Islands Channel islands

[John Stidman]

Got to channel islands harbor about 9pm Friday night. Launched and shot out to anacapa and saw couple boats anchored trying for squid. They haven't got any so we searched around for a bit and no marks. Shot to back side santa Cruz Island and looked around. Decided to go ahead and just anchor up for night. Tossed the squid light overboard. So many sea cucumbers it was hard to do anything. About 30 mins later we had some small 1 inch looking minnows all over. About 15 mins later we had sardines and Spanish macks all over them. Then About 30 mins after that barracuda like I've never seen. Hundreds or more. We used dip net to load up on live bait. Drop a flying with bait and soon as it hot a foot under water big barracuda takes it. We caught and released about 50 or more easily til about 4am. Then we kept a couple about 34 inches to take home. Woke up about 6 and tried dropper loops, fly lines. Nothing. Decided to go search for squid. Nada. Shot back to anacapa and anchored there fir night. Git squid to light about 2 hrs later. Wouldn't cone up. I have a extended dip net and we git about a dozen all night. They were fast and only about 50 or so per school. Caughtvone thresher shark about 5ft long. Right at boatvit bit through the line. About 6 of those spiny dig sharks after. Git some whitefish. A huge Calico. And few nix rockfish. No chatter on radio. Seen alot boats searching. I'm thinking I should have just went to Santa Rosa Island. My buddy went to Cat and hit wsb and butts. Guess I'll just have to give it another go. Water was calm flat. No wind or drift. My anchor never got tight. We just sat there. Lol. Itcwas a great time and that epic barracuda frenzy was very cool. You could see 10os about 5 ft or just below swimming and wracking the sardines. There was one about 24 inches that grabbed one and couldn't get it down. Swam with it in its mouth and I just scooped with dip net. I released it. Was just funny. Gwe left Sunday about 4pm. Great wk end

 

[7emptsT]

Great report thanks for sharing, catching cudas like that is pure fun.

 

[mrkrabs]

 

[Tunahead]

Great report and pics of the Frenzy below . Way to get out and give it a go.

 

[mullet]

That squid should have been snaggable . Candy catchers are your friend

 

[Bend Session]

sea cucumbers are boring

 

[pacificscout]

Nice Adventure.
Enjoy your posts. You tend to give it a hellava try always.

 

[John Stidman]

Those are those sea cucumbers. We tried snagging the ones we seen.

 

[Drew Stephens]

Sounds like an awesome weekend. Unfortunate that the gamefish bite has slowed down a bite. That barracuda bite sounds legendary though

 

[SeaHawk IV]

Thanks for the report

 

[PaDDy Killer']

Great report! We were out there too, the bite seemed to be from 330am-530 am. Set that alarm earlier!

 

[RyanErb]

Great report! We were out there too, the bite seemed to be from 330am-530 am. Set that alarm earlier!

Gosh it would sure be nice if the bite was 730-930 lolllll

 

[hawkplayer32]

John next time text or call me. We walked em. Happy to share some info.

 

[John Stidman]

John next time text or call me. We walked em. Happy to share some info.

Thanks, I'd appreciate some advice and help. My b day is sat the 25th. So ill be going again somewhere depending on weather. Hopefully channel islands again and get on some wsb. But Catalina and clemente are also options.

 

[hawkplayer32]

Thanks, I'd appreciate some advice and help. My b day is sat the 25th. So ill be going again somewhere depending on weather. Hopefully channel islands again and get on some wsb. But Catalina and clemente are also options.

Channel Islands are best for wsb. Just have to know where to look! Message me before you go and I’ll steer you right.

 

[John Stidman]

Channel Islands are best for wsb. Just have to know where to look! Message me before you go and I’ll steer you right.

Thank you. I definitely will. I really appreciate it.

 

[Rabid Fish]

That squid should have been snaggable . Candy catchers are your friend

Those are those sea cucumbers. We tried snagging the ones we seen.

Those are called pyrosomes and they are completely useless

 

[marlyn]

Thanks, I'd appreciate some advice and help. My b day is sat the 25th. So ill be going again somewhere depending on weather. Hopefully channel islands again and get on some wsb. But Catalina and clemente are also options.

Moon phase on the 28th and 29th looks really good john,were on a charter the 29th.

 

[John Stidman]

Moon phase on the 28th and 29th looks really good john,were on a charter the 29th.

Thanks. Appreciate the info.