As we neared the departure date of trip #2, "The Tuna Hunter's Charter", I watched as the San Diego Fleet fish counts diminished. Fishing was still good, don't get me wrong, But the prior weeks catch showed limits for most boats fishing in the 65-85 mile range with Albacore in the 8-15lb. Range. It seemed that the warm weather we've had and the pressure of the entire fleet had broken up schools and pushed the Albacore deep. 

I met my group the "Tuna Hunters" at Home Town Buffet and gave them a brief introduction and idea of what we might be in for on this 2-day excursion. A quick all you can eat supper and a stop to pick up the Ginger and Wasabe for Sushi and we were off to the landing.

Once on board, Skipper Joel Ralston of the Conquest and I spoke of the game plan and what we should do for this trip. The one-day range fishing was fading fast and the 3-day boats were in the meat. Hmmmm, nothing in the gap? Maybe! After being informed that the that our second ticket for this trip was to be none other than the Tuna Tracker himself from the OUTERLIMITS, Captain Shane, our decision was to go long to explore the West!

A quick gathering and prayer for this group on the bow and a seminar in the galley from the skipper Joel, we bedded ourselves for a smooth ride down the line to the unknown!

Morning gray light and calm weather came @ 5:45 and we started the rotations, 15 minutes . . . . . . . . . . .  Albie number one…. Small, but an Albacore! Next stop albacore on the jig and one baitfish. The next stop was interesting! A huge, 30 + LB Yellowtail. This was a big fish, especially in the 100-mile range! We continued on. Picking and scratching we gathered a few more yellas and albies, but nothing wanted to come to the boat! 

The afternoon was upon us and we really had nothing to brag about! We had been chased off by the U. S. Navy from our fishing grounds and relocated at @ 125 miles south, south west of Pt. Loma. There had been no one out here in sometime. Water was blue, temp was 67 and we had great conditions. OHHHHHH, HOOKUP! Screaming reels, I mean screaming.

I ran for a chovie put it in on the slide and WHAM! I was on. I knew I was in trouble when the Seeker CLB804 graphite doubled over and my new Diawa SHLV20 with 15lb P-Line started losing line, a lot of it! Fresh one, I heard from the deck hands! We had found serious meat! I landed the MONSTER 30-35 lb. Albacore in about 20 minutes and we had another 2 on the troll and 1 more on bait. I knew the late afternoon bite was to be our savior! 

Next stop, a bit different. Yellas, Big Yellas! 25-30 lb. and they were tough, really tough! I was on the 15 LB again and most of the others were on 20lb. Another 5 fork tails and some spanish jacks. 

We continued the day with intermitted stops on large Yella and Albies along with great conversation and sportsmanship from the 17 others on board. Joel told me these were the biggest fish he had seen all year. 

We retired for the evening to a wonderful Porterhouse steak with Caesar salad, baked potato and veggies. A bit of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup for dessert and congratulations to Gary Johnston from Claremont winning the days JP with a HUGE YELLOWTAIL.

If we wanted to get a full day fishing and get back on schedule we had to come up the line during the night! We awoke the next morning on the West end of the Butterfly, some 70 miles from home along with a lot of sportfishers and skiffs combing the area. Not good. 

We moved west of them and score a few more albacore in the 10-15 LB range. Still going west we were within miles of a few Navy Vessels and we struck gold again. This stop produced the largest fish of the trip. Albacore, big fat Albacore. Joel and I both thought that I was going to get spooled on mine. Fishing 20lb on my newly acquired Shimano TLD10, (thanks John Branum!), I worked the 40lb longfin to the boat. Nice Fish. Lowell Nickle of Manhattan Beach must of had my fishes brother as he boated another nice 35 lb. fish 5 minutes after mine.

It was now 1:30 in the afternoon and time to head for home. Wrap up the gear, wash the boat and take a quick nap. I great Fajita lunch and the raffles began as we gained sight of the harbor. 

Raffle prizes of the Kicker Jigs went to Fred Mishler and Bob Rice, the 500L Penn reel was awarded to Dennis Beyersdorf and the Seeker 270 rod went to Jim Inscore the Black Steel Seeker CJBF65 was awarded to Tom Lewis of Gilbert Arizona. Jack Pot trophy for the trip went to that last Albacore caught by Lowell Nickel. Great job everyone! This was a great group of anglers that all should be given a complement for their fantastic efforts. Maybe we will have the Second Annual "Tuna Hunters" trip next year. Let me know guys.....

Final numbers for trip #2 were 72 Albacore and 27 Yellowtail for a total of 99.

J.E.S. Sportfishing

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