My dad and I hopped on the freelance with my buddy Ron who works on the boats a few days a week. 20 people and I think it can carry 60? 20 was perfect.
I Haven’t been on a socal sport boat since around 2009 and the Freelance didn’t disappoint.
Weather was foul. 6ft rollers with a little bigger now and then. A few looked about 8 and felt like 10 but the boat ate them up no problem.
It was slow going out, I clocked us at 10mph. Just over 8.5 knots for all the salt dogs out there. About 1.5 hours after leaving the dock we were anchored at our first spot looking for sculpin.
Place was loaded with sculpin but the boat was swinging back and forth so when the sun was on my face we caught sole and sand dabs and when the wheelhouse blocked the sun it was WFO spicy Calicos. (My new name for sculpin, maybe it’ll catch on) I saw a stargazer come over the rail too, Not sure if it was kept or the regs on them.
We kept looking at the weather and forecast for Catalina. Plan was to go catch white fish and sheep’s at the island and we’re all hoping to run across a school of WSB or yellows so hopes were high. Windy and fishtrack said it would get better but the captain and crew were reporting that it was going to get worse.
The wind picked up for about 15 minutes and the captain called it. Said he didn’t want to risk getting caught in some nasty weather and we were the only sport boat out there. No complaints from me. The captain has all our lives in his hands and has probably seen much worse conditions than I have in that area and knows the boat better than anyone there.
We pulled lines and around 10am were on our way back to the dock.
My dad took jackpot with a sculpin I estimate around 3lbs. The second biggest was also his. Yes he spent the jackpot on boat merch and tips.
On the way in the seas smoothed out with 3-4ft rollers and light wind. It looked great but no way to know what the channel looked like
Since the 3/4 day turned into a 1/4 day they gave us vouchers to come back which was cool, even though I’m pretty sure we all caught fish and knew the risk with the weather this week.
Definitely a boat I’ll be back on. Crew is super chill but on point. Boat food just hits different and the galley was no exception.
They guarantee to leave the dock every morning at 0630 so if you’re up for a gamble and like limited loads nows the time. After the 1st I’m sure it’ll be packed and most of the focus will be on rockfish.
I didn’t take any fish pics but got some wave action going out and the captain posted to IG with a candid pic of my dad and I on the bow.
I Haven’t been on a socal sport boat since around 2009 and the Freelance didn’t disappoint.
Weather was foul. 6ft rollers with a little bigger now and then. A few looked about 8 and felt like 10 but the boat ate them up no problem.
It was slow going out, I clocked us at 10mph. Just over 8.5 knots for all the salt dogs out there. About 1.5 hours after leaving the dock we were anchored at our first spot looking for sculpin.
Place was loaded with sculpin but the boat was swinging back and forth so when the sun was on my face we caught sole and sand dabs and when the wheelhouse blocked the sun it was WFO spicy Calicos. (My new name for sculpin, maybe it’ll catch on) I saw a stargazer come over the rail too, Not sure if it was kept or the regs on them.
We kept looking at the weather and forecast for Catalina. Plan was to go catch white fish and sheep’s at the island and we’re all hoping to run across a school of WSB or yellows so hopes were high. Windy and fishtrack said it would get better but the captain and crew were reporting that it was going to get worse.
The wind picked up for about 15 minutes and the captain called it. Said he didn’t want to risk getting caught in some nasty weather and we were the only sport boat out there. No complaints from me. The captain has all our lives in his hands and has probably seen much worse conditions than I have in that area and knows the boat better than anyone there.
We pulled lines and around 10am were on our way back to the dock.
My dad took jackpot with a sculpin I estimate around 3lbs. The second biggest was also his. Yes he spent the jackpot on boat merch and tips.
On the way in the seas smoothed out with 3-4ft rollers and light wind. It looked great but no way to know what the channel looked like
Since the 3/4 day turned into a 1/4 day they gave us vouchers to come back which was cool, even though I’m pretty sure we all caught fish and knew the risk with the weather this week.
Definitely a boat I’ll be back on. Crew is super chill but on point. Boat food just hits different and the galley was no exception.
They guarantee to leave the dock every morning at 0630 so if you’re up for a gamble and like limited loads nows the time. After the 1st I’m sure it’ll be packed and most of the focus will be on rockfish.
I didn’t take any fish pics but got some wave action going out and the captain posted to IG with a candid pic of my dad and I on the bow.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
