As most of you know I'm doing back to back trips on the SOA starting July 3rd through the 8th. I'm taking a new approach this season and running my jigging setups with wind-ons only and no xtra heavy bite leader. The mak 16 & 20 will get 200# mono wind-ons and the daytime speed jigging setup will get 100 or 130# flouro wind-ons. I like the simplicity of this system and it will reduce the number of items that snag other people's braid. The lack of terminal tackle in this system also means I should be able to get out of tangles quicker. I bought quality wind-ons from Basil, Diamond Fishing Products and Captain Harry's out of South Florida so I have full confidence they'll hold up. Does not having a extra heavy bite leader mean I'll lose fish? We shall see...
I also starting making my own assist hooks this year as well. I like being able to make custom lengths to match the jigs. My nighttime jigs will have double hooks on the bottom only as it's safer for the crew. My daytime jigs will have hooks in a variety of configurations.
A new technique I'm gonna try is fishing a floating flying fish lure on the slide or long drifts. The "backpack" rig works and has been successful several times this week on the Pac Queen. There's hasn't been much action during the day so why not?
I'm also limiting myself to 1 small tackle bag this year. It holds 3 3600 trays. I'll bring one extra 3700 sized tray in my reel bag. Going from a bag that held 4 3700 and a 3600 sized tray and the jig bag to the jig bag is a big downgrade.
Today I tied on some leaders, did preliminary drag checks, crimped the solid ring to my 200# wind-ons, tied my first chain knot and verified the reels in my reel bag. So gotta pack my clothes and inspect the rods and guides but I'm almost ready!
Last trip I went with 10' 150# flurocarbon windon topshots with no bite leader. I was not happy with the knots in the heavy fluro so I crimped it.
I also put 600 yards of 65# JB solid (breaks close to 80#) on a Avet EX30 for fishing in high current and set the drag at strike to 22#. We had a extremely fast drift and the 65# cut the water better than 80#. I only caught a "small" 120# BFT but never felt like I did not have the upper hand.
Go get'em PJ! You have put a lot of thought into your trip. Hopefully the bluefin cooperate and you max out the spr8ngs on your truck bringing home the fish. Bill
It looks like the wind will not be bad for a lot of the first 1/2.
The landing called yesterday and asked everyone to be there earlier than scheduled to get a head start on the trip!
Good luck PJ! Bluefin ARE bluefin and yesterday is not today or tomorrow, BUT seeing some good reports on the local "Vampire Bites" and it really only takes one of the current grade of local fish to wear out your arms, your back, and fill the freezer to the brim! Looking forward to your reports! - john
According to MarineTraffic it appears the SOA is back in Port almost a full day early....They weren't scheduled to be back to the dock until 6am tomorrow. I hope everyone/everything is ok
Damn, I was going to start a thread called PJ & Steve's Excellent Adventure!
Quote from: pjstevko on July 02, 2025, 07:49:37 PMAccording to MarineTraffic it appears the SOA is back in Port almost a full day early....They weren't scheduled to be back to the dock until 6am tomorrow. I hope everyone/everything is ok
PJ - I don't have specific intel, but I do know some boats have been reporting limit-style fishing, and having trips end early Especially if it's a trip that advertises 'No Mexican Permits Necessary" that would kind of limit the ability to run south and grab some rockfish. So I'm gonna cross my fingers and say they limited out! Looking forward to your adventure! - john
Looks like the boat has damage and is in drydock for now. Our July 5-8 has been cancelled!
Our 1.5 day got moved to the Horizon and I just got a reservation on a 2 day aboard the Tomahawk leaving the morning we return from the 1.5 day.
Not the comforts of the SOA but at least I'll be fishing and maximizing my time in SD
Quote from: Hamachi on July 03, 2025, 08:36:12 PMLooks like the boat has damage and is in drydock for now. Our July 5-8 has been cancelled!
Wow that's a bummer! Was just on it a few days ago.
We're in line
SOA is back at the dock. :P
Any idea what happened to the SOA?
Quote from: Keta on July 04, 2025, 01:22:18 AMAny idea what happened to the SOA?
Word is they hit something, prop damaged. Found additional issues back at the dock. It'll take at least a week to fix.
TY Mark.
Good luck PJ! And a good case study for bringing extra gear - you never know what the actual trip will entail. So looking forward to you reports and it looks like weather is pretty good so go out there and nail it! - john
Quote from: Keta on July 04, 2025, 01:22:18 AMAny idea what happened to the SOA?
They hit a rock inside of Pyramid Cove.
Beautiful weather, tough fishing.
11 bft and 1 yt for 19 people.
I didn't catch anything and Steve landed a nice tuna.
I hooked a yt on a paddy but it popped off....
Be at the dock a little after 6am then board the Tomahawk around 10-11am....
First order of business after boarding is a shower!
This sure was shaping up to be the trip from hell for me. What was normally an eight-hour drive taking me most of ten. I factored in holiday traffic and left at 0630, I got to the landing at 5pm. I took me three hours to go from Magic Mountain to Anaheim and almost an hour and half to go from San Clemente to just south of Oceanside. I was in full panic thinking I was going to be left on the pier because Densise said the boat was leaving between 5:15 and 5:30. Anyway I made it and we didn't end up leaving till 6:30.
As PJ said the weather was awesome, but the fishing was slow.
We jumped on the Horizon which is a converted dive boat and hands down the most luxurious boat I have ever spent the night on. We motored out for approx. four hours and started to night fish dropping heavy iron to depths of 350' till 0600.
I used my home-made Tuna/Eddie Bomb, 16oz, and painted purple with two upper 9/0 assist hooks. PJ was dropping his tungsten jigs. At around 0430 I got picked up and two trips around the boat a nice 70+ class Bluefin was doing the deck dance. The crew estimated it at around 100 pounds, but I don't think so. It was heavy though and ended up being the biggest fish caught! Four other anglers pulled up Bluefin anywhere from 30-60 pounds.
The day bite was slow, I never got bit, and PJ had a couple short strikes. We mainly searched for paddies and trolled in between. One guy caught an average Yellowtail of one paddy and a kid caught a peanut Bluefin off another. I wasn't too impressed with the captain's approach to paddies, he brough the boat right up next them rather than standing off as "I've" always been told.
When it got dark, we switched back over to heavy gear. I fished till midnight knowing I was going to drive back home the next morning, and I had a nice fish. If I didn't have a fish, I'd be on the Tomahawk right now with PJ. Pus the refund from Alan's trip is pretty much what I need to get my transmission rebuilt on the Chevelle.
Total fish count was eleven Bluefin and one Yellowtail.
My ride home was much better, just under eight hours.
I sure hope PJ has better news when he chimes back in.
The "Scuttlebutt" I heard on the SoA, is she has hull, shaft, and damage to a screw. They were able to put her in dry dock to assess the damage, but the drydock had scheduled customers and she had to leave. She was tied up in her spot at H&M when we got there. However, this is just hearsay, and I have my fingers crossed for the owners and your future trip plans.
I didn't know she hit a rock till I read Randy's post.
Here are some of the pictures I took.
Thanks,
Steve
Quote from: Vintage Offshore Tackle on July 04, 2025, 05:36:52 PMQuote from: Keta on July 04, 2025, 01:22:18 AMAny idea what happened to the SOA?
They hit a rock inside of Pyramid Cove.
Someone on BD who said they were on that trip said they hit something at night.
Nice tuna Steve! We'll keep our fingers crossed that PJ's luck turns around on the Tomahawk. - john
Quote from: MarkT on July 06, 2025, 10:38:23 PMQuote from: Vintage Offshore Tackle on July 04, 2025, 05:36:52 PMQuote from: Keta on July 04, 2025, 01:22:18 AMAny idea what happened to the SOA?
They hit a rock inside of Pyramid Cove.
Someone on BD who said they were on that trip said they hit something at night.
They were trying to catch flyers very tight to the island.
REDEMPTION! Had my best trip ever! Landed 5, lost 5 and handed off 2!
The last stop at midnight on the final night went wide open. We stayed over an hour later than scheduled!
Full report to come!
Nice work !!! Its a numbers game ................ get the bad trips and eventually you get a great trip.
Good job
Todd
Nice!
Average fish size for the boat was 45-55#! Perfect size
Karma buddy!
You earned that trip.
Have a safe trip home.
Steve
WoooooHooooo! Way to go PJ. Stuck with it until the very end. Bill
Nobody has ever deserved a great trip more than you PJ!
Good trip!!! Glad you got on some, you earned it
congratulations!!!
Fantastic trip for you PJ, congratulations! :d
Nice that you got some great action!!! And hey, Mako is one fo the more tasty sharks.... - john
Quote from: Brewcrafter on July 08, 2025, 03:50:46 AMNice that you got some great action!!! And hey, Mako is one fo the more tasty sharks.... - john
I know, mako is tasty but we released it for good karma!
Quote from: pjstevko on July 08, 2025, 03:55:31 AMQuote from: Brewcrafter on July 08, 2025, 03:50:46 AMNice that you got some great action!!! And hey, Mako is one fo the more tasty sharks.... - john
I know, mako is tasty but we released it for good karma!
Good call! Hopefully you din't lose a fish! - john
Quote from: Brewcrafter on July 08, 2025, 03:57:19 AMQuote from: pjstevko on July 08, 2025, 03:55:31 AMQuote from: Brewcrafter on July 08, 2025, 03:50:46 AMNice that you got some great action!!! And hey, Mako is one fo the more tasty sharks.... - john
I know, mako is tasty but we released it for good karma!
Good call! Hopefully you din't lose a fish! - john
It was a baby, only 3' long
We saw many Mako's on the surface on the Horizon trip.
All little guys but they were plentiful.