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CharkBait Charters
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 For the past
three years we've run a charter on the Red Rooster. Each year we've
been lucky enough to hit things just right, I mean we have had
tremendous trips that beat the odds - big time. This year we
took a few lessons into account, namely limiting the load below what
this 105 foot fishing platform usually fishes on this type of trip.
Our trip was sponsored by PLine, Izorline, Smitty (makers of Smitty
belts and harnesses), Ballyhood Lures and Albackore tackle boxes.
These manufacturers supported our charter with gifts for all the
anglers aboard, providing a pleasant surprise raffle upon our
departure. Izorline's gift of fish handling gloves proved a
very, very nice gift as things turned out. We really made good
use of the gloves upon our return to port, offloading our catch.
 Again this year we targeted Guadalupe Island, a small volcanic
chunk of land 140 miles off the coast of Baja, 220 miles south of San
Diego. It's a mystical place, unique landscape, purple clear
water, and sometimes great fishing for yellowfin tuna and yellowtail.
It's also known for it's population of great white sharks, a critter
we all hoped to encounter - especially after last year's exhibition
when a 15 footer swam alongside the boat and engulfed a 50# yellowfin
whole. Everyone got to the landing early, which made our
departure smooth. In fact, the folks at the landing complimented
our group by saying ours was the smoothest charter they've booked all
year! It was also one of the most successful fishing charters of
the season for this length trip, with 310 yellowfin up to 84 pounds
and 49 quality yellowtail that ranged from 30-40 pounds. We didn't
catch a wahoo, but we saw some leapers (unexpectedly finding one high
out of the water in one of the pictures I took! Click on the picture
above to view).
 We arrived at the island at about 8:30 in the morning Sunday and
began fishing the north end by pilot rock. We found some tuna and big
hard pulling yellowtail! We had planned on only fishing the
island two days, then head off to either fish offshore or move back
inside to San Martin Island. Given the bite we had the first two days
we elected to stick around for our third day - you never want to leave
biting fish! Our first day was full of surprises and firsts.
Several of the fishermen and women caught their first tuna and
yellowtail. And, many of us got a priceless sight, seeing a
great white shark move up towards the stern of the boat and cleanly
slice a nice yellowfin in half! It was spectacular, the shark
came in a second time, mouth clear out of the water, jaws wide open,
teeth glistening, as it took another bite. Most of the folks on
the boat saw that one, and it was special. The great white
looked like our logo's shark! The big triangular shaped teeth
are etched in my memory, just as I'm sure the image is for 24 other
anglers. What a sight!
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Dispelling the Banana Myth... |
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Our jackpot winners, Jim Hassan 84.7#, the
Beth 83.8# and L. C. Curtis 78# yellowfin tuna. |
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