Bryan's new adventure - Intrepid 2015

[Bryan Young]

I have never though about going on a long range trip until I met Alan.  I knew about them from my brother-in-law whom has gone on some trips but the idea of going on a boat and sharing the rail really was not my idea of a good time.  I have never really wanted to go on any charter rockcod fishing boats as well.  The first trip on a charter resulted where the captain had to come down from the bridge to separate 2 Chinese guys because one kept on crossing the other's line because they were using different weights.  My initial though was why didn't that one Chinese guy just give him a heavier weight so the other would not cross his line?  Anyway, my thought of going on these long ranges where you are stuck with these type of people for more than a day really never gave me a good impression.  No matter the coaxing of Alan, Hank (the gentlemen you will meet later in this post), and many others that I have met servicing reels, I suppose my fears should I say was decreasing.  Then I met Don.  He is new to the long range scene.  He started with using the boat's rental rods and seeing him then progress to used Penn reels to new Avets and others, I started to save to make it on Alan's charter next year.  Due to a mishap, I was fortunate to go on board a beautiful boat called the Intrepid.  My adventure began on September 1, 2015.  As I lay in bed, I just couldn't sleep with the excitement and nervous gitters, I packed up and was on my way at 1:53 AM to San Diego.



I drove for a few hours then I got tired and stopped in Lost Hill to get some needed shut eye so I would not be a danger to other drivers and to myself.  I got a few hours of sleep and when I awoke, this is the beautiful sunrise that had awaken me.



On the way down, I had though about stopping into Okuma since I had talked with those guys many times before, but Alan said that Ontario was really out of the way.  So I had planned to forgo the stop.  My GPS has this traffic re-routing option and noticed that I will be passing Ontario so I decided to stop in to meet the guys and the newest Okuma member Scott.




While there I got luck to meet Danny, Patrick and Scott.  Danny was telling a customer about a new line of 2016 rods due in October and Scott brought out a prototype jig stick for me to see hold.



This rod was SCT-C-801H-CG (http://www.okumafishing.com/product/view/rods/saltwater-1/sct-boat-rods).  It is a deck hand type of rod, 8 feet long and rated 20-40#, 1-4 oz lure weight.  The handle was made up of carbon fiber fore grip, X-wrap center where the reel was mounted, and carbon fiber butt grip.  The rod had a fast tip with solid backbone.  I had mentioned how it would be nice to fish with this stick and was offered an opportunity to fish it on the Interpid.  Of course, I couldn't say no to try out some new stuff.  So I loaded the rod in my van and off I went.

I made it down to San Diego a short time later.  The drive on I-15 was superb...no traffic, just smooth sailing (just what I like).  I was greeted to with picturesque scenes.



The Premier locked and loaded to slay some fish





I met up with my friend Hank for a bite to eat and to talk about the game plan.  Yes, I was still nervous about being on a vessel for 8 days, and so the adventure begins.

The next day, I woke up at 5:00 am as usual, tried to get more rest but couldn't so I headed to the docks to find a few people waiting in line already.  Wow, we had a 11:00 am departure and people were in line at 7:00 am?  Really?  I joined Hank and his very lovely wife Yolanda for breakfast then we roll up to check in and unload at the docks.  This time there are a lot more carts and people.  We got the very last cart in the line.




and meet Hank looking at the gear the Alan Tani and Jon Vadney had provided to use on this trip.  Did I bring too much?  


My gear consisted of 1-30# jig stick (Newell 220 with 40# braid and 30# topshot on a Shimano Teramar rod), 1-40# jig stick (Okuma Andros 5 with 65# braid with 40# topshot mated with Okuma's new SCT-C-801H-CG), 1-50# jig stick (Newell 533 with 80# braid with 50# top shot mated with a SuperSeeker Jig Stick), 2-30# rigs (Shimano 16N with a Phoenix Rod and Release Reel - not Truth Reel also mated with a Phoenix Rod), 3-40# rigs, 2-50# rigs, 1-60#/80# rig, and last, a 130# trolling rig.  Did I bring too much?

The vessel was loaded by the crew (oh, that is nice)




Then we boarded and we were off.

I immediately stated eating.



Then getting settled in on deck. 


The rest are on the upper deck.



but did not miss the view as we departed.





Once the gear on deck was settled, I went below deck.  This is Hank and my quarters.


Some rooms were larger than others but it was comfortable.  Each room had it's own AC thermostat.  I think this appeared to give us control but for the life of me, I could not get it cooler.

Once out of the harbor, we had our safety orientation with Captain Jesus



Then headed south.




Then the rigging began.  Wow, I'm amazed of what gear people had.



Feeling overwhelmed, I wet up on deck to the Bridge


and just looked at everyone set up from top deck


While still taking time to enjoy the sights.




Going down was rather choppy chasing down a hurricane that just landed in Mexico.  Not good for me as I wasn't feeling all that great, so I ate and ate and ate to keep my energy level up.  I did better than I though...man my energy gets sucked up by the rocking of the boat.  I felt like sleeping all of the time.

Luckily dinner was served.  I was starving.


Intro Luc.  He is the owner Anglers Center and charter master of this trip.  We had awesome prizes.  Thank you Luc.


Then after dinner, I went top side to take pics of the setting sun.
With flash

Without flash

With I don't remember...


So the adventure begins.

The next morning, after breakfast, there were some dolphins but could not find any biting fish.  That was cool.  I think in the total of 8 days, we saw 3 or 4 schools of dolphins.  One pod were lime miniature sized.  I have never seen that before.  My daughter would have loved it.



Fishing was slow.  It was so slow that I found it hard to try to capture fishing while trying to catch something.  Here are a few pics of the catching, not in any particular order.









And in between the bites, there were a lot of this













It wasn't all bad, just look at the sunsets






Yes I did catch some fish. 
My fourth place jackpot fish.  I caught this 28# ono on the slide. 

We hooked up to 3 onos on the troll.  When the boat was taken out of gear, I flung out a silver and pink iron from the bow of the boat on Okuma's prototype rod SCT-C-801H-CG that I borrowed from Scott at Okuma prior to this trip.



The rod was mated with Alan Tani's Andros 5II with 65# braid and 30# top shot.


And the fight was on.  In no time, I find myself running to the stern of the boat under everyone on the rail and the ono cleared about 75 yards before I stepped up the drag.  ( normally fish star drag reels and completely forgot that I can control the drag .  I was able to slow down the ono for another 25 yards with the tip up until the fish stopped.  I railed the rod and started cranking.  Dang it was hard...oop, I have low gear too.  I shifted it in low gear and the ono came right in with ease on this rod and reel combination.  This is an excellent set up.  I am planning to get one of these set-ups before my next trip.

I ended the trip with a few fish, including a few skip jacks (looks like aku) and bonitos (looks like kawakawa). 


Hank also gave me his fish as well for a total weigh of 240# of fish for 8 days.  Not a very successful trip as I was hoping for some yellow fin and blue fin tuna, but was happy non the less for the experience and a good amount of fish that didn't break my bank.

Special thanks goes out to Don Scheel for allowing me to go in his place, Hank McNabb for mentoring me on the boat, and of course, Alan Tani and Jon Vadney who set me up with rods, reels, and all the tackle one could use on a trip of this caliber.

Will I go on another trip...well, my body says no, but my excitement says OH YEAH!!!...we'll see what my wife says.

My daughter would like to go on one of these trips.  I think I need to get her our more often for some rock cod fishing, salmon fishing and whatever fishing possible...maybe some local tuna trips in the near future? 

Whew.

[lawaia]

Looking forward to the reports and pictures, Bryan!

[Keta]

Patently waiting.

[theswimmer]

Patently waiting.

I think he is preparing a two page response on Tribology.........

[David Hall]

Hey it's a great read so far and were not even on the boat yet.

[Big Tim]

Bryan you're killin' us  And the answer is no! you did not take too much gear...Remember what we loaded on the Argo to troll for salmon

impatiently waiting for the rest of the story

[Tightlines667]

Bryan you're killin' us  ...

impatiently waiting for the rest of the story

I can just tell it's going to be GOOD

[steelfish]

I hope Bryan didnt lost the camera ...again!!

[David Hall]

I just read on Facebook that Bryan is suffering some kind of bacterial infection and he is hospitalized in Hawaii.
Sounds like he's on the mend but he didn't say when he might get released.
Send him some prayers and good vibes for his speedy recovery and return.

[Rancanfish]

Whoa, not so good to hear.

[johndtuttle]

Thoughts and prayers sent for Bryan. 

[David Hall]

Yep he gets a pass for not keeping us fed with fresh posts on his trip.
He did say his fever had broke and I can only surmise since he posted it on Facebook that he is feeling better.

[alantani]

yeah, i read that as well.  he's tough, though.  he'll pull through.   

[Shark Hunter]

Get Better Bry. We are pulling for ya Buddy.

[STRIPER LOU]

Hang in there Bry. Hope your feeling better!
................Lou