Rockcod Opener Enterprise 3/1/21

[Tugboat64]

Hopped on the enterprise for a rockcod deep drop trip. We launched out of pierooint at 6 on the dot, ran over to Nachos for a few passes of sardine(Zero squid). Ran out to the deep trench area and started pulling excellent grade fish at 540ft deep. Average red was 20+inches and big salmon grouper. From there we worked different spots until about 12:00 when the captain called it on the rockcod keeping us just shy of a limit. At that point he told us we were going to fish for bag fillers so white fish here we go. We fished for white fish from 12:30 to about 3:00 with a few fish but not what we had wanted. By then Capt called it and we made the journey home. Overall beautiful fishy day on the water, great friendly crew, and couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Pro tips:
BRING HEAVY WEIGHTS (16-32’s are a must) atleast half the boat had to go buy weights from pier point because they didnt have heavy enough when the captain said to tie on atleast a 16ounce. I fished 32ounces for the deep stuff and it worked out good, line was straight up and down even while drifting.

I fished a Williamson koika 250g blue and silver jig almost of the day and had little luck with the vermillions

Side note, does anyone know why there were so many whales out there? I counted 9 today...

Thanks
-Logan

 

[John S.]

Typical time of the yearbfor the whales to make a showing. Certainly adds to the fishing experience. Nice report. That is a lot of weight. But, you guys were fishing deep.

John

 

[feeshkilla]

Very cool!

 

[Carl]

Sooooo your title says something about slow pitch slamming.. yet your story is that you caught only one boccaccio on the jig

 

[Tugboat64]

Sooooo your title says something about slow pitch slamming.. yet your story is that you caught only one boccaccio on the jig

Yeah that was my bad, it was supposed to say slow for vermillion. I’ve been up since 2:20 am and had a long day. A little slack always goes along way, nobody’s perfect

 

[kevina]

Yeah that was my bad, it was supposed to say slow for vermillion. I’ve been up since 2:20 am and had a long day. A little slack always goes along way, nobody’s perfect

Don't let it happen again,. It must be nice being able to fish that deep stuff legally, Next time for the big reds.

 

[TOTW]

By March, the grays are starting the northbound migration. It's common to see larger groups this time of year. They're also more likely to be a bit farther offshore than when they're on the southern path that's typically more coastal.

 

[Hismosa]

Have any pics of the "excellent grade"?

 

[Tugboat64]

Have any pics of the "excellent grade"?

No I wasn’t that lucky. There are some on Facebook though. But the average read caught on the first few drops were as long as the salmon grouper pictured above

 

[mhanson59hb]

Nice haul!

But why ruin a perfectly good rockfish report with a photo of pooper groupers?

Just kidding, congrats!

 

[Tugboat64]

Nice haul!

But why ruin a perfectly good rockfish report with a photo of pooper groupers?

Just kidding, congrats!

They stunk believe me.. I need to somehow smell bomb my truck it reeks

 

[Tuna Vic]

Nice report thanks!

 

[FlatPack]

Great Day....is that 15XNLD2 on a Battalion SPJ MH? Whats your thought on the set up esp at 500sh feet deep? tia

 

[Tugboat64]

Great Day....is that 15XNLD2 on a Battalion SPJ MH? Whats your thought on the set up esp at 500sh feet deep? tia

It worked well except I couldn’t find a jig heavy enough to get down that deep once the current picked up at certain parts of the day. I liked the setup overall though because instead of fishing a 2x4 heavy rod with a heavy sinker like the others on the trip, this rod was light and I could actually feel the bites so it was a big success to me.

 

[eliner]

wonder if they will let me bring my electric reel

 

[Tugboat64]

wonder if they will let me bring my electric reel

I took one, didn’t use it but had it with me. Just make sure you keep it somewhat contained and out of the way if crew come running up the rail