2006 Braid Pacific Queen 2-Day Trip

We departed on our annual Braid Products Pacific Queen trip on August 8th at 9:00 p.m. with 30 anglers aboard. Brandon Cotton with Fish Rap publications was along to document our trip for his newspaper. Bill Cavanaugh was our Captain for this trip and his second was Mark Gillette. Kenny would be in the Galley and on deck were Jason, Chris and Cameron.

As anglers signed in, I gave out Braid Slammer Jigs and T-Shirts as the giveaways for this Braid Sponsored trip. Bill Cavanaugh, Captain and owner of the Pacific Queen gave the safety seminar on the bow and informed us that we were heading south about 130 miles looking for kelp paddies. Captain Cavanaugh said all we needed was a 40 pound outfit with a 3 foot piece of Fluorocarbon leader and a 2/0 “J” style hook to catch the yellowtail and dorado hiding under the kelps. Bill turned it over to me, as Chartermaster, to welcome our returning and new guests and to describe the Release Contest. Then we hit the bunks.

The aroma of bacon came wafting into the bunkroom rustled a few anglers out of their bunks at daybreak. Others waited to rise until first call for breakfast. Around second call for breakfast, Bill had the first trolling team put the jigs out. It wasn’t long until we had one trolling outfit hook a nice dorado – it was my Braid Little Speedy that was making my reel sing. I sent the first fish of the trip to the galley. The weather began overcast with light chop gradually improving throughout the day. Brandon Cotton was fishing the bow with the new Braid Tantrum Jig. He caught and released 4 yellowtail in a row before a dorado bit off the jig. We ended the first day about 145 miles south with 92 yellowtail, 19 dorado and 35 yellowfin tuna on board.


Brandon with the Braid Tantrum Jig

The second day began around 90 miles south in flat calm waters. We drug another 75 fish out from under the kelp paddies before heading home around 11 a.m. Everyone caught fish on this trip and they were all looking forward to the next year’s trip. In addition to the fish caught, passengers released another 15 fish during two days of fishing. Breanne Oliveira won the Crystal Tuna for releasing 5 of her fish.

While we napped, the crew filleted the catch and Kenny cooked up a prime rib dinner. When we awoke from our naps, dinner was ready. Our Captain served dinner to the passengers before he returned us to dock. What a great way to end a good fishing trip.

Breanne and her father, George