Islands Catalina camping and fishing cut short.

[Danthefishman]

Well, I booked this trip in January and you just never know what will be in store 9 months later... Original plan Was to camp at Rippers from Wed-Sun with a buddy and our boys. That didn't quite happen.
We left SD around 630am Wednesday and headed for Sunset Aquatic. We opted to get a scoop of "cured" bait from San Pedro BB because last year we lost all of our bait overnight and we didnt want that to happen again.. It was a beautiful crossing with light winds and little to no swell. Got to camp and began shuttling all gear and setting up. We learned alot from last year and made good time. Got some snorkeling in and cruised to 2 harbors to check the latest updates on the storm. Looks like wind is expected to be up sooner now.. maybe we will leave Friday night..
Got up early and headed offshore to some FD numbers to try and get Into something for the boys to pull on. We ran up around the west end and toward SBI. Weather was amazing and there were fish everywhere! Unfortunately we lost every piece of bait over night.. I was reading 67 degrees in the harbor and 75ish at the island.. maybe that shocked em? Or lack of oxygen? I rarely lose bait and split them between 2 completely different style tanks. The fact that all died in both tanks seems like it has to be a water temp/ oxygen issue.. I am open to suggestions!
we chunked and watched dorado eat right under the boat but never touch one with a hook in it. We also chunked squid. There were small spots of 20-50 or so lb bluefin that would pop up here and there. We trolled through em, in front, madmacs, feathers, threw stickbaits and irons along with everything else we had and never got a bite. I lost one dorado on a stickbait and that was my only bite.. The boys loved watching all the life out there but shared our frustration. I can't remember the last time that I switched jigs and trollers as much as yesterday, all to no avail..
We decided to call it and head back to camp around 1. On the way back we noticed that all of the boats on moorings were gone. We decided to stop Into 2 Harbors and ask some questions. There were only about 2 boats total on moorings. We got a quick spot and were told they were closing down along with Avalon for the upcoming storm. Everybody we talked to seemed shocked that we were going to stay one more night. We decided to play it safe and pack up in a hurry and boogey back to the mainland.
All in all it was a pretty exhausting trip for under a day and a half. 163 miles total for the boat. It makes for a good story I guess. Good to be home watching the rain from inside my house. Until next year CAT!

 

[AndyJ]

Wow, Great pics and a shot at the fish before the storm. Good call coming back early

 

[Blackfish]

Great post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[JK155]

Lots of smart decisions and making lemonade out of lemons. Glad you and the kiddos are safe. Great write up.

 

[lowprofile]

I had the same plan. Was going to come back this morning. Motor troubles early Wednesday had me calling it before it started. Lucky too because I probably would have stuck it out until this morning and been going head on into 25 knot winds.

 

[Steve Francis]

Out of the many millions of people in all So Cal you were likely the only 4 who actually did this over the last couple days. Camping, snorkeling and fishing with your sons at Catalina. Sounds like you absolutely did it the right way and made the right decisions. While enjoying the outdoors and the ocean you gave them the full respect they warrant.

 

[mhanson59hb]

Sorry your trip got cut short, but you absolutely made the right call. Rippers is a beautiful cove (some halibut in the sand there, too). Better luck on your next trip!

 

[Long Beach Bob]

Excellent decision making where the kids are concerned....These rare occasion hurricane systems often come with lightning bolts and freak high winds. That is when you want to be on dry land....The positive side is the storm will probably push more warm water this way and October may produce banner fishing opportunities for the kids..

 

[Danthefishman]

I had the same plan. Was going to come back this morning. Motor troubles early Wednesday had me calling it before it started. Lucky too because I probably would have stuck it out until this morning and been going head on into 25 knot winds.

Definitely for the best. Even the ride home Thursday night was pretty windy and wet. I've seen your rig, it would've been brutal

 

[RuckTard]

thanks for the write up. kids loved it and will remember those times regardless of outcome.

gonna PM you for more details on the boat in camping situation. thats something i am going to try to accomplish this year.

 

[mandoman68]

Your bait pump might be creating too much current in the tank , tiring out the bait. Temp was probably the reason but check fill time for tank....Depending on the size of the tank a proper pump will fill it in certain amount of time...Too soon means too much Too late not enough oxygen...There's a happy medium....the guys here can help.

 

[lougio]

Catalina is a lot of work and trying to get a spot months in advance you just never know what's going to happen. I've done Two Harbors a few times and was thinking of doing a primitive boat in camp site next time. Too bad it got cut short. I think we talked at La Mesa Costco fueling up. We were filling up the Parker.

 

[Danthefishman]

Catalina is a lot of work and trying to get a spot months in advance you just never know what's going to happen. I've done Two Harbors a few times and was thinking of doing a primitive boat in camp site next time. Too bad it got cut short. I think we talked at La Mesa Costco fueling up. We were filling up the Parker.

Man you've got a beautiful boat! I think you talked to my buddy. I was stuck on the side of the boat trying to get the gas to go faster so I could get home and sleep! . The kids were passed out in the truck. Man that was a long day.
This was year 2 on the primitive camping and last year seemed less stressful due to having a few other boats traveling with us as well as no bad weather to worry about. It is a TON of work getting things to shore via paddleboard and blow up boat, but we put the boys to work and do it more for the experience and to teach them if they want to do cool stuff, they have to work hard! It is also stressful sleeping with the boat on anchor, but as long as you run a stern rope to shore the boat really never moves. Rippers was an awesome beach and a bit easier than Cabrillo, but it was tough to get. Next year we were actually thinking about getting a spot at 2 Harbors and doing the mooring and water taxi route. Maybe you can give us some tips on that. We can swap info

 

[AlwaysHookedUp]

I think I saw you guys a few miles off the west end on Thursday. You called me (trophy center console) into a paddy that had dorado on it and you said they were eating the chunk but not with a hook in it. I moved in and you guys split to the other paddy I was casting on. I ended up landing one at the paddy. Sorry you guys had to cut your trip short but it sounds like you made the best of it.

 

[Long Beach Bob]

...Afternoon winds and swell west of Long Point can get rough by noon. After getting blown off several beach areas at 3 a.m. in the morning, I now just rent a mooring and use a dinghy to row ashore for beach activities. That lets me sleep at night without getting up every few hours to check the anchor.
...Climate change indicates more windy days based on the past couple of months weather out there. I don't recommend anchoring overnight on the backside any time of year. Once, my 21' Whaler filled up with water off China Point while I was down commercial abalone diving late afternoon. The 5' swells killed my batteries and starter. Two of us had to abandon ship, swim a half-mile to find a possible shore access spot in the boulders, surf a big wave in and start walking up goat trails to civilization in the late afternoon.
...Arrived at middle ranch by midnight and got help. An island diver recovered my boat two miles out to sea the next day and I was back in business. Another ocean lesson learned the hard way....

 

[Danthefishman]

I think I saw you guys a few miles off the west end on Thursday. You called me (trophy center console) into a paddy that had dorado on it and you said they were eating the chunk but not with a hook in it. I moved in and you guys split to the other paddy I was casting on. I ended up landing one at the paddy. Sorry you guys had to cut your trip short but it sounds like you made the best of it.

Right on! Glad to hear you ended up pulling one off of it. We chased around a mako next to where you were just to c&r but couldn't even get him to stick around. Tough trip for us

 

[HoJaf]

The pictures reminded me, of how I went mountain biking with my father. I started riding it when I was a small child. When I was about 13/14, my father got me into mountain biking properly and later on took me to Coed y Brenin, which changed my entire outlook on life. It was such a life-affirming pleasure to be riding those trails, seeing views that took my breath away and to be sharing those moments with my father. We saw a lot of wide life there. As a little boy, I especially loved rabbits.