Rail Time in September!

Date:  September 16 – 18, 2025 

Anglers:  Cathy Needleman, Jeff and Steve Chuang, Jim Carlisle and Jan Howard

Boat and Crew:  Rail Time owned and operated by Captain Gary Adams and second Captain Jake. 

Trip:  Two days fishing San Clemente Island and offshore.

Fish Catch:  15 bluefin tuna 15 to 30 pounds, 6 yellowtail 25 to 30 pounds, 6 calico bass

Trip Details:

Weather was the most used word on this trip and in the days before the trip.  Weather predictions were for calm seas for the days up to the departure date when the predictions changed several times.  I thought my weather app was malfunctioning because one minute it showed 30 knot winds and the next it showed calm seas. 

 

We departed the landing around 5 pm stopping first for bait.  After loading some beautiful squid, Gary said we were heading to the bait receiver in San Pedro to pick up some live sardines because there were none here at the Long Beach Bait Barge.  After picking up our sardines, we headed to Catalina Island.

Gary suggested we set up our tackle with a 1/0 hook on 25# test line for the next morning.  After getting our tackle ready, we shared a sushi appetizer and pizza for dinner then I went to sleep.  I heard the engines turn off at 9 pm and back on at 1 am.  The ride was a bit bumpy all night.   When I got up the next morning at 5 am, Gary was still driving towards our first fishing spot.  We were somewhere southwest of San Clemente Island.

Around 10 am we reached an area containing several sport boats.  Gary’s friend John was in the area and suggested we use a quarter ounce sliding sinker on our 25-pound line and squid for bait.  Gary set us up close to John’s boat and we followed John’s suggestion, which proved successful.  After putting half dozen small bluefin on board we decided to release everything under 25 pounds.

The word “weather” came up when it started sprinkling while we pulled on our tuna and when the wind started to blow.  We didn’t complain about being rocked around because we knew the Seakeeper kept us from being rocked like the boats around us were.

After we reached our bluefin limit of 14 fish, plus releasing at least twice that many, we searched the bank for something else that wanted to bite.  Weather was still a bit rough and no other fish wanted to bite so at 2 pm we headed back to fish San Clemente Island.

Back at the island, we enjoyed a nice little sheepshead bite at sundown.  We had to wait for the military to finish their training exercises before we could anchor for the night in Pyramid Cove.  When they let us in, Gary parked us right on top of a squid nest.  Great spot to start the morning.

Once in the cove, we enjoyed a BBQ Ribs and Chicken dinner.  As usual, I went to sleep early.  Jeff told me the next morning that the squid eventually floated so Gary was able to scoop the squid without using the crowder.

Weather during the night was unusual.  We had 50 knot winds with waves slapping the side of the boat and rain. 

 

6 am the next morning, we gradually left our bunks and hit the deck. It was cloudy and misty.

Cathy started the day pulling on a big yellowtail.  We all grabbed our 30-to-40-pound outfits and cast out a squid.  We all got bit.  I was using my 12T spooled with 40-pound fluorocarbon.  My fish made a 100 yard run straight offshore, stopped then repeated the action twice more exactly like a black seabass does.  I just hung onto my rod and occasionally got a wind on my reel, then the fish would run a shorter distance each time now. 

I usually hand off my blacks to a crew member to let them break it off but everyone was busy either pulling on a fish, gaffing a fish or trying to get Jeff’s fish off John’s anchor line.  Pulling on my fish was good exercise for me anyway.  Eventually my fish tired out and changed color from black to yellow.  It was just another 30-pound yellowtail like the other 5 lying on the deck.

 

By 7 am the bite was over.  Gary started looking around for more hungry fish.  We picked up a few calico bass releasing most of them keeping just enough for 1 meal each.  Around 1 pm we started towards home looking for schools of fish while we processed the fish in the hold.

 

Another great (although unusual) trip in the books with my fishing family.  Thanks to everyone for everything you do and all the help you give me.  Of course Gary and Jake are the best at what they do and such great attitudes no matter what the fishing gods throw at them.  And Cathy - you know how special I think you are.  Once again, thanks for your generosity.