Tunaslam
04-03-2016, 06:03 PM
We were hoping to head offshore to test our skills against the mighty Bluefin Tuna, given they were within a reasonable range offshore, as reported off Dana Point and Long Beach?
Unfortunately Mother wind and high surf forecasts put a damper in that dream! The Ducky is very sea worthy, but fighting Mother Nature is not in her best interests. It is always a risk versus reward scenario, and Captain Lal errors on the safe side! Smart.
So, I went fishing Sunday 4-03-16, with Lal on his 18’ boat the “Rubber Ducky”. We launched out of Davies in Long Beach at 5:00 am, our beginning destination being the Palos Verde Coast. The skies were clear, although there was definitely a hint of wind and some fog off in the distance. The harbor was anything but smooth sailing. We made our way up toward the San Pedro harbor exit at less than normal speed.
Visibility was several miles, no problem, albeit a bit damp and chilly. The forecast of 3 foot seas at 17 seconds was again a farce. It was a 2-3 foot wind chop at maybe 6-7 seconds.
We began fishing at one our favorite structure areas at around 6am. The water was absolutely filthy, and water temps had dropped to 57.5 degrees from up to 62 degrees a week or so ago. Nevertheless, the mixed Bass were on an early chew, albeit they were on the small size, 12 to 15 inches.
The first half hour yielded around a dozen mixed Bass for the two of us. The next half hour yielded only six and then it was a total shut down. So Lal elected to head further north to Rocky Point. The fog bank ahead was not wanted and provided a definite chill and dampness to the air. Visibility was about a ¼ mile, so not too bad?
The water temps improved to over 60 degrees, and the water cleared up nicely, although still a cloudy grey. We stopped on several reefs and stones for nothing, but caught some very small Johnny Bass. The meter was loaded with Red Crab and we had bait (Mackerel/ Sardines) boiling all around us. The birds were going crazy on a feeding frenzy along with some Porpoise.
The Bass bite remained nonexistent, however, we both continued to pick away on assorted Rockfish, mostly Johnny Bass and Lal caught a very nice Sculpin, which will hit the frying pan soon.
We moved into deeper water and found the Reds on a serious chew. It was game on, and almost every cast resulted in a Red or Johnny Bass or other assorted Rockfish. The Colt Sniper was again the winning combination.
We kept 11 Reds, 1 Sculpin and 1 Johnny Bass, releasing all 22 mixed Bass we caught, and 30+ assorted Reds, Johnny Bass and other Rockfish.
Having caught all the Rockfish we needed we headed south to continue our pursuit of Bass. We hit some 8 to 10 stones on our way back to the harbor, and added six more Bass to our release counts.
It was fun fishing until high noon when the wind came up and spoiled the party; we called it a day at 12:30 pm with heavy white caps and confused seas. It was even snotty inside the harbor, making our decision to remain inshore a good one. We were on the Trailer by 1:30pm.
A few pictures of soon to be fish tacos at Lal’s house:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/IMG_0293%20640x480_zpskkd0avl8.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/IMG_0297%20391x553_zpspgkvaagp.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/IMG_0300%20582x351_zpsxs5pi31c.jpg
A few pictures of the Calico Bass we caught last week at Catalina, looking for Tails and again facing high winds and big swells that were not forecasted? I didn’t post a report.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4558%20680x654_zpseebjlyrg.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4561%20680x510_zpsldyxl0ss.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4559%20680x651_zpsb3hhfuud.jpg
[img]http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4560%20680x510_zpsv8w8jspf.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4562%20680x448_zpsznonzqt9.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4563%20680x510_zps43uc5tqh.jpg
Hook up! Cory
Unfortunately Mother wind and high surf forecasts put a damper in that dream! The Ducky is very sea worthy, but fighting Mother Nature is not in her best interests. It is always a risk versus reward scenario, and Captain Lal errors on the safe side! Smart.
So, I went fishing Sunday 4-03-16, with Lal on his 18’ boat the “Rubber Ducky”. We launched out of Davies in Long Beach at 5:00 am, our beginning destination being the Palos Verde Coast. The skies were clear, although there was definitely a hint of wind and some fog off in the distance. The harbor was anything but smooth sailing. We made our way up toward the San Pedro harbor exit at less than normal speed.
Visibility was several miles, no problem, albeit a bit damp and chilly. The forecast of 3 foot seas at 17 seconds was again a farce. It was a 2-3 foot wind chop at maybe 6-7 seconds.
We began fishing at one our favorite structure areas at around 6am. The water was absolutely filthy, and water temps had dropped to 57.5 degrees from up to 62 degrees a week or so ago. Nevertheless, the mixed Bass were on an early chew, albeit they were on the small size, 12 to 15 inches.
The first half hour yielded around a dozen mixed Bass for the two of us. The next half hour yielded only six and then it was a total shut down. So Lal elected to head further north to Rocky Point. The fog bank ahead was not wanted and provided a definite chill and dampness to the air. Visibility was about a ¼ mile, so not too bad?
The water temps improved to over 60 degrees, and the water cleared up nicely, although still a cloudy grey. We stopped on several reefs and stones for nothing, but caught some very small Johnny Bass. The meter was loaded with Red Crab and we had bait (Mackerel/ Sardines) boiling all around us. The birds were going crazy on a feeding frenzy along with some Porpoise.
The Bass bite remained nonexistent, however, we both continued to pick away on assorted Rockfish, mostly Johnny Bass and Lal caught a very nice Sculpin, which will hit the frying pan soon.
We moved into deeper water and found the Reds on a serious chew. It was game on, and almost every cast resulted in a Red or Johnny Bass or other assorted Rockfish. The Colt Sniper was again the winning combination.
We kept 11 Reds, 1 Sculpin and 1 Johnny Bass, releasing all 22 mixed Bass we caught, and 30+ assorted Reds, Johnny Bass and other Rockfish.
Having caught all the Rockfish we needed we headed south to continue our pursuit of Bass. We hit some 8 to 10 stones on our way back to the harbor, and added six more Bass to our release counts.
It was fun fishing until high noon when the wind came up and spoiled the party; we called it a day at 12:30 pm with heavy white caps and confused seas. It was even snotty inside the harbor, making our decision to remain inshore a good one. We were on the Trailer by 1:30pm.
A few pictures of soon to be fish tacos at Lal’s house:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/IMG_0293%20640x480_zpskkd0avl8.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/IMG_0297%20391x553_zpspgkvaagp.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/IMG_0300%20582x351_zpsxs5pi31c.jpg
A few pictures of the Calico Bass we caught last week at Catalina, looking for Tails and again facing high winds and big swells that were not forecasted? I didn’t post a report.
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4558%20680x654_zpseebjlyrg.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4561%20680x510_zpsldyxl0ss.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4559%20680x651_zpsb3hhfuud.jpg
[img]http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4560%20680x510_zpsv8w8jspf.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4562%20680x448_zpsznonzqt9.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal/100_4563%20680x510_zps43uc5tqh.jpg
Hook up! Cory