My brother and I decided to go fishing on Tuesday, vacillating between going out on the Grande for a shot at tuna and the San Diego for an Islands trip. I usually fish the Liberty but since it already had 35 reservations, we decided to give the San Diego a shot, especially after hearing so many good things about it.
Got down to the landing and chatted with some of the other passengers while we were waiting to board, then headed off the dock with a load of 29 other anglers precisely at 5:30. We made a quick stop at the bait barge for some of the largest and healthiest sardines I have ever seen. then we sat down for the 2 hour boat ride to the Islands.
Weather was overcast, and the seas a bit rough and choppy. not bad by any means, but it was not the glass smooth conditions I had for my last trip to the Islands. The weather and seas did not change for the rest of the trip.
We started "fishing" on the south end of the south Island, along with who knows how many private boats and other sport boats. Honestly, I can't remember when I have seen that many boats in one spot at the islands, especially on a Tuesday! Needless to say, Capt. Bostian quickly bailed on that spot and headed a bit north for a few minutes. He finally slowed down, and announced over the PA that he had found a school, and get your baits in the water.
The fishing started out about as good as one could hope. there was a constant steady bite, with a few fish always hanging. Constant action, but that crazy wide open fishing where everyone is hooked up and the whole thing gets out of control. We had a good mix of anglers, from the regulars to the novice from AZ. By and large, everyone worked well together and tried their best, even the guy that went rushing down the rail, following his fish like he was told to do, but neglecting the "over under" part of it. I yelled at him to stop, and he did, but said "I'm following my fish!" I retorted "along with everyone else's line." We got that mess cleaned up and he got his fish.
I started out fishing fly lined sardines with a 2/0 J hook on 20# with a 20# floor leader, and quickly landed three yellowtail, all in the 10 to 15 pound class (that is what we caught all day, not huge, but not rats either) and decided to switch to surface iron. A brave decision for me, as I have not attempted this in 40 (yes forty) years! As an aside, I would like to thank Jamie at Bob Sands for helping setting me up with a great selection of JRI jigs and a wonderful United composites RCE 900 Monster rod. Anyway, the best part of the day had to be that on my first jig cast in literally 40 years I hook up with a yellowtail! Talk about excitement. I ended up catching two more yellowtail and four barracuda on a mint and white JRI 3 before I needed to take a break.
About that time, Ryan decided that we need to make a move (it was noon, and we already had more than 120 yellowtail on the boat along with maybe 25 barracuda) and we moved up towards the north end of the south island. Another stop and more of the same, lots of yellows, barracuda and some bonito.
Final stop of the day was at the middle grounds, where the calicos were plentiful and willing to play. I ended up catching 7 yellowtail (gave two to my brother), five barracuda (four released) and two calico bass (botjh released.
Overall it was a great day, especially good because everyone on the boat caught fish. The captain and crew did an exceptional job both finding the fish and making sure everyone, from the rank novice to experienced angler was catching fish and having a good time. I really can not say enough good things about the captain and crew of the San Diego and I will definitely be riding this boat again.
On another note, a question for all you experienced jig fishermen. I started the day with a JRI 3, catching seven fish. Later i switched to a JRI 7 in scrambled egg, and while I kept getting strikes I could never hook a fish. I would feel the jig stop while reeling it in or see a fish explode on it during the retrieve but I could never hook them. Is there a reason why one jig might hook fish while another will not? both are new and used for the first time.
Pictures to follow,
Thanks for reading,
Richard
Got down to the landing and chatted with some of the other passengers while we were waiting to board, then headed off the dock with a load of 29 other anglers precisely at 5:30. We made a quick stop at the bait barge for some of the largest and healthiest sardines I have ever seen. then we sat down for the 2 hour boat ride to the Islands.
Weather was overcast, and the seas a bit rough and choppy. not bad by any means, but it was not the glass smooth conditions I had for my last trip to the Islands. The weather and seas did not change for the rest of the trip.
We started "fishing" on the south end of the south Island, along with who knows how many private boats and other sport boats. Honestly, I can't remember when I have seen that many boats in one spot at the islands, especially on a Tuesday! Needless to say, Capt. Bostian quickly bailed on that spot and headed a bit north for a few minutes. He finally slowed down, and announced over the PA that he had found a school, and get your baits in the water.
The fishing started out about as good as one could hope. there was a constant steady bite, with a few fish always hanging. Constant action, but that crazy wide open fishing where everyone is hooked up and the whole thing gets out of control. We had a good mix of anglers, from the regulars to the novice from AZ. By and large, everyone worked well together and tried their best, even the guy that went rushing down the rail, following his fish like he was told to do, but neglecting the "over under" part of it. I yelled at him to stop, and he did, but said "I'm following my fish!" I retorted "along with everyone else's line." We got that mess cleaned up and he got his fish.
I started out fishing fly lined sardines with a 2/0 J hook on 20# with a 20# floor leader, and quickly landed three yellowtail, all in the 10 to 15 pound class (that is what we caught all day, not huge, but not rats either) and decided to switch to surface iron. A brave decision for me, as I have not attempted this in 40 (yes forty) years! As an aside, I would like to thank Jamie at Bob Sands for helping setting me up with a great selection of JRI jigs and a wonderful United composites RCE 900 Monster rod. Anyway, the best part of the day had to be that on my first jig cast in literally 40 years I hook up with a yellowtail! Talk about excitement. I ended up catching two more yellowtail and four barracuda on a mint and white JRI 3 before I needed to take a break.
About that time, Ryan decided that we need to make a move (it was noon, and we already had more than 120 yellowtail on the boat along with maybe 25 barracuda) and we moved up towards the north end of the south island. Another stop and more of the same, lots of yellows, barracuda and some bonito.
Final stop of the day was at the middle grounds, where the calicos were plentiful and willing to play. I ended up catching 7 yellowtail (gave two to my brother), five barracuda (four released) and two calico bass (botjh released.
Overall it was a great day, especially good because everyone on the boat caught fish. The captain and crew did an exceptional job both finding the fish and making sure everyone, from the rank novice to experienced angler was catching fish and having a good time. I really can not say enough good things about the captain and crew of the San Diego and I will definitely be riding this boat again.
On another note, a question for all you experienced jig fishermen. I started the day with a JRI 3, catching seven fish. Later i switched to a JRI 7 in scrambled egg, and while I kept getting strikes I could never hook a fish. I would feel the jig stop while reeling it in or see a fish explode on it during the retrieve but I could never hook them. Is there a reason why one jig might hook fish while another will not? both are new and used for the first time.
Pictures to follow,
Thanks for reading,
Richard
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