Taste of Blood 9/20

[jrodda]

Took Jake out Sunday morning. After the previous day, it was a bit difficult getting up at 0430 again, but I powered through and picked him up at his house, and we were at the ramp at 0640.

We had some delays. First, a bathroom break of course. Then I forgot my sunglasses in the car. Then as we were pulling away, we realized that potential fuel line issue was quite real. We were 30' from the dock realizing we had some mcgyvering to do. So Jake incessantly pumped the bulb while I got us back to being tied up. Jake looked and found a pinhole, so I said to put a dab of super glue on and let me find some tape in my car. I thought I only had packing tape but then found the duct tape that the boat seller let me have for the road. I brought that back and we patched it up, then realized it was a whole crack and not just a pin hole. Patched it up and it was good as new! Maybe a trip to West Marine is in order this week...I don't love the zip ties on some of these fuel lines.



Got that done then tried to start the motor. Nothing! Must have drained the battery leaving the keys in, radio running, etc. So back to the car for the battery self-starter. Hooked that up and...nothing. Then Jake realized the boat was still in gear from when the engine last died. That'll do it. Helmet mistake from me and some delays, and we finally were out of the harbor at 0741.

It was a good bit flatter out of the harbor this time. Still some chop but nothing crazy. We were given some coordinates to head to by a guy at the dock, which was nice of him. Plugged those in, and headed almost perfectly south. Then about 3 miles out of the harbor, I see a dozen gulls following and diving on something with just a hint of enthusiasm. I decided to slow down for it, though I generally consider gulls to be helmet fisherman. We eased into the area and we each threw a colt sniper out. I was on my Sustain 5000, and almost as soon as I started reeling after letting it sink out for 10 seconds, I was hooked up. Felt like a medium bonito, then ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ okay not a medium bonito. Felt like it had some weight to it but catchable. Took off for almost 100 yards before finally tiring out and I started gaining ground. At deep color, I was almost certain I was seeing a familiar brilliant blue/purple hue. It did long circles under the boat until finally I confirmed it was a nice Skipjack! Right at gaff range it took off on another 50 yard run. Got it to the boat, same thing. Finally checked my drag and realized I could put another couple pounds of pressure on him, although I was willing to finesse it to get a tuna in the boat sooner than later. Finally, Jake sticks it perfectly in the heart and it's in the boat. Pheww!!!!! High fives. He finally confided it was his first gaff job, but it worked for me. Until realizing it was squirting blood across the boat every few seconds. You can even see it in the pic.



Huge mistake was forgetting the bucket and soft brush in the car. Hard brush and water could only do so much.



Onwards to our coordinates. We arrived 30 minutes later and there were a few boats scattered, but we never saw our acquaintance with the coords, and there were no signs of life. We started trolling a halco and the Yozuri Vibe at 12-15mph zig zagging back toward the 267.

Never saw anything. Saw one boat stopped and casting, which they abandoned quickly. We headed back in with the trollers still out, with my knowing that the 9 gallon tank got us back on fumes yesterday.

Jake wanted to break the skunk, so we stopped on some structure right outside the harbor. Casted the snipers some more and I got a decent turd.



I got one more turd, and Jake was able to get a tiny bonito and a couple mackerel. The fuel line started acting up again so we headed in before we could get into trouble. Better driving at the ramp this time near the dock...

I went to take a whizz and get some ice at Dana Wharf and the cashier said he went out Wednesday and found YFT under bullet tuna in the middle of nowhere, no signs of life, dragging cedar plug daisy chains at 10mph. Good bit of information for next weekend.

I had to drive to HB to Jake's house to clean the boat, then back to Irvine to drop it off at work. Blood wasn't coming out of the console's surface so add it to the list of things to do this week to the boat.

Not the numbers that Tom has been putting up, but a HUGE relief to not go the season without a pelagic on board. Good start! Enjoying a little poké tonight...

[sasquatch]

You got out, you got back, you caught fish. Success. Just a little fine tuning to do.