Rpt-SCI-12-02-10 Slow start and Good ending!

[Tunaslam]

Fishing with Dave Robinson, on his 28’ Farallon “Hooked”, with friends Ron, Jim and John. We left Dave’s slip in Newport Harbor at 5:15 am Thursday morning. The skies were clear, the seas were calm, and the Sunrise was another one to remember.





Dave set a course for the East end of Catalina, hoping to hook up with a light boat selling live squid. Last week he and his crew had some fantastic fishing for quality Calico Bass and huge Whitefish on the live squid. We reached Catalina around 6:45 am, and found no less than a dozen light boats anchored up. No one was awake on any vessel except the Dee Dee Marie, who stated they had no live squid on board. Oh well, off to the West end of San Clemente Island.

We arrived the West end of San Clemente at 8:15 am. Gave the Island a wide berth and headed up the backside. Dave found some good marks on a big stone in 250 feet of water, and began a drift. The water was a Pukey Green color, chilly at 56 degrees, and even worse the current was running out to sea, away from the Island! In our experience, that has never been good? We had a very slow pick on a couple of Coppers and a few small Starries.

Here I am with a decent size Copper Rockfish.



Dave made numerous moves along the backside of the Island, setting up in water over 300’, 200’ and less than 120’. The fishing was beyond slow. No less than drifting on 30 to 40 spots, most where we caught absolutely nothing over six inches in size. I think by noon we had under ten keeper Rockfish for five anglers. We usually do that in in less than a half hour?

Not even the ever present Bocaccio wanted to play today. We also only had one small Red to show for our efforts. Ron finally broke the ice on our non Bocaccio day, just before it went under the knife!



We never caught a Whitefish, Sheephead or Calico Bass, despite fishing numerous stones in the 100 to 130’ depths, where we have always found fish. Dave slowly worked his way back to the West end, and at 2 pm, found some huge marks on a rock in over 300’. The Reds finally decided to play! Within minutes we had a triple going. Drop backs also resulted in repeat performance.

Jim with back to back Vermillion Rockfish!



I caught one on the Jax jig, and another one on the shrimp fly.



John found a Barber pole to go with his first Red!



Ron with a nice Vermillion Rockfish.




Dave moved us back on the rock, and several of us were hammered as we hit bottom, including Captain Dave.



I got hammered and the big Red fussed all the way up. The biggest of the day.



John caught another dandy Red.
.


On my next drop I caught a twin brother to my big Red.



It was getting late, and Dave had saved the day dialing up one of his many secret spots, too cool! We called it a day at 4:15pm. The seas were now totally glass, quite a surprise given this year’s poor weather most of the time The ride home was very pleasant, made in less than two hours! Stopped outside the harbor to clean fish. Enjoyed the Christmas lights in Newport Harbor.

Thanks Dave, you always put us on the fish, another great adventure.

My house doesn’t quite equal the standards set in Newport for Christmas lights, but I give it the old college try. Merry Christmas from the Visser’s.





Hook up!
Cory

[stepchild]

nice report with the pics.and the fishing always better late then never.wtg!!!

[murrieta angler]

Nice report Cory,
Those were some nice reds. I tried last week for nada.
Did you have to remind me about the Christmas lights, I need to get mine up.
Thanks Again & Take Care,
Robert
<><

[k3vin_kim]

i love happy endings =)

[DockRat]

Cory, your always putting up good numbers. WTG
DR

i love happy endings =)

[JapanRon]

Hi Tunaslam,

Sounds like great good fun. That boat and skipper sure put you guys in position to do some real Red slaying .... every trip !!

Happy crankin' next trip out,

JapanRon