We’ve got it — a Searcher Sportfishing gift certificate! Click here to make the purchase and we’ll send you the Gift Certificate and your favorite angler gets the gift of rail time this holiday season.
Pro-staffer from Team Accurate, Gary Gillingham, had an opportunity to fish with a top-secret prototype reel on Searcher‘s last trip to Guadalupe Island on the 6-day Accurate Fishing and Seeker Rods open charter.
Here’s the story in Gary’s own words:
I had a chance to fish the new Accurate Valiant (BV 800) prototype reel on this trip.
I caught both a 133# yellowfin tuna and a 34# yellowtail on the reel! The reel was very smooth and cast like a dream with 100# braid and 80# top shot.
Anglers can look forward to fishing this reel for yourselves soon!
Our last trip of the season is off and running! Crew and anglers alike were ready to depart for Guadalupe Island and begin a 6-day Accurate/Seeker-sponsored adventure to cap off our 2017 season!
Pro-staffer Gary Gillingham has Guadalupe-specific gear to share with our 25 anglers, and we will be posting their successes on our daily trip reports! Check back here for updates!
It’s a mystical-looking island located beyond 
the continental shelf and it’s also a fishing bucket-list favorite. Deep water upwelling of cold, nutrient- and phytoplankton-rich waters provides the excellent food source for the island’s bait fish. That attracts schools of the larger specimens of gamefish such as yellowtail and yellowfin tuna that tempt and tantalize anglers who hear the call of Guadalupe.
So you’re headed to “The ‘Lupe.” What should you bring?
Searcher crew and Fisherman’s Landing Tackle Shop agree: you’ll be targeting larger tuna over 100 pounds so bring heavy gear (2-speed reels) with 80-pound plus line test and appropriately matched fluorocarbon for your leader. Circle hooks are a must–tuna that size have large teeth! Find what you need here: OWNER HOOKS.
One more thing! Please review Capt. Aaron’s tackle tips video on drag settings HERE!
Here’s an “Ask A Captain” question we received recently about Guadalupe Island!
Dear Captain Art,
Fishing trips to Guadalupe Island have been scoring good size tuna. Assuming I am lucky enough to hook a big one, my question is on drag adjustment as I fight the 100+ lb fish. As the fish takes its initial run and takes half of the line off the reel, drag pressure on the reel will increase. Up to what point do I have to move the drag lever down so the drag pressure is not excessive?
– David T.
Hi David,
To answer your question quickly: it’s not necessary to change the drag setting during the fish’s initial run. However, if the run lasts and you’re near the end of your spool, you may have to back off on the drag setting due to the amount of line in the water.
Also, check out this quote from Capt Aaron during his last trip to the island:
What I want to recommend for these fish out here is to make sure you have a good 80 to 120 lb rod and a good working two-speed reel that is designed for these grade of fish. They’re tough on the gear and having that gear with a TIGHT drag is the only way you’re gonna land one.
Here is another question that landed in our inbox recently:
Hi Captains,
I am looking forward to my upcoming trip. Are you recommending that we use braided line or just mono on any # test line? I get conflicting info from different people and I want to do what is best for the crew and other fisherman on board. I thought I remembered “no braid” because it cuts mono in the event of a tangle or crossover. On the tackle list I believe it says braid on heavy test but I want to confirm before I spool-up any of my reels.
Thank you, Searcher crew!
-Dale D.
Hello Dale,
Braided line is recommended, because it increases your reel’s capacity. Spool up with135 or 85 pound braid with the appropriate length of matching mono top shot, at least 100 feet.
See you onboard,
Capt Art
Here’s a “Ask A Captain” question:
I want to stock up on terminal gear for a fall 6-day Guadalupe Island trip. Given the size of fish & conditions this year, what are your
recommendations for:1) Hook type / sizes and quantity?
2) Mono top shot and leader? Length and test weight? Thanks!
Dave R.
Hi Dave,
Regarding hooks, here’s my recommendations:
Top shot items:
Long-time friend to Team Searcher and Penn Reels pro-staffer, Steve Carson, gave Captain Art and crew a new reel for our anglers to try during their trips to Guadalupe Island. 
We opened the shiny gold box right away!
Searcher crew loaded it with 130# hollow-core Spectra and an 80# top shot by Izorline. It was matched with a Seeker OPS rail rod and our lucky anglers will get to try it out on a big yellowfin tuna at Guadalupe Island.
We are very grateful to Steve and Penn Reels and all our sponsors for putting top-quality gear into the hands of our anglers.
Come aboard and try them all out for yourself! Jim M. is glad he did…check out his 100# yellowfin, caught on this very reel and our Seeker boat rod on Tue, Nov 7!
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Our 14 passengers were able to sidestep the eager Tackle Day crowds at Fisherman’s Landing today and boarded Searcher for their 6-day ultra limited-load “Guadalupe Special” trip! These lucky anglers will have lots of room at the rail and personalized assistance from our knowledgeable crew as they fish this exciting destination! We will post every trip report HERE – stay tuned!
Set your alarm clocks!! Capt Art Taylor will be joining Pete Gray and “Rock Cod” Rick Maxa in the studio on Sunday, November 5, 2017 for the 7:00-9:00am radio broadcast of our favorite fishing talk show! You can listen live on 1090 AM or online at: CLICK HERE to listen live! Cox cable subscribers can tune in to Cox channel 960 or set their DVR for a manual recording 🙂 Capt Art will likely offer a recap of the past month of Guadalupe Island fishing!
Call in with your questions during the show! You may win a prize!
Trip 31 passengers were already excited about the awesome Accurate and Seeker gear coming aboard on this annual fall trip with Gary Gillingham and Fred Brandt – imagine how much their excitement multiplied when they found out that their trip destination would be Guadalupe Island! Team Searcher has been fishing the island for the past several trips, and recently decided that this trip should travel there too! Gary arrived early with his arsenal of loaner Seeker rods and Accurate reels, and Fred promptly got the shiny new Diablo-wrapped Seeker rods onboard for his raffle! 
It’s not just about giveaways on this trip – Gary and Fred both bring their valuable and extensive knowledge of SoCal saltwater fishing to share and coach the 25 anglers through any situation! We will be following this trip closely through the Captain’s Blog – so check back daily for updates from their journey!
13 excited anglers departed today for a 7-day ultra limited load trip to Guadalupe! We wish them a fun journey and lots of action, like they have seen on our last 2 trips! Keep tuned in to the BLOG for our daily reports from the wheelhouse!
There were 13 Searcher passengers watching today as the crew offloaded the catch from our prior ultra limited load trip – and they were eager to board and begin their own luxury fishing vacation to Guadalupe Island! Captain Aaron recommended heavy tackle (including 80# fluorocarbon, an 80# rod with a 2-speed reel with 100# spectra, and 4/0 circle hooks were the recommendations today) and the anglers were quick to review their gear to prep for the action he is anticipating! We will post his regular reports from the field HERE – check back daily!
