Outrider Bluefin

Cathy invited Jeff, Jim and I to join her on the Outrider two-day trip October 9 & 10, 2018.  Unfortunately she injured her back and was unable to join us.  Another of her guests, Dick Guliani joined us as well.

Due to a trip cancellation, the boat was in dock when we arrived.  Even so, we didn't board and depart until 9:40 pm.  Tucker headed to the bait receiver first to load up on sardines then on to the back side of San Clemente Island where the bluefin tuna have been recently.  Justin would be cooking for us and Cody was on deck.

Tuesday morning I got up at 4:30 am but it was still another hour to the fishing grounds.  Captain Tucker didn't find a school to stop on until daybreak.  Once he stopped the boat, we fished our flatfalls hard but it was already too light for the flatfalls to work so we switched to lighter line and bait.  I fished 40 pound Berkley Pro Spec mono with a  3 foot 30 pound Pro Spec fluorocarbon leader tied to a 4/0 Mustad 92677 hook.  I hooked 3 fish in a row that bit through the line.  I switched to a small 5/0 eagle Claw circle hook then I landed two 60 pound bluefin. 

Jeff and Jim fished 30 pound fluorocarbon with a 1/0 Owner Mutu hook.  Jeff landed 3 bluefin, Jim and Dick had one each.  Tucker and Brian (second Captain) caught 3 bluefin as well.  The weather got calmer as the day went on and the fish quit biting.  Our bait had rolled and what sardines were left, were completely red.  By 3 in the afternoon, we had no choice but to return to dock to pick up more sardines.  We lost our chance to fish the sundown and the dawn bite window. 

The new sardines were very good.  We got back to the fishing grounds around 6 am and Jeff cast out a sardine on 40 pound line.  He hooked up right away and 30 minutes later he landed a 183 pound bluefin tuna.  Jeff cast out again and landed a 40 pound yellowfin tuna.  Other than those two fish, the tuna just weren't in a biting mode so Tucker took us to fish yellowtail.  Jim, Dick and I each caught a yellowtail before we called it a trip.

We got back to dock at 7:30 pm and packed up our gear and headed home.  Unfortunately, a woman side swiped my car in Long Beach.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.

I dropped off the yellowtail and bluefin for Shig.  I only kept enough for a couple meals for us.