REDS!

LARRC had their first 2012 Pacific Dawn Charter out of Ventura for Rockfish and it was a terrific success. Sixteen club members boarded the Pacific Dawn Friday night, April 6, 2012. Regulars Al Scow, Tom and Jim Carlisle, Roland Reesby plus guests Tim Boyer and Andy along with other club members set up gear and settled in. Breezy and chilly weather made us huddle in the Galley until our 10:30 pm departure. A quick safety speech, introductions to the crew and we were off to bed.

A few bumps were experienced as we crossed the channel during the night but they smoothed out by the morning. At sunrise, we were approaching San Miguel Island. It was quite cold but we had clear skies and the sun was out. Glenn had the coffee going and was busy making breakfast burritos.

Around 7 am, Pat Cavanaugh set us up for our first drop in 300 feet of water. Bamm! Reds on the first drop. They were biting. Just what we were looking for. Glenn brought my breakfast burrito to me at the bow but my hands were busy pulling on fish. He put my burrito in foil so I could eat it when I got my fish in. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was another hour and a half before the fish quit biting long enough for me to get a bite of my burrito.

The wind came up late morning and Pat moved the boat to shallow water and closer to the island. Unfortunately, the fish weren't biting in the shallows. Pat said there was a layer of smutz on the meter all the way to the bottom. The smutz in deeper water was in the upper layer and the water was clear at the bottom where the fish were which is why they were biting there. Back out to deep water for our last drift and then we headed home.

Fish bags were bulging with full rockfish limits for all. I actually had a limit of big Reds and had to give away 3 reds, 2 chuckles, a ling plus a couple blue bass. Glenn made fish sandwiches or burgers for everyone for lunch. Tim, Jim and I shared some red wine and snacks before catching an afternoon nap during our 5 hour trek back to dock.

We arrived at dock about 8 pm and unloaded gear, gathered our filets, iced down the fish and headed home. It was a great day on the water and a perfect start to our 2012 Pacific Dawn charters.

For me, the best was yet to come - dinner the next day. I made sashimi out of one of my Reds and steamed another. Now this is the way fish should be eaten - Fresh!