Bluefin Run Turns Into A WIld Ride by Rich Holland

 

SOUTH CAL WON ON THE SPOT


SAN DIEGO — The annual WON 3-day trip on the Searcher started off with owner/operator Art Taylor telling us we didn’t have enough time to reach the yellowtail bite down at Cedros, but a temp break that gave up a plunker bite for more than 80 bluefin on the way home was well within range at 167 miles.

There was plenty of time to relax and get rigged up with the Williamson Gyro lures and Eagle Claw hooks given away to all 20 passengers, and second skipper Aaron Remy pointed to the 2/0 Eagle Claw as the right pick to pair up with the sardines in the slammer. It was also strongly suggested that 25-pound test be connected to 30-pound fluorocarbon for the 25 to 30-pound bluefin, and it just so happened that 25-pound Suffix mono and 30-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon was made available to anyone who wanted it.

• ONE OF THE HOT HANDS on the Searcher trip belonged to Richard Yoshioka of La Palma, who hooked up five times for 3 bluefin.

• CAPT. ART TAYLOR put the gaff in Larry Grey’s bluefin caught on the WON Searcher 3-day trip.

• THE FINISHING TOUCH on one of Richard Yoshioka’s fish was applied by Searcher crew members Kenny Merrell and Aaron Remy.

The Lakers still trailed the Celtics when Taylor broke into the XM radio broadcast that Thursday night to announce a change of plans. Boats fishing the 110-mile mark off Punta Colonet reported massive spots of bluefin up and producing some action.

“We’re going to slow down and start there in the morning,” said Taylor, a decision that determined the fate of the trip.

The weather — a moderate mix of swells with a light wind — was supposed to hold through the morning at least and when the day dawned the swell had increased but the wind only crinkled the tops of the rollers.

What came up foaming was thousands of bluefin, but the first couple schools were reluctant to say the least. Taylor finally gave up on one particularly abundant gathering of shortfins that led us on like a bird protecting its nest by pretending to be wounded for close to an hour.

It took a while to find another batch — first of all Taylor had to make a big enough move to make certain it wasn’t the same darn fish — but a couple bluefin finally latched on to sardines soaked by Richard Yoshioka and Bret Cook.

The pattern pretty much was set from that point on. There was no use in bothering with a jig cast from the bow into the frothing, jumping fish. Capt. Remy put multiple casts right into the thick of the bluefin with a Gyro. One of this reporter’s casts brought back not a bluefin, but the “problem” — a tiny black and silver fish no longer than an inch and not much more than the proverbial two eyes and a wiggle. A switch to a small black and silver lure produced only more frustration, with one cast literally bouncing off the backs of several bluefin without a bite.

Taylor said he was metering massive balls of the small bait in the clean, blue 61-degree water. Both black-footed and Laysan albatross patrolled the building wind swell, which now wore small caps of white. Kelp paddies held both birds and bait, but the water was too cold for yellowtail.

If the wind would just hold off, though, there was a chance we would get good conditions for the afternoon, which was when the fish reportedly bit best the day before.

• ONE OF THE FIRST bluefin caught on the 3-day WON trip aboard the Searcher was caught by Bret Cook of San Pedro and gaffed by Kenny Merrell.

• DOUBLING UP on one stop was the grandfather/grandson team of Larry and Alex Grey of Santa Rosa.

Meanwhile, the only chance to get a bite came from putting a sardine into the water as soon Taylor gave the okay. At that point there was just enough “slide” action to give the bait a head start away from the boat. A bite would either come quickly as the school passed the boat, or a bit later on the long soak as a fish or two was enticed to linger by the chum tossed out by Kenny Merrell.

Those who stuck to it best included Yoshioka, David Yoakley and Steve Nichols. All three would end up with 3 bluefin for the trip. Remy put down his jig stick and was able to hook 4 fish, 3 that made it on to the boat after he handed the rod off to a passenger.
One of those was young Alex Grey of Santa Rosa, who was brought on an introductory offshore trip by his grandfather Larry. Right when Alex was on his fish, Larry tossed a bait off the bow on 60-pound fluorocarbon and nailed his own bluefin. Joe Hartman followed up with a fish of his own.

A big disappointment came when Steve Nichols’ 15-year-old son Joel broke off a fish right at color. Joel had hooked the fish on his own on 40-pound only to have one of the bigger bluefin chew through the line. A few other fish broke off and unbuttoned.
Remy shared the tip that he was breast-hooking the sardines and when I got a bait out quickly that was pinned in the same manner, a fast-swimming bait soon became an devoured sardine. I had gone to 25-pound Suffix with a 25-pound Seaguar leader — doing a quick change from the 40-pound originally on the Talica 12 — but that was still plenty to bring in the 25-pound bluefin, the 17th and last of the day.

It was only 2 p.m. but the wind and swell was on a continual rise and the Pacific changed in the Bering Sea. We rode it out that night on the sea anchor with markedly fewer folks taking part in the meal set out by cooks Charles Howell and Steve Lamb.

The handmade sauces, dressings and baked goods would be the only comfort the next and final day of fishing. I’m not sure, but it could have been around the time Lamb put out blueberry muffins that Yoakley got the only bluefin of the last day. Just after the barbecue chicken pizza Taylor pushed to the eastern edge of the life and a quad jig strike turned out to large pelagic bonito.

As time ran out Taylor pushed to the northern edge of the zone and finally called it a day as the water turned green. Fortunately a radio report that the weather up the line was much better turned out to be true and conditions were practically comfortable as we enjoyed grilled steak kabobs for dinner. It also meant everyone was in the galley and the trip’s raffle was held, with John Loertscher of Orange (the trip was a retirement gift) and Joel Nichols taking home Costa 580 sunglasses. Also raffled off were four $50 Turner’s gift certificates, Williamson lure bags and individual trolling lures and Seaguar fluorocarbon. Capt. Taylor provided certificates good for $50 off processing at the new Fisherman’s Landing facility.

Those would have to be used at a later day, as Art Taylor and crew, which also included Kyle Manroe besides Aaron Remy, Kenny Merrell, Charles Howell and Steve Lamb, not only took care of all the fish caught, but also picked up the tab for all the beverages consumed and offered a 10 percent discount on any future trip to all aboard. The Searcher is in great shape after a long stint in the yard (just ask Howell) and the crew has been with the boat for years now and is very experienced and professional. The many eco-trips they run means they can also offer a wealth of information on sea life encountered.
Also on the WON trip were Terry Flynn of Anaheim, Steve Katz of Three Rivers, Mike Leonard of Menifee, Jim Wylie of Riverside, Gary Urch of San Diego, Brian Trout of San Diego, Tom Holland of Lake Forest, and Steve Holland of Bishop.

For more information on the Searcher, go to www.searchersportfishing.com or call 619-226-2403.


• WINNING A PAIR of Costa Sunglasses were John Loertscher of Orange and Joel Nichol of Norco.

• RAFFLE WINNERS Mike Leonard of Menifee and Jim Wylie of Riverside display the Williamson lure packs and Seaguar fluorocarbon that was part of the swag.

• HOT BAKED GOODS in the galley are a welcome break from the cold windy hours on the deck spent chasing offshore game fish.