WOW!!! I can't believe I just swung this trip! I've been wanting to catch a 20 plus pound yellowtail for a while now after being rocked one too many times so I hopped on this Pac Voy trip solo. It was a perfect storm as my Papa let me go because I had finished all my school work and my mother was sick but somehow peeped out a "go."
Thank you Mom and Papa! Okay to the report.
We made it down to Seaforth around 4:45 AM and waited around a bit until they opened up the sign in station. I picked a couple jigs and walked out the door to see the expected loooong line people after the previous trip's awesome counts :shock:. Well 40 people is better than 58 on the San Diego right?
The morning was brisk and a slight bit windy but manageable. Anyways after a 3+ hour ride down to past the Islands we immediately heard the sonar go crazy. The small area we shared with the Malihini and 2 private boats was absolutely PACKED with Yellowtail. The first few slides were unsuccessful with only a few rockfish coming over the rail along with 1 or 2 yellowtail on bait. I opted to stay with irons as the bait was practically dead. The sardines would swim 30 feet then just die, even small to jumbo macks swam a mere 40-50 feet at most. Then on the bite turned on, the yellows started boiling around us. It wasn't long until all that was heard was "FREEEASH ONE!" "BITERRRR" "GET SOMMMME!" :lol: Many were hooked on bait and 3/4 sliding egg sinker rigs but Surface iron was a producer as well. While many boated their yellows, on every cast I watched two or three followers boil on my iron for the next half an hour and not stick a single one :x. I tried everything! Eventually later after the Malihini stormed the area and the yellows were pushed down deep. On the next few slides I finally boated a average 12-14lb yellow, a 15lb ish, and a bruiser 25lb yellow along with 2 big cudas. They all hit the yoyo'ed Salas 6x jr. in python but any scrambled egg/blue and white color was working.
skunk off
good times
my PB at 25lbs
and the haul
It was a great day meeting some cool people and catching some fish too. The final counts were 106 yellowtail, 2 rockfish, 1 bonito, and 6 barracudas. Thank you Mom and Papa for letting me go! :lol:
Thank you for reading!
Nicky
oh yeah mission accomplished :lol: