Last night I woke up around 1am and noticed dry sinus and itch in my throat. Woof...alarm went off at 0700 and it felt a little worse. Hm....should I actually fish? Slept in another hour and didn't feel any worse so I left for Dana Point.
Arrived and set up at 0930. I want to start making dumb youtube videos so brought some equipment. Filmed the construction of the boat for a whole 30 minutes and killed the DSLR battery and forgot a backup. Then realized I never finalized the GoPro mount. So uh, next time!
20 minute ride out to the canyon for deep dropping. Set up the Avet EX30 I topped off with 600 yards of 50# braid, 80# topshot to a 170# snap swivel holding a 9/0 circle with mackerel. Then off the bottom of that swivel a 25# line with a #4 hook and then a 16oz sinker. Figured I'd lighten the weight and just back troll as needed. Figure the large hook has a shot for swords so I wanna stand a fighting chance while I'm in the zone. Some describe them as cods with katanas, so cod rig needs to be fit!
Pulled up to my zone and there were a few boats watching a whale. I saw the spout from a quarter mile away and then the whale and crowd dissipated by the time I got close. Whale life was a good sign though.
Set up behind them, cut bait, let 'er rip! 5 minute drop down to 1200'...........
Gave it 3 good 30 minute soaks each drop, nary a bite. Reeling up wasn't nearly as bad thanks to using a reel with a big T-handle.
Added a nice compass to my makeshift dash over the holidays.
Had some scraps of meat going up and down my line, up to 100' from the hooks...wonder if it was from the mackerel bait or if I'm rubbing up on strange creatures somewhere in that 1200'....
Wind blew me off by 1230. Tried one more drop in 700' and it was too much wind for too much line. As I was reeling that one up, there was some bird activity a quarter mile away. Drove over and marked a bait school but none of the bluefin I was holding my breath for.
Headed in. Noticed somebody was putting out kite bait on the way in.
Definitely catching a cold now. I wanted to launch from Huntington tomorrow morning for some bassing but I should probably get some rest while I can.