Well. . . . . . .

............... it finally arrived.

May 16th,  the weather just happened to change and the cool days of the last few months finally passed.

May 16th wasn't any day, it was the day we were to depart on the season opener, trip 1 of the J.E.S. Sportfishing 2003 season.

Driving to Pierpoint Landing was a bit different from my usual drive to San Diego. I left later, but arrived early meeting Joel and the crew of the Relentless around 5:15 at their slip in Long Beach.

The fishing had been bleak. Hit and miss like all spring fishing. The White Sea Bass were way up on the beaches, Yellowtail had just started biting at the Coronado's and we were in the gap!

Joel and I conversed and decided that if Clemente Island were to be open we would target WSB, Yellowtail and Bass off the south end. Joel had been working with a bait boat off of Catalina and the report was big YELLA if you found the spot. It wasn't going to be easy, so we all chipped in to purchase 20+ scoops of squid rather than stay up all night jigging.

We arrived at Clemente in the dark, anchored up and started baiting the water. The anglers slowing became acclimated to the motion of the boat and as the coffee started their minds for the day our first catch was landed, a log Barracuda! Not what we were targeting, but a catch at that!

A few anglers got bit, but it was hard to tell what it was, Yellowtail, Croaker, who knew, just a lot of water and a seal at 200 yards.

We decided to move and relocate in the shallows. As we dropped the anchor, Joel was announced that he seeing activity on the meter and it was going to be yo-yo on the iron. The 16 of us worked the rails of the 65' sportfisher hard. Iron, bait, iron with bait. Nothing was doing the trick. TunaQ got a legal Halibut, but besides that the only thing that biting was an ever so peculiar bat ray bite.

Joel growing ever so restless of the morning decided to go off shore and see if we could find some birds working or something. That's the great thing about Joel, hell burn fuel until the tanks are dry looking for the fish. Driving, driving and more driving the rest of us had a great breakfast! One thing about my trips is that no matter how tough the fishing is the food is always good.

As Joel ran full circle and headed back to the beach! The Seahawk and the Tornado were up coves and seemed to be getting some action. As we pulled in and set the anchor once again you could hear the cries of excited angler from the decks of the other boats. This was going to be fun. Just like the old days, jig sticks and iron.

I threw a pink and black surface and while it was sinking out John Mc Farland went bendo on a yellow. WOW! These were good ones.

As line was screaming off his new Trinidad I started to wind and Wham! No bat ray here. I hadn't had a yellow pull like this for a while. As I walked my way to the front to clear the casting anglers I was meet at the bow by big Gayle who was in the same state as I. As my fish reached the surface I was amazed. I had heard that there were some big fork tails being caught, but this truly was the real deal. The 1st 6 fish to hit the deck were no smaller than 25lb. NO JOKE!

As the day continued were did our best to keep tossing the iron, but after a while on your first trip of the season some feel a lot like Nolan Ryan after 9 innings. These fish were breezing the cove and ever now and again they would return.

My buddy John " MACKMAN" Branum was soaking one of the 2 mackerel that were in the well and wouldn't you know it? Fresh one, Mr. Mack was one. Isn't amazing how a few quality yella can turn around an entire day. No more Bat Ray and Robin jokes, no more long faces. The group of 16 just worked the water with everything they had.

A fantastic lunch of breaded chicken breast sandwiches and the bite came back. I was in between two hooked anglers grinding in the Kicker surface iron went right at the stern a big Yellowtail skimmed the surface and boiled on my jig. Fresh one I yelled and off I went to the bow. Incredibly this one turned out bigger than my fist and topped the scale at 30lb.

As the bite tapered off Joel gave us some time to try to get some Calicos on the rocks, but we weren't very successful. The big moon shut down the bite and we ran out of time.

Heading home we got review our final catch. 17 Yellowtail, 4 Calico bass, 1 Halibut and 1 barracuda...Some of us took time to get some photos and even weigh out some fish.

Congratulations to "Mackman" for the Jack Pot fish. A huge, 32lbYellowtail that I haven't seen in these local waters for sometime. Is this any indication of what the summer will bring?

Passing Catalina Island our traditional steak dinner was followed by the J.E.S. raffle give-away, which are always the icing on the cake.

Kicker Jigs were won by John Mc Farmland, Bob Cummings and George Risch, who gets honorable mention for a huge YELLA that may have taken jack pot but was disqualified by a sea lion that ate out the lower gill and belly of the Jack! Next time George!

Seeker blanks were awarded to Dave Wray and Joe Brown.

The Diawa SL30SH went to Nick,"Sr" Howerton and other prizes of a Plano box and a Mirror lure jig went home with Mike Byrne and Kevin Morse. Congratulations to everyone.

Next trip, trip 2 out of Fisherman's landing in San Diego June 21st. There are 2 spots still available, so check your schedule and get out on the water!

You deserve the best! Go fishing with J.E.S.

Thanks as usual to all the sponsors, Seeker Rods, B.C. Distributing, Kicker Jigs and CTX Mortgage. . . . . .I really appreciate your continued support on this, our 5th year.

I depart on a 5 day aboard the Excel for some free time next week, so until June all, take care!

Jamie Spencer / J.E.S. Sportfishing