Well, it looked like it was supposed to be perfect weather out there and I have a really busy week with interviews and doctors' appointments, so I was turning and burning on the boat! This time my plan was to deep drop. I heard about the big bonito and yellowtail, but I wanted some "sure thing" fishing and opted as such.
The weather was freezing in the morning and it was crystal clear out. I had to dodge the "Choomahs" on the way out (My new name for the Strokers), but that's how it usually goes launching back there.
(https://i.imgur.com/WrIbxgC.jpeg)
It was glassy as hell and I cruised at 37 mph the entire way. I actually stopped to see if the yellows were home, but got out of there when I didn't meter anything including bait.
First stop had life on the meter, but no instant hits. It was actually tough to get bit but I started off with a chuckle who refused to blow out it's eyesballs and stuck him in the livewell.
(https://i.imgur.com/gnjw2wU.jpeg)
I move deeper and next drop catch a bigger Chucklehead that blew its eyeballs out so I was one over the limit already. Thankfully I didn't even need to descend the one in the livewell as he swam back down hard and strong.
My spots used to be money and a guarantee, but the last 4 or 5 times out here and it's been a hard pick at best! Ugh...
I kept working my way deeper and picked up one here and there. I caught some huge Starries...
(https://i.imgur.com/RcKrHsI.jpeg)
And also some big Green Blotched or Green Spotted depending on the gills (I'll check it tomorrow).
(https://i.imgur.com/qGzwFm6.jpeg)
There were a TON of birds working anchovie schools, but only had dolphin and birds. I didn't see a single gamefish, but that didn't stop me from slinging the jig for a few dozen casts just in case.
(https://i.imgur.com/NoZUuw3.jpeg)
I get a huge hit and know this one is different! It was ripping drag back down everytime I gained line! I thought it might have been a big red, but as I got it up 3/4 of the way realized it was dogging me still and felt like a nice lingcod! But of course, on one big bounce by him and off he went. I got to watch him swim all the way down on the fish finder... Damnit... but still a fun fight.
I worked out to 1000 feet of water and deployed the electric reel... for nothing. I spent quite a bit of time trying and out of the blue watched a school of BIG bonito slowly cruise under the boat! I dropped my jig right over them and I watched them swim around it.. I made so many casts into them and even tried squid, but they just weren't feeding. Oh well...
I finally decided to start metering around the 600' mark and caught this surprise Sculpin!
(https://i.imgur.com/c7W1w59.jpeg)
Along with some big Green Spotted and this BIG starry!
(https://i.imgur.com/Ye0G9T8.jpeg)
I really wanted something big and even deployed some huge baits on the electric reel in a left field hope for something big or weird. In the meantime, I dropped my small line counter rod with the 300 gram jig/squid.
600+ feet on this little rod is quite the effort.
(https://i.imgur.com/KGjtDbe.jpeg)
I get a good bite, but it feels like some of the bigger sand dabs I caught earlier. I get it about 5 or 6 feet off the bottom when the rod almost gets yanked out of my hands! My initial thought was a big ling hit my rockfish.... but the braided line doesn't lie and I could feel a tail slapping into the line!
(https://i.imgur.com/PvUxwLQ.jpeg)
It was heavy and really put this rod to it's limits on drag and even my shoulder since it's an old school 7' Teramar that's pretty stiff with about 4" of tip that broke off a decade ago.
I was pretty sure at this point it was a Thresher since I've heard of them taking rockfish before and never caught a shark at 600+ feet deep before. I was pretty shot at this point, but say the big tail and big wake!
(https://i.imgur.com/RvzvePq.jpeg)
I got as many pictures as I could since I didn't know when my line was going to break. Wow, definitely a 7-gill shark!
(https://i.imgur.com/yRFhp9N.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2M757JT.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CqRTQrm.jpeg)
It was pretty big and I'm guessing 7.5' but all I could think about at this point was how to get the jig back and not get bit or get a hook in my hand at this point.
(https://i.imgur.com/6SXWQx2.jpeg)
Well, he slapped his tail against the line again and this time it gave way. Oh well, lost jig, but I have my hand and all of my fingers.
I decided that was the last fish and headed in at almost 40 MPH!!! I tried racing the hovercraft but he dusted me.
(https://i.imgur.com/yv2CsiW.jpeg)
I get back into the inlet and realize that these boys didn't have Vessel Assist or Sea Tow so called the life guards.
(https://i.imgur.com/cxVWa2M.jpeg)
Needless to say, it was a great morning out there. I got it done with some quality, but it was a tough go at some points. Rockfishing supposed to be easy! LOL
(https://i.imgur.com/zAuCpWI.jpeg)
Thanks for reading and until next tide!
Cool trip! Been a minute since the last rockfish trip for you. 7gill from 600' sounds like a lot of work but very cool. Big bonito sighting also interesting.