pm we were limited out on Yellowfin Tuna (Mexican limits). I caught my second California limit.
Captain Scott asked us what we wanted to do. Most of us suggested, we return to the Bluefin Tuna area, some one hour drive away. So we did. We found a few schools just before dark, yet none wanted to play.
At 8:20 pm dinner was served. After salads the stuffed flank steak was absolutely delicious. A triple Chocolate cake for desert topped off the evening!
The crew pulled fish out of the fish hold for cleaning; this was only today’s catch:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3570680x510_zps5d49d404.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3569510x680_zps457a0056.jpg
I woke up around 2am to nature’s call, and second ticket Mike was doing his rounds. He asked if I had my Camera handy. I said yes and he showed me a very rare warm water species Sickle Cell Prom Fret he caught on a jig during the night.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_3572680x510_zpsee87c9f7.jpg
These are strange times?
We arrived in the harbor at 4:45 am. We drifted until time to dock the boat near 6am.
It was my second trip on the Condor and was again special. Thanks to second ticket Mike and all the crew and Captain Scott for a great experience. I met many new friends like Bloody Decker’s Brian, Dennis, Chuck, and Doc from Monterey. Phil, Bo, Travis, Roger, Jim, Dan, son Ryan and Junior Cole.
Hope I can share a rail with everyone again sometime soon.
Hook up!
Cory