our october SOA 10-day trip is scheduled for october 20-30, 2024. the total cost for the boat for this year is $89,000. divided 24 ways and adding a 17% tip brings the cost up to $4330 per person. if you are interested, please let me know as soon as you can.
if you can make it, please send an $2165 deposit check made out to me. my address is 12362 ted court, saratoga, ca 95070. thanks!!!! alan
1. Alan Tani - Saratoga, CA
2. Warren Hamachi - West Covina, CA
3. Mike Pate - Leesburg, GA
4. Tommy Dembski - Santa Cruz, CA
5. Mark Thomann - Mission Viejo, CA
6. Lauren Dembski - Santa Cruz, CA
7. Dan Puma - Campbell, CA
8. Lee Putman - Klamath Falls, OR
9. Frank Oclassen - Elk Grove, CA
10. Mike Potts - Portland, OR
11. Roy Qi - Santa Barbara, CA
12. Craig Pappas - Santa Cruz, CA
13. Paul Dennis - Eugene, OR
14. Vic Herrick - Hereford, AZ
15. Frank James - Hammond, OR
16. Paul Seghposs - Scottsdale, AZ
17. Vince Outcalt - Scottsdale, AZ
18. Dan Durbin - San Jose, CA
19. Jim Cureton - San Jose, CA
10. Ron Huddleston - Scottsdale, AZ
21. Tom McKinney - San Diego, CA
22. David Alexander - Cloverdale, CA
Just looking at the starting list of anglers, it's going to be a fun trip.
we have a long way to go. deposits are long overdue for the 8 and 10 day trips. i do not want to consolidate them, but i might have to cancel one if we don't get this thing filled, and quick.
Is this trip still a go?
as far as we know.
Gentlemen, good evening! our trip is a little more than 2 months away. i'll need to send in the balance of the payment for the boat in the next several weeks. several of you are paid in full. for those of you that have an outstanding balance, please send a check in the next week or so.
also, i'm going to need some help again. we are 2-3 guys short so far. if you can think of anyone that would be a good fit and would be interested, please let me know. i would really like to avoid the same situation as last year. we have two more months to find 2-3 more people. that should be doable. if not, i may ask for help from you this time. thanks for your understanding.
for those of you that paid the regular deposit, the balance would be $2165. thanks a million!!!! alan
I have agonized for months over signing up for one of the available open 10 day slots. It was just too close to the 8 day to fly coast to coast again. Last week the decision was made for me. Anne was eating granola cereal and broke a tooth. Those healthy foods are bad for you! Dentist says she needs a couple of other dental procedures as well as a new tooth. $7K. Pay in advance. I have great insurance, just not dental coverage. So you guys have fun on the 10 day while I sit back in GA and cry in my Wild Turkey.
Lee, you therefore win ugliest fisherman by default.
GA Mike
Good news!!!!
Bummer about your wife's tooth, dental is expensive even with insurance. I have been dealing with a molar that is half gone for over 10 years. My dentist finally convinced me to get another crown and he will bill it as 2 procedures, the first between Christmas and New Year and the second in January so I can use 2 years insurance. Hearing aids are another big expense, the ones I need cost more than a 15 day LR trip. We have a bit of coverage for them now though. Mary has been on me about getting hearing aids for years, fortunately I can act like I do not hear her.
You will be missed, see you on the Cedros trip.
I've gotten permission to go on this trip at almost the last minute. I convinced Anne she wouldn't be considered a true Georgia Girl with a full set of teeth! So instead of removing a few of mine, she banished me to the west coast for 10 days.
Don't throw me in that briar patch!
(Insignificant and worthless trivia - that's a Brer Rabbit saying from the Uncle Remus books by Joel Chandler Harris. Written in the 1880's. He was from Eatonton, GA and there is a museum there.)
I arrive at 3:30 into Terminal 2. Anybody with a vehicle going to be around that could possibly pick me up? Rooming with Alan at the Sea Harbor. Alan and Lee don't fly in until 5:30 or so. I've only got a checked bag and a carry-on. No rods or reels. I do need to make a quick stop at the Navy liquor store, but it's practically on the way. If not, I'll grab a taxi.
(229) 344-1973
GA Mike
Welcome aboard!
Damn, now I won't be the ugliest one on the boat!
See you in SD.
Quote from: Wally15 on October 16, 2024, 05:43:59 PMI convinced Anne she wouldn't be considered a true Georgia Girl with a full set of teeth!
living life dangerously.... ;D ;D ;D
I sense dropper loop yellowtail at 0330 in everyones future! :d - john
A Georga Bulldawg makes the best fish alarm there is 😉
Fun, fun, fun! The passes got 3"-4" of snow this morning and we have had sleet and snow off and on all day. Potts will have a few miles of semi bad road conditions but most of the roads are just wet.... but if the temperature drops it might get icy. We start south early Friday, once we get 40 miles south of KF, over Hebron Summit, the road conditions will be much better.
Drive safely Lee, those early season storm drivers are scary!
Just dropped Alan and Lee at the San Jose Airport, after the memorial, to catch their flight to San Diego. Mike Potts should be just arriving in SD also.
Peaches should be in SD now too.
Lad's, go Get Em! -john
Have a great trip guys!
Sounds like there's a lot of ice about to turn red.
Tonight their was not much ice in the shot glases.
I will try to post daily reports.
Day 1 - Boring!! Loaded up and headed South. No idea as yet on destination. Lots of other LR boats down S so we should get lots of reports. Evan is skipper.
Day 2 - internet spotty. Weather great, smooth sailing. Some "open trolling" and looking for possible tuna. After 24 hours (10:30A) we're 250 SM S of SD.
Great Expectations!
GA Mike
Day 2 update- picked up a few skipjack on the troll N of Benitos. Picked up 2 nice YFT up to 65 lbs on fly lines on the slide. Moving inshore past Natividad in search of reported nice YT and YF. Alijos is crowded, window may open toward the end of trip. The Ridge is our home for the foreseeable future.
There are a lot worse places to be. 😄😄
on the 8-day we had two good stops inshore of Natividad where it was "lights out" for all the yellowtail you could want. You had to get down underneath the (sizeable) barracuda to get into them but it was fun fishing; good way to get some meat on the boat! - john
Quick day 3 update. YFT wide open in AM. Tagged 83 in 40-80 lb range. N end of San Pablo. Headed S to S end of Pablo looking for YT. 1st hold full of tuna.
GA Mike.
WooooooHoooooo ! Go get'em.
These boys are nailing it!!!!! - john
No sign of YT at the San Roque or Asuncion high spots. We'll be on the 23 spot on the Ridge in the morning.
Tight lines !
Quote from: MarkT on October 22, 2024, 11:38:10 PMNo sign of YT at the San Roque or Asuncion high spots. We'll be on the 23 spot on the Ridge in the morning.
Quote from: Wally15 on October 22, 2024, 08:48:09 PMQuick day 3 update. YFT wide open in AM. Tagged 83 in 40-80 lb range. N end of San Pablo. Headed S to S end of Pablo looking for YT. 1st hold full of tuna.
GA Mike.
Quote from: Wally15 on October 22, 2024, 08:48:09 PMQuick day 3 update. YFT wide open in AM. Tagged 83 in 40-80 lb range. N end of San Pablo. Headed S to S end of Pablo looking for YT. 1st hold full of tuna.
GA Mike.
Thanks for the update. I will be leaving for an 8 day trip on 10/27. I really appreciate any information you can provide.
Quote from: MarkT on October 22, 2024, 11:38:10 PMNo sign of YT at the San Roque or Asuncion high spots. We'll be on the 23 spot on the Ridge in the morning.
My money is on Mike slamming dropper loop yellowtail in the early AM....-john
You lose!
Quote from: MarkT on October 23, 2024, 04:33:27 PMYou lose!
Not yet! We haven't anchored up this trip.
Quick Day 4 update. Thetis was crowded with local boats. Only 1 YT caught. Couple of mid size YF on the troll.
Headed to 38 for better YT options.
GA Mike
Quote from: Wally15 on October 23, 2024, 05:49:11 PMQuote from: MarkT on October 23, 2024, 04:33:27 PMYou lose!
Not yet! We haven't anchored up this trip.
Quick Day 4 update. Thetis was crowded with local boats. Only 1 YT caught. Couple of mid size YF on the troll.
Headed to 38 for better YT options.
GA Mike
Thanks for the update.
Nothing at the 38 or 23, on the way up to the 13... again.
You think the Rocks are in your future this trip?
Not likely as of now.
Day 5- 75 more YF at 13. Can't find decent YT. Only tagged 3 vs 162 YF. Somebody gonna have a heck of a processing bill!
At 3 PM headed for Alijos 150 nm away. 30 miles from 13 caught 6 Wahoo around kelp paddy at dusk. Up to 50 lbs. Put out sea anchor and will locate other paddies tomorrow (Friday). Just about guarantees we'll spend last 2 fishing days at the Rocks. Maybe we can get some decent YT there.
Wind has picked up. Steady 15K with a swell. Rock and Roll! Clear skies the whole trip. Can't see the comet though.
Just say NO....to YF.
GA Mike
The Marlin were all over 13. We must have hooked 25. Some incredible aerial acrobatics. All broke off.
Peaches
That YF in the photo is bigger than any YF I've ever caught Mike!
I thought processing was done on the boat and part of the package.
Steve
You can't cut fish at sea in Mexico. They get processed in San Diego. Almost $2 a pound in the round. Pricey but you get a very good product, vacuum packed and ready to eat
We'll get to the rocks tonight after midnight!
Day 6- was a total bust. Kelp paddies we found didn't produce at all. Headed to Alijos for some night YT fishing. Should be there around midnight.
GA Mike
Even though you didn't find the magic kelp still a thinking out of the box good call. Hope the rocks pay off for you
Hey, if GA Mike is looking for tanker Yellowtail in the wee hours, I have learned to totally respect the man - beware the dropper loop!. - john
Quote from: Crab Pot on October 25, 2024, 05:41:25 PMThat YF in the photo is bigger than any YF I've ever caught Mike!
I thought processing was done on the boat and part of the package.
Steve
This year the crew is gutting and gilling the YT. Good call, but a lot of work for them. Definitely reflected in my additional tip at the end of the 8 day trip. Bill
Day 7- anchored at Alijos at midnight. Night bottom fishing not producing keeper fish. No other LR boats here. Managed to get 23 Wahoo up to 60 lbs. anchored around 4 PM and got 18 nice YT up to 45 lbs. Long day, a bunch of worn out fishermen. Mostly caught on dropper loop in 300 ft of water. Got 6 more nice YF keepers up to 60 lbs and a dozen or more cut off as nobody wanted them.
Heavy wx headed this way. Will only fish 1/2 day tomorrow before heading for the barn. Will try some more d loop fishing in the hours before sunrise. Then Wahoo fishing to fill out the trip.
GA Mike
(https://alantani.com/gallery/39/1583-271024125225.jpeg)
Nice one Lee! - john
That is a beauty .. .. the fish.... not Lee.
That's a slug!! Nice shot with the rocks in the background
Nice yt Lee, but every time I see you your getting shorter, thanks for the pics men, cheers Don.
Day 8- short day. Left Alijos at 9 AM heading N due to wx forecast. YT never turned on, only caught 22 for the boat. Lees was the biggest. I did catch a pb 62# Wahoo on the troll.
Here's the counts:IMG_4229.jpeg
GA MikeIMG_4226.jpeg
The count does not reflect on the size of the YFT and the wahoo were all larger than average. We filled the first fishhold with 50-70 pound YFT the first day fishing.
At 2AM we're 30nm SW of Cedros. Wind and waves already picking up. Supposed to be real ugly by this afternoon. Here's my pb 62# Hoo I got on the troll. Plus a pic of a 70# YF that was only a little above the average size caught this trip. I cut off several 30-40 pounders while YT fishing because no one wanted more tuna.
2+ days solo at the Rocks cut short by about 12 hours of prime fishing time by the weatherman 😢
GA Mike
I've got mostly video. I'll get them uploaded when I get home.
Day 8 was smooth until noon. Rough ride after that. Anchored behind Jeronimo Island 4 hours for dinner and showers. Even rougher ride overnight.
Day 9- things calmed down somewhat after lunch. Still large swells. Hugged the coast and arrived SD harbor at 9:30. All got a smooth nights sleep.
That's a wrap!
Met some new friends and fellow fishermen. We're all a little crazy! Laughed a lot and fished a lot. And ate too much! That's what it's all about.
GA Mike
two awesome trips in a row. just exhausted. i drove to mom's place last night loaded up all of the fish in the new freezer. had just enough room. mom is set for the year. so is mom's church. thanks to all. i think i'm gonna sleep for a few days!!!
Way to go Alan!
LOL, I'm no slouch when it comes to trash talking/Instigating but I'll rate the top 4 as Todd, Bobby Haskell, Garrett, and Mike Pate in no particular order. Warren gets honorable mention. Looking forward to next year and thanks for all the laughs.
Believe it or not, I saw and captured an image of the rare phenomenon, green flash at sunset! This was coming home from the 10 day trip! The brilliance of the flash is not conveyed in the photo, but is visible.
Warren - That's a great picture, and FYI loved fishing with you on the 8-day! Looking forward to next year and more of your words of wisdom. - john
Quote from: Hamachi on November 06, 2024, 01:12:04 AMBelieve it or not, I saw and captured an image of the rare phenomenon, green flash at sunset! This was coming home from the 10 day trip! The brilliance of the flash is not conveyed in the photo, but is visible.
Wish I could have been there.
It was a good trip Mike, especially for nice YFT.
Another highlight, for me anyway, was the marlin! I don't know how many were hooked by fellow passengers, but I was in awe of the sheer power of these beasts! These seem to be a nuisance to other fishermen and crew, but I find them exhilarating to hook briefly. The third one I hooked was massive and put on a tailwalking display just outside the chumline on the starboard side. It turned, still tailwalking, and almost hit the bow, the look on the faces, eyes wide open, seeing that majestic beast so close is etched in my memory. I had several passengers comment afterwards the fish sunk out, drag buttoned down, thumbs on the spool to break it off. The 80 fluorocarbon broke in the middle of the loop of the crimp, right at the hook.
Hey Warren, what an experience! They can be a bit of a pain at times, but the fight is something to remember!
That's awesome brother. Couple years back I helped Bryan land his. That fish wrecked me. Bill
Quote from: Mjg378 on November 06, 2024, 03:32:45 PMQuote from: Hamachi on November 06, 2024, 01:12:04 AMBelieve it or not, I saw and captured an image of the rare phenomenon, green flash at sunset! This was coming home from the 10 day trip! The brilliance of the flash is not conveyed in the photo, but is visible.
Wish I could have been there.
any chance that you can get a hall pass?
Quote from: Hamachi on November 07, 2024, 02:14:42 AMThese seem to be a nuisance to other fishermen and crew, but I find them exhilarating to hook briefly. The third one I hooked was massive and put on a tailwalking display just outside the chumline on the starboard side. It turned, still tailwalking, and almost hit the bow, the look on the faces, eyes wide open, seeing that majestic beast so close is etched in my memory.
Funny world isn't it ... how some folks pay mucho dinero (see Bad Company youtube feed) to experience what are reckoned to be nuisance fish on a SD multi-day boat. Then again - "we have just one world, though we live in different ones"...
I see them as pests and broke 3 of them, off early so they would not be stressed.
Quote from: Patudo on November 08, 2024, 07:15:01 PMThen again - "we have just one world, though we live in different ones"...
"We're fools to make war on our Brothers in Arms". Hauntingly beautiful song. And album.
Thanks for the flashback.
GA Mike
here are the videos!
https://youtu.be/zVDVqmbSwno
https://youtu.be/1OmIGdCEYng
https://youtu.be/JtScRQQzLT0
https://youtu.be/yg75gE47_fo
https://youtu.be/ZjzkL2gsJqU
https://youtu.be/t_JZhbIEOWY
Some nice quality fish. Thanks for sharing the footage Alan!
Nice grade of fish guys!