Blackfish 7/24

[jrodda]

This was my annual co-worker trip on Blackfish Charters. This time, conditions and opportunities constituted us to San Clemente Island for a shot at yellowtail, with a chance at paddy pelagics on the way there and back. Pardon a slight lack of pics as the action during these trips tends to be quick paced.

Boarded at 0430. Off the dock and baited up before 0500.

The convertible style boat has left me wanting a little more for ventilation on the way out, so this time I bought an inflatable lounger to plop upon the c*ckpit to relax and perhaps nap on the way out.

Here I am inflating the lounger.



Here I am relaxing in the c*ckpit.



It was 3-5' in the San Pedro channel with white caps. While the swell was comfortably to our starboard, it would occasionally cause the bait tanks to splash and get me on the leg a bit. I repositioned and got a touch of mist, but otherwise I was actually quite comfortable. Once we passed Catalina, though, it picked up to 4-6' with a couple 7-8'ers to slow the captain's pace on the throttle. I ended up finding myself mercilessly misted and endlessly enema'd by the bait tanks. Very unfortunate design, that lounger. I approve of the lounger for future use, but I gave up on it at this point.

My poor little spinning reel (and every other reel on the boat) got waterfall'd on by the oncoming water.



Thankfully, the lee of the island cut down the swell significantly to a 2' chop, and eventually cut out the wind as well for a bit. We arrived at our first spot on the island around 0730 and it was instant, too quick for photos. We ended up with 19 yellows at 5-10lbs for 6 anglers before the captain told us "lines out" to get the sea lions to leave for the cattle boats down the line. We took a breather for 10 minutes then it was game on again. 30 yellows alongside bonito and bass before it slowed down and we started making our way up the island for a different grade.





We had a slow pick at half a dozen spots. I managed to lose another firecracker at the boat on an SPJ, which was a nice confidence boost going forward on that. Other than that, not too exciting.

Then we got to our last stop and we began long soaking some of our last sardines. Things picked up, with guys getting big bites. We ended up going 6 for 10 on 15-20lb yellows, alongside more bonito and bass. I wasn't able to get in on these big fish, but Jared did well in getting 2 of them, both being PB class fish for him around 20lbs.

On our way back, we stopped on a paddy that the captain saw mahi under. I woke up from my nap to pitch a sardine out there, and my bait started zooming immediately. I engaged my reel and wound tight to find it was just my bait being manic. No action on that paddy. We got into the dock around 1730, with bags and bags of yellowtail to be distributed.

I always insist on the boat keeping at least the first 5 bonito just for me, and nobody else is ever interested in keeping them. They continue to be maybe a top 3 food fish for me!