So, this last 4 Day trip on the Pacific Voyager was the best in my 9 or 10 years of making this charter with good friends. Not only did we slay a lot of fish I got to cross off a species from my bucket list.
Arrival:
This charter normally heads out with 16 buddies' but for some of life's reasons 5 couldn't make it. So, a limited load turned into a micro load, which no one complained about.
For some reason we stayed at the bait tender for over an hour and didn't head out of Mission Bay, Seaforth Landing, until approx. 9pm. Captain Mark came down and gave us the safety speech and went into details on the less than spectacular weather we were heading into. Not quite the repeat of Hurricane Hillary from last year but he said it was blowing out there.
We set sail for Cortez Bank.
Day1:
After a toss'y turn'y night we woke up to heavy seas and lots of wind. We were about 20 miles from Cortez Bank when the captain said it was rough out there and the fleet was reporting 2-4 fish per boat. The decision was made to turn north and head to Tanner bank hoping to get some relieve from the conditions.
To our surprise Tanner Bank, though windy, was very fishable and before long 20–40-pound class Bluefin were coming over the rail on the regular flying lining 25–30-pound kits with a spot Yellowtail here and there. The bite turned off after dinner so most of us hit the rack.
I was woken up by a friend you informed me White Sea Bass were being caught in numbers. I hit the deck and dropped a 60# kit dropper loop with live squid and on my first drop hooked into a 35+ pound WSB, my first ever. I sent down another squid and on my second drop I had another similar sized WSB. My next dozen or so drops were unproductive but eventually I hooked up again with a much larger fish, I got it up to the boat twice but as soon as it saw the boat it proceeds to peel off drag. I managed to get it back a third time and saw it. The deck hand was ready with the gaff when it chewed through the loop... Deck hand said it was a 50–60-pound WSB. Oh well I was still stoked to have crossed a bucket list fish off and to catch a legal limit in the span of 30 minutes.
Day 2:
Woke up to people yelling "Fresh One" to I dragged myself out of bed after only three hours from the WSB bite. Looked around and noticed the Cortez Fleet had joined us. Alan's favorite boat, the Spirit of Adventure was anchored a few 100 yards from us. Peanut and football sized Bluefin were coming over the rail. I joined in and managed to catch a 30+ pounder and thought for sure I was winning the pool that day, until an approx.. 40 pounder hit the deck. Oh well.
Just before lunch the bite completely died off but not before everyone had limits of Bluefin, so it was decided to get our fill of Yellowtails. The captain said he wanted to go to Ensenada Mexico which would kill the rest of the day. Some of us put out Halco's and Madmacs and trolled for hours until it was time to go to bed. No trolling fish were caught the whole trip.
Day 3 & 4:
Woke up just north of Ensenada some guys were already fishing and catching some impressive Calico Sea Bass, as big as 6 pounds. As the sun got higher the Yellowtails turned on as well for a great day of fishing light tackle. We were so close to shore that we could see people in their back yards. Thankfully, the water was flat as a pancake which my knees really appreciated. Deck hand Mitch hooked a small Mako on a surface iron which didn't last long. Later a different Mako and a bout an 8-foot Great White came over to check us out. Naturally, no one had their cell phones to take pictures. On Day 4 we pulled the hook and made the 7-hour trip back to Mission Bay. I slept the whole way in because I had to drive back to the Sacramento area, which I did. Got home around 1:45am.
Spent yesterday breaking two vacuum sealers and only got through one of my ice chests.
I'll start chopping up whole Bluefin, Yellowtails, and filleting Calico's as soon as my back allows it.
Heard the weather will be worse this week. I due a good trip!
Enjoy the photos,
Steve
