A few weeks ago I posted about me (not the boat) getting skunked on the Daiwa Pacific - overnight.
https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/overnight-on-the-dp-5-21.795945/#post-5557987
A lot of you gave me tips and encouragement for the next time. Many thanks for that. Well, "next time" happened to be a day trip on The San Diego this past Saturday, 6/4.
You all know the boat and the crew and the world class operation. Captain Matt behind the wheel. But all that talent and experience can only take you so far as you all know. It was a tough day of fishing that evolved into a big bluefin or bust hero quest. In short, 6 sea monsters hit the deck, all between 150-180lbs, for about 40 anglers. There were also 5 yellowtail caught on one kelp stop in the afternoon, but that was it.
We were about 30-40 miles straight out west of the landing. For a while we were the only boat around, but eventually we were in a sportboat convention out there.
64-65 degree clean blue water (up several degrees from just a couple weeks ago). Cloudy and bumpy with a couple of swells rolling through. Foggy and misty early.
There were probably 15-20 big bluefin hooked. Usually between 150 to 400 feet down. All but the 6 popped off, usually because folks were undergunned, despite the crew and landing being a broken record about bringing and using heavy gear.
As for the 6 that did come aboard, 3 were on jigs and 3 came on live bait sinker rig. The angler who got bit the most (three times) was an off-duty crewmember who was along for the ride, using a 200 or 250gm daiwa SK jig and fishing from the bow. He landed one monster and donated it to the the anglers who didn't get a fish that day.
As for the sinker rigs, the crew were recommending what they were calling the "improved" sinker rig. Basically, instead of using a rubber band, you do a quasi drop shot rig. You've got your typical fly-line setup. But then you take a 3 or 4 foot piece of lighter mono that you have lying around, and tie one end to the eye of your hook (so now you've got two knots coming off the eye, including the connection up to the main line), and you tie your sinker to the other end. Now you've got a sinker dangling 3-4 ft. inline below your bait hook. You then chin hook the bait - coming up from the bottom under the chin and out through the top of the nose.
Now to wrap up this long-winded story. I happen to be one of the lucky bastards that boated one of the big bluefin. About 175lbs. A personal best by 175lbs. Used the improved sinker rig. I brought 4 setups and at the last minute, on the urging of the landing, I picked up a 100lb rental setup (heaviest I own I use for 60/80lb work - a Fathom 40N 2spd). I thought: "what the heck, it's 35 bucks."
So I get this thing, which is a TLD 20 two-speed that sounds like an old VW Bug when cranking, paired with a heavy rainshadow 50-100 rod. 100lb string. I added a 100lb piece of fluoro on there, and rather than use their included sack of stock hooks and sinker, I put on a 4/0 ringed super mutu and a slightly heavier sinker (8oz instead of the 6 they handed out). Anyway, that's what I pulled this beast in with, after a 40 minute fight and lots of help from the expert crew- captain Matt sinking the third gaff in to seal the deal. Thanks again to the BDO community for sharing all the knowledge and wisdom.
Second photo includes choice cuts after the 3-hour yoshida sauce brine and my attempt to develop a good pellicle before smoking. Turned out pretty good. Go get 'em.
https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/overnight-on-the-dp-5-21.795945/#post-5557987
A lot of you gave me tips and encouragement for the next time. Many thanks for that. Well, "next time" happened to be a day trip on The San Diego this past Saturday, 6/4.
You all know the boat and the crew and the world class operation. Captain Matt behind the wheel. But all that talent and experience can only take you so far as you all know. It was a tough day of fishing that evolved into a big bluefin or bust hero quest. In short, 6 sea monsters hit the deck, all between 150-180lbs, for about 40 anglers. There were also 5 yellowtail caught on one kelp stop in the afternoon, but that was it.
We were about 30-40 miles straight out west of the landing. For a while we were the only boat around, but eventually we were in a sportboat convention out there.
64-65 degree clean blue water (up several degrees from just a couple weeks ago). Cloudy and bumpy with a couple of swells rolling through. Foggy and misty early.
There were probably 15-20 big bluefin hooked. Usually between 150 to 400 feet down. All but the 6 popped off, usually because folks were undergunned, despite the crew and landing being a broken record about bringing and using heavy gear.
As for the 6 that did come aboard, 3 were on jigs and 3 came on live bait sinker rig. The angler who got bit the most (three times) was an off-duty crewmember who was along for the ride, using a 200 or 250gm daiwa SK jig and fishing from the bow. He landed one monster and donated it to the the anglers who didn't get a fish that day.
As for the sinker rigs, the crew were recommending what they were calling the "improved" sinker rig. Basically, instead of using a rubber band, you do a quasi drop shot rig. You've got your typical fly-line setup. But then you take a 3 or 4 foot piece of lighter mono that you have lying around, and tie one end to the eye of your hook (so now you've got two knots coming off the eye, including the connection up to the main line), and you tie your sinker to the other end. Now you've got a sinker dangling 3-4 ft. inline below your bait hook. You then chin hook the bait - coming up from the bottom under the chin and out through the top of the nose.
Now to wrap up this long-winded story. I happen to be one of the lucky bastards that boated one of the big bluefin. About 175lbs. A personal best by 175lbs. Used the improved sinker rig. I brought 4 setups and at the last minute, on the urging of the landing, I picked up a 100lb rental setup (heaviest I own I use for 60/80lb work - a Fathom 40N 2spd). I thought: "what the heck, it's 35 bucks."
So I get this thing, which is a TLD 20 two-speed that sounds like an old VW Bug when cranking, paired with a heavy rainshadow 50-100 rod. 100lb string. I added a 100lb piece of fluoro on there, and rather than use their included sack of stock hooks and sinker, I put on a 4/0 ringed super mutu and a slightly heavier sinker (8oz instead of the 6 they handed out). Anyway, that's what I pulled this beast in with, after a 40 minute fight and lots of help from the expert crew- captain Matt sinking the third gaff in to seal the deal. Thanks again to the BDO community for sharing all the knowledge and wisdom.
Second photo includes choice cuts after the 3-hour yoshida sauce brine and my attempt to develop a good pellicle before smoking. Turned out pretty good. Go get 'em.
RAD! And people bash them TLDs all day long… but look at that! Beautiful job!
