It's shaping up to be a very busy wildfire season so in the spirit of mental health and work/life balance I asked for a few extra days off in the middle of August and much to my surprise my bosses and wife agreed!
I wanted to try out the Pacific Queen but all their trips in my time frame are booked full so I went with a friend's recommendation and booked a 2.5 day trip on the Top Gun 80!
The dates of this trip are a couple of days before the full moon and mid August is a great time of year for catching a variety of quality fish including yft, yt, mahi, and bft! The boat has multi person staterooms so it'd be great anyone wanted to join me and share a room.
https://www.hmlanding.com/trip-calendar
Last year a 3.5 trip around the same date land 17 cow BFT..... https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/topgun80-historic-17-cow-bfts-3-5-day-report.696790/#post-4658934
I know every year is different but it seems like this year is shaping up to be equally as good or better!
Anyone wanna join me ??? ??? ??? ???
Pj
If anyone is interested in joining me better sign up quick because there's only 15 spots left!
This trip is 2 months away and I'm starting to get gear, rigs, jigs and whatnot together....there's only 10 spots left!
I still need a roommate for my stateroom if anyone is interested in joining me!
i've been waiting for the kids to get their schedules together and let me know. it turns out that allison will be leaving for pharmacy school in denver (and i have to drive her stuff out) and christina will be back from vancouver, all over that 3 week block. i just can't get away. hopefully someone will be able to join you!!!!!
If I only lived a couple thousand miles closer! Have a great trip.
Scott
Only 4 spots left......
My trip is 20 days away and I'm stoked!!!!
I still need to buy another 30# rod and make a few more flat fall leaders but other than that I think I'm good to go.....
I'm really hoping the yellowtail fishing stays red hot as that's been #1 on my catch list since I moved out here! The bluefin will be around but if they are hungry and biting will be the question. With this upcoming heat wave maybe the mahi and wahoo will show up ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Should be a great trip!!!!
PJ,
Good Luck, catch some great fish! Wishing I was going with you ;D
PJ, a long range trip is a bucket list item for me, read about them since I was a kid! I wish I lived closer too! Let us know about your gear list and tackle used, and I hope you will post some great pics! Good luck! 😊👍🎣
Quote from: Snookkatcher on July 29, 2019, 01:00:48 AM
PJ, a long range trip is a bucket list item for me, read about them since I was a kid! I wish I lived closer too! Let us know about your gear list and tackle used, and I hope you will post some great pics! Good luck! 😊👍🎣
A 2 1/2 day isn't a long rang trip... I'd say long range starts at 6 day and goes up from there. I've done a 2 and a 2 1/2 day so far this year and have a 3 1/2 day at a Cedros and 2 10 day trips on the Excel still to go.
Stocked up!
Man, That looks like a couple of lifetimes worth of Colt Snipers! I got my 60# BFT last month on a 100 gm Katy Perry colored Sniper with a 2/0 Owner Stinger attached with a 10# split ring. One of the other Gus got 2 on the 80 gm size also in Katy Perry... pink/blue... the name fits!
Quote from: MarkT on July 30, 2019, 02:40:19 AM
Man, That looks like a couple of lifetimes worth of Colt Snipers! I got my 60# BFT last month on a 100 gm Katy Perry colored Sniper with a 2/0 Owner Stinger attached with a 10# split ring. One of the other Gus got 2 on the 80 gm size also in Katy Perry... pink/blue... the name fits!
My local Turner's fishing manager told me that they weren't selling enough Coltsnipers and that they shipped all them to other stores...... But he found a box that hadn't shipped yet so I bought all they had! I know they are hot sellers at all the tackle shops along the coast but they never have the right size or color in stock.....
I plan on upgrading a couple with in-line singles attached to #8 or #10 hyperwire split rings....
You ain't screwing around are ya PJ? I love it! The trip I went on in early June, they only wanted Katy Perry. Wouldn't touch anything else. I got a 55# and an 85# on a stock 100g. The fishing should only get better for ya as the summer goes on.
Yer gonna have a blast!
Quote from: pjstevko on July 30, 2019, 04:06:14 AM
Quote from: MarkT on July 30, 2019, 02:40:19 AM
Man, That looks like a couple of lifetimes worth of Colt Snipers! I got my 60# BFT last month on a 100 gm Katy Perry colored Sniper with a 2/0 Owner Stinger attached with a 10# split ring. One of the other Gus got 2 on the 80 gm size also in Katy Perry... pink/blue... the name fits!
My local Turner's fishing manager told me that they weren't selling enough Coltsnipers and that they shipped all them to other stores...... But he found a box that hadn't shipped yet so I bought all they had! I know they are hot sellers at all the tackle shops along the coast but they never have the right size or color in stock.....
I plan on upgrading a couple with in-line singles attached to #8 or #10 hyperwire split rings....
Trust me, they work with trebles. Just put bigger/stronger ones on there for BFT.
Quote from: MarkT on July 30, 2019, 04:13:57 PM
Quote from: pjstevko on July 30, 2019, 04:06:14 AM
Quote from: MarkT on July 30, 2019, 02:40:19 AM
Man, That looks like a couple of lifetimes worth of Colt Snipers! I got my 60# BFT last month on a 100 gm Katy Perry colored Sniper with a 2/0 Owner Stinger attached with a 10# split ring. One of the other Gus got 2 on the 80 gm size also in Katy Perry... pink/blue... the name fits!
My local Turner's fishing manager told me that they weren't selling enough Coltsnipers and that they shipped all them to other stores...... But he found a box that hadn't shipped yet so I bought all they had! I know they are hot sellers at all the tackle shops along the coast but they never have the right size or color in stock.....
I plan on upgrading a couple with in-line singles attached to #8 or #10 hyperwire split rings....
Trust me, they work with trebles. Just put bigger/stronger ones on there for BFT.
Mark which brand, model and size treble would you recommend?
I spent an hour upgrading the split rings and treble hooks on these coltsnipers in preparation for my 2.5 day trip next week. Here's hoping preparation equals success!
About 24 hours to go! I'm stoked ;D ;D
Quote from: MarkT on July 30, 2019, 02:40:19 AM
Man, That looks like a couple of lifetimes worth of Colt Snipers! I got my 60# BFT last month on a 100 gm Katy Perry colored Sniper with a 2/0 Owner Stinger attached with a 10# split ring. One of the other Gus got 2 on the 80 gm size also in Katy Perry... pink/blue... the name fits!
How were you fishing them? Were you fishing them on the slide with a far cast, sink and retrieve or was it more like a flat fall down deep?
There is kind of a good news bad news thing going on right now with the BFT. First the bad news is not any real nice numbers being caught. The good news is that the few that have been landed are big fish. On your 2.5 I'm sure you will load up on yellowtail which have been everywhere and still have time to give the BFT a good look or two.
Good Luck
Oh yeah there is also dorado on some of the kelp patties.
Quote from: SoCalAngler on August 10, 2019, 04:21:18 PM
There is kind of a good news bad news thing going on right now with the BFT. First the bad news is not any real nice numbers being caught. The good news is that the few that have been landed are big fish. On your 2.5 I'm sure you will load up on yellowtail which have been everywhere and still have time to give the BFT a good look or two.
Good Luck
Oh yeah there is also dorado on some of the kelp patties.
Yeah i've been watching the reports....I just hope this doesn't turn into a super/cow only trip!!!!
Looks like the TG80 headed out to one of the outer banks, took a look around and then went west into San Clemente. They started up at the east end of the backside and made there way west. Many boats there were not doing much, except of a cow or two. Then they headed southeast towards Mexican waters. Good call by the captain. He is kind of grumpy but a hard charger. I bet the report from today is not really good until the late afternoon/evening, if they made it to where the catching is going on by night fall.
I will bet tomorrows report is way better meaning no cow BFT but many YT, sore arms and some of the 30-40 grade BFT caught also yellowfin are there now and maybe some dorado.
I bet it was a long boat ride on day one.
Can't wait for the report.
Quote from: SoCalAngler on August 13, 2019, 03:48:32 AM
Looks like the TG80 headed out to one of the outer banks, took a look around and then went west into San Clemente. They started up at the east end of the backside and made there way west. Many boats there were not doing much, except of a cow or two. Then they headed southeast towards Mexican waters. Good call by the captain. He is kind of grumpy but a hard charger. I bet the report from today is not really good until the late afternoon/evening, if they made it to where the catching is going on by night fall.
I will bet tomorrows report is way better meaning no cow BFT but many YT, sore arms and some of the 30-40 grade BFT caught also yellowfin are there now and maybe some dorado.
I bet it was a long boat ride on day one.
Can't wait for the report.
No need for a report now since you nailed it with you guesstimate..... I'll post my actual report tonight....
Quote from: pjstevko on August 06, 2019, 04:19:34 AM
I spent an hour upgrading the split rings and treble hooks on these coltsnipers in preparation for my 2.5 day trip next week. Here's hoping preparation equals success!
Looking forward to your report,
Side question, what hooks are those you have on the lures?
Quote from: Gobi King on August 15, 2019, 05:28:26 PM
Quote from: pjstevko on August 06, 2019, 04:19:34 AM
I spent an hour upgrading the split rings and treble hooks on these coltsnipers in preparation for my 2.5 day trip next week. Here's hoping preparation equals success!
Looking forward to your report,
Side question, what hooks are those you have on the lures?
VMC 4x trebles and VMC in-line singles