First you gotta understand, I am lazy, and I suck at fishing... but anyway, here goes:
on 8/17 We left home on around 10:00 AM, launched at Dana Landing, got a half scoop of Sardines, and headed out on a 240 degree heading with the goal of maybe fishing the area South of the 43 spot. Got to the 182 about noon or so, and put in the trollers with purple and black feathers and a cedar plug.
First problem: I NEVER know how far back to run the lures - Does it really matter? Joey at Squidco says to put them back to the second wake, wherever that might be, but that always seems too close, so I put them back 50 -100 feet or so.
Second problem: I won't even talk about my gear (Jigmasters and Penn 4/0 reels with 40-lb mono) but it isn't very high-tech.
So we troll around and stop at paddies, and we sometimes see stuff on the meter.
Third problem: I have no idea what those huge red blobs on the fish finder are. What does a tuna look like?
Katy is driving and I am putting out the trollers, reeling them in, casting out the bait, putting out the trollers again, over and over and over...
We try one small paddy on the 182 just south of the high spot. We use the two spinning rigs I brought because I have pretty much given up trying to cast a bare anchovy with a jigmaster.
Katy's reel starts screaming, and she looks down at it with a puzzled expression....and we look at each other in surprise: FISH ON!
The fight is on and Katy plays the fish gently on the light line as we drift away from the paddy. 20 minutes later we net, yes net, a beautiful yellowtail and dinner is in the box.
Back to trolling, we find a huge school of porpoise, and get around in front of them and troll, but nothing is happening. Big red blobs on the meter.
Fourth problem: I keep looking at the ocean temperature reading, but I woudn't know a "temp break" if it slapped me.
I want to try an idea I got from a guy at the boat ramp, so we run way ahead of the porpoise, stop, and drop some sardines in the water with 3/4oz sinkers to get them down deep, and wait for the tuna to come. The school goes by us to both sides, but no tuna. So much for THAT idea.
Fifth problem: How do you fish a porpoise school?
We are still in the 182 area, and we give up on the porpoise and the 43 because it's getting late, and we head up the line toward the 181. We find another paddy and we toss some sardines at it, and Katy gets another strike. This one is meaner so she graciously hands me the pole and after about 25 minutes we net another Yellowtail.
Sixth problem: How do you keep your male dignity when your wife catches all the fish?
Went in, drove home, cleaned boat and fish, froze all the fillets, and I put the heads and backbones on the grill for dinner. MMM!
Any how, that is our story. I estimated that the bigger of the two Yellowtail - you know, the one Katy let me reel in - weighed in at about 40 pounds.
on 8/17 We left home on around 10:00 AM, launched at Dana Landing, got a half scoop of Sardines, and headed out on a 240 degree heading with the goal of maybe fishing the area South of the 43 spot. Got to the 182 about noon or so, and put in the trollers with purple and black feathers and a cedar plug.
First problem: I NEVER know how far back to run the lures - Does it really matter? Joey at Squidco says to put them back to the second wake, wherever that might be, but that always seems too close, so I put them back 50 -100 feet or so.
Second problem: I won't even talk about my gear (Jigmasters and Penn 4/0 reels with 40-lb mono) but it isn't very high-tech.
So we troll around and stop at paddies, and we sometimes see stuff on the meter.
Third problem: I have no idea what those huge red blobs on the fish finder are. What does a tuna look like?
Katy is driving and I am putting out the trollers, reeling them in, casting out the bait, putting out the trollers again, over and over and over...
We try one small paddy on the 182 just south of the high spot. We use the two spinning rigs I brought because I have pretty much given up trying to cast a bare anchovy with a jigmaster.
Katy's reel starts screaming, and she looks down at it with a puzzled expression....and we look at each other in surprise: FISH ON!
The fight is on and Katy plays the fish gently on the light line as we drift away from the paddy. 20 minutes later we net, yes net, a beautiful yellowtail and dinner is in the box.
Back to trolling, we find a huge school of porpoise, and get around in front of them and troll, but nothing is happening. Big red blobs on the meter.
Fourth problem: I keep looking at the ocean temperature reading, but I woudn't know a "temp break" if it slapped me.
I want to try an idea I got from a guy at the boat ramp, so we run way ahead of the porpoise, stop, and drop some sardines in the water with 3/4oz sinkers to get them down deep, and wait for the tuna to come. The school goes by us to both sides, but no tuna. So much for THAT idea.
Fifth problem: How do you fish a porpoise school?
We are still in the 182 area, and we give up on the porpoise and the 43 because it's getting late, and we head up the line toward the 181. We find another paddy and we toss some sardines at it, and Katy gets another strike. This one is meaner so she graciously hands me the pole and after about 25 minutes we net another Yellowtail.
Sixth problem: How do you keep your male dignity when your wife catches all the fish?
Went in, drove home, cleaned boat and fish, froze all the fillets, and I put the heads and backbones on the grill for dinner. MMM!
Any how, that is our story. I estimated that the bigger of the two Yellowtail - you know, the one Katy let me reel in - weighed in at about 40 pounds.
NINTH! PRICELESS!!!
