I heard of the yellowtail bite going on in LJ and planned on trying to get in on some of the action. I don't get up as early as I used to fish, but still early enough. Anyway, supposedly the afternoon bite is the hot bite.
(https://i.imgur.com/VgLWZCE.jpeg)
Weather was beautiful.
(https://i.imgur.com/MwUznqH.jpeg)
Only issue was even though it looks glassy in the pics, the peaks of the small waves were just enough that I could only run at 1/3 steam. Anything faster and I was just slamming the water with my semi-V hull.
I get to LJ and see 50 of my closest friends around doing all sorts of methods looking for these fish. Too much sh!t in the water to troll, so I threw the irons a lot.
Finally I had it after an hour and shot out to my rockfish spot. I needed o unplug from the world a bit to calm my racing brain and this sh!t show was not bringing the justice I need.
First drop on my spot with the little 2500 spinner and I knew it was a red.
(https://i.imgur.com/IwLkbJ7.jpeg)
Great, only one more and then I would have a bunch of descending to do in order to make it worth my while. Funny thing was I had the next 2 hours of no reds so it was quite fun, especially with the little trout rod in 340 feet!
I can't lie, I thought this was going to be a real red, but nope... only old stinky.
(https://i.imgur.com/krhFMTc.jpeg)
I caught a couple of big bank perch and they were by far my biggest I've ever caught. A lot of fun on the little rod also since they fight all the way up!
(https://i.imgur.com/J3vufGU.jpeg)
Ended up with a limit of good quality reds, and even returned a few. I also got my tolken Copper Rockfish!
(https://i.imgur.com/FADti3U.jpeg)
I caught my usual Green Spotted, Green Striped, Starries, Honey Combs, Sculpin, and whitefish...
Then I literally get slammed and no joke, almost pulled the rod out of my hand! WTF is this? It screamed drag out of the spinner almost the entire way up and I was perplexed on what I hooked. I was figuring it was a deepwater sheepshead from all of the runs but otherwise I was stumped!
WTF?!?!?!?!?! I have to go back into my records to see what my biggest one is, but I'm pretty sure this guy is it! A total UNIT!
(https://i.imgur.com/6sRhQcH.jpeg)
No Joke. When I hear of people talking back in the old days about the huge Whitefish, I thought they might have all been gone from our local waters. I guess not.
(another view)
(https://i.imgur.com/FP35L3Z.jpeg)
I then start heading back to LJ to see if things calmed down, but there were now twice as many boats so I jut hung a 90 degree turn and went on my own hunt. I saw tons of terns working and started to throw the iron in them hoping to see yellows! I did see a few pop up in the micro bait, so I have my shot!
Well, no yellows but I did find a bunch of bonito.
(https://i.imgur.com/WUqSk6n.jpeg)
I made a move after getting tired of them and decided to soak some fresh (previously frozen) squid for some WSB.
I tossed the iron a few times and caught a few slimers! I haven't seen these guys in a minute or two!
(https://i.imgur.com/dxFUbrH.jpeg)
Then I get a screamer on the squid! It felt right and I was thinking it has to be one of the big three.... yellow, WSB, or butt! I quickly thought WSB after a few minutes into the fight, but took my time....
Ugh, now my shoulder is torn up, and all I got out of it is this other slimy critter! LOL
(https://i.imgur.com/uIQzky0.jpeg)
Little circles on a bat ray are hard as hell to get out, but it was quite the fight!
I was watching for every boat coming in from LJ, there were 5 going out TO LJ! I've never seen so many late boats heading out there before, but that was my call to finally head home. I stayed out much later than I usually do and didn't want my arm to fall off.
Well, thanks for reading and until next tide!
Nice catching trip. Always enjoy the pictures.
Hopefully the warmer waters bring in the yellowtails this summer.
- Keith
Some big speckled rockfish at the 14 as well. That's a real nice whitefish. Glad you're able to decompress!