An excellent trip overall. [not a PENN-sponsored trip]
Departed at 9 AM Wednesday, were on the grounds a little after lunch. Captain Ray Lopez at the helm.
Chased scattered mixed schools around, but they were very picky, and would not stay with the boat. We managed 8 bluefin in the 15-30 pound class before dinner, on a mixture of flylined baits on 25-pound rigs, and 100gr. jigs. Right as dinner was being served at 6:30 PM, we had a quick hit for 8 more.
About 9:00 PM, the schools became tighter, and we got several fish from each, and then it went wide-open. We drifted for hours in the dark on a decent grade from 20-55 pounds.
They were very polite, and mostly held at the 150-180 foot level.
Smaller jigs were the ticket, with sizes from 80gr. to 200 gr. being best, and best colors either blue/silver, or silver prizm with zebra glow stripes.
for me, the best producer was the Williamson Kensaki jig in 170gr.
I also noticed that most of the American Anglers' "loaner" setups were rigged with Kensakis.
Before the sun came up on day two, the boat had limited out on bluefin.
With not too many options, Captain Lopez decided to go for some rockfish, and after a move, it was again wide-open on mixed species, and once we had reached our limit of reds, we were done with that.
Not expecting to chase rockfish, I had brought only one Slow Pitch Jigging setup, but was easily hammering straight vermilions with it, at 450 feet with a 220gr. Kensaki.
At that point, Captain Lopez decided to help the fleet, and scouted the outside line for any possible kelp paddies holding yellowtail. Unfortunately that idea struck out.
As always the crew of the American Angler were exemplary.
Departed at 9 AM Wednesday, were on the grounds a little after lunch. Captain Ray Lopez at the helm.
Chased scattered mixed schools around, but they were very picky, and would not stay with the boat. We managed 8 bluefin in the 15-30 pound class before dinner, on a mixture of flylined baits on 25-pound rigs, and 100gr. jigs. Right as dinner was being served at 6:30 PM, we had a quick hit for 8 more.
About 9:00 PM, the schools became tighter, and we got several fish from each, and then it went wide-open. We drifted for hours in the dark on a decent grade from 20-55 pounds.
They were very polite, and mostly held at the 150-180 foot level.
Smaller jigs were the ticket, with sizes from 80gr. to 200 gr. being best, and best colors either blue/silver, or silver prizm with zebra glow stripes.
for me, the best producer was the Williamson Kensaki jig in 170gr.
I also noticed that most of the American Anglers' "loaner" setups were rigged with Kensakis.
Before the sun came up on day two, the boat had limited out on bluefin.
With not too many options, Captain Lopez decided to go for some rockfish, and after a move, it was again wide-open on mixed species, and once we had reached our limit of reds, we were done with that.
Not expecting to chase rockfish, I had brought only one Slow Pitch Jigging setup, but was easily hammering straight vermilions with it, at 450 feet with a 220gr. Kensaki.
At that point, Captain Lopez decided to help the fleet, and scouted the outside line for any possible kelp paddies holding yellowtail. Unfortunately that idea struck out.
As always the crew of the American Angler were exemplary.
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