Well, we landed one. 2 long strikes that didn't stick, dad lost one at color after an hour long battle, but we landed one: 49" 86.2lbs.
Left San Jose at 0400 and got to the Santa Cruz launch ramp in just under an hour. Small line already forming but flowed well for the most part. Launched and met up with a buddy on the water who had already located the Macks. Picked up a dozen in short order, crossed my fingers that they'd survive in my make shift bait tank, pointed the boat south and made the long haul to Pt. Sur. Gorgeous weather across the bay and got even better as we rounded Pt. Pinos. Told my crew, Grandpa Fred and little Joey, to keep their eyes peeled for anything along the way; basically told them no napping. Couple of dolphins greeted us initially but it was pretty desolate until we got to Sur. That's when lil Joey first spotted them. Looked like a 1/2mile long single line of them just finning along the surface with a couple of jumpers in between. We were just inside them at 36 15'04.3 122 05'38.5. Killed the main, dropped the kicker in, and eagerly slow trolled out to the 06 line.
Two lines in the water: one surface trolled mack nose hooked with a 3/0 ringed Mutu circle hook on our 100lb outfit: Penn 20 VISX 600 yards of 100lb JB hollow to 25 yard top shot of 100lb Mono 200' back. Another Mack 80' down, bridled to a 3/0 ringed Mutu circle hook on our 60lb outfit: Penn 16 VSX 600 yards of 80lb JB hollow to 25 yards of 60lb Seaguar Fluoro blue label.
Slow trolled between 1.7-2.2mph, changed out baits every 30 minutes. Nothing happening till after 11am when we had our first long strike: Surface line: peeled and peeled line, held my breath, slowly picked up the rod, waited a solid 20 seconds, took a deep breath, then slowly tightened the drag. "We're on!" then a second later....we were off.
Marked the spot rebaited both lines and trolled back to the waypoint and got hit. Surface line again. Told my dad to get on the rod this time but hold his breath and not set the drag until he needed to take one. Slowly pushed the drag forward and we were on. Dad nestled into a comfortable spot on the deck, on a knee, rested the rod on the rail and cranked...and cranked...and cranked. Began backing down the boat to help him out and finally started gaining line back. We saw top shot more than once only to watch it disappear again. At deep color we all gasped as we saw it lay on its side and stared up at us. Finally showed dad the lower gear, got the fish circling closer, got the gaff ready, and *plunk*.....hook pulled. Dad was beat, Joey was shocked, and I just felt defeated. Stared at the empty hook in hand for a moment wondering what went wrong. Reassured dad and Joey that we did everything correctly but sometimes it just happens.
1220 at this point. Retied, rebaited, headed back to the same waypoint. Not sure if you guys do it, but after losing that first one, I began(in my mind) begging/praying for that second opportunity. Then @ 1227, Downrigger line gets hit, I say thank you out loud(in my mind I'm yelling F#%$ Yeah!). I jump on the rod this time, Joey is at the helm, grandpa is on gaff duty. Pinned to the rail I put the wood to it. Fish helped out and made a couple of scary blistering runs towards the boat. Got it to color, and it just held there for awhile doing the death circle. Yanked and cranked a few times, a couple more circles, dad sank the first gaff into it and all hell broke loose. Gaff slipped out of dads hands at the starboard stern of the boat, Bluefin blasted up the side and brought the gaff straight into my hands. Dad sank the second gaff into it, we brain spiked it, and slowly yanked it over the railing. Fish hit the deck at 1300. We all just stared at it for awhile and did multiple high five rounds. Gassed, I called out our numbers on the radio. Bled the fish, got it on ice, retied and rebaited. Downrigger rod had another long strike that didn't stick before we called it(dad dropped on me that he had birthday dinner plans with mom).
Missed details: Numbers 36 13' 122 06'. At the tide change water warmed up to 60.9 and bite turned on. Rods were United Composites Raptor Rail Rod and Calstar 765XL. Reels lined, setup spotlight configuration, and drags set by Alan Tani. Food on board were Duc Huong Banh Mi sandos.
4 bites, 2 hookups, 1 lost at the boat and scored one great birthday gift.
Happy Birthday Dad. Let's get another
Get'm you guys.
Left San Jose at 0400 and got to the Santa Cruz launch ramp in just under an hour. Small line already forming but flowed well for the most part. Launched and met up with a buddy on the water who had already located the Macks. Picked up a dozen in short order, crossed my fingers that they'd survive in my make shift bait tank, pointed the boat south and made the long haul to Pt. Sur. Gorgeous weather across the bay and got even better as we rounded Pt. Pinos. Told my crew, Grandpa Fred and little Joey, to keep their eyes peeled for anything along the way; basically told them no napping. Couple of dolphins greeted us initially but it was pretty desolate until we got to Sur. That's when lil Joey first spotted them. Looked like a 1/2mile long single line of them just finning along the surface with a couple of jumpers in between. We were just inside them at 36 15'04.3 122 05'38.5. Killed the main, dropped the kicker in, and eagerly slow trolled out to the 06 line.
Two lines in the water: one surface trolled mack nose hooked with a 3/0 ringed Mutu circle hook on our 100lb outfit: Penn 20 VISX 600 yards of 100lb JB hollow to 25 yard top shot of 100lb Mono 200' back. Another Mack 80' down, bridled to a 3/0 ringed Mutu circle hook on our 60lb outfit: Penn 16 VSX 600 yards of 80lb JB hollow to 25 yards of 60lb Seaguar Fluoro blue label.
Slow trolled between 1.7-2.2mph, changed out baits every 30 minutes. Nothing happening till after 11am when we had our first long strike: Surface line: peeled and peeled line, held my breath, slowly picked up the rod, waited a solid 20 seconds, took a deep breath, then slowly tightened the drag. "We're on!" then a second later....we were off.
Marked the spot rebaited both lines and trolled back to the waypoint and got hit. Surface line again. Told my dad to get on the rod this time but hold his breath and not set the drag until he needed to take one. Slowly pushed the drag forward and we were on. Dad nestled into a comfortable spot on the deck, on a knee, rested the rod on the rail and cranked...and cranked...and cranked. Began backing down the boat to help him out and finally started gaining line back. We saw top shot more than once only to watch it disappear again. At deep color we all gasped as we saw it lay on its side and stared up at us. Finally showed dad the lower gear, got the fish circling closer, got the gaff ready, and *plunk*.....hook pulled. Dad was beat, Joey was shocked, and I just felt defeated. Stared at the empty hook in hand for a moment wondering what went wrong. Reassured dad and Joey that we did everything correctly but sometimes it just happens.1220 at this point. Retied, rebaited, headed back to the same waypoint. Not sure if you guys do it, but after losing that first one, I began(in my mind) begging/praying for that second opportunity. Then @ 1227, Downrigger line gets hit, I say thank you out loud(in my mind I'm yelling F#%$ Yeah!). I jump on the rod this time, Joey is at the helm, grandpa is on gaff duty. Pinned to the rail I put the wood to it. Fish helped out and made a couple of scary blistering runs towards the boat. Got it to color, and it just held there for awhile doing the death circle. Yanked and cranked a few times, a couple more circles, dad sank the first gaff into it and all hell broke loose. Gaff slipped out of dads hands at the starboard stern of the boat, Bluefin blasted up the side and brought the gaff straight into my hands. Dad sank the second gaff into it, we brain spiked it, and slowly yanked it over the railing. Fish hit the deck at 1300. We all just stared at it for awhile and did multiple high five rounds. Gassed, I called out our numbers on the radio. Bled the fish, got it on ice, retied and rebaited. Downrigger rod had another long strike that didn't stick before we called it(dad dropped on me that he had birthday dinner plans with mom).
Missed details: Numbers 36 13' 122 06'. At the tide change water warmed up to 60.9 and bite turned on. Rods were United Composites Raptor Rail Rod and Calstar 765XL. Reels lined, setup spotlight configuration, and drags set by Alan Tani. Food on board were Duc Huong Banh Mi sandos.
4 bites, 2 hookups, 1 lost at the boat and scored one great birthday gift.
Happy Birthday Dad. Let's get another
Get'm you guys.
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