Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Welcome! => Southern California Charters => Topic started by: Bill B on July 29, 2021, 04:03:06 AM

Title: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on July 29, 2021, 04:03:06 AM
I will be taking my wife, a friend and his wife fishing Monday, August 2, on the Stardust out of Santa Barbara.  All 3 are new to fishing so I know I will have my hands full.  (I'm sure I could use some help 😬) Come on down and join us if you have the hankering to catch some fish.....and help me....please.....help me.....😝......Bill
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Brewcrafter on July 29, 2021, 04:10:21 AM
Bill - I'd love to go but since I just got back from PacNW with Maxed Out Ted, SWMBO gave me a hard "No!".  But if you need some gear I'm more than happy, depending on my work schedule: I work from home on Friday and if you want to swing by, let me know what you might need and if it's here it's going with you. - john
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on July 29, 2021, 04:21:31 AM
Thanks John....have the gear covered....gonna spool up a couple 320GTI for the women to use....I think I'm gonna be doing more baiting than fishing....but that's OK.....taking them fishing and THEM having a good time is the most important part.  Will be tying a bunch of dropper loops this weekend to make things easier.....Bill
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Vintage Offshore Tackle on July 29, 2021, 06:31:25 AM
I wish that I could go with you Bill, but I am leaving for Sitka on Saturday.  I hope that you have a great trip.  The Stardust is a first class operation.

Randy
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: alantani on July 29, 2021, 03:44:05 PM
good luck, but i'm sure they'll do fine!
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Jim Fujitani on July 29, 2021, 05:24:37 PM
And let us know how you do!
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on July 29, 2021, 06:46:29 PM
Will do.  We are going up the night before to save a 3 hr drive in the am.  The Stardust has a great crew and I'm sure everyone will have a good time.  Just going to make sure everyone is doped up on Dramamine.  I will give everyone some quick instructions at the house and a "what to expect" speech before we leave.  They seem really excited.  Bill
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Swami805 on July 29, 2021, 07:43:18 PM
I'm in Bill, see you at the harbor. If you need any gear holler!  I can bring an extra slow pitch set up if you want to give it a spin
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on July 29, 2021, 09:47:01 PM
Sheridan that would be great, I would like to try the slow pitch...thank you.  Bill
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on August 01, 2021, 01:06:56 AM
The gangs all here.....left to right....my wife Lee, me, Debbie and Paul.....BBQing at the homestead and will be headed to Santa Barbara tomorrow to spend the night before the trip.....good time with old friends.....Bill
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: sabaman1 on August 01, 2021, 04:14:32 AM
 Good luck and tight lines to you!
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Brewcrafter on August 01, 2021, 04:38:53 AM
Good luck!  I think you are all in for a great trip!  Conditions at Buoy 46503 look pretty typical; looking forward to hearing some great stories and pictures!!!! - john
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Swami805 on August 01, 2021, 04:57:33 AM
Looks like the wind will lay down on Monday until the afternoon then pick back up to a small craft advisory. Should be good!
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: thorhammer on August 01, 2021, 01:39:33 PM
Good luck folks!!
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: steelfish on August 04, 2021, 07:25:41 PM
sooooo.

how it was the fishing day?
I mean, any fishing day is great but where are the pics and report?
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on August 04, 2021, 08:12:13 PM
All in all a good day......Sunday the four of us departed for Santa Barbara where we rented an AirBnB for the night.....the normal 2 1/2 hour trip took 4 due to heavy traffic.....got to the Bnb and the women went to get dinner, while Paul and myself discussed the next days fishing over a few beers.  Dinner arrived and after some conversation off to bed for a 0530 hrs wake up. I did make friends with the neighborhood cat, who showed up an hour after we arrived.  In the am we packed the car and made the 20 minute drive to the landing, checked in and proceeded down to the boat.  With the gear stored I rigged the poles.  My wife Lee and Debbie were going to use Penn320gti's, Paul selected a Jigmaster P21XN, and I took the Fathom 25NLD2.  All the rods were Penn Californian.....Everyone we're going to use shrimp flies on the trip, but due to lost tackle bare hooks became the norm.....bait was small anchovies and cut squid.....I should have taken a page from Alan's playbook and brought my own market squid 😖

After a 2 1/2 hour cruise up the coast, we made our first drop in about 260'. I think 2 fish came over the rail on that drop.  The next 2 drops were more of the same.....the skipper then turned the boat south for better fishing....drops 4,5,6, and 7 got progressively better, with our group pulling fish.  My friend Mike, and Sheridan (Swami805) started out pitching jigs, and we're batting 000....changing up to bait produced fish.  All our drops were in excess of 200' and the grade of fish were on the smaller size....at least 2 short lings came over the rail, Sheridan got 1.  It appeared to me we were fishing small rock piles, as when my sinker hit the bottom it was soft mud then drifting over the rock pile.  By about 1500 hrs we made the cruise south and back to port.  The weather was great, swells 1-2 feet.  Since we hugged the coast wind was not an issue at all.  The morning breakfast burrito was good as always, and the afternoon burgers were great too....Paul went back for seconds on all 👍

As we were boarding, I saw a large number of rental rods going down, probably more than 12 with 27 paying customers, so I knew we had a lot of new fisherman on board.  This proved true, with tangles all around...I still don't know how I can get tangled with some at the stern when I was at the bow 🧐. We were using 16 oz sinkers and staying straight up and down.  The deckhands were running all day. 

All took home sacks of fish, dutifully filet by the deckhands, and packaged for the freezer when we got home.  Paul and Debbie had a great time, already planning on their next trip, my wife admitted fishing is not her thing.....on the plus side no one got sick or terribly sunburned.  Bill

P.S. Pictures to follow as they are sent to me, so here are a few that I have on hand. 

Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Swami805 on August 04, 2021, 08:15:07 PM
Beautiful weather and tour of the coast by pt conception, the fishing wasn't very good, lots of fish that wouldn't bite. Found a couple spots that bit late in the day but not very well.  Lots of small junk fish. Skipper kept us out late and gave it a shot.  Just one of those days.  Still the best bacon cheeseburger on the water. I managed to not touch a piece of bait and stuck to jigs and got a few.  
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Bill B on August 04, 2021, 08:18:12 PM
A few more pictures....
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: steelfish on August 04, 2021, 08:39:59 PM
Bill, looks like a nice fishing day, next time you will get the big ones.



@ Sheridan, compa, did you used the Slowpitch blanks that your buddy sells?
how did you liked them?

Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Swami805 on August 04, 2021, 09:13:43 PM
Alex I used 2 that I built with blanks and parts from him. Worked great. Had one mystery fish that pulled line and put a good bend in it so I see the potential. Fish came off half way up ,felt like a hitch hiker. Fun way to fish that's for sure
Title: Re: August 2, Santa Barbara fishing on the Stardust
Post by: Brewcrafter on August 05, 2021, 04:36:38 AM
Bill that looks like a great trip with some great folks and I know you worked hard on having everything dialed with the gear, so I'm thinking that was a big win for a weekend away!  Glad everyone got some filets to bring home, nothing beats grilled rockfish for tacos! - john