My report...

Started by Porthos, October 23, 2019, 11:01:27 PM

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Porthos

Fished the Ridge for four days with first two days outbound travel and last two days inbound with the latter having stops en-route based on making good time against winds and currents. At the Ridge, we were in the company of the American Angler, Independence (Correction: it was the INTREPID), Royal Polaris, and Vagabond at various times.

Bait was 4-5" and well cured; very few floaters.

What worked best for me:
Wire leaders with marauders and cowbells when trolling and fishing stops in known warm water for wahoo.
25-50 lb Mono and fluoro leaders when targeting for YTF and YT
Size 2 - 3/0 hooks with bait for YTF, YT, and Dodos
Size 4/0 or higher when fishing for reds and lings or chunking skipjack
What was rarely utilized:
60 or 80 lb or higher leaders for bait.

All of my conventionals reels were star drag and none newer than 1990. Here's my modified 1960's Penn Monofil 27:
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=26074.0

Though capable of fishing 12 lbs of drag, it was set to 8 lbs from top-of-spool. 325 yds of 50lb KASTKING blue braid RP knot to 5 yds of 25 lb Hiseas Grand Slam Mono triple-surgeons to 1 yd of Seaguar 25 lb Fluoro San Diego Jam to a 3/0 Mustad. Mounted to an old 7' Okuma Oceanic 20-40. Here's a YFT it pulled in under 15 mins:

That's my Size 10 Xtratuf in the lower right for comparison...

Actually fishing time:
Day 3
Stopped on 1 paddy for 1 dodo on the boat, and started trolling for the rest of the way to the 13. Picked up 7 wahoo on the troll for the boat. Was an off day, and I didn't put any fish on the boat. It was like Charlie Brown's "I got a rock." People around me got wahoo, YFT, smaller grade YT (rats were CR'd unless someone want to chunk or fish for grouper), but all I had were skipjacks and rats all afternoon and into the evening. Nothing on night time vertical jigging or flat falls.

Day 4
Finally started boating YFT and smaller YT (sizes bigger than rats but at most 20 lbs) on both conventionals and spinners. Even hooked up to trigger fish which were CR'd. Personally no wahoo on the troll or on chunk. Nothing during the day with any vertical jigging or yoyo-ing. Decided it was too windy and rolly-poly for night fishing so call it a day after dinner.

Day 5
Some more YFT and YT, but still no wahoo or dodo. Called a day when the sun went down and it was no longer possible to see white or hi-vis yellow spectra and tangles became nonstop at the stern.

Day 6
Again, no wahoo for me on the troll or casting. YFT and Dodos.

Day 7
Stopped at multiple spots on our way North trying for YT. First one was landed at the third stop. It was here that I finally succeeded with a DIY-configured jig:

Got pretty beat up after hitting hard bottom many times; lost the eye. Hooks were done with 250 lb kevlar cord. On the descend, it hooked up to just a large Bonito (which was CR'd) but was solidly hooked in corner of the mouth; felt had something "funny" and decided to start retrieving about 5 sec afterwards.

Continued North looking at "rockfish" spots. Succeed mid-afternoon and got reds and lings.

Will end here since Alan Tani himself will most likely post a much more detailed report.

Crow

Looks like  great trip, and a great time !
There's nothing wrong with a few "F's" on your record....Food, Fun, Flowers, Fishing, Friends, and Fun....to name just a few !

Benni3

Fabulous trip,,,, :D great look tuna,,,, ;D

Shark Hunter

Great work Wai. Pretty impressive for a monofil. I like that Kastking too. ;)
Life is Good!

mo65

   Bravo...love your Monofil fishing! 8)
~YOU CAN TUNA GEETAR...BUT YOU CAN'T TUNA FEESH~


Ron Jones

I caught quite a few YT on that monofil of his. I know that the TANK is the Ohana's mascot, but that reel has a special place in my heart.

Glad you had a good time brother.

The Man
Ronald Jones
To those who have gone to sea and returned and to those who have gone to sea and will never return
"

Bill B

Good report brother...good job on the Monofil.  Bill
It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!

Hamachi

Good job on the report, Porthos!
The rail is your friend, no zing pow, on the iron wenches, I like broccoli!

bhale1

Wow, sounds like a great trip! I doubt the fish will notice the missing eye on that jig and keep hitting it! ;D
Brett

Tom McKinney

I saw the Independence for sure on our last day on the ridge, so you were correct. Both the Intrepid and the Indy were there.