The Perfect Trip!

Jim Carlisle and I met for dinner at the Think Cafe in San Pedro Monday October 2nd before meeting Jeff Chuang later at 22nd Street Landing for a 2 day trip aboard the Outrider (http://www.outridersportfishing.com/).  I hadn't had the opportunity to fish this boat yet but knew it had a good reputation for catching fish.  Cathy Needleman had invited the three of us to join her on her charter.  We were excited as we were on the full moon and the bluefin were still around.

The boat arrived around 9 pm, crew cleaned the boat and had dinner then we boarded and set up our gear for the morning.  We departed around 11 pm and stopped at the bait receiver for sardines before heading to San Clemente Island.  We hit the bunks a little after midnight.

It was a smooth crossing and when I got up at 4 am I could see the lights of several boats already set up for the morning bite.  We were within sight of San Clemente Island. 

Our Captain, and owner of the Outrider, Tucker McCombs drove around until he found a school of bluefin tuna to stop on.  Brian was on the tank first then Cody took over chumming.  Tucker suggested starting with 30 pound line with fluorocarbon top shot and a 2/0 hook. 

I picked up my Talica 10 II and butt hooked a sardine on a 2/0 92677 Mustad hook.  Cathy was already hooked up to a fish before my bait hit the water.  It wasn't long until I got bit.  Unfortunately Cathy's fish spit the hook but she was bit again before I landed my 60 pound bluefin tuna.  A few minutes later Cathy's 60 pounder hit the deck.  I hooked up again but this time it was a 60 pound yellowfin tuna and the only one we would catch during the trip.

When Tucker no longer metered the fish, he went looking around.  We did that off and on then he decided to look closer to the island where the fish had been previously.  That was a good move.  We started catching big yellowtail mixed in with 25 to 30 pound bluefin.  It was a spectacular bite keeping all four of us busy all day.  Tucker called in two boats from his code group (Freedom was one) then the rest the boats followed including several little private boats that practically side tied to us.

By late afternoon, the fish got tired of biting and we trolled around the Yummee Flyer for a while but no takers so Tucker shut the engines off on a school of bluefin down about 240 feet deep.  We got out our 250 gram, glow in the dark Flatfall jigs and fished them.  Cathy was bit right away.  I dropped down to 300 feet and realized I forgot to hold the jig to the light so it would glow so I was winding fast so I could hold it to the light when I got bit.  Shocked me.  That fish was shaking wildly and coming up fast and went kama kazi as the crew got a gaff in him.  Another beautiful 60 pounder with a Flatfall lodged deep in its throat.  The gills had to be removed to get to the jig. 

I dropped the jig down again just a Jim hooked a mako shark that went airborn landing onto my line then did a back flip and spit Jim's Flatfall.  Unfortunately, the shark had bit off the jig before spitting it so Jim lost his jig.  These jigs work well but they are terribly expensive - I spent $72 for two Flatfalls at Island Tackle.  Then the fish left and it was all over.  Raff had dinner ready - chicken breast, chicken and apple sausage and rice. Tucker moved the boat close to the island for a calm night's sleep. We ended the day with 25 bluefin tuna and 22 yellowtail.  One of my bluefin had a tag in it with a phone number. 

I was up by 4 am Wednesday morning.  Tucker started the engines at 4:30 and moved us back to where we got the bigger fish the day before.  We started fishing at daybreak but had no takers.  Part of the problem was our bait had weakened and was all red from the warm water.  We had taken them from water that was 66 degrees to water 76 degrees.  Then Mandog (Mike Nickerson) brought the Pacific Dawn over to save the day by passing us several scoops of San Diego cured bait - beautiful sardines.  Thanks Mandog!

Tucker said we needed to move as the Military had closed the area for their operations.  So we started looking elsewhere until around 11 am when it appeared the island was open.  We ended up back where we caught fish the previous day and killed them again.  One more move for bigger yellowtail and they bit well too still on 30 pound line.  I began releasing yellowtail then asked if I could gaff fish.  Tucker said yes so I got to gaff a few fish then he told Cathy she had to gaff her next fish.  I grabbed her rod when her fish was at color and she got to gaff her own fish.  What fun.

Finally it was time to call it a trip.  We had managed to catch full limits of bluefin tuna for four of us plus the four crew members (32 bluefin), 1 yellowfin tuna and 60 yellowtail in flat calm waters and sunny skies.  Great people to fish with and an outstanding crew with positive attitudes.  Now that is what's called a perfect fishing trip!

Raff set out some bluefin and yellowtail sashimi for our ride home.  Cody and Tucker were busy filleting our fish.  Bluefin first then yellowtail.  I ended up catching 7 bluefin, 1 yellowfin and 8 yellowtail plus another 4 released.

We arrived back at the landing and realized none of us had coolers big enough to handle our catch.  Fortunately the landing had styrofoam coolers for sale.  Crew helped us load our gear and fish into our vehicles and we were on our way home.  I stopped in Fountain Valley to drop fish off with Shig and Yuko before going home.  I had to put some of the fish in the refrigerator as it didn't fit in the cooler with ice.  Fortunately Tim Boyer was able to come by the next morning to pick up some fish as there just wasn't enough room in my freezer for all the fish plus we could never eat that much fish in a year.

Thanks to Tucker McCombs and the crew for a great trip and thanks again to Cathy Needleman for including us in her charter.