I decided to fly down to San Diego to fish the Bloodydecks- Yellowtail Shootout Tournament. A boat builder has to do some R&D work once in a while.
So we left on Friday night, right after the captains meeting and drove up to Dana Point, CA where the boat was located and headed out for Catalina Island at around midnight. We tanked up with a couple scoops of live sardines on one side of the 115 Gallon bait tank, and then headed to Catalina managing about 10knts. Going much faster at night is not safe, even with the Radar and full electronics package that we had. By about 3:00 am we arrived at Catalina and found the squid boat and tanked up with a couple scoops of live squid in the other side of the tank. We are now officially prepared to slay some Yellowtail.
Lines in at 5:30 am sharp. Only a few boats around us, and no action for anyone. It was not very fishy and no life to be seen so we headed out after a couple hours of catching Barracuda and Bonito with no Yellowtail to be found.
So we headed around to the back side of the island, but by now the gray light bite is over, and we get no love their either. Tons of huge Calico Bass and large sheepshead, but not the kind that we are looking for. So we decide to pull up and run to San Clemente Island.
After a 30 mile run to San Clemente, we decided to run up the backside, another 30 miles or so and began fishing with similar results. Then we try the front side, no love.
We decided to head back checking paddies on the way back to see if they are holding any fish. We are not expecting a tournament winner from these paddies, but atleast a respectable fish to weigh in. But all of the paddies are empty.
So we decided to pull up, light up the twin 250 Yamaha four strokes and blaze back to San Diego, where the weigh in is and try to catch some fish at La Jolla, right outside of San Diego before the weigh in. Needless to say, we are bummed out as we arrive at La Jolla. After 230 Miles of running and gunning, catching everything except what we needed to, finally back to San Diego and our last shot to save our day. We arrived at about 4:00 pm. Two hours before weigh in. And after an hour or so fishing I get hit, and this time the fight is on. It turned out to be the wrong kind again, but the fishing went wide open so we kept fishing and found a few more of these toads. We didn't get to weigh a fish, but a day that was shaping up to be one of the worst days fishing I have ever had turned into one of the best right at the very end of our long voyage.
See video here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWMnc5cwtIk
