Following last year's
excellent three day bluefin trip aboard the Red Rooster III, we opted
to increase our trip to four days for 2002. This gave us the
option of heading out to Guadalupe Island should conditions warrant.
Well, that's what ended up happening this trip. We'd already
whacked the albacore on our first charter of this season. Then
we nailed the bluefin on our second trip aboard the Outer Limits.
We'd hoped for Guadalupe, and our skipper Jeff pointed us in that
direction. He had done well there on his trip a few days before,
conditions were good and other boats were fishing the island for
yellowfin up to 100 pounds. We were hot to trot by the time we
made it down to San Diego. Jeff tried to ensure we'd have an
early start, had already loaded bait and fuel by the time we arrived
at the dock. We got a head start on the other long range boats,
that provided a better shot at getting the prime anchorage at the
island.
We made the 200 mile trek
under quite good conditions, not nearly as rough a time as I'd had
three weeks previously aboard Fred Leinweber's Lethal Weapon (private
boat). The water was much nicer, warmer, calmer. We anchored up
by about 8AM and began fishing. It wasn't too long before cries
of "hook-up" were heard. Nice grade of yellowfin
started to come over the rail, slowly. It was a pick, but the
grade of fish was excellent. These were tackle busters!
Captain Jeff suggested using nothing lighter than 40#, he was right.
This was a trip that justified the two speed gear, the fish were good
size, the fish had shoulders on 'em. I personally didn't get in
on the first round of fishing. Didn't immediately get picked up
on the 40. So, I dropped down to 30#, and paid the price.
Smoking drags, long runs, close to being spooled... After about 20
minutes I lost my first hookup. But followed up quickly with
another fish...using 40# line. Fluorocarbon leader was a real
plus on this trip. It's use allowed fishing heavier lines, and
that made bringing in these nice yellowfin a much easier task.
