I took my son Sean fishing to Catalina for a few days.
Short version: Yellowtail from 1 to 29 pounds, lost a bigger one, fin bait was best, water temps to 69+ degrees, back side washed out from the swell, but the weather was nice.
Novel: We got a late start Monday morning (my fault) and things went bad for me right away. I almost tripped while hooking up the boat to the truck, and then I did eat it while rinsing the truck and trailer after launching. My shin still hurts! At this point I am already in “Barny” mode. Great.
We picked up a half scoop of big sardines and a quarter scoop of small squid from Nacho. There were some decent size ones mixed in! A big west swell crossed with what seemed like wind swells from several directions escorted us across the channel. We headed straight for the back side east, where the Pursuit, Fury and about 10 private boats are working the Vs. What ever bite there was seemed over and most of the boats were off to greener pastures.
I was metering some good marks, so we stuck it out slow trolling the big ‘dines. Right at noon, I get absolutely smoked on my 30# outfit. After 10 minutes of getting my ass handed to me, I see some color and it’s a HUGE yellowtail. As Sean is grabbing the gaff, the hook pulls with the fish just out of range. Mission Barny complete. Man, that one hurt. Bad.
Three hours go slowly by and then I get ripped again in almost exactly the same spot at the Palisades. I was pumped up, so I had this one to color in 7 minutes. Again, it was a big yellow, but not nearly the size of the first one. Sean gets a perfect gaff shot and 29 pounds/41 inch fork length worth of redemption goes in the kill bag! I am super stoked, but still thinking about the first fish that was probably pushing 40 pounds.
By 5 pm the whole back side was washed out from the big swell, so we got a mooring in Avalon for the night. We had a blast whacking calicos on the small squid until dark.
Tuesday morning there were only about 10 sardines left in the tank and we only made a few small Spanish mackerel. This time we stayed on the front side and started between the MLPAs, where cleaner water was found. As we’re slow trolling at Red Rock, some guy running rapalas comes charging by about 25 feet from us. Sean hooks up, so I turn out to deeper water and stop the boat. Mr Rapala is still getting closer, and then proceeds to tell me he thinks we hooked a sea lion. I wave him off and Sean boats an 8-pound yellow. Then this guy has the nerve to ask me what we are using while sitting 10 feet from us.
Anchoring up at Rippers for lunch and a quick nap recharged our batteries, so the mission was now to find some bait. The kelp is really coming back in at Parsons, where I located a big school of mixed smelt and Spanish and quickly put about 40 pieces in the tank.
At Empire, Sean released a yellow that was about 1 pound, and I did the same for a 2-pound bonito. Sean also nailed a nice cuda on an SP Minnow and hooked a larger yellow that did a big run before coming unbuttoned. Those lures have some great action. Just after that, Sean’s troller goes off and he lands a 13-pound yellow. The kid is on a roll! That night we moored up at the Isthmus.
Wednesday morning found us back at Empire, and it was my turn to get zinged again on a trolled smelt. I set the hook hard, and feel the fish pop off. The curly end of the line told the sad story – my knot was not good. Hello Barny my old friend, you’re back.
The way back to the barn (how appropriate) was smooth as glass, so that was something. Water temps at the island were from 64 – 69.4. The weather was beautiful.
What worked: Fin bait and SP Minnows
What did not work: Squid (except for calicos), Rapalas and untested knots.
Hope this report will help others this weekend!
Dad with 29 pound yellowtail:
Another shot:
Sean with his 8 pound sea lion - I mean yellowtail
And his 13 pound yellow
3 Amigos
Short version: Yellowtail from 1 to 29 pounds, lost a bigger one, fin bait was best, water temps to 69+ degrees, back side washed out from the swell, but the weather was nice.
Novel: We got a late start Monday morning (my fault) and things went bad for me right away. I almost tripped while hooking up the boat to the truck, and then I did eat it while rinsing the truck and trailer after launching. My shin still hurts! At this point I am already in “Barny” mode. Great.
We picked up a half scoop of big sardines and a quarter scoop of small squid from Nacho. There were some decent size ones mixed in! A big west swell crossed with what seemed like wind swells from several directions escorted us across the channel. We headed straight for the back side east, where the Pursuit, Fury and about 10 private boats are working the Vs. What ever bite there was seemed over and most of the boats were off to greener pastures.
I was metering some good marks, so we stuck it out slow trolling the big ‘dines. Right at noon, I get absolutely smoked on my 30# outfit. After 10 minutes of getting my ass handed to me, I see some color and it’s a HUGE yellowtail. As Sean is grabbing the gaff, the hook pulls with the fish just out of range. Mission Barny complete. Man, that one hurt. Bad.
Three hours go slowly by and then I get ripped again in almost exactly the same spot at the Palisades. I was pumped up, so I had this one to color in 7 minutes. Again, it was a big yellow, but not nearly the size of the first one. Sean gets a perfect gaff shot and 29 pounds/41 inch fork length worth of redemption goes in the kill bag! I am super stoked, but still thinking about the first fish that was probably pushing 40 pounds.
By 5 pm the whole back side was washed out from the big swell, so we got a mooring in Avalon for the night. We had a blast whacking calicos on the small squid until dark.
Tuesday morning there were only about 10 sardines left in the tank and we only made a few small Spanish mackerel. This time we stayed on the front side and started between the MLPAs, where cleaner water was found. As we’re slow trolling at Red Rock, some guy running rapalas comes charging by about 25 feet from us. Sean hooks up, so I turn out to deeper water and stop the boat. Mr Rapala is still getting closer, and then proceeds to tell me he thinks we hooked a sea lion. I wave him off and Sean boats an 8-pound yellow. Then this guy has the nerve to ask me what we are using while sitting 10 feet from us.
Anchoring up at Rippers for lunch and a quick nap recharged our batteries, so the mission was now to find some bait. The kelp is really coming back in at Parsons, where I located a big school of mixed smelt and Spanish and quickly put about 40 pieces in the tank.
At Empire, Sean released a yellow that was about 1 pound, and I did the same for a 2-pound bonito. Sean also nailed a nice cuda on an SP Minnow and hooked a larger yellow that did a big run before coming unbuttoned. Those lures have some great action. Just after that, Sean’s troller goes off and he lands a 13-pound yellow. The kid is on a roll! That night we moored up at the Isthmus.
Wednesday morning found us back at Empire, and it was my turn to get zinged again on a trolled smelt. I set the hook hard, and feel the fish pop off. The curly end of the line told the sad story – my knot was not good. Hello Barny my old friend, you’re back.
The way back to the barn (how appropriate) was smooth as glass, so that was something. Water temps at the island were from 64 – 69.4. The weather was beautiful.
What worked: Fin bait and SP Minnows
What did not work: Squid (except for calicos), Rapalas and untested knots.
Hope this report will help others this weekend!
Dad with 29 pound yellowtail:
Another shot:
Sean with his 8 pound sea lion - I mean yellowtail
And his 13 pound yellow
3 Amigos
