I've been dying to deep drop, but the wahoo are here and I really, really, really, want to catch a local one badly. I opted for offshore as I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't at least give it a real try this fall while they are here.
Morning was nice with a land breeze and basically greasy conditions out front. I cruised at a steady 28mph on the way out and my Merc App was showing I was only sipping the gas. Ironically, I used twice as much gas plowing at 5mph through the back bay (5mph zone) then having the throttle at 4400 RPM.
I got wind that the Cyclops was going to be out today and gave him a call on the radio. Cheez answers (AZ Bat Fight turd roller winner) and they were on their way to LJ. I tried getting them intel, but everyone was out looking for Hoo so I didn't have any up-to-date intel. It was nice that we were coving the inside and outside but this was the day for the Cyclops to run offshore! Greasy calm conditions!
I ran to where I've been trying the last month for hoo as I know they've been caught there and apparently everyone else got the message also. There were 3 sport boats and a few dozen other boats out there. 1/2 were trolling for Hoo and YFT, while some were looking for paddies... and then there was a big contingent of sword guys! Holy smokes! Commercial, recreational, Sword buoys all over the place and having to avoid them!
Water was a little turgid but warm and bright blue. It was 75 but as I trolled north, it dropped to 73.1. The sport boats kept pushing north, but I had my gas to keep an eye on, so I headed south as my plan was to troll down to the Mexican Border and back zig zagging over the high spot and working both the inside and outside ridge.
Not a kelp, mammal, bird to be found, but there was a ton of flying fish! I even got startled as I saw one literally jump and coming at the boat! I literally reached up to grab it, but it hit my rods on the console and deflected back into the water! Squatch would have claimed victory on our last trip if he even touched it! hahaha
I saw a few big splashes, but never saw what made them. I assumed a Manta, but I really couldn't say.
I finally saw a gray hounding marlin just jumping and giving me the fin! I boxed the area for a bit but it had no intention of feeding at that point. Then I see two gulls standing on something and rushed over to see if it was a small paddy. Not a small paddy, but a pallet floating out in the middle of nowhere.
I pitched some small 20g jigs out and found/saw nothing but noticed my fish finder was lit up with about 20 marks at 50' down below so I dropped the jig. Boom! I immediately saw it was a bullet tuna... or was it? It looked different from what bullets I've seen in general but would need to investigate further when I got home. (After further investigation, it was a Frigate Mackerel! My first and a new species for my life list) Pacific frigate mackerel (Auxis brachydorax), a distinct population from the western Pacific form (Auxis thazard)
I picked up a few more before restarting my trolling pattern in hopes for a Hoo.
I reached out to Timmy and Cheez and they were on some whitefish and bass, so it appears they stopped looking for bonito, cuda, and yellows... or most likely just doing a good hiding act. It looks like both of our plans were in the crapper today.
I heard of more people catching a bunch of Hoo's down in the Coronado Canyon and some were newbies also. At least I could tell from their radio chatter that they really didn't know what they were doing but got lucky. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut occasionally.
On the way back I saw some stuff floating in the water and went up to see an ammo can. Barnacles started forming on the top and I was thinking there is one of 3 things inside: Ammo, Drugs, or money... especially when the tape said not to throw away!
Well, it was none of the 3 but an empty cannister. Funny thing it was dry as bone inside and surprisingly in good shape, so I'm probably going to use a little rust away and make this baby shine again!
Well, more flying fish as I headed in. I actually brought my little Atlantix electric reel and dropped down 600' with a jig. Unfortunately, I had no bait and no Spot Lock, so soon as I hit bottom, I was off bottom. If anything, I wanted to see how fast and well it retrieves from down there and it was like a dream! I can't wait to deep drop for real with this thing!
Well, back home at 2:30 and scrubbed the boat up for its weekly slumber.
Thanks for reading and until next tide!
Could be worse! Congrats on the frigate mackerel.
Ended up sleeping in Sunday, being sore from the previous day, but I regret not going out again. Seeing some funky stuff like frigate mackerel and black skipjack pop up the last couple of days...