Messages

1

Fishing Talk / Re: New BPS opened

« on: March 29, 2024, 07:49:39 AM »

I don’t go to BPS for their tackle selection, it’s their socks, redhead brand clothes and foul weather gear I like.
It will be nice for sales on electronics as well.

If you need a good tackle selection Meltons and Hogans are right around the corner. Ammo bros also has some good stuff.

2

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Re: Local mossbacks

« on: March 26, 2024, 02:26:30 PM »

Nice boat BTW Chris.  I bet it's nice having the extra room compared to the narrow inflatable.

Thanks! Still very minimal style fishing but being able to stand up and carry more Ice is really nice.

In the pic I have a 15 gallon bait trash can (plumbed for 10 gallons) 6 gallons of gas, yeti 105 with cushion (holds extra ice, drinks and food but mainly a seat), crate with rod holders and tackle (under the front bench seat which is used to hold my FF and Measuring board), 48” kill bag and bow bag.

Having the bait tank on board really takes up a lot of room but I’m glad to be able to take it when I need it.

3

Contest & Events / Re: SNBF-XVII

« on: March 23, 2024, 04:08:58 PM »

We’ll be there. Going to hang out with the base camp this year.

4

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Local mossbacks

« on: March 22, 2024, 04:30:11 PM »

Hit up the jewel with high hopes and low expectations.

Arrived just after high tide and put out two Xrap 40’s as soon as I crossed the MLPA line. Lots of surface activity and about 10 mins in a troller went off! Fought a kelp stringer to the boat and safely released it… did some circling around and realized the kelp in 90ft is pretty thick and not trollable.

Got outside the kelp and put the diver back out and cruised around from bait puddle to bird pile and made my way over to a small floatilla of boats. Lots of bait going off in and around them so I pushed to the outside. Found a nice gap and cut between them towards some birds nobody was working and when I got about 50 yards from it the yellows started blowing up around me. I stopped the boat and tossed the surface iron, about 4 casts in I got a short strike but it was enough force to spin the boat a little and I noticed my troll lines going across the back. Figured I need to pull those before it makes a mess. Got the first one half way in and snagged some kelp… then the kelp started peeling line. Fish on! Cleared the other line while holding the hooked up rod between my legs and it pulling me sideways.
Stuck the gaff near the throat and  it ripped off, lots of blood everywhere. Another 90 seconds of it fighting for its life left it pretty much bled out and second gaff put it in the boat. As I was getting that fish in the bag they started puddling around me again. Grabbed the surface iron rod and chucked it past two boilers and fish on! Short 5-7 minute fight and got a good gaff shot. Bled it out and had two in the bag.

Had one more opportunity to cast on them after that but the other skiffs were on thier toes and everyone was now racing towards fish and pushing each other out.

Got another boat to snap a couple pics for me and then went home. Good 3 hour session. I wish every day could be this good.

I guessed 25 and 28lbs but they went 29 and 31 to my delight.

5

Fishing Talk / Re: PCS Show 2024

« on: March 13, 2024, 01:52:38 PM »

I had a blast. We set up on Tuesday then went fishing Wednesday. Nothing but snot sticks to report.
Thursday was an older crowd. Lots of boat owners, business owners etc. making connections and big purchases.
Friday was a little younger crowd. Majority of people seemed to be mid 30’s to 40’s and there to network and take advantage of show deals. I had a few people call me by “Lowprofile” from BD and couldn’t tell you who they were but everyone was friendly.

Saturday was quite the show. Tons of families with kids, dogs, pushing grandparents in wheel chairs and quite a bit of eye candy.

The negotiators were also out in force that day which made it super entertaining. We were throwing in rod wraps, rod covers and beers with purchases and apparently it wasn’t enough.

Sunday was less crowded but still a full house. Everyone was worn out by Sunday and thankful the show closed at 5.

I met the Batson Family and they offered to put me on the team. Super cool opportunity and really excited about that.

Nick Morris from Morris lures Hawaii was on deck. Really cool to meet the guy who made the majority of the lures I used while in Japan. Learned a lot talking to him.

Joe from RAP systems donated a 0 degree railer bar to my inflatable shenanigans. Big plans for that.

Britney picked up a beautiful purple jig stick wrapped by Jon Tac with Pura pesca and he threw in some swag for us. Her Tuna hunt begins now. He anlso insisted we come catch East coast bluefin with him so I need to start saving for a trip.

The BBQ place always had a 20+ mins line and was always out of brisket….

Finally met Bill Depriest in person. Very brief interactions but super nice guy… very busy

Met Ali from BD. That man is also very busy and has 1,001 things on his mind at once.

Billy K stopped by the booth and ended up talking to him like we’d known each other for years when it was only minutes. Very easy going and nice guy.

Tim, it was good seeing you and hope that bag treats you well!
Len, also good to see you after all the years. We need to do some seabass fishing soon.

6

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Bait barge fishing.

« on: February 17, 2024, 11:29:18 PM »

An Instagram acquaintance who’s working the Bart hall show posted on IG asking if anyone in SD wanted to fish. I was about 10 mins deep into trying to entice my GF to go fish WSB from 10pm to sun up and she was not biting…
I messaged him and due to show obligations and lack of gear we decided to hit the big bay…in the inflatable.

We launched just before 9pm and went down to the barge. He used a small squidtrex (1/4 or 1/5oz) and I was using 15 gram reaper jigs I just got in the mail. We both worked them the same, cast far, hit bottom then bounce it and keep a steady retrieve and swoop the baits to keep them from snagging grass, rocks and ropes on the bottom.

I was using a light rod rated 4-10 with 10lb braid and 15lb leader.

It was a slow but steady bite. About one in ten casts got hit and our hookup ratio was in the 90th percentile. Idk how a fish can bite a jig with an assist hook and treble and not get hooked….

Early on I hooked something that felt like a cross between a batray and halibut. Didn’t think it was huge but might be legal…. Got it up and it was a lobster! Measured it and it was legal too! Bummer.

Had a few hours of fun with spotties, calicos and sand bass (I got the big bay trifecta!) and then my buddy hooks up and it’s pinned his 2-8lb rod… big slow swoops on the rod and a heavy pull…. He works it up and it’s a huge lobster! I net it and we take pics then release it.

We saw Josh on his scout slaying the sand bass out there too.

Another hour goes by and we got a couple more bass but nothing great and decided to call it.
Boat on the trailer by 1:45 and home at 2:30am up for little league practice at 7 and regretting it… 34 is rough but fishing is fun.

7

Fishing Talk / Re: PCS Show 2024

« on: February 16, 2024, 05:18:04 PM »

I’ll be working at the deckhand sports booth. Come say hi and grab a beer!

8

Fishing Talk / Re: Stat Recap 2023, Goals for 2024

« on: January 18, 2024, 12:07:34 AM »

I really didn’t catch much….

4 BFT,
1 YFT
one sword,
a couple rat yellows,
couple legal cudas,
more than a dozen sand bass but not two dozen,
A tree fish on the jig and one in a hoop
Half a dozen calicos, one legal I remember
25 or so assorted rockfish,
5(?) threshers,
blue shark on the mad Mac
1 baby mako I leadered
16 total lobsters
Over a dozen white fish in one day and never saw them again

Including my sons catches we can add
Another dozen sand bass
3 halibut (one almost legal)
2 Petral sole (I’ve still only ever caught one).
Several bones and countless lizard fish

This year will be focused on white seabass and halibut more and chasing a 200+lb bluefin from the inflatable, Will probably be a kite fish. I get out of the Marines in June and going to dedicate some time to getting a much larger sword up in the Channel Islands area.

I was fishing with Dan from the Shearwater (Sword boat for over 35 year) and got some great intel from him.  He only got 18 this year, but I definitely want to get my sword next year! 

I think the marine weather had a lot to do with some of our fish counts in 2023.  I don't remember so many rough days on the water in the past 10 years.

Dan sold Miss Dublin to my buddy Andrew and I’ll he fishing with him next year to get my toes wet in the commercial industry. Everyone has their own opinion on how swords work but the only consistent thing that works is having a bait in the water

9

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Re: I Had a Dream... (1/15)

« on: January 17, 2024, 11:33:32 PM »

I went Tuesday. Launched out of oside and worked all the way to OB and back.
Found lots of bait, birds and whales straight off Torrey. Farmed one bone after trolling circles for an hour. The bait was deep, 150-200ft and sunk out even deeper.

Off PB and OB was full of grass and kelp stringers. So much so it was impossible to troll or find the squid bed.

By the time I got back up to LJ the wind picked up and blew out all the surface signs. I trolled back up north and found the bait had moved off of swamis and was getting beat up by a heard of giant sea lions.

10

Fishing Talk / Re: Stat Recap 2023, Goals for 2024

« on: January 02, 2024, 10:53:03 PM »

I really didn’t catch much….

4 BFT,
1 YFT
one sword,
a couple rat yellows,
couple legal cudas,
more than a dozen sand bass but not two dozen,
A tree fish on the jig and one in a hoop
Half a dozen calicos, one legal I remember
25 or so assorted rockfish,
5(?) threshers,
blue shark on the mad Mac
1 baby mako I leadered
16 total lobsters
Over a dozen white fish in one day and never saw them again

Including my sons catches we can add
Another dozen sand bass
3 halibut (one almost legal)
2 Petral sole (I’ve still only ever caught one).
Several bones and countless lizard fish

This year will be focused on white seabass and halibut more and chasing a 200+lb bluefin from the inflatable, Will probably be a kite fish. I get out of the Marines in June and going to dedicate some time to getting a much larger sword up in the Channel Islands area.

11

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Re: Red, White, and Blue (12/2)

« on: December 04, 2023, 10:29:32 PM »

Looks like a lot of taco meat and kite fishing in your future!

I have no shame using mine to haul up rockfish. They don’t fight and I can fill the bag in a couple hours while being able to pick and chose fish without worrying about the next drop.
I also use a hook to descend them but I put it below my bottom hook on a double dropper then tie 2ft of mono off that to the weight. Descend the fish with the baits and just stop it 100ft off the bottom, reel up 10ft to get them off and then drop the baits to the bottom.

12

Fishing Talk / Re: Frustrating Morning

« on: November 29, 2023, 11:35:20 AM »

Isn't a Launch Ramp For getting a boat into the water, what difference does a trailer make ?? Seems like a Karen Rule to me Hope you get things resolved

You have to pay to get into the lot and then park after you launch. It’s not just a drive up ramp like shelter island, Dana landing and oside

13

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Re: Grocery shopping

« on: November 27, 2023, 07:31:17 AM »

Thanks Chris.  My reel arrives today and going to have a few beers in the garage and see what rod I'm going to use for it.

I have numbers for black cod somewhere that Ben sent to me, but I hope I can find what folder I dropped them in.  I also have some numbers for black gill also which I really want to catch.

I put it on my sword rod rated 40-80 and works great. I’m thinking about cutting and stuffing a 50-80lb ugly stik tiger into a bent butt and using that for deep drop so I can have my sword rod back.

I sent you a message over on FB messenger.

14

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Re: Grocery shopping

« on: November 27, 2023, 07:01:39 AM »

It has a bigger motor from the Seaborg in it, otherwise the same real but different color. I got a good deal on it from Japan, about $740 to my door and plan on working it into the dirt so I went with it over the Tanacom. I wouldn’t hesitate to use either for what we’re doing recreationally.

I bought a 12v 50aH Lifepo4 battery from power queen. They’ve had good reviews over the last couple years and I regret buying my overpriced Dakota battery for my fish finder. They also have a Mini 100ah that’s about the same size as the 50.

https://ipowerqueen.com/collections/12-8v-series/products/12-8v-50ah-life-po4-battery

Picked up this charger off amazon and it’s supposed to charge in about 5 hours from 0-100%
The battery came at around 70% and was topped off in an hour

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09CGYLD8Z?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I’m playing with the idea of making a small console to sit up front and might get the mini 100 to run my FF and a real Radio instead of relying on my 6w hand held.

15

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / Re: Sacking Bottom Critters (11/15)

« on: November 26, 2023, 04:46:54 PM »

Good haul! That hake is pretty cool.

I hate that I never think about rockfish until right before it closes. Definitely going to be giving them more attention next year.