Results from Form 1 of Page Fishreports/mcfishrepform.htm

Name: WalterJ.Moss
Date: 31 Jul 2000
Time: 08:34:27
Remote Name: 152.163.201.184

Report

Saturday, July 30, 2000. Starting trolling at first light 1 mile south of the 279 on a heading to the 14 mile bank. The water was a shade off, 70.3 degrees, and FAC. The area was loaded with bait and we tossed a live mackeral to a feeder with negative results. The single marlin was just outside a school of feeding porpoise. Lost a couple purple/black 3.5 Zukers to the makos. One came unbuttoned and in a fit of anger from the hook sting put on a 10.0 aerial performance. The makos observed feeding were all juveniles. It makes me sad that these juveniles are being targeted by sportfisherman. I would think it would be more appropriate to set up a chum slick and pick an adult mako to bait. In the early afternoon the 279 rolled and the water temperature dropped a couple degrees. We could not believe the difference.

Name: Barry / Drift-A-Way
Date: 31 Jul 2000
Time: 06:37:30
Remote Name: 152.163.197.52

Report

Sat. July 29 Fished from "Fad B" to Dolly Parton,water colder on "Dolly" (69),worked inside then down toward La Jolla.No kelps, no birds, no bait. JIGGER JOE, Joe Lops, caught a 28.5 lb dorado outside 18 miles on the troll, open ocean, and later (10+/-) baited a two-finner within sight of the weather buoy. At about 11am Troy Grant on 50-50 had a feeder pop up in front of him about 1.5 mi. north of the weather buoy. At about 11:30 I had a tailer come up right in front of the boat (20 feet) about 100 yards north of the weather buoy. No biters, but all in all, not a bad day for the first marlin trip of the year, and in July yet.

Name: Chet Spreen/ BITE ME
Date: 30 Jul 2000
Time: 22:38:22
Remote Name: 24.0.122.112

Report

Trip started Friday morning at the Marina Coral where are 90 day hiatus was over and we were clear to sail north. Our intention was to find a hungry marlin or some hungry dorado. We worked up the lower finger to the 425, 5 miles off the Coronados to the upper 9 for nothing! The paddies were all dry if we could find one and we strained hard for any resemblance of a marlin. We continued on staying 4 to 8 miles off till we got to the domes off San Onofre where we turned towards Dana Point. Still no marlin or dorado, but a ton of makos everywhere. FINALLY at 4 miles off San Clemente Pier a SLEEPER, we positioned ourselves perfectly and the cast was on the money, but the marlin put up it's bill to our bait and swam away.

Saturday we worked the inside zone 2 to 7 miles off Dana on up to Newport. We saw a ton of makos again, lots of breezing bait balls, feeding porpoise, and a thousand skiffs zooming around like flys. We worked this inside area hard for no marlin sightings. We then worked out to the 279 and up to the 14 and then back to an area off Main Beach. There was a ton of good signs on the inside area and not much life at the 14 although fish were seen there. Will get them next trip.

Other reports- Pescador baited some more swords in the same area he caught his fish on Thursday. Lots of dorado were reported near Catalina Island and inside the 181 under the paddies. Marlin were baited off the domes 7 miles, 9 miles off Dana Point, 2 miles off Newport, 1.5 miles inside the Avalon Bank, 1 mile off the Can Dump, 7 miles southeast of the Slide, feeder seen just outside Church Rock, 3 feeders baited near the La Jolla weather buoy, I also heard 2 marlin were hooked up by unsuspecting anglers fishing paddies one near the 152 and one near the 289.

Go Get 'em, chet

Name: Rich Johnson-MARIE-B
Date: 30 Jul 2000
Time: 06:33:51
Remote Name: 152.163.197.78

Report

July 29 Chuck,Todd Marie and I aboard the Sea Trek. Below the 182 at first light then out to the 289 to fish the slack. One tailer and several USOs 0830-1000. Up to the Mackeral Bank--water warmer-little life-- widely scattered sauries. Along the lee of Clemente and East of the head for the next slack-ooo. 1500--pick up and run to the 138 an on to the 178--good glassing conditions--000. It's early.

Name: Stan Perry`
Date: 27 Jul 2000
Time: 09:53:30
Remote Name: 32.97.138.131

Report

7/26 5mi west of MB jetty Dorado on Kelp paddies, lots of fish, very few takers.

Name: Rich Johnson-MARIE-B
Date: 27 Jul 2000
Time: 06:27:25
Remote Name: 205.188.199.44

Report

July 25 Decided to check out all that warm water up the coast. Traveled about 5-7 miles offshore past Oceanside. The warmer it got, the greener the water. Little life and most of the kelps dry. Out toward the 209 and back down about 15 miles off. A down day although I think there is a good SW fin up there somewhere. Nine still looked the best. Lots of makos inside off the Encinitas poer plant. Scattered dorado under the kelps. Lots of skiff competition.

July 26 That report by Rich Hamilton on the Marlin Club phone line sent me down to check out the lower Nine in the morning. Great life at the usual spots--shearwaters and fishing porpoise--pulled a nice dorado off a kelp-water blue and 68. Came home at noon. The albacore sounded good inside the 60.

Name: Rich Hamilton
Date: 26 Jul 2000
Time: 07:24:04
Remote Name: 152.163.201.187
Report
July 25 Gary Jasper and the crew of the "Wait-N-Sea" boated a 186 lb. Striper near "the slide" off Catlina at about noon. The fish was caught on live bait, 30 lb test and required 1 hr 10 mins to land. It was weighed at Avalon and represents the first fish by a Marlin Club member. (But NOT the #1 flag, they didn't weigh it here at the club). Several other fish were seen in the area as well! Congratulations!

Name: Chet Spreen- Marlin Caught by Wait-N-Sea
Date: 25 Jul 2000
Time: 20:21:36
Remote Name: 24.0.122.112
Report
First Fish Caught and Weighed at 186lbs for the BAC by the Wait -N- Sea- Gary Jasper. Tuesday July 25 Th This is Wait-N-Sea's 5th First Fish of the Season catch. Up way before dawn they sat on a three square mile of mackerel, by 6:30 this morning they had gone through 15 baits, casting to quick feeders, "A good show of fish" Gary said, then we found a slow tailer during the mid-morning slack which ate the cast bait. 186lbs taken on 30lb tackle, taken in 1 hour and 14 minutes. The prime area was off the Catalina Island's "The Slide", 60 degrees 6 miles or so. Lots of birds and bait centered there. They could see the mackerel being chased by the marlin, quick feeders that were only up for a second or two. When the marlin are on anchovies they stay up longer and it's easier to get up on them.

Name: Mike Tikunoff
Date: 23 Jul 2000
Time: 22:01:34
Remote Name: 24.4.254.47
Report One day gone by and I'm finding myself writing another congratulations to another member. Talk about a one-two punch for Dana!! If Steves swordie wasn't enough, the Wild Bill pulled the First Marlin of the season and the First Flag for the Club out of the hat today at the 11th hour. After traveling from the barn to out in front of Encinitas where they saw two sleepers, to the 289 where they baited three more swords, then starting the run home, Jim Kingsmill was in the binos and saw a slow tailer going upswell and sucessfully baited, caught and released the fish. Jimmy got the fish about 13nm from Dana at approximately 5:00p.m. in front of the Domes.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the angler and crew of the Wild Bill!!! You guys are awesome! I have a feeling this is going to be a banner year!

Mike Tikunoff Fishchair DAC 2000

Name: Mike Tikunoff
Date: 23 Jul 2000
Time: 21:57:17
Remote Name: 24.4.254.47

Report

One day gone by and I'm finding myself writing another congratulations to another member. Talk about a one-two punch for Dana!! If Steves swordie wasn't enough, the Wild Bill pulled the First Marlin of the season and the First Flag for the Club out of the hat today at the 11th hour. After traveling from the barn to out in front of Encinitas where they saw two sleepers, to the 289 where they baited three more swords, then starting the run home, Jim Kingsmill was in the binos and saw a slow tailer going upswell and sucessfully baited, caught and released the fish. Jimmy got the fish about 13nm from Dana at approximately 5:00p.m. in front of the Domes.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the angler and crew of the Wild Bill!!! You guys are awesome! I have a feeling this is going to be a banner year!

Mike Tikunoff Fishchair DAC 2000

Name: Mike Tikunoff
Date: 23 Jul 2000
Time: 21:56:40
Remote Name: 24.4.254.47

Report

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the angler and crew of the Wild Bill!!! You guys are awesome! I have a feeling this is going to be a banner year!

Mike Tikunoff Fishchair DAC 2000

Name: Rich Johnson
Date: 23 Jul 2000
Time: 06:25:46
Remote Name: 205.188.192.21

Report

July 21--Left point at 0600. Fished the 9 mile bank working up to the 178. 0930 0930 about 3 miles ne of 178 one feeder on large 10 inch baits. Would not bite the lures. Trolled area for 0. 1430 another feeder on sauries 4 miles below 178. No bite on the troll.

July 22--Left Point at 0630. 0740 2 sleepers 8 miles 250 from the Point. Trolled area for 1 hour for nothing Only had sardines for bait. Large pool of warm, blue water inside the Nine Mile bank with all the neat stuff--patties with dorado, molas, mako sharks, porpoise, scattered spots of bait--Very Nice. Go get em!

Name: chum
Date: 14 Jul 2000
Time: 12:48:39
Remote Name: 199.253.44.251

Report

Thursday ALBIES? Not Left O’side around 1 pm with Jeff on the TERRAFIN heading for tuna grounds (SW off 43 look promising on the SST charts) . After 16 WET miles Jeff looked at the LATEST SST chart and we decided to turn in (91*) and look at a hot spot off Del Mar & La Jolla area. Jeff been watching it develop for the last week and it looked INTERESTING!! It was still a little snotty but fishable. We set out the Marlin jigs in hope of fame and action. After a few the reel went off! JUMP, JUMP, we looked at each other SHARK! O well a nice MAKO about 53 inches. It eat great, the first of the year. Its nice to have back up info when the seas are aren’t that calm!

CHUM

Name: Chris
Date: 06 Jul 2000
Time: 17:28:52
Remote Name: 206.173.243.205

Report

Big mako's hanging around again and hungry if you can get past the blues. Water temp 68 and nice yellowtails close inshore mixed with the barries. 6 miles off Dana Point. Baited our first marlin close inshore without success, marlin was jumping around the bait in 70 degree water

"Marty Morris" "This AM, Wednesday, Aug. 2, I did a half-day troll with two laps around the weather buoy off La Jolla. The water temp was 74.5 - exactly as shown on the Terrafin SST. With regards to the ""Big Fish"" reports - it is time to whiskey line a Blue marlin jig back there along with the standards. We may be in for some Blue-Bites this summer. Marty" "02 Aug 2000" "17:31:32" "152.163.207.214" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "August 8--Big horse mackeral under the birds off the Point this morning. Headed out to the 302 to fish that sharp temperature break on the sst. It was about 4 miles inside the 302 and angled SE down toward North Island. Good dorado bite on the warm side with Mexican limits of 12-15 pound fish. These fish were free swimmers and hit our marlin lures. Not much sign but good fishing. What with watching the temperature graph and reeling in fish no marlin seen. Could these dorado become a pest when the big guys arrive??? Hard to imagine. Good weather including rain and lightning. Fun day." "02 Aug 2000" "20:17:58" "152.163.206.181" "" "Marlin: Ed Waldman, Sunshine Too. Fished Thursday around La Jolla weatherbuoy then on north toward Torrey Pines. Water less clear as one goes north. Sea temp around 72. Saw no marlin nor signs of them. Not much bird activity except around the buoy. lDorado and yellowtail jumped on our marlin jigs. Came over the 178 and the upper nine for zilch." "03 Aug 2000" "18:54:22" "63.29.216.56" "" "Marlin: Ed Waldman, Sunshine Too. Fished Thursday around La Jolla weatherbuoy then on north toward Torrey Pines. Water less clear as one goes north. Sea temp around 72. Saw no marlin nor signs of them. Not much bird activity except around the buoy. Dorado and yellowtail jumped on our marlin jigs. Came over the 178 and the upper nine for zilch." "03 Aug 2000" "18:55:26" "63.29.216.56" "Marky" "Chet, Steve and the rest Im a commercial fisherman out of Dana 5-6 days each week and I fish on several boats and for that reason I do wish to keep the names of the boats unlisted precisely for the reasons I have just seen.( in the comments and remarks) You are welcome to doubt the authentisity and or my integrity, I do understand since this industry does tend to have a lot of mis-information. I do this for a living and is my income so please excuse me not revealing specifics and if thats NOT acceptable or to your satisfaction then let it be. I was merely reporting good quality information that there are fish out there and they are been caught, I am not in any race or competition with anyone or wanting the first flag or the most releases etc. ( if that was the case id start my own web site and sell my longs and lats with info that we could stand behind which includes our spotterplane infor daily) The information is and was provided to let you know there are fish out there and been caught ! Marky" "04 Aug 2000" "09:58:57" "64.1.214.113" "R.D.VERDUGO" "First marlin of the year taken by new member Sandy Gruwell on the MIL-SO-MAR, caught on 8-3-00 6:45 PM. hook-up time. The fish was taken on a jig and was a blind strike 6mi. off DANA it weighed in at 144lbs congratulations to the crew of the MIL-SO-MAR." "04 Aug 2000" "11:16:53" "149.136.213.47" "Marty Morris" "This is NOT a report! It is a statement of fact. The first page of the Septembe Gaffline will carry a retraction, apology, correction, etc regarding the Past Presidents Prediction Poll. The recent August Gaffline, because of a printing urgency, overlapped with the fact that former MC President ""Sunshine Also"" ED WALDMAN correctly picked August 3 as the day of the catching of the MC's 1st fish to be weighed in (caught on 8-3, but actually weighed in on August 4). His reward? I think this was it! There, I have paid my debit. (Or was it a credit?) MLM" "04 Aug 2000" "20:39:00" "152.163.207.211" "R. Hamilton" "Marlin,etc. TUES: Left Pt. Loma Tuesday AM. 40+ Mahi-Mahi by 10 AM at the upper 9. Best local fishing I've ever seen for Mahis, left them biting. Headed North and found a sleeper outside Encinitas that started feeding. Bait was too large(3+lbs) for tiny (under 60 lbs) fish. Went into Dana for evening. WED: Left Dana, over 267 to 14 had a strike on the Avalon bank but no hookup. Into Avalon for night. THURS: Left Avalon to slide, had a monster (200++) swirl 25 yds next to the boat, worked it for no takers. To Mackeral Bank to Pyramid weather got sloppy so headed back to Dana on fast troll. Hooked a fish at 6:45 pm 6 miles outside of Dana. Landed fish in 35 mins. Iced fish and Headed for SD. Dave was nice enough to open up the club for us at 7 am and Barbara Horner (photographer) met us there. BIG THANKS to them. Sandy Gruwell was the angler (that's the SO in MIL-SO-MAR!) It was her first local fish and special because this was our first trip since Ed (her dad and owner of the boat) passed away. Millie (Ed's wife and the MIL in MIL-SO-MAR) was there to give support. #1 fish 144 lbs, Congratulations to all! Left the club and went back out to try for more, found paddys with yellows near the 182, no luck on marlin, windy. Spent the night in Mission Bay. FRI: Left MB and found a paddy with Mahi and yellows 5 miles off the jetty. Worked the 9 to the 302, a few more paddys with YT and Mahi to outside the islands to home. Summary: If you drive all over the place long enough, you're bound to run into a Marlin....." "06 Aug 2000" "17:58:01" "152.163.201.194" "Mike Moore (Legacy)" "Morro Bay Albies Go Off- Left Morro Bay on my 25 Skipjack on 8/3 1:30am to run 75-miles offshore to the 1908. Shut down on a temperature break (59.8 degree water) short of the bank. Had steady jig stikes throughout the day with 1 to 6 baitfish per stop in columns up to 61.8 degrees and blue water. Fish averaged 16 to 18-pounds with a handful to 25-pounds. Threw in the towel early and made it to the ramp before dark. Final count was 30 albacore for 3 guys with many being released thanks to Mutu circle hooks and single cedar plug hooks. Hot lure was a black and purple cedar plug rigged with 90-pound fluro leader. Live bait was large sardines and cut chunk. Encountered severe lightening strikes/heavy rain enroute to the grounds. Skipper Will on the Virg's Landing boat took 103 fish for his 15 passengers and one jig boayt seemed to be doing well. Great weather. " "06 Aug 2000" "19:37:53" "157.145.214.229" "Asking a favor" "You guys are welcome to use the reports from SCMO in your Fishing Report page, but could you credit Southern California Marlin Online (http://www.marlinnut.com) as the source (the way you do for JD), rather than use the email address? We need all the help we can get ... :-) Thanks - the site looks great!! Stan Ecklund Jr. stan@marlinnut.com" "07 Aug 2000" "09:44:50" "128.152.20.33" "Ed Waldman" "Marlin: Ed Waldman -Sunshine Too - Thursday fished for marlin on 302 --nothing. Then went to 226 - zilch. Then up ridge to 182 - zero. Then to 178 where we saw a jumper at around 100 yds. Worked for him but no go. Weather was sloppy. Temperature 69 F on outside and 70 at 178 and 9 mile bank. Score for the trip -- NOTHING. " "10 Aug 2000" "20:47:00" "209.245.32.38" "Allan Sheridan-COMANCHE" "Comanche caught its first Marlin of the year today off the domes near Dana Point. It was a blind jig strike on a custom Melton black and purple small Marlin Jig. The fish was released after a short amount of CPR to live another day- The fish was big and the fight was about 2 hours." "11 Aug 2000" "23:13:25" "24.24.238.146" "Marty Morris" "Overlooked (and not reported) in the MC Sunday report was the fact that A MEMBER, JOHN ASHLEY, released a fish from his boat, ""Tenacious,"" fishing south of North Island, about 16 miles, 180 from Pt. Loma." "13 Aug 2000" "19:56:22" "63.202.234.47" "Rich Johnson-Marie B" "Saturday August 12--Marie, Son Pete and his 2 kids Peter and Olivia from Colorado. Mid nine to 178 to fish temperature break at ther slack-0, off to the 302--little green faces. 302 purple and dead. In to 3v miles west of north island--lots of life-possible feeder in school of dorado--little faces pale. Sunday August 13--7-up and Saltines for the little faces. A bounty is offered for marlin- $10 and any other fins $1. 200 degrees 8.8 miles $10 feeder--no go on huge mack. 2 more feeders--no go on large mack and sardine. 0715. Hear about Kennys fish. Joe and Marty seeing fish off North Island. I swear I see a feeder in dorado pushing sauries. Marty hooks a dorado inside of us--big school. Work down to Kenny at 180 degrees 14 miles--what a fisherman. Huge paddy and bird school outside--get in the bird school- marlin stike 3.5 Zucher mean Joe Green Big fish -hot and big-about 200 -right at the boat all silver belly-will it stab the kids!-much black smoke and blue water--much screaming from little faces. Broken crimp!! Don hairshirt and whip myself-being an imperfect human being is tough, deep breathing, it's the journey not the destination, life is a process, blame it on the Lupron. Porpoise start to feed-birds gather-man-there are a bunch of marlin feeding with the porpoise. Let's feed them the plastic--All over the black and purple Collector in the port rigger--drop back a hefty mack-- marlin hits ahead of the lure and won't take the mack. Olivia said she would see a blue whale on her trip--You think it may be my face but no-- we now actually do see 2 blue whales. Another bird school in the gyros-down when we arrive hours later--I try and call Kenny who is just above all this nonsense not to leave. Joe and Marty are up ast the nine mile spot having their own frustrations. Boat covered with Saltine crumbs, crushed 7-Up cans and shining little faces. A great day --fish spread in the life from 12 to 18 miles south of the Point. Water purple--off color at the 9 mile spot. " "14 Aug 2000" "06:04:58" "152.163.195.178" "Barry Rockwell" "Sunday, August 14 - Marlin fishing with Sybil Lovaas (yellowtail lady). When Kenny Schilling started catching fish we were already outside the 182 and I was cussing myself for going the wrong way again. The ocean was glassy and the sea temp was 73 degrees. Just short of the 43 we found a paddy where I caught a dorado and Sybil got two yellowtail, all on bait. The seatemp on the 43 was 75 degrees by my guage but there didn't seem to be any life anywhere. We turned and started trolling toward the Coronados and started getting the occasional dorado on the marlin lures. About noon I had a real screamer of a bite on a Mean Joe Green Collector Peanut, 20# line, on the 1st wave but never saw the fish. It fought like a marlin but never showed and the hook pulled after 35 minutes. We were at 31 miles, 258 degrees, just inside the 43 and the seatemp was 75.4. Caught several dorado to 15 lbs in the area on the marlin lures. When we got to a point about 3.5 miles south of the 182, my seatemp guage said the water was 76.1. None of the area looked fishy - no birds or bait - but we had a lot of action between the 43 and 182. Sybil was thrilled to have caught her first dorado (she caught three). Barry - Drift-A-Way" "14 Aug 2000" "08:03:59" "152.163.197.58" "" "" "14 Aug 2000" "08:05:35" "152.163.197.58" "Chet Spreen on ""BITE ME""" "August 14, 2000 Marlin- Another weekend of spread out fish. ESPADON released a fish Friday afternoon 3 miles off the Slide, DOUBLE D released a fish 2 miles off Church Rock on Saturday morning, Don Blackman released a fish on his boat RETRIEVER 15 miles 184 degrees from Point Loma on Saturday, another Saturday fish was Alan Sheridan on COMANCHE releasing a jig fish off the San Onofre Domes which was quite large with the fight lasting 2 hours, John Ashley on TENACIOUS released a fish as well on Saturday fishing south of North Island about 16 miles 180 degrees, FIJI GIRL took a fish 4 miles inside the 181 on Sunday. Also on Sunday, three marlin were caught above, outside, and below North Island. Feeders were seen in various areas including 9 miles, 200 (on the lower edge of the canyon or ""notch"" just north of Pukey), outside of Pukey, southwest of the island and about 4 miles further south. We found two amongst meatballs of feeding Dorado. When we slowed to drag a bait through it a fish came up on the slow moving bird/jig, but failed to bite when I punched it. Kenny Schilling on a new boat destined for charter service at the Cape caught one on straight 40 with a sardine slow trolled over a feeder and released it. An hour later he had his 11 year old son wired to a jig fish. It came up tail wrapped and weighed in at 153. About 4 miles south of the island John Ashley on his ""Tenacious"" wired a jig fish. It was a ""small one"" and John released it. In the afternoon Joe Lops (""Jigger Joe"") found feeders at the ""notch."" They dumped a bait which was eaten immediately and had a jig nailed. First, the jig fish came off and later they got the hook back on the feeder. More reports: A couple feeders and sleepers seen between the 289 and Pyramid, feeders on the Mackerel Bank, www.fishspotters.com saw fish at 33.09.70/118.28.60 and another at 33.11.00/118.30.50 which is west of the Mackerel, group of tailers seen by TIGHTLINES 3 miles from the Avalon Bank, WILD BILL baited a ""drunk feeder""(it was at least acting like it was drunk, swirling on trash, very peculiar) somewhere near Clemente Isld. TYEE baited or saw around 6 fish near the 152 Saturday afternoon. Albacore- The albies are trying to make a comeback from Friday's slaughter of over 2,000 fish. Today the boats out of San Diego were spread out over a large area south of Point Loma. Fish were again taken near the 425 down to the Banda Bank off Ensenada but nothing like Friday. Today the sportboats did best out at the Dumping Grounds which is too far for me for albies at this point in the season. A good area to look would be from 31.50.12/117.21.50 to 31.40/117.01.40, this area will have kelps that are holding albies along with the other species. The 390 today also had some fish on it but nothing blockbuster. I am sure a private boater would do good on the inner banks off Ensenada, no worries. Bluefin Tuna - The paddies have been holding a few Bluefin in the same areas as the Yellowtail/Dorado/Albacore. Some boats did decent with some double digit counts at the 295 and inside that towards Todos. The best Bluefin fishing is 130 to 200 miles anywhere from 180 degrees to 220 degrees. There have also been some big counts by the sportboats out at the Cortez Bank. The fish are from 20 to 40 lbs. and have bit best when using fluorocarbon leaders of 30lbs. or less and small hooks. On the trolling leaders I would also use fluorocarbon leaders between 60 and 80lb. Private Boaters have had some success with small mackerel, so it's worth it to have some in the tank. Yellowfin Tuna - Evidently a private boater got some Yellowfin from under the porpoise at the 209 over the weekend!!. The 1 day boats are also reporting catches of Yellowfin in the area inside the 295 towards Todos Santos and then up towards the 425. Fish have been on kelp paddies and porpoise schools throughout that area. Some 1 day boats had double digit counts on Yellowfin in the past few days. Other than those reports we don't have much to work with except the fish being taken at Guadaloupe Island by the multi-day trips out of San Diego. Work those porpoise! Bigeye Tuna - BIG CATCH made 25 miles south of SD near the 425. A 121lb. BIGEYE was taken on a Mean Joe Green Marlin Jig and weighed at SD Marlin Club. The 1 day boats are starting to get some Bigeye in the same areas as the Yellowfin and the Dorado, but nothing more than 1 or 2. Down south 150 miles the multi-day boats are getting a few Bigeye. If you are looking in local waters try fishing in the pre-dawn hours from 3 am to sunrise, fish structure, like the Banda Bank or the 9-mile Bank, the Bigeye bite much better in the early morning and late evening. Also try spreader bars, marlin lures, or large tuna jigs. Paddy Yellowtail -The tails have been a little line shy on the paddies the Dorado are on, probably due to the heavy private boat traffic. Every kelp paddy seems like it has between 2 and 10 boats on it, it's really out of hand! The yellows are spread over a large area with good catches especially down south from the 425 out to the 295 and then to the inside off Todos Santos. Up to the north the best paddies have been along the inside from La Jolla to Newport but watch out for the traffic!!!! I would check more offshore if you want mostly tails and get out of the congestion. I like the area between the 289 and Mackerel Bank and from there to San Clemente Island. Have a marlin outfit ready, there have been quite a few fish seen in that area. Paddy Dorado - AHHHH GET OFF MY PADDY!!! was still the motto for the weekend. We got our Dorado between the 14 and 209, and south of the 209 on the 312. The kelp paddies from the 209 south to the 182 had less boat traffic Saturday but by Sunday the traffic was out there as well. The dodos have been offshore between 15 miles and 35 miles off from La Jolla to Newport. Not every paddy is holding but the ones that are have had some large schools. Slow trolled dines have worked well, but mackerel have really been the best bait, both chunked and flylined. The best area is between the 14 and the 277. Mako Sharks- Makos are here! There are hordes of them along the inshore areas from La Jolla to Newport. They are generally small but there are some larger fish around, you just have to weed through the puppies(tag and release the little guys). Where the dodos are the makos are around. A 776lb. Mako was taken off the backside of Anacapa Island 2 weeks ago near the barracuda schools and some other large fish were encountered over the past weekends. Go Get 'em, Chet Spreen/ BITE ME " "14 Aug 2000" "21:38:12" "24.0.122.112" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "BROKEN LEADERS???? Last Sunday I broke leader and Wednesday Marty did the same. I have just started using these double barreled jobs from an outfit in Carlsbad that are sold at Fisherman's Landing and Hook Line and Sinker. I ran out of the old dependable A-7 ones from Sevenstrand. When I pulled like Heck on some of my other rigs to check them, a few failed as well. The leader seems to pull out of the crimp unless it is done just right. The answer may be to double crimp thanks to instructions from One on High who is knowledgable about such matters, but who will remain nameless to protect my secret source of valuable wisdom. So it might be a good idea to tug on your rigs before a marlin does. What a frustrating sport!!!!" "18 Aug 2000" "06:35:32" "152.163.206.194" "Chet Spreen" "website is: www.socaloffshore.com not www.offshore.com" "18 Aug 2000" "23:19:09" "24.0.122.112" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "August 19, 2000 The voyage of the Sea Trek. At first light 30 miles- 150 degrees from Pont Loma We bait 3 seperate sleepers in the area before 1000. No go--we only have small mackeral--grrr. The area is loaded with small school yellowfin that are a real nuisance on the marlin lures. Excellent area that we fish during both slacks before trolling up the edge to the Coronados. The tuna are on the cold side of the temperature break. Water blue although off color at the end of the Finger Bank. Rich " "20 Aug 2000" "18:05:21" "205.188.198.47" "Chet Spreen/ ""BITE ME""" "Saturday August 19, 2000 Final Count: (3 anglers) 28 Dorado, 12 Yellowfin Tuna Area Fished: Dorado taken on the evening tide change off a medium sized paddy a couple miles inside the 279, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm it was every bait= a Dorado. Tuna were taken from under a fast moving porpoise school between the 209 and the 289, they didn't want the bait or feathers, but climbed all over the black/purple cd-14 rapalas and the red/white cd-18 rapalas. Water Temps: 72-75 Bait Quality: Horrible pin sized bait from Newport Harbor. Trick for the Dorado: Chum very heavily if you can right away to get them excited and try to fish a paddy that is holding dorado during the tide change it makes all the difference in their aggressiveness. Also cut the tails off a couple of the live baits right at the tail bone, making sure they do not bleed and chum them, the dorado went insane on these baits when we chummed them. late, chet spreen " "21 Aug 2000" "10:12:57" "24.0.122.112" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "August 23--Fished outside of the Nine Mile bank. Tailer 235 degrees 11 miles. Water off color up toward 178--lots of grass on the lures-kelps holding dorado. Porpoise have moved out to 3-4 miles west of North Island--little life close to the Island--jumper on the way in at 207 degrees 11 miles. Report of tuna feather marlin on the 425. Nice day--Thank God for the Dorado." "23 Aug 2000" "20:43:38" "205.188.192.171" "Chet Spreen, ""BITE ME""" "Friday we started at the 152 off the East End of Catalina for nothing, around 8 am we decided to head for the 499 in search of the ""herd"". At 10:30am 6 miles west of Ben Weston Point we got a jig strike on a 7 Strand 1210c Kona Clone Black/Purple, the fish took out 50 yards then exploded from the sea revealing a 300+ lb. Mako. While flipping through the air he gladly unhooked himself and returned our prized marlin lure with only a few chips removed from the head. Onward from there we started seeing large groups of Jaegars(AKA Hawks) on the surface with the occassional mackerel ball swimming in a westerly direction unharmed by gamefish. The area looked primo for stripers but we didn't see one. Up by the 499 we trolled through some porpoise for nothing and baited a kelp loaded with Dorado for nada. Water temps 70- 72.5. Stayed the night in Cat Harbor. We made mackerel in Cat no problem. Saturday we started 3 miles west of the Farnsworth and worked out towards the spot that we had seen the major bird populations. On the way to the numbers we 2 blind knockdowns which upon inspection of the leaders revealed the tell tale bill marks of marlin come and gone. Once in our area(8 miles west of the Farnsworth) we baited a feeder and saw a few more for nothing, the birds were gone and we didn't meter a thing. Then on the morning tide the marlin put on a nice jumper show, we counted 10 seperate jumpers, along with some feeders within the 3 mile wide area, but no bites for us. Other than those sightings on the morning tide, we saw 3 more jumpers the rest of the day but nothing like the morning, there were also some large mackerel balls swimming in a westerly direction again. Also we found large groups of foaming Yellowfin in the same area. We pounded the area hard all day, I think a fish would have been caught in the area if there was more coverage, we were by ourselves the whole time. Water temps 71.1 to 72. We ended up in Whites Cove that night. Last thing Catalina Canyon outside Cat Harbor was loaded with bait and birds as well but no spikes. Sunday trolled to through the Avalon Bank to the 14 to the 279 for nada. Slow and FRUSTRATING weekend. Catch One, Chet Spreen " "27 Aug 2000" "23:56:28" "24.0.122.112" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "Tuesday August 29--With our son Phil aboard just off the plane from Colorado we leave the dock in the rain at 1400. Small well cured anchovies at the receiver--no sardines. Good Grief--the water temp on the Nine is down to 66.5 from 71 only days earlier. We troll down the edge to south of South Island--grim. The night in the anchorage brings small spanish and greenies to the light--the seals are murder on the fliers. Wednesday--We leave the anchorage at 0430 and head 200 degrees until light--windy and lumpy. From here we head toward the 390 getting tuna, yellowtail and one dorado along the way. The water at the 390 was the best we saw all day-69 and blue. We head back to the 371 where we find off color cooler water with lots of empty kelps and grass. We are heading back to the islands on a course of 40 degrees. At 1630 Phil says I ought to go back on the back deck and take a little sun. It has been a dark, windy day. We are 14 miles from south island. I am sitting there, warming in the suns glare for not more than 5 minutes. A charging dorsal and we are hooked up to a small, fiesty marlin that unloads plenty of 40 pound from my International 30. We have it on for 15 minutes before he turns toward the boat and the hook pulls. Probably jammed over the bill. They are where you find them--I guess you just troll around fishing for anything with a couple of marlin lures in the mix. We did not see a single boat or marlin all day. Water seems to have turned over. Rich J " "01 Sep 2000" "07:13:15" "205.188.192.182" "Chet Spreen, ""BITE ME""" "September 5, 2000- Marlin-It's time for the MABT and various other tourneys this week! All is quiet as everyone gears up for competitive fishing. As everyone knows, unless you were living under a rock for the past few days, WILD BILL caught 14 marlin on Saturday and 2 more on Sunday, not bad, try incredible!! The bite was 5 to 8 miles off the dome at San Clemente Island. It consisted of a few jig bites early in the morning, then a feeder show, and then a tailer show. Other boats in the area got between 1 and 3 fish each, but no one even close to the Kingsmills. On Sunday there were also some fish taken on the 289, 277, and 5 off the slide. Also some fish were taken 10 to 12 miles 240 degrees off La Jolla and off of Mission Bay. Another area that looked good was from 32.55/118.05 to 33.05/118.25, that area was visited by a spotter plane today that saw some fish. Unfortunately I don't have much to say, because mostly I haven't heard a thing other than the weekend reports. We are leaving Wednesday night and fishing the Masters till Sunday afternoon, so once I am back I will have all the info on where the fish are. GOOD LUCK in the tournaments this week!! Yellowfin Tuna - Yellowfin tuna action has been good and bad depending on the day and if you find the right schools of porpoise. The best areas today were the 209 to the 181 for up north. Down south the 1010 Trench looked excellent today with loads of 8 to 20lb. Yellowfin cruising with porpoise schools and under the kelps, this was definitely the best biting area of the day. There are also tuna on the 371, 302, 277, 14, Butterfly up to Pyramid Head at SCI. The 60 mile bank is also holding some tuna with some albies mixed in as well. Paddy Dorado - The best area for paddy dorado today was out side the 209 5 miles west of the bank on up to the Eas End of Catalina. Some private boaters reported some great scores in that general area providing you find the right kelp. Down south there were some good dorado scores in the tuna areas near the 1010 into the Upper 500, but again it's all about finding that magic kelp. Albacore- Hey how about it, the albies are starting to filter back in a little bit. There were fish mixed in with the Yellowfin on the 60 mile bank today, but these guys were smallish 7 to 20lbers. Down off Colnett the multi-day boats are getting into 40lb. Albies. The Airplane Bank is holding some good numbers of the longfin, with these numbers producing well, 31.50/118.08 and 32.07/118.20. Bluefin Tuna - See ya, I have no idea where these guys are, but they aren't within 1 day range! There is still a smattering of these guys mixed in with the Yellowfin and Albacore but nothing substantial. Probably out on the Cortes or Tanner, but I haven't heard anything. Bigeye Tuna - No news on these guys lately :(. They are probably being caught off the 9- mile bank and the other San Diego Bigeye haunts like the 425, 302, 371, and off the Coronados by local boys that are keeping the bite on the down low. This has happened in previous years. Paddy Yellowtail - No real big concentrations of Yellowtail on the paddies right now, a few fish here and there. Best areas are on the tuna grounds 1010 Trench to the Upper 500 out to the 60 mile bank and beyond. The inside areas to the north are holding fish on the kelps around the 181, 209, 277, on up to the 286 off the west end of Catalina. Best bite on Yellowtail is over at SCI at White Rock, nice 15 to 30lb. fish biting pretty darn good. Good Luck This Week! Cheers, Chet Spreen, ""BITE ME"" www.socaloffshore.com " "05 Sep 2000" "23:39:04" "24.0.122.112" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "Labor Day--Try to make mackeral at the Point for nothing. Head out on a 260 heading to try and get to the Nine at the slack. Blind and I DO mean blind jig strike at 11 miles. We land the fish in 30 minutes and troll the area for 0 the rest of the day. Decent conditions. No eyeball fish. Mean Joe Green 3.5 Zucker- fourth wave. At Last!!!" "06 Sep 2000" "05:54:03" "205.188.200.33" "Rich Johnson-Marie-B" "THAT Saturday. Poor Joe Lops--for the rest of his career on the water the poor guy is going to have to listen to --So Joe, how was the halibut fishing? But of course, we will all have our own little story of why we weren't there. You know I almost always fish with Chuck Smith on Saturdays. That is the only way I an usually catch something. But this Saturday, our son Phil was in town from Colorado so we decided to strike out on our own which is what we did on That SATURDAY except for some wayword yellowfin inside the 182. As we helped Chuck and Todd weigh in their fish late Saturday night---ohhh it hurts. So we just hung it up and enjoyed Sunday. On Monday morning I got up early and decided to try for some bait. Just before I left the dock, I happened to call the Marlin Club catch report, and there was Kenny catching one neatr the Nine. So we tried for bait, but wanted to get to the Nine for at least the last part of the slack. Phil had left for Colorado, so it was just Marie and I. I told her that today would be her day--on any strike just run the drag up slowly. Not more than 5b minutes later we had a strike--It's real heavy she says and up jumps a small marlin. just like old times I am running around the boat trying to get all this stuff in while I watch the reel empty. Boy, these little guys are scrapers. Anyway, we manage to gaff this little guy, but then he beats us all up, tears out the hoses to my bait bags and pulling our old arms out of their sockets. The heck with noble motives for release--this is a lot of work for GRANDPARENTS. But we are down to our last package of smoked marlin from last year, and it is our chance to cover ourselves with glory at the BBQ. Besides, this is our 25th Anniversary of our first marlin caught here in California. We caught it at Catalina, and I pulled our GB up to the Tuna Club dinghy dock and asked them to weigh our fish. Imagine a GB 36, 3 little kids, 2 golden retrievers and a cockateel plus one dead marlin at the Tuna Club. They weren't impressed but that Rosie--what a gal--she made us feel like heros and remembers us to this day. It took a bit of the sting out of missing Saturday for sure. We even got to tie up to the Marlin Club for the BBQ which was great by the way. Just like the BIG HUMMERS. Rich J " "06 Sep 2000" "20:14:31" "205.188.192.52" "Barry Rockwell" "Does it tick anyone else off that you can't get a fishing report from the Marlin club every day? Especially a Thursday report before a Friday tournament! Or a Friday report before a weekend! We used to get all the information that was available on a daily basis - if nothing happened, the report said ""nothing happened"". I'm not sure if it's just plain negligence or if the people who get the information just elect not to put it out to us lowly weekenders so they can use it themselves without the competition that would occur if the public knew the ""secret dope"". I doubt that I'm the only one it irritates, so if you agree, SPEAK UP! I do and will continue to until someone listens or until a Board of Directors is elected who cares enough about The Marlin Club and it's purpose to do something about it. Barry / Drift-A-Way / Charter Life Member of The Marlin Club" "08 Sep 2000" "16:44:25" "152.163.201.204" "Barry Rockwell" "Just curious to know why my last message was not posted. Do we always have to pat someone on the back to be heard? Barry Rockwell / Drift-A-Way / Charter Life Member of the Marlin Club" "12 Sep 2000" "11:58:50" "152.163.204.182" "Chris" "Just got back from a looong few fishing days and tourney's. Fished the King Harbor Mako my Night tournament which had 20 boats entered and first night Mako Tournament on the west coast. 1st placed mako went to Goat II Tom Brooks 385 lbs , 2nd went to Smithy on 1010 Time 203 Lbs and 3rd Place went to Gramps 134 lbs The story of the tournament was the epic 5 1/2 hr battle Huh Dad had on an estimated 1000 lbs Mako only to loose it on the props. Now they know how I felt last year ! We took the prize for the most released mako's From here Sunday night we dashed off to fish in the Rosie's 75th Anual Marlin tourney, great showing many top boats. Start fishing was from 6.30 and off we went, bang 7.05 am first hook ups What a tournament, in the 10 years since I have lived and fished in SA CAL waters I have never seen so many Marlin around sleepers in groups of 4 and 3, feeders all over the place with an estimated 50-60 jumpers we saw in the two days fishing. Water temp ranged from 72- 75.9 degrees and you could not miss all the boats and marlin with many boats getting double hook ups on jigs and bait. Most the fish were baited Marlin Most the Marlin were caught off the top side of Clemente Island 1st place was Gambler with a wopper 231 lbs 2nd place was Wait N Sea 203 lbs 3rd place was Capt Hook II 183 lbs Lost count on all the releases and boated fish which did attract some of the top Marlin anglers, and first 3 places all from Dana Point Boats of Erin Marie, Keeper, No Problem, Bad Attitude, Cbandit, Warloughe, Sea Dancer, and many more were entered Well just here to shower and off bak to Catalina for the Zane Grey and Drambuie Chris" "13 Sep 2000" "22:31:27" "64.1.214.26" "Gerne Schwartz" "9/15-9/16 San clemente Island Fished Friday afternoon and Saturday morning- Saw two fish Friday afternoon and nothing Sat morning- Water seemed to be off-color- Jigger joe released a fish off of NORTHWEST Friday afternoon-Went back across the 289 and it appeared lifeless-We saw one two finner in that area- " "17 Sep 2000" "08:31:20" "205.188.198.22" "Chris" "JD some info you posted was inaccurate, biggest fish for the second day was weighed in by Exta Sea on a 50 ft Michelson and Not Wait and Sea of Gary Jasper's Ocean . Team Top Gun weighed in a fish 169 Lbs also and Gary Jaspers fish weighed in at 160 lbs" "21 Sep 2000" "12:27:26" "206.173.199.238" "Chris" "113 Boats entered the Drambuie Classic, the water was calm and the winds low with water temps ranging from 70.5 to 72.3 Most fish were caught in G3 / Grid area near the 277/152 area on Monday and on Tuesday most fish with quad hook ups in the F 2 zone on the grid off the Avalon Banks inside the lee of Catalina off Long Point to the Slide, dont troll, only one or two fish taken trolling fish were simply taken by drift fishing or soaking baits 1st Place went to Capt Hook II out of Dana Point 208 lbs fish taken on live bait/ soaking the bait around a bait ball. ($ 150 000.00 + Winnings with all day bets ) 2nd Place went to 3 Daughters $ 32 000.00 3rd Place went to 4th Place went to Buck Fever of Dana Point also Taking home over $ 100 000.00 + with Tuesdays Daily and sides Lots of 25 lb class yellowfin 2-3 miles off Dana today and inside the 14 mile bank along the 209 good reports of yellowfin also, The key is 12-15 lb line with small anchovies and you will get bit since they are line shy. " "27 Sep 2000" "19:36:33" "64.1.210.216" "Rich Johnson-Maire B" "September, 29, 2000 Lots of small tuna and a few big eye plus a 40 pound albacore at 28-25 sw of North Island. The next morning same area slow bite in the morning." "01 Oct 2000" "06:43:58" "152.163.195.212" "Marty Morris" "I spoke to Steve Bledsoe (""No Excuses"") today (Thursday). They saw 9 sleepers (3 groups of 2 and 1 of 3) and two jumpers in the waters off Dana (26/48 to 23/48) this AM. They got one to bite on 20 and released it (their 12th of the year). They did not see the groups of feeders that had been popping up the past couple of days. ""Wait-N-Sea"" baited two swordfish in the area. With temps in the 66 to 66.5 range they should be sliding south any day now. Hang on to your bait." "19 Oct 2000" "21:35:05" "64.12.104.186" "Marty Morris" "Went to Dana Point Tuesday night with Harry Okuda. Made plenty of nice bait just outside the breakwater this AM. Fished the whole area today for naught. Yesterday (Tuesday) Lynn Jasper on the ""Wait-N-Sea"" released one and today - only one fish reported caught - by Lynn Jasper on the ""Wait-N-Sea."" They were the only ones to see anything today. Beautiful seas, temp 66.5-67. There was an unconfirmed report of a large group of feeders and tailers off of San Onofre today so maybe something will come of that tomorrow. Hopefully, the fish are sliding down the beach. With nasty weather predicted for the week-end maybe the herd will make it to La Jolla/""9"" by next week. Marty" "25 Oct 2000" "22:09:53" "64.12.104.52" "Marty Morris" "Here they come! After yesterday's sightings off San Onofre nothing seen there today. I did see a fair amount of sauries yesterday - off Oceanside. Today, we heard report of a feeder seen 6 miles off - Oceanside. By tomorrow they ought to be off Del Mar getting close to La Jolla. Saturday/Sunday? Weather permitting - start at the top of the ""9"" and keep going south. By the time the weather clears next week? - Sayonara! maybe adios! is more appropriate. M" "26 Oct 2000" "22:04:53" "64.12.104.53" "Marty Morris" "Went out for a two hour ""look-see"" this AM (Sunday, 10-29) out on the ""9."" Temp 67, water flat, glassy most of the time I was there, some sauries showing and saw one bona fide feeder at 8 miles, 220 degrees at 12 noon. Made a few trolls over the spot for naught. But at least there was one there. Marty" "29 Oct 2000" "18:46:02" "152.163.213.191" "Marty Morris" "Today (Wednesday) ""Key To The Sea"" (Richard Keesee and Skete Simmons) saw two sleepers 7 miles off LaJolla and caught and released a jig fish 10 miles 280 degrees off Point Loma. Water cooling down to 65.8. A Jumper was seen in the same area and a tailer yesterday. They were bit about noon." "01 Nov 2000" "19:16:22" "205.188.200.148" "Marty Morris" "On Oct. 25th I predicted that ""the herd"" might make it to LaJolla by ""next week."" It is now ""next week"" and ""they"" are here. A fish was caught and released on Wednesday (11-1) and today (Friday) at least three fish were caught (one released). Feeders, jumpers and several jig bites were reported. It was reported that several bites came on the afternoon slack tide (1:30-2:00). The area was 6-7 miles off Mission Bay, about 10 miles 280 from Point Loma (48/24). There ought to be a good sized fleet out there this week-end. Go get 'em!!! Marty" "03 Nov 2000" "17:14:34" "64.12.104.44" "Rich Johnson-Marie_B" "November 3, 2000 Marie and I left on a lark Friday morning. Such a beautiful day. We are building a new boat so this is the swan song for the GB42 which has caught them in the Gulfstream, the Tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. We kinda got lost and didn't get to the hotspot at 300 degrees, 13 miles until after the slack. To make it worse, we had the mother of all tangles when we got there, so I spent precious time cutting and retying everything. The day was so calm, I decided to pull a blue marlin lure that I had modified for these little stripers. A black, purple and silver wide range soft head. This lure will catch blues, whites, sails, dolphin, wahoo and now it has caught a California striper. Great jig strike, wild fish, it charged the boat after the strike just like a blue, screaming past the transom with line hissing through the water. I had just told Marie that any strike was hers. She said she had to go pee and was on her way at the fateful moment. I guess I had lied to her as I siezed the rod. So it was our lucky day. One year ago I caught a swordfish. Then I caught prostate cancer which has been a year long battle with surgery, hormones and radiation. The radiation has been every morning in September and October ending on Halloween so I could go out dressed as the Little Glow Worm. See, we still got out there. No Big Deal. Guys, get your PSA checked. I didn't have a clue. Rich J " "05 Nov 2000" "06:25:45" "152.163.195.207" "FinnSeeker" "Fished the Mazatlan Sixth Billfish Classic Tournament out of the Marina El Cid. Boats came from Channel Islands Dana Point and Cabo for this event. 26 entrants in all with After Midnight entering comong off their win from the Bisbee. some of the entrants below: After Midnight ( Channel Islands) Top Gun ( Dana Point) Capt Hook II ( Dana Point) Chupacabra ( DE) Big Time Blue Thunder Gene's Machine Celebration Black Marlin Stripped Marlin Airies Fleet I thru V 2 Amigos Reel time Day one as we all fished for sailfish which were not as abundant in showing as last year, we could have stepped on them like stepping stones last year. The techinques are different used by the locals to get the sailfish. Chupacabra boated the largest Blue for the day taking the $ 35 000.00 daily and placing them in first place. The blue weighed in at 395 lbs Local boat Airies IV came in with 6 released sails on this day. with several other Blue Marlin weighed in. Day Two saw more sailfish and several large blues lost by many boats came in with 8 and 9 sailfish released giving them 100 points for each release. Day 3 was the great excitement with Big Time boating a big Blue Marlin in 19 min caught on a lure and Chupacubra with two boated blue Marlin and one realeased and Gene's Machine with a Blue including the boat black marlin. Big Times blue weighed in at 463 lbs caught in 19 min and the Black marlin was also over 400 lbs followed by chupacubra's also. Chupacubra accumulated the most points again and took the daily again and the first place for the tournamnet, biggest fish prize went to Big time and second place overall went to Gene's machine. 26 boats over 200 sails, blues released , not bad considering the Bisbee had 239 boats and the same released. Only some 12 Blues weighed in and prize for the largest Tuna/wahoo/dorado went to the Tuna only 41 lbs compared to the 241 lb one caught last year. Lacking this year were all the stripped Marlin, not even one seen, they late this year. Chris" "15 Nov 2000" "19:57:44" "206.173.243.111" "" "" "11 Dec 2000" "16:58:39" "199.35.199.67" "Troy Grant" " I've got a new e-mail address Troy5050@msn.com Thanks for all your reports this past summer good job. THANKS AGAIN Troy Grant" "11 Dec 2000" "17:02:19" "199.35.199.67" "Troy Grant" " I've got a new e-mail address Troy5050@msn.com Thanks for all your reports this past summer good job. THANKS AGAIN Troy Grant" "11 Dec 2000" "17:04:11" "199.35.199.67" "SWAG Yellowtail" "Today the Baja Beauty made her last yellowtail trip for the year 2000. We had a good day of fishing. Left the Marlin Club at 6:30 and ""high-tailed"" it out to the Coronados running at 25 knots in great weather and calm seas. Went to North Island. Dropped iron for the yo-yo. Please go here for the fine details: http://www.fishsandiego.com/_fishreports/0000001e.htm The tally for the day: 8 - Yellowtail (12-17lbs), 4 - BIG reds , 1 - Bonito, ? - so many Lingcod I lost count (all 17-20 inches and released) " "30 Dec 2000" "20:51:22" "24.4.82.234" "finnseeker" "Marlin, marlin, marlin that’s the word for the month. Blues, Blacks and Striped, some of each with the hot boats being the Whisky II. The Cristi and the Agua Azul were in the fray also each with a two Blue Marlin day. The Sailfish seemed to have slowed a bit but the panga Gitana with Captain Santiago Valdovinos had a 6 fish tagged day and a 5 fish tagged day. Most boats targeting Sails are raising 3-4 fish per day and averaging about a 1.4 billfish per boat catch ratio. T.J. Cunningham and Allan VanDuyne had a great day on the Intruza fly fishing for Sails, Allen getting his first and for a major surprise T.J. managed to stick a Blue Marlin with a fly but couldn’t get a good hook set as the fish charged the boat. March should bring in some major Yellowfin Tuna catches in the 200# plus range. With information on less than 1/3 of the fleet the February figures were 279 Sails, 22 Marlin, 59 Dorado over 40#, 16 Roosters over 20# and a couple of big Yellowfins. Plentiful Dorado in the 25-35 pound range and numerous school Yellowfin up to 40 pounds. A slight drop in the water temperature has brought in more Blue Marlin and some BIG Yellowfin Tuna are being taken. Inshore the Roosterfish are back in the surf. Several were taken in the 50# range along with numerous Jack Crevalle and Sierra Mackerel. Live bait was the ticket to success. In planning your fishing please request that the crew release the billfish, tagging them if possible, the population cannot sustain the pressure of continued taking of the fish for market and photos. Tight Lines, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Climate: high 80's, Water temp. 77 Best Fishing Area: Best areas are about 15-20 miles out heading SSW Sea Conditions: Calm Bait Supply: Excellent ------- " "26 Feb 2001" "21:30:31" "206.173.248.226" "Dietrying" "I made a run down to the 1010 trench on monday the 16th. I had some good intel that mexican seiners wrapped about 20 tons of Bluefin late last week. Weather really turned as soon as we got down there and had to leave after about 3 hours of trolling. Water was a really nice tuna blue color but no temps due to failure of my gauge. Fought a 4/6ft sea and 20+knots of wind all the way home." "18 Apr 2001" "18:51:49" "64.12.106.42" "Bernie Zelinski" "Went out and fished south of the 425 in very nice calm tuna blue water but no biters had toughts of running to the 60 mile bank but changed our minds. Went over to S. Is for a wide open Barracuda bite and did some drifts for halibut for nada. Came back to the harbor and made some drifts and caught a 22in Sand Bass (huge), some smaller ones, short halibut and about a 14lb black sea bass (released). Great day out on the water, shirts off by 0800, sunny and warm. Looking at the terrafin site, I will say the first tuna will be caught very soon. Bernie ""DieTrying""" "05 May 2001" "10:48:17" "64.12.105.178" "Josh and Mike Burnam" "5/19/01 Fished the 302/371/425 area looking for paddies. Hoping to find some mid-range yellowtail, but found nada except 63.8 and deep blue water, very few paddies, all empty. Going to try the 390 to the 213 area first weekend in June. Josh and Mike Burnam ""Reel Bruin""" "20 May 2001" "12:31:53" "164.67.27.61" "Rich Johnson" "Marie and I flew down to Herradura Bay in Costa Rica to check out the new marina and hotel there. It is called Los Suenos Hotel and Marina. The marina has been open for 4 months. It is small but growing. It will be tough to get a spot in there. Lots of surge. The boat Nu Co2 from Florida had 53 sails in one day just before the full moon. They have already relaesed 1000 sails for the season. . Went out with Augie on the Luna Sea. Trying to learn dead pitch baits--cicle hooks--on fish raised by hookless teasers was tough for an old lure fisherman. 1 for 11 the first day. 5 for 12 the second day with 3 tuna thrown in. Nice trip. Weather starting the rainy season. It's hot--calm seas--friendly folks Rich and Marie --Marie-B " "24 May 2001" "07:52:06" "205.188.192.167" "Joshua and Mike Burnam" "6/02/01 Left SI at 6 AM and headed out south of the 43. Worked the 32.25 line between 117.47 and 117.50 for 7 albies in 2 hours. Water here was 64 degrees, versus 63.2 south and west. Fish were 8-18 lbs. Never made it to the 43 proper to check it out. Also landed a BIG bonehead at 32.22/117.50. Saw lots of paddies, didn't work them. The hot tickets were a black/red Melton Cherry Jet and a black/purple Zukers. Josh and Mike Burnam ""Reel Bruin"" " "03 Jun 2001" "16:57:57" "164.67.22.30" "Joshua Burnam" "Fished the Butterfly down the 118.10 line between 32.20 and 32.10. Important thing seemed to be to keep in the ""cooler"" water, being the 68 degree water instead of the 71.5 degree water we found on the 390 (which, incidentally, was LOADED with breaking bait, but no fish). Caught albies all day at a steady pick within 1 degree or so of the line, moving on the temp breaks. Best move of the day was when the Holiday out of Point Loma went apesh_t and started cutting us off and driving like a maniac...cut us off within 50 yards, we moved around, kept our course. He ended up right on our ass on a collision course, and we tripled right in front of him and he got nothing! Best baits were purple/black zukers in the morning, zuchini anything in the afternoon (six-shooters and daisy chains), and a daisy chain of silver/blue Billy Baits did awesome on the short rigger." "22 Jun 2001" "05:37:34" "164.67.24.20" "" "" "24 Jun 2001" "21:00:48" "152.163.201.208" "Marty Morris" "Here is the ""hot tip"" of the week: " "28 Jun 2001" "21:41:08" "64.12.101.182" "Marty Morris" "Here is the ""hot tip"" of the week: " "28 Jun 2001" "21:41:09" "64.12.101.182" "Marty Morris" "Here is the ""hot tip"" of the week: " "28 Jun 2001" "21:41:10" "64.12.101.182" "Marty Morris" "I don't know what happened before - Here is the ""hot tip"" of the week: with the water warming so rapidly and reports of Dorado, Skipjack and possible Yellowfin Tuna popping up can the Marlin be far behind????? Therefore, if so motivated - run a Marlin jig on a Bird on a whiskey line - way back there. Use a bird that floats so that when you get bit and stop the bird will float back there and keep the marlin jig from sinking back towards the boat. The exception to this if you are going uphill. In such case the wind will blow the boat back and foul up the line. But the bird actually can help attract the Albies and one of these days you may find a ""skinny"" one back there. And, yes, the Albies do bite the Marlin jigs." "28 Jun 2001" "21:47:27" "64.12.101.182" "Joshua Burnam" "7/7/01 on the ""43"" Nothing new here...caught some good sized albies on the 43 until 9 AM or so in 69 water, and then nada. Albies were up to up to 30#. The only thing I have to offer, and this is probably not new news, is that I have a theory about where the albies went at 9 AM: the bellies of the ablies were full of baby squid, so I bet the albies gorged on squid all night and followed them down deep during the day, since we were metering them deep all day. Who knows - I thought full moon/squid jinx would have been over by now. Josh and Mike Burnam ""Reel Bruin""" "08 Jul 2001" "05:43:13" "4.43.205.96" "Chris" "A Marlin was caught today by Darryl Beard on his Aluminum boat Beer Can about 10 miles outside the 302 on a course for the 43. The fish began crashing through a wide open Albie bait stop and ate a Sardine on 40# with a 3/0 hook. The fish was released after being revived at the boat and the leader was then cut. Yes, the catch was witnessed by 2 on board. The Albie bite was wide open on large fish from 4 miles outside the 302 and out another 10 miles. A good bite was also reported around the 43. Today I fished the 267 and the water temp was 70.1 with big kelp paddies holding big dorado and big yellowtail, I have just got in and heading out again tomorrow morning. While fishing we had a big Mako knock down, big enough to break the pole holder, clip and take my brand new custom rod and brand new Shimano Tiagra LRS 50 wide with it......if you catch it its mine I want my $ 1500.00 rod reel and equipment back please. This was the first time it was ever out on the water, guess its doin a good sea trial now Boy was I upset with my buddy for loosing it after telling him so many times I have seen this happen and ................. Oh well I am out again tomorrow getting those dodo's and yellows so short and sweet Oh the numbers : 33 17 and 117 49 are the dorado under the paddies. Chris " "18 Jul 2001" "07:36:24" "64.2.145.34" "Chris" "1st Marlin Weighed in at Avalon!! This information is courtesy of the Sieminski family. Joe Grant aboard his boat the ""Bravado"" weighed in a 122# marlin today in Avalon, 7-17-01. Waiting the info on the area it was caught and other data Chris " "19 Jul 2001" "09:19:05" "64.1.212.223" "Rich Hamilton" "JUST GOT BACK FROM 5 DAYS OF LOOKING (JULY 23-28). BAITED SEVERAL TAILERS EAST OF SCI ON MONDAY. LOOKED THE AREA OVER ALL DAY TUESDAY FOR NOTHING (A FEW YELLOWS). FISHED ALBIE AND YELLOWS OUTSIDE THE 302 WEDNESDAY AND STAYED AT THE CORONADOS. THURSDAY, FISHED BLUEFIN, ALBIE AND YELLOWS LOOKED OVER THE UPPER FINGER (LOOKED GOOD)AND AFTER HEARING REPORTS OF MORE MARLIN ACTIVITY OFF PYRAMID HEAD, HEADED BACK UP TO SCI FOR LOOKING FOR MARLIN. FRIDAY, BAITED AND HOOKED A SWORDY AT 1:30 PM-6 MILES OFF PYRAMID HEAD. ANGLER DICK RONEY FOUGHT THE FISH FOR OVER 6 HOURS BEFORE HANDING THE ROD OVER. KEVIN BOHANNON AND I TRADED PULLING ON IT FOR ANOTHER 5 HOURS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO LAND IT (1 AM). WENT TO PYRAMID AND WEIGHED IT ON OUR DIGITAL SCALE WE HAVE ONBOARD-351LBS! WHILE NOT COUNTING FOR ANY CLUB TROPHIES, IT WAS STILL AN AWESOME CATCH AND MY FIRST AS CAPTAIN. AN INTERESTING NOTE IS IT WAS DICK RONEY THAT HAD ON ANOTHER SWORD 2 YEARS AGO THAT WE LOST AT BOATSIDE AFTER 6 1/2 HOURS. I THINK WE'LL HAVE HIM ONBOARD MORE OFTEN! " "29 Jul 2001" "21:56:05" "198.81.16.42" "Steve Bledsoe" "Lots of marlin Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between the 277 and the East End of Catalina. Lynn Jasper on Wait-N-Sea released a fish Tuesday afternoon. Lynn’s fish was a bait-fish on 30# that we believe will stand for the First Marlin of the Season for the Dana Angling Club. Skipper Tom Shanahan reported seeing lots of fish over the two days. My crew and I on the No Excuses found the fish this morning between the Slide and the 152 Spot (thank you Lynn, Gary and Tom Shanahan for pointing us in the right direction!). We baited at least 30 tailers there today and got one to bite, Bob Cravens released the tail-wrapped fish after a 1½ hour struggle. The fish was revived and released in good condition. Our guest from Chicago, Rich Barnas, is now hooked on marlin fishing. We have him believing that all you have to do is get out there on the water and bait several dozen fish every day – piece-of-cake! He’ll never be the same again! We baited a swordie this morning off Dana Point that actually picked up our popsicle but gave half of it back – the half with the hooks in it! " "09 Aug 2001" "05:57:25" "216.115.227.6" "Legacy" "Thursday: Fished lower end of 9 up to La Jolla and out to the Ridge and back to the lower end of the 9 for nothing. Water temp about 69 at lower end of 9, 68 off La Jolla and colder as you go west toward the Ridge. Best radio info was tuna on the 43 and marlin off Catalina." "10 Aug 2001" "15:58:47" "63.200.208.126" "Dave Schlieder ""Gadget III""" "Fished local San Diego waters on Sunday, the 12th, leaving the dock around 5:30. We almost plugged our tanks with Mackerel under the birds a few miles off La Jolla after trying to make bait at Scripps Pier where Alfressco III had luck. Shortly after, around 11:00, we had a zip. It didn't stick and we never saw the fish but it sure acted like a Marlin! Worked the area from La Jolla to Mission Bay all day, probably never more than 5 or 6 miles off the coast. A number of other boats in the area had a number of strikes throughout the day and we were hopeful. Jigger Joe reported 6 strikes within a few minutes but none of them stuck! Alfressco III had a number of bites as well. Milsomar reported releasing a bait fish. A number of other boats in the area had bites as well. About 8 miles out from Pt. Loma, on a 245 heading, about 5 PM, a rod went off! The clicker managed to turn itself off (anyone have any ideas on how to stop a Penn International from doing that?) so I assumed it was a quick zip and was dropping back a bait when I realized that the fish was still on and screaming out line! 30 minutes later we landed the fish. Phil Hoffman was the gaffer, my Dad the Captain! After getting things straightened out, we put in Phil's 2 lines and pointed it to the point. Five minutes later we had another bite. Because of the adrenaline rush we were on, and this fish was just going crazy jumping, we made a few errors, laid out too much line and didn’t leave ourselves enough to get the boat turned in time. Single screws on a slow boat don’t back up that well nor do they turn that easy! Marty Morris insured that the club would be open for us as we couldn’t arrive until 7:15. Fished weighed in at 123 lb. Thanks to Marty and the crew at the dock for waiting! So it looks like we might have some local fish this year!" "14 Aug 2001" "02:43:33" "24.4.254.70" "Josh and Mike Burnam ""REEL BRUIN""" "Ensenada 8/24-8/26 Ok, so here's the cliff notes: 8/24 and 8/25 targeted the ahis and went 5/8 in 68 degree water working from the Upper Finger down to the 238 on the 117.05 line. Could have done better, but just me (Josh) and my Dad (Mike) trolling four lines, and pinheads for bait to boot. Fish came on zuchini six-shooter, dorado pattern Bonita, and, for kicks, a Marlin Magic Baby Pear done up in zuchini colors of sorts. On 8/25, the best conditions of the weekend by far, great water, a million kelps, bait, and no fish at all from the Finger to the 425, but that seemed to be the story all around. Thanks for the help from those who emailed me, and to Dennis for passing my message around. Next outing - two weeks from now for marlin. P.S. You guys weren't kidding...the fuel dock really DOES run out of diesel on Saturday." "27 Aug 2001" "03:18:53" "4.43.205.176" "David Licht" "Could you please provide your e-mail address. I would like to share a story with you that took place last Saturday 8/25/01 I wrote the story to Mr. Bob Vanian at 976-bite to share my experience. I thought I would be stopping by to see you guys last Saturday, but no such luck. It was still an incredible experience of a lifetime. Please send your e-mail address to: ddeng@telnor.net " "28 Aug 2001" "22:31:28" "200.38.20.166" "Steve Bledsoe" "We fished San Clemente Island yesterday for marlin. We found a small group of fish tight to the island between the Dome and the Windmills within 2-miles of the beach. The fish showed mainly as single tailers and an occasional quick feeder. Brooks Morris and Chris Benson both caught and released marlin yesterday on the ""No Excuses"". Brooks got bit on the drop-back on 30# and Chris pulled a 20# fish out of a bait ball. Dan Schumacher, Niall and Dave Devoy fished Dan's boat ""Skipped Out"". Dan caught and released his first SoCal marlin on 20# tackle. Dan and crew threw mackerel on a tailer and got bit. The Skipped Out crew also caught a 20-lb dorado and a 30-lb YFT from a paddy in that same area tight to the island. The water temp was 67 to 68 degrees, green and dirty from the Mackerel Bank in to the Island. The lee of the island is full of bait and yellowfin tuna. The seiners were working the tuna just a few miles inside Pyramid Head. Despite the large quantity of tuna in the area, there were very few tuna bites there yesterday. We found lots of 63 and 64 degree water between the two islands on our morning crossing. " "02 Sep 2001" "18:36:55" "216.115.226.76" "Sunday local report" "Mike and Josh Burnam on the REEL BRUIN 10/7/01 Took the Reel Bruin out today and fished a wide area around the 302, 371, and areas West. Ended up with a mixed bag of albies, skippies, and dodos. We actually got 3 of the dodos. The hot ticket was a black and purple cedar plug, fished long, which caught every single fish! except one of the dodos, which hit a black and purple Yozuri Bonita. We got action at the following places I noted: Albacore: 32 17 / 117 40 Dodos: 32 19/117 42, 32 32/117 43, 32 25/117 44 We saw some breaking fish at a kelp at 32 21/117 43, but couldn't get em to go. We tried no less than 10 kelps with bait and chunk sardine chum and got no lookers. We also trolled past an additional 5-10 paddies. Water temps ranged from 66.5-67.3. Didn't see many other people out at all, and the radio was silent. Hope this helps! Josh Burnam REEL BRUIN" "08 Oct 2001" "03:32:00" "4.43.205.109" "Gato Gordo" "On Tuesday, October 9 we fished the East End of Catalina. There were lots of Marlin to be seen but no takers for us. We baited 5 or 6 feeders and we saw 8-10 more jumpers. We didn't see any tailers today. The fish were eating the tiny sauries, coming completely out of the water chasing the bait. A very exihlerating sight! The water was between 66 and 67 degrees with a light breeze all day. It is very frustrating to see marlin in an eating frenzy and to throw your beautiful mack in his face and for him to not eat it. On the way back home to Oceanside Harbor, we saw lots o' yellowfin tuna boiling. With no bait and sunset approaching, we kept ruuning. We will get them next time! " "10 Oct 2001" "15:33:01" "144.37.97.188" "Charles Been" "Launched the boat at Dana Pt Tuesday. Had 2 feeders on the 14 mile bank and had what I think was a third one, eat a mackeral dropped back. A new fisherman was handeling the drop back and kept dragging the bait even when the marlin was batting it around and trying to swallow it. We got back a mackeral with chunks out of it and a severly scuffed up leader. Best chance I've had this year. Covered the Slide, 152 spot and up the lee side of Catalina. Warmest water was on the 14 mile Bank and 5 miles out of Ismus. 66-67 A few are still around. " "10 Nov 2001" "01:39:01" "12.72.28.210" "Chris" "Western Outdoor News Los Cabo Tuna Tourney results and updates 165 Teams entered and $ 300 000.00 in prize money between the first placed teams. Fishing was slow but some big quality fish landed. My Alaska Airlines flight was delayed 5 hrs due to the new bulletproof doors failing Resulting in the airline requesting my assistance so I spent over an hr while all the Passengers were still sitting on the plane ready to go taking the door apart and trying to fix a design flaw for them. I'll cut a long story short I had to advise the Captain the door was broken and the plane was grounded now putting me into Cabo well after the Captains Meeting and my sign up, many other teams and members were on that plane as well. At the shotgun start which was premature due to somebody erroneously counting down and falsely starting the whole tourney, tourney director tried to call the boats back but no way the tourney was on. Next came the boat Felina calling in wanting to withdraw and get a refund since the tourney directors would not permit them to fish the tourney since they had 7 people on board and they only allowed 6 people per boat. ( Anyone seen the size of this boat, 7 people could get lost for a whole year on it and it takes several to run it.) Somehow the tourney rules only allowed 4 anglers and two crew total of 6 people per boat. One strange rule. Day one Thursday was a bit snotty we headed out and up to the Jaimie Bank to do some Anchoring and chunking for tuna. Chunked for 4 hrs in rough seas and saw two other Boats only one from Dana Point Networker. We left and started to look for porpoise and birds which were few and the tourney ended by 4 pm each day and every boat had to weigh in or be back in by 5.30pm. Thursday biggest fish was Picante Express a local Cabo boat 151 lbs followed by Blue Thunder with a 149 lbs, Wahoo and dorado 56 lbs Friday we decided to try 40 miles straight out looking for birds and porpoise trolled live bait, plastics etc but did not come up with the big fish. Big story of the day was Stimulator who just won the Bisbee Black and blue the last day last few hrs doing it again back to back by catching the largest tuna 155 lbs taking home A cool approx $ 150 000.00, not bad for a tuna tourney. Second place fish was the Picante Express taking home approx $ 105 000.00 and third place taking the difference. The award banquet is tonight and full and final results with the monies will be updated and posted 1st place : Stimulator ( guys were from Orange and Anaheim) 2nd Place: Picante Express 3rd Place: Blue Thunder Water temp was 80 Chris " "11 Nov 2001" "01:57:20" "208.36.182.80" "Chris" "The Mazatlan Billfish tourney started today, spoke with Bad Company they had just landed a big blue marlin and were taking it in to the scales. According to Andrew ( Bad Company ) its wide open Blue Marlin this year and Sail Fish, he is seeing 6 of them on his sonar at a time. Multiple boats are catching multiple blues with a min weight of 300 lbs. Also he has reported the Boat Retriever has boated 4 blues and taking them to the scales.( supposed to be a release tourney ?????????????????? ) This is a 3 day tourney which I have fished in every year but this one and loooooook now its wide open ??? Aaaaaaaaaaaagh Fishing drives me crazy As soon as I get the results today from the first day I will update them here, only 30 something boats in this year. Cheers Chris" "16 Nov 2001" "01:52:41" "208.36.182.57" "Rich Johnson" "Happy Thanksgiving. The Marie B sits in Cabo after a fishing trip that started on October 23. Lots of huge albacore from 190 miles including a 50 pounder. A big tuna on the Ferrel Bank (where??) destroyed a Shimano reel owned by Dave Holts. We spent some time with the Riviera crowd at Mag Bay. The marlin fishing was slow and the wahoos destroyed our tackle. Mark Henwood and I took the boat on to the Cape. Fishing most excellent there now. The Gambler caught 7 striped marlin while fishing for bait off Falso. Great tuna fishing for yellowfin under the frigates and porpoise 30 to 40 miles out. Fish are 60 to 100 pounds. Legend caught one measuring 156 and lost a huge blue while trolling a big tuna for bait. Son Pete caught a 400 pound blue when he came down with his son Peter. A great thrill for Grandpa. All in all --what a shakedown cruise. Let's hear it for a fighting chair mounted on the bridge deck. It works like a charm. The toughest bait in the world?? Spanish made at Catalina lived all the way to the Cape and then some, only to go belly up when they got a taste of the inner harbor water when we fueled. Back in Colorado for the Holiday and back for more adventure. Rich Johnson" "22 Nov 2001" "00:13:32" "152.163.201.211" "Allan Sheridan" "I dont see my Marlin caught in the Masters Sept 15 on 16# listed in the Marlin list. I did mail, a slip and Marty Morris is aware of the fish. Boat is Comanche,Angler is Allan Sheridan and the Captain was Bruce Collins and Leader/release man was Phil Barroca. Also, I recently was informed by both Calif F&G and by IGFA that an 8.8# Fan Tailed Sole I caught at Clemente was both a Calif. and a World Record. That was a surprise as we were in the Yellowtail grounds catching some big Yellows and I got bit on the bottom by what first looked like a funny looking Halibut. I was going to release the fish but decided to keep it when I recognized it as some type of large sole. The fish was identifed by Fish and Game and then we ate it--Delicious!" "23 Dec 2001" "06:24:08" "24.30.170.162" "Steve" "Dana Point Halibut Tournament Dates and info http://www.finnseeker.com" "15 Jan 2002" "20:41:54" "64.0.144.211" "Chris" "Where an 1183 lb Blue Marlin does not takes first place ! Rio De Janeiro – Cabo Frio Jan 29-31st Blue Marlin International Invitational Tournament: Having fished all over the world and experiencing Mag Bay’s epic Stripped Marlin bite I thought nothing, literally nothing could or would top this – Wrong ! Cabo Frio tops Mag Bay in both sheer size and numbers of this vastly untapped unknown fishery, where 95% of all the big blue marlin caught have all been over 900 lbs and the rest been Granders. These facts are based on landed fish weighed in on IGFA Certified scales and notwithstanding the many Granders that were lost at the wire or due to terminal tackle failure during the fight. Even more incredible about these undiscovered Grander Blue Marlin fishing grounds is that there are no charter/fishing operations out of Cabo Frio. These are all privately owned Sportfishing boats that come as far as 185 miles during Christmas and summer holidays to Rio and fish out of Cabo Frio for this prestigious National event which had some 33 boats entered this year. The boats are very well equipped, all 130’s Shimano’s, pens, Finor’s, no boat is smaller than 45ft with Captains and Deckhands. Since these boats are privately owned and only go out fishing during the tournament times with the experience they have its absolutely amazing how many fish they catch for the little time they put in. Sail fishing has been the primary target for many years and was the most popular 20 miles off Rio where starting late 8.00 am and back by 4.00pm these Boats are catching and releasing 14-25 sailfish a day all on lures only. This has since all changed now with the guaranteed catches of 1000+ lbs Blue Marlin off Cabo Frio. I was honored to be invited to fish in the first Cabo Frio International Blue Marlin Tournament along with a few others to share this exhilarating experience. I arrived late Monday night, met at the airport by Andy Hahn (Editor Sportfishing Magazine and the Club Secretary for the Rio Yacht Club) and were fishing that Tuesday morning in the tournament with a 6.30 am start. The fishing grounds are some 60 miles from Cabo Frio but well worth the run. With anticipation and my stomach full of butterflies in excitement, I was pacing and eager to get there and at 29.5 knts weather permitting it can be done in 2 hrs. Marco asked me to teach them and show them how and what we used and did to fish so we immediately obliged and tied new wind on leaders using 300 lb Dacron on 600 lb mono, sharpened hooks and checked drags at 40 lbs on the Penn 130’s Marco had. Marco Ribas ( the owner of a beautiful 45ft Riostar flybridge with twin volvo’s) Marco whipped out his lures that he had had success with catching these granders and talked about how many lures he has gone through or lost to these monsters. Marco placed his lures out and we made some djustments/placements. Within 10 minutes of arriving at the designated fishing grounds boats were hooked up or loosing fish already. The water was so blue, warm and 2-3 ft swells. I went to look for the chart plotter only to find out that they had no plotters on the bridge and the charts were non existent. This amazed me even more, these guys found this spot/ridge without any chart plotter, my mind was racing even faster, how could I fly in a chart plotter for the next few days. Even more amazing was that they did not even have maps on board of the ridgeline, depths etc. I was now running around looking for depths of 400 ft ridgelines and deeper and marking them on the plotter to create a chart for the Captain to follow back and forth. The radio crackled and it was Elias he was on a big fish so we headed towards the general area. Elias fish weighed in a whopping 1187 lbs ( pic’s attached) Its not only big blue marlin that are wide open but our lures get hit and screams and it’s a big dorado bull trying to eat a huge blue marlin lure, in he comes then it’s a big yellowfin tuna, in he comes. There are wahoo over 100 lbs been caught, big eye 300 lbs, 400 lb swordfish, 300lb Mako sharks, yellowfin Tuna 260 lbs, 50-70 lb Dorado, and Sailfish all over the place. I could not take it seeing all these fish. The only one I did not see on this trip were the swordies. Marco graciously offered for me to use two of my favorite lures on the right rigger the following day and he would put two of his on the left rigger and within 20 min the water explodes behind one of our lures and a huge Blue Marlin comes out the water and misses the lure………….since they don’t do bait and switch we had none to drop back or Throw back but this smart blue never returned. 30 min later after all calming down making speed and other adjustments I decided to work the area and took over covering ground showing Marco some things when I look back and behind one of my favorite lures on the right outtrigger I see this giant grey patch behind the lure break the water and slam my lure …………….we on and Im in the chair grabbing the 130 I looked down and probably had only 200 yards left on the 130, we screamed for them to back down and I was cranking on the fish while this grander was jumping all over the place. I was so excited I never stopped cranking to their disbelief I had retrieved all the line back and I was within leader reach in 15/20 min, Rich Barret Captain on the Grander out of Florida was fishing with me was about to leader the fish when the hooks pulled loose at colour. Funny how I was not disappointed at loosing a big fish since I knew there are lots more and would get another today or the following day of the tournament. We were also trying to be very careful and selective since there was no use even killing a fish under 1183 lbs and fortunately the tournament is designed on tagging and releasing for points. I have never seen so many jig strikes and big fish in an area so concentrated. These fish are very deceptive and forget about the formula, you will be off some 10-15 % at least from all the fish that were tapped out, they were exceptionally fat and huge shoulders/thick right to their tails and a bit shorter than the table suggests. ( for example one fish was 123 cm long and 72 inches girth and weighed 1183 lbs The following day there was a picture in the local Cabo Frio newspaper of some local fisherman who were fishing 20 miles out for the locals hand lining and he hooks up this Grander , ties it off the bow and gets towed around for several hrs that day and hand lines the fish in. This just goes to prove that there are fish all over and in area’s unexplored. Cabo Frio proved once again that the granders that have been caught in the last 4 years were no coincidence. On Jan 24-26 the Cabo Frio Blue Marlin Brazil National Tournament took place and the bite was on. 33 boats tallied 81 Blue Marlin strikes in 2 days of fishing. 20 Blue Marlin were released ( 500lbs+) and 8 were boated. At least 14 fish in the 1,000-pound range were fought and lost. The season in Brazil starts November to April. and here are some very large blue marlin weighed in during the tournaments: 1,061; 943; 1,205; 1,031; 1,150; 1,267; 933; 1,183 and 910Lbs. Since 1979 and for the few boats that do fish they have tagged over 500 blue marlin and very much involved in the tagging program with some very interesting results. These fish are the same fish according to the Virginia Institute >From the USA /Brazil/South Africa, the club also has a record for tagging a swordfish that was 70 cm long, 14 kg and it was captured 11yrs 3mths later weighed 175 kg and 225 cm long You are probably all muttering this is all too good to be true, yes with the good news comes the bad. If you were wondering why not more fish are not caught or released, its for the fact that the weather can be very bad and this is an understatement as we all found out on Day 3 of the tournament. Winds and waves 12-14 ft. Try backing down on a Grander let alone set your lures on waves breaking over the bow. Cabo Frio is known for its bad weather and running 60 miles out with no vessel assist or coast guard could pose a problem. If they develop problems you would have to wait for a friend or hopefully a navy vessel to come from Rio which is even further to rescue you. Another factor is that diesel fuel is very expensive. Its been known to blow for 8 days straight with some 40 knt winds. On the 3rd day of fishing only two fish were caught but we all got soaking wet. Bad news also we did see foreign long liners working this area !!!!!!! I was told by Marco that when given the chance they do try and intervene and prevent this but their waters are so rich and vast with little or no control/protection from these poachers. I will be posting a full set of Pictures tournament results, weigh station of the Grander Blue Marlin, Yellowfins, Mako’s, big eye etc on the Finnseeker website when I return. http://www.finnseeker.com The hospitality of the Brazilian’s made me feel at home as if in South Africa, the generosity and the willing to learn more about catch and release struck home how these are privateers who voluntarily Tag, Catch and release fish and don’t have the experience some of us have had. Notwithstanding this they still catching 1000 lb + Blue Marlin. Ive been invited back and will be heading back in Jan 2003 without any hesitation. The Brazilian Nationals were held a week before and here are the stats: They had a min weight also 250kg 36 boats fished two days 8 fish weighed in 81 jig strikes/lost fish 22 fish released 1st Place went to Team Sierra for 3 Releases on 80#( most points) 2nd Place Team Andesa 932 Blue lbs on 130# 3rd Place Team Dito & Feito for 2 releases on 50# There were IGFA officials there and these guys all belong to the tagging program. Some pics and results are up on the site, they working on the rest Cheers Chris" "08 Feb 2002" "18:58:07" "208.36.183.84" "Walt Gutjahr" "Question????? Do we have a activities schedule for 2002 yet??? Walt" "19 Mar 2002" "05:16:31" "205.188.192.49" "Rich Johnson" "Mexico Trip. Now I call that a fishing trip. We left on October 23 and flew back on April 4 leaving Mark Henwood and Tommy Neikirk to bring the Marie B back from Barra Navidad. We caught everything. I guess you can't help it with 7,000 miles of trolling. Good to be home. Boat worked just fine. Thanks Bruce K. Rich and Marie" "06 Apr 2002" "14:29:54" "205.188.198.21" "Marlin fish" "" "17 May 2002" "17:45:47" "216.60.110.199" "Marlin fish" "" "17 May 2002" "17:45:52" "216.60.110.199" "Jude" "One week left and Mako tags will be avaiable DANA POINT, CA (May 25th, 2002) - Finnseeker Sportfishing and Fishing Tournaments is conducting a Mako fishing seminar on June 6, 2002, to help prepare anglers for the upcoming Mako Madness Fishing Tournament. The event will take place at the Dana Point Marina Hotel and begin promptly at 6:30PM. The event will conclude at 9:30PM. Cost for the seminar will be $40.00 for attendees that pay prior to June 5, 2002, and $50.00 for attendees that pay on the day of the event. The seminar is limited to 50 attendees, so reservations are highly recommended. To register for the seminar, please go to www.Finnseeker.com or call (949) 366-6444. Attendees will interact with local Southern California Mako fishing experts and biologists as they present their knowledge of the Mako shark and how to successfully bring them to the boat. The seminar is designed to provide ample time for questions and answers to allow all 50 attendees to personalize their experience. Whether you're a veteran Mako fisherman or learning to fish Mako for the very first time, the information provided at this seminar will prove to be invaluable. Presenters at the seminar will include (but are not limited to): Chris Badsey, Finnseeker Sportfishing and Tournaments David Holts & Suzanne Kohin, both Biologist from Scripps Research Institute Tony Reed, California Shark Fishing Adventures Darrell Primrose, Owner, Ballyhood International Lures Ken Corbin, Ken's Custom Reels John Noslar, Outrageous Custom Rods The evening will begin with an introduction to the Mako shark's characteristics and habitat. From there the seminar will progress through the following stages of the Mako fishing experience: having the right hardware and terminal tackle, on-shore preparations, getting the right bait, finding the fish, fishing techniques, fighting the fish, and landing the fish. As an added benefit, presenters will reveal their tournament techniques that have taken them to first place finishes in numerous tournaments. " "30 May 2002" "11:27:46" "64.0.144.239" "Chris Badsey" " 64 Tons of Marlin Killed in 4 mths Below is the article I have written just returning from South Africa : Just about everybody will agree that South Africa is on the move, though there is plenty of argument as to which direction. Patriotism tells us to be optimistic about our future, and there is nothing wrong with that either. Indeed been a South African means we love our country. And loving ones country means that we are all prepared to fight to right the wrongs, avoid the mistakes and redress the inequities of the past. Yes in many respects we have come a long way since 1994-We moved forward. However in some instances we've moved backwards in my opinion, of course-notably fisheries management which, under the alleged control of MCM, has become more and more inequitable for the recreational angler. We in South Africa often feel as though we're banning our heads against a brick wall while fighting the cause for the recreational deep sea angler. Many charter operations, magazine editors prefer to tiptoe a wishy-washy, neutral line by not entering the fray as I will which makes you wonder what their raison d'etre is. After all without recreational fishermen and anglers there would'nt be a need for recreational angling magazines or fishing charters. Over the years I have watched catches decline, while MCM (previously Sea Fisheries) - assisted by the Attwoods and van der Elsts of this world- make a hypocritical stand and impose more and more restrictions on us. ""We are concerned about the resource, "" is their rationale. Rubbish. Their only concern is their next pay cheque packet or research grant. Read on.............................. When I questioned them recently about the disappearance of tuna from our central/northern waters off my home Natal waters, MCM's Dr Marc Griffiths replied: "" It's probably due to fishing activity- outside our waters."" He then disclosed to me that licenses have been granted to 58 longliners from Japan and Taiwan to fish waters around our country. Together they have caught ( supposedly this current year already) 728 tons of longfin tuna, 536 tons of yellowfin tuna, 439 tons of bigeye tuna, 64 tons of marlin and 45 tons of swordfish. Excuse me, Dr Griffiths. ho do you think you are bluffing ? There are longliners off our coast, all the way round, where there are fish. Correct ? And the collective total of 1 809 tons of (our) ""recreational"" fish caught by these longliners hasn't influenced our catches, right ? Now pull the other one, do you think the public are really that stupid ? I suppose the erudite scientists want us to believe that these longliners dont catch cuda, wahoo, other smaller members of the tuna family and sharks, plus countless numbers of unwanted species, juvenile or undersized individuals and other marine life. They just shrugged their shoulders at me and muttered ""bycatch- its part of the game"", and moved on. Official longline catches off the South African coast aside, globally the level of commercial fishing bycatch-most longliners-is staggering: more than 20 million metric tons (44 100 000 000 lbs) annually. That means roughly one quarter of the annual global catch of marine fish is inadvertently killed and thrown back into the ocean as bycatch. It also means that the longlinesr fishing off our coast must have discarded a bycatch in the region of 450 tons to catch the tonnage they did . But remember, Dr Marc Grifiths says its not their fault that our catches are dwindling. He blames some naughty longliners ""outside our waters."" When all this is said and done and it is once again decreed by our scientists that our target species are under threat, it will again be recommended to the powers that be that additional restriction be placed on recreational anglers. Consequently , MCM - they have to be seen to be doing something to earn their money in South Africa-will formalise new restrictions and pass these on to South Africa's foremost aspiring TV personality, Valli Moosa. The Minister will declare to all that he wants South Africa to be a better place for all, so he is imposing new restrictions on anglers. But what does the Minister Moosa really know? Absolutely nothing. His smile said it all on TV. The conservationists decried the latest tournament where the pending WR Blue marlin was caught off Sodwana. But wait off our coast this year already longliners have accounted 64 tons of these magnificent fish. Thats 128 000 lbs of marlin. With an average weight 200lb per fish thats 640 marlin in a few months. It would take us many many years to catch that in our tournaments. Well done Minister Moosa you deserve a conservation award. Cheers Chris " "30 May 2002" "11:31:26" "64.0.144.239" "Peter Vasquez" "Area: 302 Date: 6/1/02 Water temperature: 60.5 Condition: calm 1 to 2 feet wind waves Time: 8 am Lure: Mexican flag color feather on 30 lb line trolling. Fish: 20 lb albacore. Only 2 boats in the area. Everyone also was at the 371 and 390." "03 Jun 2002" "16:55:41" "66.100.97.130" "Chris" "1st. Marlin of the year spotted by the Jersey Devil, enroute from Newport to the ""Hot Bite"" at the 43 Fathom Spot they passed over the 181, ,2 miles below up jumps a big fat marlin the stripes bright blue and light up! Estimated at 180 lbs it makes several jumps and sinks out." "09 Jun 2002" "04:26:34" "64.0.145.212" "Report - 6/23/02 NE of 390" "Had a good day...here's the lowdown: Left SI on the ReelBruin at 5 AM. Got bait, which rolled due to the rough conditions. Didn't need it anyhow. Went lines in at 0700 at 13/36 and headed for 10/40. Ended up working the 40 line up and down between 10/40 and 02/40 for limits by noon, plus four monster boneheds. We used a black and purple cedar plug chain shotgun, a blue mackerel yo-zuri on short corner, and a bleeding mackerel 6-shooter on the long corner. All were bit equally well. No bait fish...because no bait! What follows, in order, working up and down, in the nasty swell- Single on Bleeding Mackerel 6-shooter (BM) 06/40 Triple on 6-shooter, cedar plug chain (CPC), and blue mackerel Yo-zuri (YZ) at 04/40 Double on CPC and YZ 02/40 Triple bonehead 05/40 Double on CPC and YZ 07/40 Double bonehead on CP and BM 07/40 within 1 minute of the last stop Double on CPC and YZ at 10/40 to finish out the limits. In the barn by 200. Just finished vaccuum packing the fish. The biggest bonehead was 12, and the biggesst albie was 22#. Josh REEL BRUIN GO BRUINS!! " "25 Jun 2002" "03:11:35" "4.41.62.223" "Capt. Mike S." " Sunday,July 07,2002,6am, 4 on board,the Nokoi,20ft.,water temp 66, flat ocean. Aboard were Myself:Capt.Mike S.,Kurt S., JR Pesima, & My son,Jason S. We got a full scoop of 1/2 & 1/2 mixed sardinas & anchoves. We read the fish report on your web site..so we headed for the bullring. In 80ft of water, we found a wide open sandbass bite,with barracuda stealing bait as well. We were catching fish on bait as well as the chrome iron. At about 8:30 am Kurt S. using a sardina hooked into what was a very nice fish, pulling out lots of line(drag)..& 20 minutes later..we had a Nice yellow to gaff. My son, Jason had brought a scale. It weighed 25lbs. Most of the sandies were between 2lbs with the biggest at 6lbs.(3sandies) Altogether we ended up with limits of sandies, 4 barries,some(6)mackeral thrown in and 1 yellowtail @ 25lbs. We headed home to clean fish,@1:30pm , Everyone being very happy with todays catch!! Thanks, Capt. Mike S. " "08 Jul 2002" "02:22:39" "12.72.25.98" "Penny @ the Marlin Club" "Hello everyone--- Dennis Albert just called me here at The San Diego Marlin Club to inform me and all of you that the first local Marlin of the season was caught today. A member of the Mission Bay Marlin Club captured the fish with a black and purple jig off the Rock Pile. More information to follow when we receive it...good luck, good fishing to all.... Penny, the SD Marlin Club 7/20/02 2:45 pm" "20 Jul 2002" "21:52:54" "152.163.188.199" "barry rockwell" "My heartfelt congratulations to Don Reese for catching the first marlin of the year! Way to go! He should get a gift certificate from all the fuel docks and tackle shops from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Nice going Don! Barry Rockwell / Drift-A-Way / Southwestern Yacht Club Anglers, San Diego" "23 Jul 2002" "03:51:17" "24.52.150.91" "barry rockwell" "My heartfelt congratulations to Don Reese for catching the first marlin of the year! Way to go! He should get a gift certificate from all the fuel docks and tackle shops from San Diego to Santa Barbara. Nice going Don! Barry Rockwell / Drift-A-Way / Southwestern Yacht Club Anglers, San Diego" "23 Jul 2002" "03:51:21" "24.52.150.91" "" "" "23 Jul 2002" "03:52:28" "24.52.150.91" "Randy Hinton" "7/27/02 Fished the coast up to Del Mar and back to the bottom of the 9 with friend Steve Johnson. Water was a little off color and around 68. Very calm conditions. At around 3:30pm just before slack tide the center line was hit and we got a good look at the marlin, nice size. It hit a pink and blue jig but didn't stay on long. 32 29.37 117 20.17 just north of north island. This area looked like the best spot of the day with all the bird and bait activity. Made bait at the bottom of the 9 easy at 6:00 am lots off mackeral there. The wild mystry of the day: we hooked a turtle! WOW! Poor guy looked as confused as we were. We actually got him to the boat and after some wild splashing around got the hook out and he sailed off just fine. I never want to SEE what it must be like for one off those guys hooked on a long line. Good luck, Randy on the Fish Pirate." "28 Jul 2002" "02:40:11" "205.188.209.6" "" "" "16 Aug 2002" "18:23:21" "67.24.121.252" "Chris" "http://www.finnseeker.com/Finnseeker_Billfish_Main_tournaments_fishing.htm" "22 Aug 2002" "01:33:42" "64.0.144.51" "" "report for the day" "02 Oct 2002" "21:17:41" "204.252.144.227" "maka danga" "how come no one makes reports anymore" "19 Nov 2002" "15:15:11" "165.248.247.131" "ALUMINATOR" "Hey everybody, The albacore are close by! We fished the E. Butterfly 01/04/03 for three tuna to 41+ pounds. One stop all day at gray-light on a dark feather and two on big denes. Meetered lots of fish but they stayed down all day between 100-150 feet. A few others caught Sat and one went 46 pounds. Found water up to 62 degrees but got stopped in the low 61. Fished close to where the fly touches the border. Dennis Hytinen (the new guy with the ugly aluminum boat)" "06 Jan 2003" "06:09:08" "68.8.136.103" "Bob Woodard Jr." "The Largemouth Bass are biting!!!The weather has been good for so long the bass have allready started to spawn. Fishing the SD river several times over the last week has produced plentiful numbers of largemouths. Fish are hitting crank baits and spinnerblaids. The best time of day seems to be around dusk. Water temp is in the high 50's. The fish average 2+ lbs and I was fortunate enough to catch(and release) a 7lb LMB!!We'll it sure put a smile on my face,so blow the dust off that bass rod and get out there. Best of luck, Bob " "06 Feb 2003" "08:07:55" "68.8.9.182" "Bob Woodard Jr" "SALTWATER ALERT!!! The sport boat the LEGEND SCORED 61 YELLOWTAIL THIS WEEKEND ON THIER 2DAY mexican coast trip. Yellowtail also started to appear in the 3/4 day counts and terrafin charts show a large pocket of warm water 62.5 right out front. Good Luck and don't forget to submit a reort if you go looking!" "10 Feb 2003" "08:47:49" "68.8.9.182" "RICH JOHNSON MARIE B" "Barra Navidad Mex. FEB. 25, 2003 DORADODO AND SAILFISHING GOOD IN DECEMBER AND