My kid had a birthday yesterday and a good friend decided to give him an awesome gift - a fishing trip. We went out today around 8:30, got a scoop of dines and headed out to the 9 mile across from LJ, then pushed further another 5-6 miles as per plan. It was windy, choppy, but sunny and warm. Water was 68-69 closer to shore, but found 72 further out. We spent a good amount of time running around with no sign of fish or kelp.
Later notices a paddy with a boat working it (literally doing donuts at 10-13kn around a small to medium piece of kelp, almost running over it). Not too far from it was another paddy with another single boat, guys were trying live bait. Looked like both held fish, but no one was catching from what I saw. We have been trolling a live dine and the line went peeling. My son reeled in a medium dorado that spit the hook as I tried to gaff it. He is disappointed, but keeps his spirit up as that was the first time he saw a dorado up close, even if briefly.
Friend decided to move further north and ran parallel to shoreline. No birds, no fish, but hundreds of dolphins. We saw that the water started to change color from blue to green (friend said it was red tide, but honestly it just looked dirty green). It was around 2pm at this point, so we decided to turn back and head towards LJ, hoping to find more kelp. Captain dropped purple and black Madmac and we running back when the line started to peel fast! I got the wheel and he grabbed the Seeker with a screaming Talica. We had a lot of line out in order to keep the Madmac beyond the prop-wash, so it was a pain to bring it back in. Eventually I got the rod and he grabbed the gaff to put yellowfin into the boat. Looked like 25-30lb or so. Spirits were really high, my kid was smiling (biggest fish he saw up close!), so we've turned around and ran the Madmac back and forth, but did not get another bite.
At around 3pm we decided to call it a day and head back. At this point with LJ in the distance in front of us (we are going towards Mission Bay), as the captain turns the boat towards the birds working bait. As we get close, he shouts to put live-bait and drop it. So we sent several lines out.....My kid hooks up and is bringing it to the boat and it breaks my 10lb leader as I'm trying to lift it into the boat (dumb ass me...). He is super bummed out as his dad just made a mess-up of the day. I feel like crap. He takes another rod with the dine. The fish sinks out, so move to the next spot with boiling fish and birds dropping. He tosses the bait in the water and a minute later his line is peeling again! At this point I'm staying out of the way and the captain instructs him to keep the line tight, letting the fish tire itself, then as the fish gets close - he gaffs it and brings it over the side. My son is stoked! His first ever dorado (decent medium sized female), beautiful colors, cool looking fish. We hoped to see more, but at this point saw no signs of life and we were getting pressed for time.
To sum it up - great day on the water. I've learned a few things from the captain (and a friend who was kind enough to make such a great gift to my kiddo). Captain got beer, pastrami sandwiches, bait on me and a fun company for the day. And of course, my kid got the biggest fish he caught to date, learned a lot and spent another day on the water with his old man.
Sorry no pictures ....
Later notices a paddy with a boat working it (literally doing donuts at 10-13kn around a small to medium piece of kelp, almost running over it). Not too far from it was another paddy with another single boat, guys were trying live bait. Looked like both held fish, but no one was catching from what I saw. We have been trolling a live dine and the line went peeling. My son reeled in a medium dorado that spit the hook as I tried to gaff it. He is disappointed, but keeps his spirit up as that was the first time he saw a dorado up close, even if briefly.
Friend decided to move further north and ran parallel to shoreline. No birds, no fish, but hundreds of dolphins. We saw that the water started to change color from blue to green (friend said it was red tide, but honestly it just looked dirty green). It was around 2pm at this point, so we decided to turn back and head towards LJ, hoping to find more kelp. Captain dropped purple and black Madmac and we running back when the line started to peel fast! I got the wheel and he grabbed the Seeker with a screaming Talica. We had a lot of line out in order to keep the Madmac beyond the prop-wash, so it was a pain to bring it back in. Eventually I got the rod and he grabbed the gaff to put yellowfin into the boat. Looked like 25-30lb or so. Spirits were really high, my kid was smiling (biggest fish he saw up close!), so we've turned around and ran the Madmac back and forth, but did not get another bite.
At around 3pm we decided to call it a day and head back. At this point with LJ in the distance in front of us (we are going towards Mission Bay), as the captain turns the boat towards the birds working bait. As we get close, he shouts to put live-bait and drop it. So we sent several lines out.....My kid hooks up and is bringing it to the boat and it breaks my 10lb leader as I'm trying to lift it into the boat (dumb ass me...). He is super bummed out as his dad just made a mess-up of the day. I feel like crap. He takes another rod with the dine. The fish sinks out, so move to the next spot with boiling fish and birds dropping. He tosses the bait in the water and a minute later his line is peeling again! At this point I'm staying out of the way and the captain instructs him to keep the line tight, letting the fish tire itself, then as the fish gets close - he gaffs it and brings it over the side. My son is stoked! His first ever dorado (decent medium sized female), beautiful colors, cool looking fish. We hoped to see more, but at this point saw no signs of life and we were getting pressed for time.
To sum it up - great day on the water. I've learned a few things from the captain (and a friend who was kind enough to make such a great gift to my kiddo). Captain got beer, pastrami sandwiches, bait on me and a fun company for the day. And of course, my kid got the biggest fish he caught to date, learned a lot and spent another day on the water with his old man.
Sorry no pictures ....
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