Full day Sun. 9/18 - Why I will NEVER fish the Malihini again

[TJBertram]

The full day boats, including my regular, have been packed these last couple of weeks. I had been scouring the landings to find a spot for my friend and I and noticed on Saturday that they opened up a full-day offshore on the Malihini. I had heard mixed things but figured that what the heck, I needed to be out on the water as the fishing was great recently. Mistake, and although everyday out in the water is a blessing, maybe this was one Sunday we should had passed and waited to hop on one of the other boats that I know. So let me tell you why I will NEVER fish and give my hard-earned money to this operation:

- No, it isn't because we left the dock 40min late at 610am, instead of 530am - I fished Baja plenty, I know what late departures are like

- No, it isn't because one of the deckhands was mishandling the bait at the receiver - I've fished with friends that have some sort of weird fetish about grabbing the bait and throwing it back in the tank

- No, it isn't because this mf'ing boat rocks so bad in 1-2ft swells that 2 people were sick - I've been on boats where half the people were sick because it was really rough (small craft advisory bad or worse)

- No, it isn't because we almost ran out of bait at the end (never have seen this happen before) - I've gone out and lost all my bait to a busted bait pump

- No, it isn't because every time you go up and down the rail, the space is so tight that you have to apologize to your fellow passenger for sexually harassing him

- No, it isn't because everytime I went up to the bait well I got drenched due to the rocking of the boat - I've had to endure plenty of drenchings on my way back to Pt. Loma with afternoon winds ripping and a NW swell

- No, it isn't because I skunked for the first time this year and after 6 trips - not the boat's fault and it was a crappy day for the fleet

Here it is: We started picking up bluefin on the troll at 3pm, first with a triple and then a double hookup. After leaving 40min late in the morning, what does the captain do? Instead of giving us extra time in a zone with biting bluefin tuna (on the troll, not on bait), HE CALLS IT QUITS AND WE ARE BACK IN PT. LOMA TIED AT THE DOCK AT 540PM. It is a s**ty day and you call it quits when we finally find biting bluefin?!?!?!?!?!

This tells me a lot about your operation:
1. You are not hungry enough and competitive enough to put up better numbers
2. You don't give a s**t about robbing 40min of fishing time from your paying customers
3. You don't care the majority of the 30 passengers (me included), going home with no fish

We picked up 5 bluefin on the troll in less than 30min. I've been on full day boats and we get back at close to 8pm because the captain wants to find fish for his passengers. I wonder how many more bft we could have picked up in an extra hour at that zone?

There are no bad days out in the water, but lesson learned for sure.....

 

[Predatormonster]

That’s painful. Sometimes the crew can’t stay late. Dinner plans, repairs needed, funeral. They have lives too. I understand your frustration. Blame the Bluefin.

 

[Kevin A]

Break out the Popcorn

 

[the SLIDER]

No, it isn't because of that sour attitude all day that the captain took the boat back to dock on schedule.

 

[kzaam1]

Too bad. Several years ago it seemed like a lot of people liked that boat.

 

[mandoman68]

The full day boats, including my regular, have been packed these last couple of weeks. I had been scouring the landings to find a spot for my friend and I and noticed on Saturday that they opened up a full-day offshore on the Malihini. I had heard mixed things but figured that what the heck, I needed to be out on the water as the fishing was great recently. Mistake, and although everyday out in the water is a blessing, maybe this was one Sunday we should had passed and waited to hop on one of the other boats that I know. So let me tell you why I will NEVER fish and give my hard-earned money to this operation:

- No, it isn't because we left the dock 40min late at 610am, instead of 530am - I fished Baja plenty, I know what late departures are like

- No, it isn't because one of the deckhands was mishandling the bait at the receiver - I've fished with friends that have some sort of weird fetish about grabbing the bait and throwing it back in the tank

- No, it isn't because this mf'ing boat rocks so bad in 1-2ft swells that 2 people were sick - I've been on boats where half the people were sick because it was really rough (small craft advisory bad or worse)

- No, it isn't because we almost ran out of bait at the end (never have seen this happen before) - I've gone out and lost all my bait to a busted bait pump

- No, it isn't because every time you go up and down the rail, the space is so tight that you have to apologize to your fellow passenger for sexually harassing him

- No, it isn't because everytime I went up to the bait well I got drenched due to the rocking of the boat - I've had to endure plenty of drenchings on my way back to Pt. Loma with afternoon winds ripping and a NW swell

- No, it isn't because I skunked for the first time this year and after 6 trips - not the boat's fault and it was a crappy day for the fleet

Here it is: We started picking up bluefin on the troll at 3pm, first with a triple and then a double hookup. After leaving 40min late in the morning, what does the captain do? Instead of giving us extra time in a zone with biting bluefin tuna (on the troll, not on bait), HE CALLS IT QUITS AND WE ARE BACK IN PT. LOMA TIED AT THE DOCK AT 540PM. It is a s**ty day and you call it quits when we finally find biting bluefin?!?!?!?!?!

This tells me a lot about your operation:
1. You are not hungry enough and competitive enough to put up better numbers
2. You don't give a s**t about robbing 40min of fishing time from your paying customers
3. You don't care the majority of the 30 passengers (me included), going home with no fish

We picked up 5 bluefin on the troll in less than 30min. I've been on full day boats and we get back at close to 8pm because the captain wants to find fish for his passengers. I wonder how many more bft we could have picked up in an extra hour at that zone?

There are no bad days out in the water, but lesson learned for sure.....

Thanks for the report. Be thankful they didnt steal your Calstar set up. They ripped me off this year and they admit it on my voice mail. I'm done with this landing after 25 years the service , food , crew , blows now. Shout out to Capt Steve on the Legend. We have our differences but at least you quickly called me to let me know you found my tackle . I will thank you personally when I see you again. My property disappeared at the H and M office. frank Ulcercetti is blaming me for their actions. Stay tuned.

 

[Tunahead]

Break out the Popcorn

TOO EARLY....I'm Still eating breakfast.....between laughter breaks.

 

[scbassmaster]

Doesn’t sound like Bill, who was driving?

 

[TJBertram]

That’s painful. Sometimes the crew can’t stay late. Dinner plans, repairs needed.Funeral. They have lives too. I understand your frustration. Blame the Bluefin.

You are right. That's exactly my point - the paying customer is not the priority. Can't blame the bluefin, they were biting at 3pm and my frustration is not the lack of fish, it's about losing 40min of fishing time that I paid for and was not compensated when they had the opportunity to do so. Thankfully, I live in SD and plenty of other options!

 

[TJBertram]

Doesn’t sound like Bill, who was driving?

Guy named Ricky. Nice fellow but certainly not what I would had expected.

 

[Hismosa]

You have some valid complaints. But staying out for extra time to catch fish shouldn't be one. These guys would never get home.

 

[chachi10]

A couple blind troll stops is not worth staying late for. Wide open bait stop where the whole boat is bent? Sure

 

[hucklongfin]

On those rare occasions where I get to work late, I try to compensate by leaving early.

 

[Rocket Dog]

Never fished the boats, but this will keep me from booking a trip. Gives new meaning to watching your line.


"No, it isn't because every time you go up and down the rail, the space is so tight that you have to apologize to your fellow passenger for sexually harassing him"

 

[Salt-shaker]

Shit happens and unfortunately you got more than your share. Some valid frustrations, especially leaving 40 minutes late from the dock. That's precious time for anglers who are paying hard earned money.

However, the operation has no magical way of making fish come to the boat. I've had my fair share of skunks and near skunks over the years where I've learned to keep my high-hopes in moderation. Just ask Slider about this fact (sorry, LJ, I just couldn't help myself!)

Time to plug the vent and look forward!

 

[Errin]

A couple blind troll stops is not worth staying late for. Wide open bait stop where the whole boat is bent? Sure

A triple and then a double back to back are blind troll strikes?

 

[fishnfoool]

I've said before and I'll say it again. The malihini is one horrible operation.

 

[mullet]

- No, it isn't because we almost ran out of bait at the end (never have seen this happen before)

I stopped reading at this point

 

[chachi10]

A triple and then a double back to back are blind troll strikes?

A blind troll strike is a troll bite you didn't see coming aka no birds or surface signal or sonar school. Doesn't matter how many rods go off. Doesn't sound like any of it responded to bait and OP said they were running out of bait so doesn't sound like they had any chance of getting a school to stick to the boat.

Why stay out late to troll 3 rods at a time for 20+ customers and no bait

 

[sealskinner]

I miss Eddie

 

[SkyFisher7]

Leaving 40 minutes late is ridiculous.

 

[MakoMike1]

I’m right there with you. I will never fish that boat again.

 

[dwaynesda]

About the running out of bait.

I charter the boats a lot. 5 times in the last 5 weeks, San Diego, Liberty, New Seaforth Mission Belle. We run out of bait on the San Diego and no one complained. I know Matt very well. He told me the fish are so close to home that they are fishing by 7am and not 9am or later so they are throwing bait, and lots of it to get the tuna to come to the boat at least two hours sooner than normal. The sooner you start scooping, the faster you will run out of bait.

The Malahini has been around for a long time. It was running when I was a kid in the 70's and has taken a lot of people fishing. And continues to do so. It is unfortunate that you had a bad trip but that happens sometimes. You were unhappy and might have been looking for a few faults to pile on. Lick your wounds and get ready for the next trip. Good luck on your next voyage!

 

[TJBertram]

A couple blind troll stops is not worth staying late for. Wide open bait stop where the whole boat is bent? SureSerioeu

Shit happens and unfortunately you got more than your share. Some valid frustrations, especially leaving 40 minutes late from the dock. That's precious time for anglers who are paying hard earned money.

However, the operation has no magical way of making fish come to the boat. I've had my fair share of skunks and near skunks over the years where I've learned to keep my high-hopes in moderation. Just ask Slider about this fact (sorry, LJ, I just couldn't help myself!)

Time to plug the vent and look forward!

Agree and tried to mention that this has nothing to do with catching fish - I've been fishing for 40 years and know all too well that fishing is all about good, magical and terrible days. It's all about trying to make right with your paying customers, to the best what you can control....

 

[TJBertram]

Thanks for the comment, but if not catching fish (especially BFT and YFT) made me unhappy or frustrated, I would have quit fishing 30 years ago. My post was all about trying to make it right when you left 40min late - 40min that passengers paid money for to be in the fishing zone.

About the running out of bait.

I charter the boats a lot. 5 times in the last 5 weeks, San Diego, Liberty, New Seaforth Mission Belle. We run out of bait on the San Diego and no one complained. I know Matt very well. He told me the fish are so close to home that they are fishing by 7am and not 9am or later so they are throwing bait, and lots of it to get the tuna to come to the boat at least two hours sooner than normal. The sooner you start scooping, the faster you will run out of bait.

The Malahini has been around for a long time. It was running when I was a kid in the 70's and has taken a lot of people fishing. And continues to do so. It is unfortunate that you had a bad trip but that happens sometimes. You were unhappy and might have been looking for a few faults to pile on. Lick your wounds and get ready for the next trip. Good luck on your next voyage!