the tsutaoka charter on the marla IV, january 2018
this is trip number two out of three that were scheduled for this short stretch. got a little carried away here, but somehow i managed to schedule three trips with the osuna's in a 4 month period of time. a rough summer with zero fishing was part of the reason. hey, no one lies on their death bed and says "i wish i would have spent more time at the office....".
most of you have read the reports over the last couple of years. some things were the same. we teamed up with scotty, roberto, scotty jr., and antonio again on the marla IV out of puerto vallarta. this was ben's trip, so it was me, ben and james again. same 3.5 day format, same baits, same makaira boat reels, same seeker boat rods, still brought my own personal maks and uc rods, and same success.
there were a few things different this time. joe ponas out of oregon was the new guy. ben brought some new gear, a pair of penn vsx's, a united composites rod and a seeker rod. we used gamakatsu hooks this time. oh, and i caught a yellowfin that taped out at 273 pounds, but more on that later......
from anywhere on the west coast, you can book with alaska airlines and get a companion fare for cheap if you have an alaska airlines visa card. it will save you allot of money! virgin airlines now partners with alaska, so we flew with them this time.
january 2nd, 2018
caught the early flight out of san francisco with virgin. when we arrived in puerto vallarta, i found this just sitting all by itself in the middle of the floor. yup, it was my reel bag, all shredded.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_10_45_230111950.jpeg)
it must have gotten caught in the conveyor belts. there was no one in the baggage pick up area to talk to and we had a boat to catch, so we left. i didn't find this until later. it's my penn 50 vsx. still functional, but the frame and both side plates ware shredded. screw it. it will works and there are fish to catch. i'll deal with this later.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_07_23017325.jpeg)
scotty picked us up at the "oxxo" and drove us south to the old district of town for some cubans, then north to the mega for some don julio blanco, and then continued north to the boat. dinner was at oso's.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_10_53_23013687.jpeg)
these guys don't drink as hard as the last group, so it was only two rounds of don julio's!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_10_55_230141784.jpeg)
dinner was tasty as ever!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_10_230181307.jpeg)
back to the boat.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_01_230161054.jpeg)
ben, james and i each brought a pair of rods. i had a 5-pack of these 7/0 gamakatsu ringed circle hooks, so i loaded up five of the rods with these. nothing is more simple than a single san diego. for ben's last rod, i just grabbed a generic non-ringed circle hook that i found in a tackle box. remember this. it will come back to bite us in the #### later.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_31_23024838.jpeg)
january 3rd, 2018
you know, i'll never get tired of this!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_39_23026575.jpeg)
actually, i should introduce everyone. ben is out chartermaster!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_57_23028964.jpeg)
james is an old college drinking buddy of ben's.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_17_23030327.jpeg)
new guy is joe ponas from oregon.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_19_230312329.jpeg)
our skipper is scotty osuna.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_27_230321138.jpeg)
deckhand and chef is roberto osuna.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_25_38_23051127.jpeg)
second deckhand is antonio.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_38_230352071.jpeg)
and our dishwasher and designated bait assasin is scotty osuna, jr.!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_34_230341792.jpeg)
one shark hit the balloon rig and chewed through the line early the first morning. that was it for action all day. a long day with nothing to show for it. we had a couple of hours between sunset and moonrise where there was total darkness. we used that time to make bait. we put 25 squid in the tank and bagged and froze another 25.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_11_33_230251134.jpeg)
january 4th, 2018
joe was first up and hooked into a slug with ben's rod. it was flat calm and maybe 5am. that fish literally spun the boat around 3 times. at deep color, an hour into the fight, the line pulled from the hook. remember the rod that did NOT get a brand new gamakatsu ringed circle hook? yeah, that one. the eye had to have literally opened up and the line pulled out. the line did not break and the knot was totally intact. yeah, the eye had to have opened up!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_32_230331309.jpeg)
james was next and landed his fish, about 120 to 125. it was with a jon vadney custom united composites viper and a makaira 20 with 100 pound braid, a 100 pound fluoro topshot, 35 pounds of drag at strike, and a hook that worked.
https://youtu.be/6bp9GsqusE0
ben was next and landed his, about the same weight. he had an old seeker troller and my penn 50 vsx with all the road rash.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_40_230361247.jpeg)
finally, joe picked up a nice dorado.
https://youtu.be/cxraPdIUGFc
it made great tacos, but that was it for the rest of the day.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_48_230382269.jpeg)
more squid! 25 more in the tank and maybe 50 bagged and frozen.
https://youtu.be/-woxB-EwsXc
january 5th, 2018
back at it, last day of fishing, so far only two in the box. i wanted to make sure that joe got a fish, so i told him to go next. first thing in the morning, joe sticks a small one. then it's my turn. mine was a dink. hell, antonio reeled in half way just trying to make sure the hook was set! at least we have one each.
https://youtu.be/BbTkHNz6v9k
our afternoon snack was better than the fishing had been, so far.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_45_230371743.jpeg)
nearly bored to death, ben gets the idea to start chunking with squid. and i'll be damed if it didn't work. we got a double, and on autopsy, both fish had squid chunks in their bellies!
https://youtu.be/ulGfAGvbCGw
joe got his second fish right away and suddenly our trip is turning around.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_54_230401902.jpeg)
we still have alot of work to do. the fish have to be cut up, stuffed into bags, then vacuum sealed and dunked in slush ice.
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_15_21_230412024.jpeg)
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_14_53_23039124.jpeg)
but there's one last fish, and it grabs the boat's kite rig with the old seeker trolling rod and the makaira 50 with the busted clicker that you can't turn off.
https://youtu.be/rezbaY92GaU
it taped out at 273 pounds and took 25 minutes. i've got a long way to go before i can beat mike pate!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_4_04_55_230521039.jpeg)
we still have work to do!
https://youtu.be/Bw2oFHLhZgQ
time to break down our gear and settle in for a 10 hour run back to port!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_23_29_230471799.jpeg)
january 6th, 2018
back at the dock!
https://youtu.be/wiRnw0Nq2p4
all packed up and ready to go! 125 pounds of filet, each!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_23_36_230481075.jpeg)
james got rooms for us at the westin. a nice way to decompress!
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_23_46_23046264.jpeg)
january 7th, 2018
hard to believe, but we actually did run into brian and his crew! they were on a really tough two and a half day trip on the "success."
(http://alantani.com/gallery/23/1_08_01_18_11_23_48_230501548.jpeg)
we had an easy flight home. got another one of these scheduled in march. i'm bring down some quarter inch marine grade rope to wrap parts of the bow rails so the rods don't slip. scotty is interested in the united composite rods, so will see about that. and finally they were very interested in the gamakatsu hooks, so i'll see if i can contact the gamakatsu guy. hope you enjoyed the report!
That is a great report and a lunker of a fish...congrats Alan! 8)
Great trip and report. I HATE that about your Penn 50. I don't think that "will buff right out". :)
Great idea on the ringed Gamakatsu's. You bring those in March and I'll bring the vac bags.
You need to strike up a deal with the Osuna's to repair their reels. Broken clickers, and Bill Benz almost lost a very nice YFT last trip when the bearings froze up on a Mak 20. Doing a reel swap with a 200 lb tuna on the other end of the line is no fun.
Miguelito
Awesome job Alan. Not sure if I like the rail mounted rod holders on the pulpit as it looks like you can get dangerously close to having the rod hit the aluminum tube while sliding along the rail unless it is a optical illusion.
Beautiful fish. That sure is a loud clicker, even if it is broken. ;D
Congratulations, well deserved!
Scott
That was awesome Alan.
Hey did James relayed his tuner in high gear.
"
but there's one last fish, and it grabs the boat's kite rig with the old seeker trolling rod and the makaira 50 with the busted clicker that you can't turn off.
I know a guy that can fix that... ::) Dominick
Nice work guys!
Great report!
Yea, the ringed 7/0 Gamagatsu circles are the best hook for that job. Even when not putting the serious breaks to the fish with spectra, as you guys do, the rings help to keep the hook in place throughout the fight. I am a firm believer. They aren't cheap though. Did you guys try dropping any live squid down below the main bunch, or in the early am hours, for tuna? I hear they can work. I am just not sure how to properly bridle a live squid.
Bummer about the VSX. I am considering travel insurance for my trip to La Paz next month.
John
Great Trip Alan! Congrats. ;)
so envy.
you are a lucky guy Jefe, and I mean it.
man that's some nice work! Mike is correct, I don't see Never Dull fixing that 50...:(
I got so pumped watching those videos, I'm ready to book a trip.
Those ringed Mustads worked well back in December and for me in November.
Great report and trip Alan....hey if you want to send me that junk Mak and Penn I will dispose of them in an ecological manner ;) Bill
Any Closure on that VSX that looked like it was put against a grinder?
I know that had to be upsetting. That is a $500 reel.
You have taught me a lot of things Alan, but walking away from that would be tough for me.
Even though it is probably a no win situation.
Maybe if you had a bigger reel, it wouldn't have got caught in their grinder. ;)
If I had to fly to my Fishing Destination, I would use a Pelican case.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on January 09, 2018, 05:36:53 AM
Any Closure on that VSX that looked like it was put against a grinder?
I know that had to be upsetting. That is a $500 reel.
You have taught me a lot of things Alan, but walking away from that would be tough for me.
Even though it is probably a no win situation.
Maybe if you had a bigger reel, it wouldn't have got caught in their grinder. ;)
If I had to fly to my Fishing Destination, I would use a Pelican case.
Didn't we just get some really nice cases for our favorite reels here last month? I'm using mine to hold my cordless ratchet kit.
Those were watch cases, Still good Quality, but to protect big reels as they should be, you need to step up to the original. ;)
That is a 12/0 and a 14/0 under all that foam. I'm sure this case would hold four 50's without a problem.
This is the way I'm traveling come April. This case and two piece rods under the back seat of my truck. With one two piece spinner combo.
I am trying the concept of packing light while seeking a 10' fish.
No gear in the back, except for terminal tackle. ;)
Sorry for highjacking.
Way to go Alan. Great trip !Except for the bag !! I also learned we have another thing in common ............... Cubans !........ you can buy them here (great shop in Nanaimo) and my humidor is usually stocked.
Cheers:
Todd
Did you show your buddies at Virgin your reel and thank them for the excellent service?
Great report Alan. Thanks.
Good luck with your claim for damaged baggage...
I suspect they'll say you used the wrong bag.
Next time Samsonite?
steve
What happens alan if your office is a fishing charter boat.
ben and james are the cigar smokers, not me. ;D as for the reel, i'm not going to stress over it. whatever happens will happen. there was a very pretty young lady that was helping me. she took a long time to take photos and get my contact information. that alone would make it worthwhile!
It's nice that you got someone to look at It and file a claim but you know the way game is played... I'm calling BS without pictures of the photographer!
Well since you are not into Cubans we still can have some scotch or rye or rum or Irish whiskey or tequila ................. just not bourbon !
Good luck with the reel claim. I hope that since you are not laying into them really hard they will come through.
Cheers:
todd
i'm pretty much just a scotch guy. i like the islays the best! ;D
Quote from: alantani on January 10, 2018, 12:44:02 AM
i'm pretty much just a scotch guy. i like the islays the best! ;D
I tend to agree with you. My first wife was from Scotland and I went there many times and did a car/ ferry trip through the Hebrides and tasted many single malts. I was in my 20's then and really didn't appreciate them as I would today. The area around Oban on the mainland also makes some nice whiskys . Oh well, as we grow older we learn to appreciate things more.
While I like a good cigar, IMO Cubans are way over rated. Living in S. FL. with many Cuban friends that legally bring them home from visits to Cuba many are boot legs and even the ones that are genuine from the factories are not worth the price.
In Miami, you can get a good Cuban seed cigar from Nicaragua or Honduras for less than $2.00 that in a blind tasting(smoking) many or even most would prefer over a real Cuban. It is mostly hype about Cubans.
Anyway. glad you caught a sea monster and if anyone can deal with a scarred up reel , you would be the man. Perhaps Penn will help you out as you have done a lot for them unintentionally.
Quote from: alantani on January 10, 2018, 12:44:02 AM
i'm pretty much just a scotch guy. i like the islays the best! ;D
Really, is that where they make Tequila?
Great report Alan. Need to make it down there.
Quote from: FINSEEKER;794237Hi Allen,
Congrats on the big fish. I'm doing a 2.5 day on the Constitution out of PV first week of Feb. LMK if you have any words of wisdom for me.
bait - you can't beat the big squid. live is best, but even dead they are the best bait. to make bait, the small 3 inch glow squid jigs work great. they should be weighted with 10-12 ounces. we went with a 10 second drop and then waited. if there was no action after a minute, then drop another 10 seconds. we went down as far as 5 of the 10 second drops. i've also never caught squid during the daytime. only at night.
you will likely have cabillitos for bait. that's the spanish word for "pony," so it's not really the proper name for the fish, but they are very tough. you can hook them in the back with a 7/0 circle hook, drag them around all day, then reel them in, toss them back into the bait tank and fish with them the next day. we've caught many tuna with them, but squid (dead or alive) is still best.
for hooks, a good quality 7/0 ringed circle hook is fine. either gamakatsu or owner. i use a single san diego knot. never failed.
line - i like the pink seaguar, but any good quality fluoro will do. the braid to fluoro connection i use is a cross between a tony pena and a slim beauty. it's a four turn uni knot on the fluoro side and then "eight up and ten down" on the braid side. again, never failed. for line weights, it's ok to go 100 pound braid to 100 pound fluoro, and 130 pound braid to 130 pound fluoro.
friends don't let friends fish with 80.
reels - the 100 pound reel i like would be an okuma makaira 20 or a penn international 30 vsx. these will hold 700 yards of braid and deliver 35 pounds of drag at strike an 45 to 55 pounds of drag at full. remember that you could be looking at a 200 yard soak and a 200 yard run before the fish settles down.
likewise with your 130 pound reel, a makaira 50 or penn 50 vsx. 700 yards of 130 pound hollow core braid with a 130 pound fluoro topsho, 45 pound of drag at strike and 55 to 65 pounds at full.
if you decide to go with another reel, make sure you have the line capacity, make sure your strike setting is high enough without having to advance the lever with a sledge hammer, and see what your "full" setting is. if these older reels do not make the grade, you will pay dearly at the rail.
rods - don't forget, the rods are 50% of the equation. the absolute best sticks are the united composites viper for 100 pound and the uc invictus for 130 pound. the seeker equivalents would be the 2x4 for 100 pound and the osp4x for 130 pound. go with a 10 year old 5'6" troller with roller guides and it will hurt. these newer rods make a huge difference.
fighting belts - i don't use them. when the fish is way out, i sit on the rod, with the rod butt well starboard of my nuts. (careful here. if you crush the nerves behind your nuts, you will have problems for life.) when the fish crosses 45 to 50 degrees down, i shove the rod butt under my right arm pit.
end game - don't lift with your arms until the very end. use the motion of the boat to lift, then reel down quickly when the boat comes down. if you want to kill him more quickly (always recommended), then use your body weight to leverage the rod up, then reel down quickly. keep pressure on the rod tip. it should always be bent over to the max. anytime that rod tip comes up, you need to take that opportunity to quickly gain line.
if all your knots are good and the fish is properly hooked in the corner of the jaw, you own him unless you are sawed off. go ahead, pull as hard as you want! at color, you physically cannot break 100 or 130 pound test line with a properly set up rod and reel.
good luck!
Here is a good article with photographs on hooking cabillito. https://www.bdoutdoors.com/change-the-way-your-bait-swims-by-altering-the-hook/ Dominick
Quote from: Dominick on January 11, 2018, 12:52:29 AM
Here is a good article with photographs on hooking cabillito. https://www.bdoutdoors.com/change-the-way-your-bait-swims-by-altering-the-hook/ Dominick
We call these Opelu(small ones are Halalu). These and the closely-related Akule make excellent bait. They are the same exact fish as those found in Mexico, and closely related to their Atlantic/GOM cousins.
Still not sure how to properly live-bridle/hook/rig a large live squid for tuna?
John
We just call them Goggle Eyes in Florida. The primo sailfish live bait off of a Kite. My wife likes them with rice. ;D Fresh dead make excellent bottom fish baits for Mutton Snapper and Groupers..
They sell from $60-$100 a dozen locally.
Alan,
I have to say you know your gear.
But, That Technique.
I can't make myself do that.
Nothing is going Starboard or Port of the Boys.
I don't have a rail. Its just me on the sand.
I figure I have another 10 years to keep trying it my way.
Hats off to you Sir. ;)
been thinking of rigging a bicycle seat!!!!!! ;D
I've sat on the butt while riding the rail, no bicycle seat needed!
Quote from: alantani on January 14, 2018, 03:59:03 AM
been thinking of rigging a bicycle seat!!!!!! ;D
This I gotta see, no doubt you could do it!