Boat Limits of Albacore!!

We departed the evening of August 22nd on our annual Los Angeles Rod and Reel Club 1.5 day trip aboard the Pacific Dawn. Spirits were high as the 16 club members boarded, signed in and set up tackle for the following day’s fishing. Captain Pat Cavanaugh informed us that we were heading to an area of big albacore that popped up down around 85 miles. Second Captain, Dustin, took the night driving shift. Opie and Jordan were on deck this trip.

We traveled all night in flat calm seas. I was up early playing solitaire when Whitney started breakfast. She managed to wake the passengers by funneling the smell of coffee and fresh cooked bacon into the bunk rooms. Eggs to order for breakfast were being served just when the boat took a left turn. Pat got word that the fish were on a temperature break 20 miles closer than our destination.

We got into the area just after breakfast and picked off a few albacore before we found a school of bluefin and albacore. This school stayed with us for 3.5 hours and produced 30 bluefin from 30 to 60 lbs. Jim Carlisle caught the 60 lb. bluefin on 50 lb. spooled on a Trinidad. I caught 3 of the 40 lb. bluefin one of which I sent to the galley.

Jim's JP Bluefin

We had drifted several miles so Pat moved the boat back up to our starting point where the bulk of the Sportfishing fleet was working the area. Before we got there, we hit a kelp for 20 big Dorado. Pat drove away from the biting Dorado not wanting to waste precious time while the albacore were still biting. When we got back to the area, we found a school of biting albacore. We quickly finished filling the boat. The hold was full and we had full boat limits of 5 albacore per person (including crew). Pat called it a trip early and said dinner would be served at 6:30 pm.

A short crew fish-off took place while the passengers broke down gear and poured cocktails.

The seas were flat calm and the weather was balmy – perfect to drift in for dinner. Whitney made everyone a delicious seared bluefin dinner while the crew started the fish filleting task. Once dinner was finished, I went to bed.

Whitney preparing bluefin

The crew finished filleting 105 albacore, 30 bluefin, 5 yellowfin, and 20 Dorado at 12:30 p.m. – a long night for the crew.

We pulled into dock at 6 am the next morning. We paid tabs before unloading gear and fish. Jim and I had Fisherman’s Landing Canning bag and seal our bluefin fillets. Good quality bags, vacuum sealed fish that keeps for months frozen. We were on the road early and I was home by 8:30 am.

This was a perfect trip with quality fish that left us all with a big job when we got home. I canned 4 cases of albacore then smoked all the albacore and bluefin bellies and canned those (3 cases). Two days work but had bluefin sashimi to look forward to each night.

Canned Albacore

Bellies Smoking

Smoked Tuna Bellies

Searcher Fun!

Twenty-Seven anglers departed on the annual Braid Products 4-Day trip aboard the Searcher. Art Taylor was at the helm supported by crew members Kevin, Kenny, Aaron, Cole, and Andrew. Charles anchored the galley. I handed out Braid t-shirts and jigs when Celia checked the passengers in. Art rushed out to the bait receiver and loaded bait while the last two anglers were shuttled out by skiff. Art was in a hurry and the “G” word was being whispered as our destination. Shortly after leaving the point, we heard the engines pull back and I knew our destination had changed and we would not be waking up at Guadalupe Island.

Captain Taylor informed us that the fleet had good fishing on big albacore and bluefin tuna just 90 miles from Point Loma. Instead of racing to Guadalupe Island, we would take our time traveling and wake up in the albacore/bluefin zone the next morning.

We spent the afternoon with a safety and tackle seminar and rigging gear. I helped passengers with line connections and knot tying lessons. Energy was high with the excitement higher. Several passengers had never been on a trip longer than two days.

I thought I would be alone when I got up the next morning at 3:30 a.m. Not so! At least 5 others were already on deck. What an anxious group. Art had told us we wouldn’t begin fishing until daybreak which was around 5:30 a.m.

Water temps were 68 degrees with overcast skies and we had 15 knots of wind to start the day. We trolled around for a couple hours before Art announced that we were coming upon a breezer so pull the trolling jigs in. As we got closer we heard Art say “Oh my goodness, this is a really big school of bluefin! Get a bait in the water now!” Needless to say, we did. This school stayed with us for three and a half hours during which time we landed 58 bluefin and lost our share as well. These tuna were all 40 to 55 lbs. each. My first fish went to the Galley and was large enough to make a seared Ahi dinner for everyone plus a tuna melt lunch the next day for everyone.

Roy with a Bluefin Tuna on the Slammer Jig

I fished 30 lb. Berkley Big Game mono with Berkley 30 lb. Aqua Blue fluorocarbon and a Mustad 92677 ringed hook in 1/0 size. This was a perfect combination for me. The other successful set-up was the small slammer jigs with treble hooks. Several passengers were begging for more jigs when someone cut them off.

When the bite finally stopped, there were three seiners in the area along with two helicopters and one spotter plane. Sad to see and of course the bluefin went down and weren’t seen the next few days. Captain Taylor informed us we were on a course for Guadalupe Island and would be there in the morning.



We awoke to flat calm seas and the dim outline of that mysterious island that attracts great white sharks to feast on the trophy yellowtail and yellowfin tuna around the island. The American Angler and the Q105 were already anchored at the South end and the Intrepid was searching for fish further south. Art said “no trolling” as we were looking for the black porpoise to fish the tuna they hold. We fished the porpoise all day and caught two big yellowtail and 32 big yellowfin tuna at the island before heading back off shore. The yellowfin were 50 to 60 lbs. each and the yellowtail were 32 pounds each. I had one of the yellowtail and five of the yellowfin all caught on flylined sardines. One of my yellowfin was caught on the new Mustad circle hooks I was testing.


Guadalupe Island

Bluefin Belly Sashimi at snack time

Yellowfin Tuna on new Mustad Circle Hook

Yellowtail on Braid Slammer Jig

Back off shore for our last day. This was the best day of fishing for the group. We had over 200 mixed fish landed fishing kelp paddies. Most the fish came from one kelp. There were 20 lb. yellowfin tuna, Dorado and yellowtail. I had planned to release all my fish this day but Art suggested I donate the fish to the anglers that were having a tuff trip instead – which I was happy to do. We ended the trip with a flourish and everyone had plenty of fish to take home.

Mola Mola

Last Night's Dinner

Jackpot fish from the trip were the yellowfin from Guadalupe Island weighing in at 55, 58 and 60 lbs. Tim took first place. I think we are all looking forward to next year’s trip.

Jackpot Winners

Braid 3.5 day trip on the Islander

Davis Choate and I shared Chartermaster duties on this year’s Islander trip. It was great to fish with David again. I arrived early afternoon and David was already at the landing. We put the tackle giveaways on board. We opened the box and checked out what we would be handing out - each angler got some Braid tackle, the new hand wipes and a T shirt.

We had a very light load, only 14 of us. We departed around 8:30 p.m. Shane came down and gave the safety and tackle seminar during the bait loading. Since we have 3 full days to fish, he stated we would be trying an area out west on the 1st day, looking for albies working with the Vagabond.

The Islander is a nice older wood boat, comfortable galley, good showers, only two heads but never a long wait on this trip. The owners, Shane Slaughter and John Coniff do a great job operating and maintaining the boat. They have an ice machine, cups, and a soda fountain so sodas are included in the price. Rick and Gringo handled the galley and prepared great meals, including morning and afternoon snacks.

Monday morning I was up before gray light. Shortly after, the crew set out some trolling rods. It didn't take long before Shane ordered a chum circle, so our journey out west seemed like it might work out. We saw fish, but most of it wouldn't react. It was a long day, fair weather, looked at lots of spots but only 4 albacore to show for our efforts.

I landed the first fish and donated the albacore to the galley so we had albacore enchiladas for dinner. The chef, Rick, used to own and operate eight Mexican restaurants in Arizona so he knows how to fix a nice Mexican meal.

Albacore filets ready to star in Rick's enchiladas

Ken pulling on another fish - he was on fire!

Tuesday found us fishing kelps southeast of Monday’s fishing area. We awoke to bluefin under the boat, but only one bit, so we went trolling and searching for kelps. We got on a bluefin breezer early thanks to Greg up on the roof. Greg, or Killer (as Shane calls him), John and Jack are good crew members, always willing to help, always looking for kelps and fish. The bluefin showed better than they bit, fish were on the smaller side but I was lucky and landed one about 35 pounds.

We stayed busy throughout the day on kelps. Each time we would drift away from the kelps, the bluefin would get on us. So from time to time we picked a few bluefin. David got one about 43 lbs. and I followed up with a 42 pounder. Neither one of us was in the jackpot though being Chartermasters. What a variety we caught this day, catching bluefin tuna, albacore, dorado and yellowtail. The majority of the bluefin were smaller grade, but all other fish were nice sized. The albacore were 20-28 lbs., dodos 12-18 lbs., and yellows 14-25lbs. with the largest going 37 pounds!

Curtis and me with our Bluefin Tunas

Gaffing a yellowtail

The smallest of the kelp paddy yellowtail

Fish ready to be carved up

The Filleting process

Wednesday morning, we awoke with more bluefin around the boat but no biters today. We pulled the sea anchor and proceeded to another great variety filled day of yellowtail, bluefin, albacore and dorado. Harry got the 37 pound yellow, and he also landed a 44 pound bluefin to take the JP.

One of the big kelps holding fish

Great group of anglers, very pleasant to spend a trip with, and most said they will return next year. Some of these guys have made this trip 9 years running. Shane is a pleasure to fish with, as is John Coniff. I sure hope Dennis asks David and me to chartermaster this trip next year as well - we had a blast.