Getting Ready for a 4 day on the Pacific Voyager

Started by Crab Pot, August 07, 2022, 08:25:19 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Crab Pot

Going through all my gear and starting to get "tana fever".

Don't know where we're going, reports are all over the place, but I'm ready to join the Cow Club.

Leave August 27th.

Hope to have something to report.
Buy it nice or buy it twice.

MarkT

The way things are looking now it'll be kelp paddy fishing for YT and Dorado with 25-30#. It'd be nice if the BFT turned on again!
When I was your age Pluto was a planet!

Bill B

Gonna be a toss up..be prepared for anything...hope you slay them.  Bill
It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!

Crab Pot

I hear the Tanner and Cortez Banks are producing mid-size fish and that SCI is a ghost town.

Any reports as far south as Corona Beach? I keep looking but I can't find any Mexican reports within the PV's range.
Buy it nice or buy it twice.

Crab Pot

Looks like to Dorado are jumping into the boat...
Buy it nice or buy it twice.

Jim Fujitani


Crab Pot

Got Back on Wednesday and have been chopping up fish, cleaning gear, and putting stuff away since.

Overall great trip, we put 340 miles on the water chasing fish.

Day one was promising in Mexican waters around the Coranado Islands. We could not keep the Dorado/Mahi Mahi/Dolphin from committing suicide within 10 feet of the boat. We were paddy jumping and they were hungry. We actually had one get hooked on one line and take the bait next to it as well. Made for a great tangle. We mixed in some medium grade Yellowtail as well, but the Dorado weren't giving the YT a chance to get to the bait. I'd never caught a Dorado before so one more bucket list fish off the list.

Day two we got reports that the Bluefin bite was on at San Clemente Island and we motored all day north. Which wasn't a total waste because BF fishing is at night at SCI so we caught up on some sleep. We arrived at 1800 and the fishing was slow till the sun went down then picked up. We were fishing knife jigs, 300-500 grams. Wasn't long till 50 pound grade fish were coming over the rail. Then my buddy Chris hooked up with a good one. Two plus hours later a Toad of a BF comes over the rail which took 4 gaffs to lift. The crew said it was about 170 pounds but I felt it was bigger than that. I hit the rack at 0200, not a single bite for the day. We started heading south around 0300 due to wind advisories at SCI.

Day three was the same as day one, paddy jumping for a mix of Dorado and Yellowtail. Again I couldn't get bit. Bait, irons, yo-yo's, snippers, nothing was working for me but I wasn't alone. It was a slow day for everyone.

Day four was my day, finally. I could not keep the Yellowtail off. And these were 30 pound class fish. I was wore out before breakfast but I had a ice chest to fill. We were chased between the Coranado Islands to get out of the wind. Anchored is 80-100 foot water and it was on. Not only were the YT cooperating but a mix of Yellowfin were getting caught. I was still waiting on my first tuna but the YT were keeping me busy. Barracuda and Boneita were coming over the rail on the constant too. Started telling my bud I can't believe I haven't caught a tuna yet when my reel started peeling off line. Was thinking another large YT but to my surprise it was a Skipjack tuna. My buds aren't fans of the Skippy's and started to ride me but Skipjack's are great for canning so I was ok with it. Ran into a talented seal here as well. See picture blow.

That was it for the trip.

Had an escort pilot us safely to the landing.

Chris' Bluefin weighed 197 pounds at the pier. Debatable about how much the dead weight was to live weight but I'm sure it lost at least 3 pounds so I told him he's officially in the Cow Club!

Which I am not.

Thinking about another trip in November, but this time out of Oxnard or Longbeach. If the BF are still a SCI.
Buy it nice or buy it twice.

Bill B

It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!

Swami805

Looks like a fun trip. Cool looking shark. Thanks for posting
Do what you can with that you have where you are

Brewcrafter

Glad you had a good trip, and crossed a bucket list fish off the list.  I don't believe it is possible to only catch "one" dorado. - john

MarkT

 Chris' fish was gilled/gutted on board? They lose about 12% that way so yeah, he caught a cow!
When I was your age Pluto was a planet!