Offshore

[Cary]

So, with high hopes of yet another offshore adventure with the famed Captain JJ, I boarded the Apollo with 14 other fisherman last Thurs eve. After the rods were all assembled, shooting heads rigged, and the rods in racks, we were going through the obligatory ritual required of all fly fishers, going through each others fly boxes, some worthy of admiration, while others solicited muffled snicks... when JJ calls us all in the galley for the pre-launch pep talk:

“… Its blowing 30 knots outside, on top of a ten foot swell, conditions forecasted to worsen over the next three days. I recommend we stay tite to the coast and see if we can pick off some white sea bass, maybe some barracuda and bonito in close. We could make it to the banks, but it will be 5 hours of motoring upswell to the lee of San Clemente, then ten hours or so southwest from there, it will be a bumpy ride. All the day and a half boats turned around earlier, no one made it. So what do you want to do?”

Hug the coast.

The first two days, we fished kelp beds and rock piles, picked up the odd bonito here and there that were curiously large, a few barracuda, and no White Sea bass. JJ tells us that a few boats made it out to the albacore grounds this day, and conditions were slacking, and tonight we’d motor through the nite, and be on location at first light. Fish were reported to be 30 to 40 pounds.

That day in close, I did pick up a nice bonito on the fly that gave my ten wt a hell of a work out, and exposed backing that hadn’t seen water in some time. We took a pic and tossed it back. Later, JJ, tossing iron, landed a bonito that was considerably larger, we boga’d it at 15 – 18 pounds, truly a toad. From that we estimated mine was probably 8 pounds. Then Colin, our local IGFA nerd, tells me that I tossed back a record fish, the existing record for 8kg tippet was 7 pounds 2 ounces, one we all agreed would have been overtaken by my flyrod fish. To think yet again, I missed out on all the glory a flyrod record would present me... fame, fortune, tons of chicks, perhaps a satin jacket with the sage logos on back. It took a minute or two for me to get over it, thinking of pulling hard against 40 lb albies the nest day was good medicine.

So we motored through the sleepless night, upswell, bouncing off the bunk above. Morning’s grey light brought a jig strike and hopes of finding tuna that will eat feathers. But, it wasn’t to be, not one take on the fly gear, and about 30 long fins on the deck to the gear heads.

So, in all, a bust for the flyrodders, but my bonito was good for the fly rod jackpot, and the crew probably spent it all on booze and cheap hookers on their nite off. At least they got some action….

[Curtis Fry]

Very nice Cary. So where are the pics?

Also, I'm making more of an effort this time when visiting the in-laws in San Clemente to get out and fish. Any good spots to fish the surf around there or should I try to book a trip with someone?

[styan]

The sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to

return soup at a deli!

I got about fifty-feet out and then suddenly the great beast

appeared before me. I tell ya he was ten stories high if he was a

foot. As if sensing my presence he gave out a big bellow. I said,

"Easy big fella!" And then as I watched him struggling I realized

something was obstructing his breathing. From where I was standing

I could see directly into the eye of the great fish!

Then from out of nowhere a huge title wave lifted, tossed like a

quark and I found myself on top of him face to face with the

blow-hole. I could barely see from all of the waves crashing down on

top of me but I knew something was there so I reached my hand and

pulled out the obstruction......a lost ballondicator.

[ByteMe]

Probably a good thing I missed that trip. I might have puked all over your line class record and everything else with those big swells. Still, kind of sounds like fun. Hope you give Michael a big kiss for me?

[Stoney Clarke]

Nice Cary, I wan to see the photos.

And what does it mean "...he was ten stories high if he was a foot..." He could of been a little higher? I may be off by a foot? What?

SC

[styan]

And what does it mean "...he was ten stories high if he was a foot..." He could of been a little higher? I may be off by a foot? What?

SC

Only George knows.....



They told you you were going to get into White Seabass on top? Beat up the kelp a zillion times and never a WSB to write home about. They are usually deep around the rocks.

[Cary]

Only George knows.....



They told you you were going to get into White Seabass on top? Beat up the kelp a zillion times and never a WSB to write home about. They are usually deep around the rocks.


True, particularly when fishing the Channel Ilsands. However, the WSB off of Castros and San Quintin are often suspended and school in the column. The pangueros typically suspend a bait off a Crocodile fifteen feet down in 60 feet of water. Thats how all those 50lb fish you see in the Pages of WON are caught. THe Pangas race after the bird schools, suspend a bait, and wait for the grab.

Also, while I was in SoCal, we were fishing the Horshoe Kelp one morning looking for schools of cuda. My partner made a few casts, got a huge grab and was onto something more substantial. ten minutes later he brought a nice WSB (about 17 pounds, I recall) to net, it qualified as an 8 Kg tippet record, and stayed there for five or six years.

They can be caught near the top of the water column, but its more a matter of serendipity than planning.

[styan]

ten minutes later he brought a nice WSB (about 17 pounds, I recall) to net

Time to fire up the BBQ and call the posse for a BYOB...
Best "poor man" fish for the grill in my opinion. Killer fish tacos!
(Beside the deluxe varieties: ie Albacore, Yellowtail and Blue Fin.....)

[Tyson]

Cary, I would pay to have seen your face as you were being told about your would-have-been record. I'm sure the bonito was glad you are such a classy fisherman though.

[Cary]

Cary, I would pay to have seen your face as you were being told about your would-have-been record. I'm sure the bonito was glad you are such a classy fisherman though.

to be honest, It wouldnt have been much.

I've knowingly released at least two calico bass records. there is something about fishing a hot bite and not wanting to be interupted. To submit records, you need to cut off the end of your flyline, package up the line system, weigh the fish ASAP, and that gets in the way of good fishing. on one particular day, we had TOAD calicos at the Big Hole (know where that is, Steve?) busting big bait on top, I had a 6 inch 5/0 brown-bait deciever that was decimating them. We had the place to ourselves, it was one of those epic days we all pay our dues for.

When Bill took the record WSB, after it was landed, I suspected it might be a record fish. so we reeled in, put the boat in gear and got the fish weighed at one of the san pedro fish markets. by the time we were back to fishing, it was blown out.

Regarding the bonita, it was likely no more than a pound above the existing record, and we were 3 days from a scale. Even frozen, it could have lost a substantial amount of weight. Sour grapes, maybe, but at least I didnt have to re-rig!

There are record hunters, and there are fishermen. I'm more of the latter, but if I got something truly memorable, I'd submit it.

[«°Ñøvã°»]

Thanks for the report Cary sounds like a frekin blast

[styan]

Big Hole (know where that is, Steve?)

Nope. It was all "mile marker" and "Platform #" for me....Spent a lot of time between Newport and San Clemente Island (during the bombing era), hitting the oil platforms off Huntington ;) (best artificial reefs there are) and fishing the reefs from Dana Point north. Pig WSB to be had off Dana Harbor....but I must admit, the most memorable were taken fly lining live anchovies. Stripping yellow maribou streamers thru the kelp was a kick for calicos, bonito and cuda...
Kinda miss it, but then I wake up....

[jdubya]

I might have puked all over your line class record and everything else with those big swells.

And your feet would have swollen the size of watermelons.

[ByteMe]

And your feet would have swollen the size of watermelons.

It's an new evolutionary adaptation that lowers a flyfishers center of gravity and gives them a broader base when casting from a moving deck... highly advantageous.

[styan]

You wanna see puking, check out the newbies on the crowed cattle boats who all hurry to get to the back of the boat so they have the best access to the water...then a couple hours into the trip they are puking their guts out when they are overcome with the diesel fumes and the motion of the boat.
I think most of them are from Utah. ;)

[Cary]

I've only taken a few from utah on these trips, and all have puked.

[styan]

I've only taken a few from utah on these trips, and all have puked.

Chumming is good....

[stef]

Sounds like a lot of fun. I would like to see pictures too!

[Cary]

here's a pic of the bonita

[stef]

Nice Fish.
Hey Cary, I didn't know you went fishing with Stoney's dad?!?

[Cary]

ha ha ha, I need to edit 'ol Herb out of the shot

[ByteMe]

Very Nice Fish.

Isn't that Stoney's dad holding the fish?

[SnakesOnAPlane]

Strange question:

How big was the boat y'all were on?
And how do you sleep through all the waves and motion of the ocean when you're out for a few days at a time?
When you're done, do you need a few days or just a few hours back on land to adjust to solid ground?

[ByteMe]

Strange question:
How big was the boat...?


65' X 22'

http://www.sportfishingreport.com/pages/boatdetail.php?boat_id=12

http://www.apollocharters.com/index.php

[jdubya]

Very Nice Fish.

Isn't that Stoney's dad holding the fish?

he didn't get it....age associated memory loss.