Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Day to day avail especially sardines. If you get some, the warm water has not been kind to their condition. Nov is anyone's guess.

I have fun making bait and have plenty of sabikis.

Lee,  I just got back from an overnight on the producer. We had a small selection of sardines and a bunch of anchovies. We fished near the tuna pens for small yellowfin in the 8-12lb catagory. They would not touch a sardine, and the ones we had were not really worth using as bait. Out west the weather was to severe, thats why we headed south to the pens. I know you are on a different style trip, but I dont know if the quality or quantity of sardines will be better by Nov. It seems to be an anchovie year.

I juat docked this morning after a two and a half day. We had the same mixture of sardines and anchovies, but our large sardines did get bit on the fish. We had which were farther south.

We fished, a little bit south of colonet, the first day. We had 1 day limits of durato, and most of our second day total as well. In one early morning, stop on a patty, we'd been handed off. The next day up the coast, just south of ensenada, we had some incredible calico fishing while looking for yellows. Only caught a few decent sized yellow tail.

The biggest surprise of this trip were the four wahoo we caught. 2 came off of paddies on light line [20lb IIRC] AND NO WIRE. One appeared to be a 70lb class fish!! Reminded me of Mark's big wahoo last year. The other 2 or 3 came off the troll. This was in day and a half range, twelve hours south thwn north  to just outside Ensenada.

you just never know.......

30 days to go.....do you know where your gear is?    Bill

Quote from: Keta on September 13, 2026, 05:08:03 AMDoes anyone know what the bait situation is? 

Big, good, Sardines on my current 10 day! Bad bait is for the short range boats, long rangers get the good stuff!

Quote from: Keta on September 14, 2026, 01:27:26 AMI have fun making bait and have plenty of sabikis.

We gave up trying to make bait. The very warm water has made everything more difficult!

 I'm looking at my gear and don't know what I should have ready this year. Will I need 20 lb line and small hooks for anchovies or will the bait all die and we'll fish jigs instead? Are we going to the ridge and the rocks or will we be way up north fishing bluefin and albacore?
 In the past I just concentrated on some good options for 40-60 and brought an 80 lb setup and maybe 100. Maybe I'll rent a Uhaul and bring everything.

 Jack

Quote from: natch! on October 07, 2026, 05:00:44 PMI'm looking at my gear and don't know what I should have ready this year. Will I need 20 lb line and small hooks for anchovies or will the bait all die and we'll fish jigs instead? Are we going to the ridge and the rocks or will we be way up north fishing bluefin and albacore?
 In the past I just concentrated on some good options for 40-60 and brought an 80 lb setup and maybe 100. Maybe I'll rent a Uhaul and bring everything.

 Jack

Couldn't you call the SOA office and ask them?

  I'll likely call them if I haven't made all my decisions within a couple of weeks. Mainly I just wanted to make sure everyone was as conflicted as I am.

 Jack

Quote from: natch! on October 07, 2026, 06:26:08 PMI'll likely call them if I haven't made all my decisions within a couple of weeks. Mainly I just wanted to make sure everyone was as conflicted as I am.

 Jack

I've been 100% set for awhile now.  And then Bill calls me, makes me rethink the plan, and talks me into bringing more stuff 
-john

Quote from: Brewcrafter on October 07, 2026, 10:35:32 PM

Quote from: natch! on October 07, 2026, 06:26:08 PMI'll likely call them if I haven't made all my decisions within a couple of weeks. Mainly I just wanted to make sure everyone was as conflicted as I am.

 Jack

I've been 100% set for awhile now.  And then Bill calls me, makes me rethink the plan, and talks me into bringing more stuff 
-john

Yup, lets blame it on Bill.... well I think I have "helped" him a few times too.

Quote from: natch! on October 07, 2026, 05:00:44 PMI'm looking at my gear and don't know what I should have ready this year. Will I need 20 lb line and small hooks for anchovies or will the bait all die and we'll fish jigs instead? Are we going to the ridge and the rocks or will we be way up north fishing bluefin and albacore?
 In the past I just concentrated on some good options for 40-60 and brought an 80 lb setup and maybe 100. Maybe I'll rent a Uhaul and bring everything.

 Jack

On my trip that got back today we used 60# the most for YFT. Hot water is keeping them deep and sinker rigs were required to get the bait down 200-300'where they were swimming. We had big strong Sardines... weak, small, uncured bait is for the short range boats. The senior long range fleet get the good bait! El Niño is supposed to peak in November so the high water temps will probably continue past the SoA 10 day.

  Thanks Mark, It sounds like a good supply of sinkers is in order. Maybe something like several each of 8, 10 & 16 oz?
  Would you advise any light line rigs? It sounds like surface iron or popper fishing won't be very likely.

  Jack