Outrider 9-20-18

Courtesy of Cathy Needleman, Jeff, Jim and I went fishing with Tucker on his Outrider sport boat September 20th.  Brian was the second captain, Justin (Tucker's brother) handled the galley and Rider was on deck.  Unfortunately, Cathy couldn't join us due to severe back pain.

When we arrived to board the boat, Tucker said the big bluefin had sunk out due to the recent winds so we were heading to Tanner Bank to fish for yellowtail.  Use 20 pound line.  What?  We came with heavy line for tuna.  We had to scale back using 25# fluoro on 30 pound line.  Add to that, we had an 80 mile trek to fish for yellowtail - not my favorite fish to eat.  At least we would get a good night's sleep.

I awoke at 6:30 in the morning.  Jim was up and so was Justin.  We were just arriving to the bank.  Tucker set us up and we started fishing.   The fish weren't ready to bite.  Slowly the rest of the fleet arrived and soon there were another five boats with us including the Freedom, Ultra, Thunderbird, Pacific Queen etc.

I finally hooked a yellowtail that hightailed it to the bow (probably chased by a seal) and wrapped in the anchor rope.  Rider tried to unwrap the line but it just shredded instead.  I hooked another and landed that one.  A nice 20 pounder.  Jeff hooked a couple that managed to break the line.  Jim landed a couple then we started hooking big bonita.  They wanted small baits on small hooks.  I caught a couple to go with my yellowtail.  Jeff ended up with 7 bonita mostly on a surface iron.  Jim had 5 bonita to go with his 2 yellowtail. 

We fished until noon then headed to dock - 8 hours to get home.  Rider filleted our fish on the way home.  Weather was perfect and we had calm seas for traveling.  We had plenty of fish to take home even with slow fishing.  Hopefully those bluefin show back up for our October trip.

It was interesting to find a good recipe for the bonita since they are of the tuna family but very soft and mushy flesh.  I did a seared fillet with orange ginger sauce and also tried the tataki recipe.   Both were good.  The following evening I cooked the yellowtail on a cedar plank with a lemon caper sauce.  That was delicious.  

Thanks again Cathy for the great opportunity.

Kayak Fishing 9-5-18

I arrived early and more organized than last week.  By the time Jack and Tim arrived, I had set up my kayak and got it in the water on my own.  I also met Randy who decided to join us.  Tim suggested heading out to the barber poles where a 52 pound halibut had been caught earlier in the week.

My bait tank wouldn't pump water even when I put water in it by big red cup.  Eventually it started on its own.  We fished for mackerel first.  I managed 3 mackerel and 1 sardine.  Tim had 3 and Jack a dozen or more.

The weather was comfortable at first then the wind started and kept increasing until it was 9 to 10 knots, choppy and blowing spray on us.  The current was with the wind and we had a fast ride when drifting.  It took 8 ounces of weight to try to stay in contact with the bottom.  The halibut kept thrashing bait after bait but couldn't get a hook in them.

Barber Poles

Finally Tim and Jack managed to each hook and land a halibut.  Jack's game clip was tangled so I loaned him mine.

We headed in at noon and cleaned up gear then weighed the halibut.  Tim's was 13 pounds and Jack's was 19 pounds.  The good part about not catching fish is I didn't have to fillet one.