Freelance 5/19/2007

[Funjunkie74]

Got back, had dinner and now very quickly fading.... :tired:
So today's report will be mostly pics, brief and simple.

I got a call from my boy, Kev, who tells me "Catalina, Saturday, Freelance!! It's wide open!! We gotta go!!" I was planning to fishing anyway so this was a no brainer.

6:00am I show up at Davey's.
6:30am We were supposed to leave...
7:00am We actually leave.

Capt. Norris tells us that the bait boat captain is going to his boat and that he'll be there in 10~15 minutes, so we're going to wait for him right inside the harbor.

2 hours later, we're no longer inside the harbor and about an hour outside of the harbor. And Capt. Norris tells us, we're gonna wait here till the bait boat meets up with us. So with cut squid, we start sculpin fishing. I caught one sculpin here...(sorry no pics)

Then an hour later, finally the bait boat shows up...




They were scooping in ANCHOVIES!! I haven't seen anchovies in a long time!! I didn't thing that we still used them for fishing!!! hahaha!!

Well, 30 minutes later, we're on our way!!
(Anybody keeping track of the time?? Yeah, it's 10:30am already!!)

12:30pm and we finally start to see familiar scenery....Avalon..


A little pokey here, a little pokey there...my bag is still empty...




Fast forward, to the end (there aren't really any details worth talking about...) 1 sculpin, 1 calico, and 1 bonito...the making of a really good sashimi dinner!!


And here's the bonus picture.
Kev and I got a little frustrated with the day. I think we envisioned something much more "fight belt required" fishing. So here's a shot of what I had envisioned...

It reminds me of the great picture of Duc fighting a YFT in Cabo last year...

[jonee523]

Wow, usually a good boat.

[JapanRon]

Hi Funjunkie74,

Thanks for the extra effort! You presented what might qualify as a 'Nightmare on Freelance Street' as just stuff that goes on with a moo-moo and aquisition of bait during a transition period.

I fully sympathize with your ..... er ..... our plight!

I'll bet one or more of the the following elements were contributors to the 'tripy trip'.

1) Sometimes ... skippers (landing) will wait for late comers. I dislike that but in the end it could be the difference between ones own boat going out with a profit/breaking even or not. Better late than never ?

2) Less acceptable ..... some skippers (or maybe landings policy) get greedy or money hungry and hope to pick up some anglers from boats of other landings that in the end couldn't go out due to a minimum passenger requirement. (hate that) Happens when landings are in close proximity to each other. A service to competitiors anglers and dis-service to the patrons on the boat.

3) Skippers want good counts any~day but especially before a week-end and will go the extra mile to attract the fish-count watchers. I know of skippers that are willing to gamble 'a little less fishing time' against .........&# 46; more, better quality, or a preferred specis. I don't blame them. Anglers attitudes are split on this one!

4) Whether it be the bait receiver/bait-boat that is hoping to sell some of their supply/catch to the sporties ....... stuff happens. I've noticed and accepted that the bait-boats can't run on a schedule and don't always correctly estimate their arrival time or place at a receiver, outside the breakwater, or a spot in the middle of the ocean. To some degree, the skipper is at the mercy of the bait-guys who are well-intentioned!!

It was clever of the skipper to go out and park at a spot where you could fish. Heck, I've waited just outside the harbor for a good long time and with no fishing possibilites other than Queenfish! till the bait-boat came.

As to heading toward Catalina at 10:30am ..... again .... a gamble ..... or more properly ......... a pretty steep 'raise' in the game after a substantial ante. A skipper may very well have privy info on the islands conditions with so many boats there and hoped for primo conditions. (I myself would would have been ok with it but only because .........&# 46; I'm willing to trade 3 hours fishing at Catalina for 6 or 7 hours locally ... Horseshoe Kelp 5/19.)

Hero or zero: The afernoon bite didn't develop for anything and so it looks like the all-in resulted in going home with just enough for a fishy dinner. I've done worse ...... that's for sure. :lol: :lol:

I'm giving the moo-moos a little slack at present as the bait-supply 'system' is not perfectly in place with the new bait-boat entrys onto the local scene. Some will do business locally others at Catalina. Things just ain't smoothed out yet. Things will get better I'm sure.

Again, thanks for a very balanced report and much appreciated. Haven't been down to the little 3 in a while but am sure that you know it's a gimme that stuff goes on at EVERY landing at ANY given time.

JapanRon

[Sea Murda]

That dinner looks delicious! And I dont even like sashimi :D, nice report man!

[Funjunkie74]

JR, thanks!
I think the bottom line is "sometimes things just don't roll the way they're supposed to." If anything, I think the Capt. was stressing the most!!

Considering the bad conditions (luck??) the bags did not go home completely empty. Efforts were being made and I appreciated it. My wife enjoyed the sashimi and I enjoyed looking at that, so whether it was a slow day or a wide open day, it's just icing.


:twisted:

[Funjunkie74]

That dinner looks delicious! And I dont even like sashimi :D, nice report man!

There's hope for you yet!!
I'll make a believer out of you!!

[EricU]

Your reports seemed to create a bit of drama that keeps me reading. I expect the worse and then there is a ray of sunshine!

I have been on a few sport fishing boats and have not experienced that HUGE lag time from launch to fishing grounds. I think JRon has accurately and eloquently described every scenario possible for the reason for the delay. Me, I don't know if I could contain myself waiting to "get on fish".

Good going on staying cool and making the best of a ??? situation.

What did you end up having as sashimi...the clear plate?

Thank you for the story and pictures.

[Funjunkie74]

Your reports seemed to create a bit of drama that keeps me reading. I expect the worse and then there is a ray of sunshine!

I have been on a few sport fishing boats and have not experienced that HUGE lag time from launch to fishing grounds. I think JRon has accurately and eloquently described every scenario possible for the reason for the delay. Me, I don't know if I could contain myself waiting to "get on fish".

Good going on staying cool and making the best of a ??? situation.

What did you end up having as sashimi...the clear plate?

Thank you for the story and pictures.

Eric, you give me too much credit. Life is, er, fishing is a drama in itself. It's all about how you tell it afterwards. Some people embellish and talk about "the fish that got away" and some people tell it like it is. JR's reports always tell it like it is AND you get the added benefit of learning a thing or two (or three!!).

Hey, I'm the kind of guy that has given up complaining and learned that when you're given lemons...make CEVICHE!! It tastes better than being bitter!!

The sashimi is sculpin (on the left) and a calico bass (on the right). The amount of sashimi can tell you how big the calico was in comparison to the sculpin. In Japan, the sculpin is known as "KASAGO" a delicacy not often found at most sushi bars. It's also a great fish to grill with a little salt and a lemon squeezed over it when it's done!

I am flattered and very glad you enjoyed my report.
I look forward to the day I write my report with a few of you FNNers in it!!

Funjunkie

[ghetto dad]

Hey man, thanks for the report bro....sorry about the less then stellar day!!!! Good job keeping the good attitude!!! :D

[Funjunkie74]

Hey man, thanks for the report bro....sorry about the less then stellar day!!!! Good job keeping the good attitude!!! :D

Thanks!
Just havin' fun!! There are enough things to really get pissed over...ie. politics and taxes!! ahahaha!