Offshore What did I get myself into? 3 Day on the Pacific Queen Fisherman's Landing May 1-4

[jhj32883]

The PQ is widely known as a very fishy boat. The PQ is also notorious for "rubbing people the wrong way".

Last trip I was on, I caught my PB BFT and had negative "customer service" experiences. There was also an angler that (very publicly) expressed his displeasure with his experience on the boat to Gavin.

I believe your "vote" is the most impactful when you do it with your dollars. Eventually, it should work itself out.

 

[jer dog]

The PQ is widely known as a very fishy boat. The PQ is also notorious for "rubbing people the wrong way".

Last trip I was on, I caught my PB BFT and had negative "customer service" experiences. There was also an angler that (very publicly) expressed his displeasure with his experience on the boat to Gavin.

I believe your "vote" is the most impactful when you do it with your dollars. Eventually, it should work itself out.

I have fished on the Queen about a half a dozen times, when they went from 29 max,
To 34 I quit going on her, but all the trips I went on from the captain to the crew were great, one trip I was on A cod trip and It
Was super slow, when the cook found out that a friend of mine was out here from Chicago, he gave him some Wahoo
To take home with him, how cool
Is that.

 

[bdubs73]

So going back I would think 6 years ago, I started falling into the pattern of having way too big of expectations and feeling I need to get fish!! It really affected my enjoyment and attitude on the trips.
I took a break I think about 4ish years I can look up my void of contributions here to figure out the timeline.
Then one morning I woke up and said I'm getting back and now every trip since is nothing but enjoyment, the catching part of my experience is not in the front of my mind when I lose a fish oh well when a deckhand hit's the fish with a gaff and it breaks off, oh well, when that guy doesn't move and I lose a fish oh well.
I go out enough to know I will have that trip where it all comes together and I know that I will have many trips that are a bust or bad weather or bad characters on the boat bla bla.
I have found great enjoyment in being on the water for a few days, meeting new people watching, and helping people catch fish, I mean shit I really don't even eat fish.
Maybe step back for a minute and assess is all I can advise.

100% spot on bud!

 

[bdubs73]

I am familiar with the sign the OP mentioned. I think it's important to note that it is a sign that states what 10-15-20% tips would be based on tickets price. It in no way asks for tips that I recall. I have been on multiple Long Range trips where the captain will say straight out, "A standard tip is 15-25% of the ticket price, if we've provided good service."
Also, I have been on that boat many times, I'd be curious to know which deckhand said that. In all my trips with them I've never seen them refuse to gaff a fish. More importantly like others have said, I've had trips where I spent a lot of money and made myself miserable by solely focusing on my "lack of success" and over the years learned to have many where I spend my money, take my chances and choose to have an enjoyable time regardless of what happens.

Quick story: I have a group of friends from LA I met many years ago while on a Red Rooster 3 day. In getting to know them on the way out, one started sharing that he had been on 9 trips where he didn't catch fish! Being impressed, I asked how he could keep showing up with a great attitude (which he had), and he simply said I am coming out to have a good time and get a break from life. I turned to him and said, I think you are going to have a trip of a lifetime right here. Sure enough, we caught 577 fish in two days. We've had many good trips since then, and some downright rough ones-but we've always had a good time. Hang in there, you'll have great trips and tuff ones- but you can always have a great time in nature once you decide to.

 

[mainline23]

You got yourself into bluefin fishing- that’s what you got yourself into. With the price of trips these days I always check the weather first. Then I check the fish counts. If they both aren’t perfect I don’t go.

 

[sdsailandfish]

I am familiar with the sign the OP mentioned. I think it's important to note that it is a sign that states what 10-15-20% tips would be based on tickets price. It in no way asks for tips that I recall. I have been on multiple Long Range trips where the captain will say straight out, "A standard tip is 15-25% of the ticket price, if we've provided good service."
Also, I have been on that boat many times, I'd be curious to know which deckhand said that. In all my trips with them I've never seen them refuse to gaff a fish. More importantly like others have said, I've had trips I spent a lot of money and made myself miserable by soles focusing on my "lack of success" and over the years learned to have many where I spend my money, take my chances and choose to have an enjoyable time regardless of what happens.

Quick story: I have a group of friends from LA I met many years ago while on a Red Rooster 3 day. In getting to know them on the way out, one started sharing that he had been on 9 trips where he didn't catch fish! Being impressed, I asked how he could keep showing up with a great attitude (which he had), and he simply said I am coming out to have a good time and get a break from life. I turned to him and said, I think you are going to have a trip of a lifetime right here. Sure enough, we caught 577 fish in two days. We've had many good trips since then, and some downright rough ones-but we've always had a good time. Hang in there, you'll have great trips and tuff ones- but you can always have a great time in nature once you decide to.

View attachment 1482483

I greatly appreciate all the knowledge and input. I am new to bft fishing and had beginners luck over the last couple years. I am paying my dues and am learning that catching is not always the point.
My next trip I I will really take to heart the advice from the BD community.
Hopefully won’t be bitching about a YT lost on the next trip.
Tight lines and LGFPD! Just returning from the game.

 

[DOGHOUSE26]

You got yourself into bluefin fishing- that’s what you got yourself into. With the price of trips these days I always check the weather first. Then I check the fish counts. If they both aren’t perfect I don’t go.

And I'll bet you don't go on anything longer than 1.5 days and on a shitty boat to boot.

 

[Fedge101]

I am familiar with the sign the OP mentioned. I think it's important to note that it is a sign that states what 10-15-20% tips would be based on tickets price. It in no way asks for tips that I recall. I have been on multiple Long Range trips where the captain will say straight out, "A standard tip is 15-25% of the ticket price, if we've provided good service."
Also, I have been on that boat many times, I'd be curious to know which deckhand said that. In all my trips with them I've never seen them refuse to gaff a fish. More importantly like others have said, I've had trips I spent a lot of money and made myself miserable by soles focusing on my "lack of success" and over the years learned to have many where I spend my money, take my chances and choose to have an enjoyable time regardless of what happens.

Quick story: I have a group of friends from LA I met many years ago while on a Red Rooster 3 day. In getting to know them on the way out, one started sharing that he had been on 9 trips where he didn't catch fish! Being impressed, I asked how he could keep showing up with a great attitude (which he had), and he simply said I am coming out to have a good time and get a break from life. I turned to him and said, I think you are going to have a trip of a lifetime right here. Sure enough, we caught 577 fish in two days. We've had many good trips since then, and some downright rough ones-but we've always had a good time. Hang in there, you'll have great trips and tuff ones- but you can always have a great time in nature once you decide to.

View attachment 1482483

Somewhere out there is a guy talking about a shitty dorado trip 🤣

 

[jsquez]

Haven’t been on sport boats since I purchased a boat… can’t afford both… imo the pac Queen is the boat ( not counting long range ) if you are going for fish and not pleasure.. the galley sucks and at the time the cook ( johny ) not sure if he’s still there couldn’t cook a breakfast burrito…fucking thing tasted like a salt log… but the crew was always great and Gavin was my favorite captain in the fleet. I haven’t fished all the boats but the Queen will always be my first and most likely only choice.. tuna fishing is always a crap shoot.. better luck next time

 

[hucklongfin]

The PQ is a fishy boat. It has the best/most rod holders out there but has terrible ergonomics… It's hard to get from one side of the boat to the other. Tackle storage isn’t that great either. The last time I was on it there were electrical problems in the galley… I was worried the cook was going to get electrocuted and/or the boat was going to catch fire. That said they catch fish so it’s all good!

 

[bdubs73]

Somewhere out there is a guy talking about a shitty dorado trip 🤣

View attachment 1482489

"I DIDN'T PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR THREE DORADO!!!"

 

[kevin a]

Now!!!that what I call the zenith of BS, the deckhand had no idea what that passenger's capabilities are as it pertains to bouncing a fish, large or small.
The passenger asked for a gaff and should have gotten one, I would have kept my tip in my pockets, A tip should never be automatic, it is to reward good service.

Sounds like you and SDsailandfish should start fishing together, It appears you both have a lot in common, Misery loves Company!!

 

[Rubberhook2]

You eat bluefin?

No...

 

[Rubberhook2]

Wuttttttttttt
YT is my favorite fish

Hahaha...just trying to make the guy feel better. But no matter how much you like yellowtail 5lbers should be released IMO and that's exactly what happened. It would be like going deer hunting and shooting a fawn...who does that?

 

[pacificscout]

Hahaha...just trying to make the guy feel better. But no matter how much you like yellowtail 5lbers should be released IMO and that's exactly what happened. It would be like going deer hunting and shooting a fawn...who does that?

 

[Rmpsocal]

Thanks for posting.

Just got off the Royal Star from a 2-day. Fished a couple of days after the OP. Same scratchy fishing. 24 anglers, 6 BFT hookups total, 1 landed @ 150#. Lots of casualties due to the grade of fish, in addition to some bad luck. Plus, 6 kelp paddy YT.

Walked onto the boat with ZERO catching expectations, maybe just a little 😉. Turned out to be one of my most enjoyable trips ever. The catching sucked, but the people, the hard working crew and the vibe made it a fun “vacation”.

it’s hard to watch the fish counts and not write a killer narrative of how your trip is going to go before you leave the dock, but I’ve learned to try and enjoy the moment. Just the fact that I’m out there on a giant boat and have the possibility to hook a Volkswagen-sized BFT…is a win in itself!

The picture on top is a buddy of mine who is connected to a “big” one (a few minutes before he gets chewed through on 80#). That’s me “encouraging” him! Lol

The picture on the bottom is the one fish that was landed after wrestling with an 800# sea lion and chased down by the Royal Star.

 

[Hismosa]

Hahaha...just trying to make the guy feel better. But no matter how much you like yellowtail 5lbers should be released IMO and that's exactly what happened. It would be like going deer hunting and shooting a fawn...who does that?

Our camp motto is "if it's brown it's down." Fawns are delicious.

 

[surfgoose]

Our camp motto is "if it's brown it's down." Fawns are delicious.

I know you are kidding . . . but I found a couple of people back in the day who thought that a couple of tiny horns sticking up on the top of a baby buck's head meant that it was a "forked horn" and legal. Like some fishermen, some hunters are just desperate to bring home something.

 

[Hismosa]

I know you are kidding . . . but I found a couple of people back in the day who thought that a couple of tiny horns sticking up on the top of a baby buck's head meant that it was a "forked horn" and legal. Like some fishermen, some hunters are just desperate to bring home something.

I'm somewhat serious. It also varies on the year as some years they only give out buck tags. What you call "forked horn" we call "spikes" and we shoot plenty of those. It's not always hunting for trophies, sometimes you have to fill the freezer.

 

[reel 007]

Sounds like you and SDsailandfish should start fishing together, It appears you both have a lot in common, Misery loves Company!!

It's people like you that make people like me receive poor service from businesses, you get poor service clinch your butt and shut your mouth and the purveyor of bad service thinks it's OK to pass that service on to others.

Well!! not on my dollar, if I am not getting what I paid for you are going to hear about it.
That is why I have my own boat and chart my own course.
No voice is heard louder than the one that reaches into your pockets.

 

[surfgoose]

"forked horn" we call "spikes" and we shoot plenty of those.

I don't know where you hunt deer. Some states are much more liberal than others. In California the only spike critters that can be taken are spike elk, on special hunts with special permits. Immature deer bucks that don't have the fork in the horn that develops the second year are not legal except for very special reduction hunt permits. And in our family, my brothers and I took a lot of deer and elk over the years but following my dad's example not one ended up on a wall. I'm not opposed to a trophy, it just isn't what we do. Freezer forever!

 

[Cactus Chris]

Bummer about the gaff! Sounds like it wasn't such a hot bite that they didn't have time to gaff for you. I've had crew get funny about me wanting something gaffed before that they didn't deep gaff worthy but I just kept calling for it. Sometimes as the angler I can tell if the fish isn't hooked very deeply, or just by a tag of skin or foul hooked or whatever. Sometimes the crew can't see that in the moment. Or sometimes they're just too busy at the rail fishing to be bothered... I've seen that one before

 

[MikeC.]

how big was the yellow. If the crew tells you to bounce a yellow, it should have been set free anyway.

 

[Hismosa]

I don't know where you hunt deer. Some states are much more liberal than others. In California the only spike critters that can be taken are spike elk, on special hunts with special permits. Immature deer bucks that don't have the fork in the horn that develops the second year are not legal except for very special reduction hunt permits. And in our family, my brothers and I took a lot of deer and elk over the years but following my dad's example not one ended up on a wall. I'm not opposed to a trophy, it just isn't what we do. Freezer forever!

I hunt in Wisconsin. I thought I had a pic of our cabin with all of our wall hangers in my phone but I guess not.

 

[Blackfish]

but yellowtail taste like crap anyway

Blasphemy