9/20 The San Diego

Fished a fullday offshore on the San Diego today. Conditions were pretty good, beautiful weather and small comfortable swell, wind around 10kts.
There were a fairly high number of rent rods and clueless slack line spinning gear types. Final count for the boat was 53 yellowfin , 5 bluefin and 7 yellowtail for 34 anglers.
I ended the day going 5 for 5 with a bluefin and 4 yellowfin. 25# line with fluro and a size 2 or 1/0 mustad o'shaughnessy hook flyline sardines got it done. The bluefin was came on the first stop. After that we stopped on a few schools that didnt want to play ball and numerous kelps in the midday. A handful of rat yellowtail were caught on one kelp but the others didnt produce. In the afternoon we hit a school of yellowfin that produced some fish, and then a school that bit better and hung around.
I brought a couple buddies from Michigan out, although neither of them are really fisherman. One of my buddies hooked a bluefin and ended up getting dogged after getting worked over a bit.
Being picky with choosing a good bait, not roughing it up and getting it into the water away from the boat quickly, and changing baits within a minute is what worked well for me.
Great day on the water, have been needing to scratch the tuna itch since my last trip and got it done. Sashimi on deck.

 

Enough of a haul I had to go grab more ice before falling asleep last night. That cooler was a back breaker. Gunna be a solid cutting and vacuum seal session today

 

Yeah the 120qt has been a good investment for me. Although when its packed full of fish and ice it's a struggle to get it in the car after a day of fishing. Approaching 200lbs ouch. Wish I would spring for one with wheels. Considering I have a 2011 ford focus, I gotta tetris the cooler in there along with the 8 and 10' rods. Good problem to have though, I'm blessed.

 

Seems like something I would do..I'm already bringing more $$ worth of gear than my car is worth hahahaha
Shows where my priorities lay I guess...

 

Dont be timid communicating with other anglers about going over/under them. Don't be too proud to take advice from the crew on fishing baits or fighting fish, they want fish on deck as bad as you do, and they know how to get it done. Take your time at the bait tank and look for michael Phelps, don't squeeze him into no longer being an Olympic swimmer. Dont launch the bait out so hard it cant swim, an easy lob with a good swimmer will get looked at. Guys doing the "no look grab random bait" tend to not do well. Change your bait often. If it doesn't swim away from the boat or down immediately, change the bait. If the bait starts slowing down, change it. If the bait is still swimming after a minute or so and you're not bit, change it.
Belly hooking bait worked well for me.
Good luck and have fun

 

Thank you sir. My flyline game has improved noticeably this season. Thankful to have a good day out there and have fish to share with friends, coworkers and neighbors.

 

Shiiiit you're on it now! You available tomorrow afternoon? Shoot me a PM and I'll bring some fillets for you and the queen