First fish in the boat at 6:30. Caught a bunch of small dolphin. Missed probably 10 or so small fish–just cutting the bait in half. I don’t think most of their mouths were big enough to get around the whole bait. Lots of small dolphin out there right now. Caught two that were in the 3/4 lb range. Ended up keeping about 8 dolphin. Biggest was maybe 12 lbs. Also caught one small king 5/6 lbs and two baracuda on the troll. One baracuda was the smallest I’ve ever seen caught trolling. Good lord those critters stink. Didn’t get a dolphin bite after 10am.
Trolled to 200’ where we stopped to bottom fish around noon and found the scamps. Caught 9 or 10; kept 6. Also caught some endangered red porgies, triggers, some AJs, and a bonita. Jerms caught a 27lbs AJ that worked him hard, but he got it up with the AVET. Thanks Phin. Was hoping it was a big grouper, but oh well. Missed another big one to the rocks on the bottom; broke him off.
Highlight of the day was my best friend from HS (in from Sparklecity just to go fishing with us this one day) pitching a jig to a bull dolphin swimming by while we were bottom fishing and hooking up. The fish was only about 20’ from the boat when he hooked him. Put on a great jumping display right next to the boat. Very exciting; I never get tired of watching that. Fought him hard running around the boat. Got the fish on the trim tab and you could see the Flouro being shaved off the line. Finally got him away from the tab and he met the gaff. Had another smaller dolphin attack my chicken rig while I was bringing it up to check the bait. Couldn’t get him hooked though.
All in all, a great day on the ocean. Lots of weeds shallow. Had a nice following swell sea back to rocks until the last few miles where it got bumpy as usual. Back to the dock at 4:30, finished cleaning fish and boat by 6:30. PurposeOne rode by and stopped and chatted for a few minutes. Seems like he fishes everyday. Home before dark. Good times and good friends. Everyone should do
How’s this been working out for you? Nailing any billfish with the “good bit of time” you’re putting into it? What about half fish? Staying away from the sharks are we?
"You can get away with 30s for most fish. I use 50s because I try for billfish a good bit and I hate bringing in half of a fish because it took too long to reel it in. 30s are great for kingfishing though.
How’s this been working out for you? Nailing any billfish with the “good bit of time” you’re putting into it? What about half fish? Staying away from the sharks are we?
"You can get away with 30s for most fish. I use 50s because I try for billfish a good bit and I hate bringing in half of a fish because it took too long to reel it in. 30s are great for kingfishing though.
thanks for the reply. i’m hoping that things will be nice for sunday. it looks like there is not much space between the swells right now. let me know if you get a crew together and headoffshore this weekend. we can leave from wappoo together.
We would love to, but we’re not going this weekend unfortnately. The weather looks nice though. I hear Greg90210 is putting on a billfish catching clinic Sunday and I have to catch that. Sorry. Just can’t pass up an oportunity to hear a Mark Sosin student speak.
