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Even after using the “priest” to subdue a Dolphin-Fish (Dorado) brought into the cockpit, this act in itself can add to the blood spewed about the boat. Recently in Los Suenos, my crew taught me a trick. Before removing the fish from the gaff or your grip, a pre-made four foot length of setline (poly line would work) is at hand. A large hook attached to one end is engaged in the corner of the fish’s mouth and the other end is looped around the tail and brought tight enough to put about a 45 + degree bend in the fish’s body. Picture tying the legs together at the calf roping event of the rodeo. Left on deck for 5-10 minutes, it will hardly thrash about at all. When the line is removed after a few minutes, the fish will resume its normal shape and can be stowed away. This should work with any fork tail fish, especially the tunas that tend to bleed heavily. |
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Private Boaters-10 February, 2007 This will only interest you if you are looking for a good engine mechanic, especially for Volvo Penta engines. Kozwel Boatworks at 2601 S. Yale in Santa Ana, Ca are the most knowledgeable guys I have run into on Volvo Diesel engines. If you have had bad luck in the past, try these guys. They will work in their yard or at your slip. 949-456-9935 |
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Early Barracuda It’s usually early June when the Barracuda show up on the Southern California scene. Maybe a little earlier at The Coronado Islands off San Diego and at Pt. Loma and La Jolla Kelp. Then it is off Carlsbad/Oceanside and almost overnight from Dana Pt. to the Huntington Flats. About the same time another bunch pops up off Rocky Point and into Santa Monica Bay. Unlike later in the summer when Barracuda can be found most anywhere mixed with Sand Bass, Calico Bass, Bonito, and Yellowtail, these early fish can move between areas as far as five miles overnight. They also move around during a given day, chasing schools of Anchovies and Sardines. The trick to early Barracuda is, of course, to start out where they were found yesterday. You do this by checking the internet and looking for the fleet from Pacific Coast Highway, then mentally marking that spot. Getting out early before the sportboats, you will employ four techniques. First, I would put out a couple of smaller Rapalas on 20 lb. line, slow trolling the general area at 2-3 knots. As you do this keep one eye on the ocean for birds wheeling and diving. Pelicans are good sign and white Terns are better. The other eye should be on your depth meter. If any of three things happen, a jig strike, a bird school develops, or a dense meter mark 10-30 feet below you shows up, drop the boat in neutral and toss over a few live baits. Then quickly fly line an Anchovy or Sardine out in free spool. Give the area a good ten minutes and if nothing develops then continue the original search plan. These early fish will move around and pop up anywhere so be ready to start looking again. If, by now the fleet of larger spotboats has clumped up and dropped their anchors, then their volume of chum will in itself hold fish around. You then may want to anchor up yourself in among them and begin fishing. In this case a frozen Chum Bucket may give you an edge if hung over the side. As you fish, watch the white Terns. If they begin diving and pecking toward or near you, get real serious with a fresh bait. Maybe then you can toss over a few live or dead chum baits, depending on your tank capacity. I use 15 lb line tied directly to the hook, which makes getting bit off more likely as fish can chew the monofilament. After all you are out there for the bites first, then fish second. Finally, when the bites stop, the birds vanish, and the sportboats move away, don’t just sit there soaking a bait forever. Be proactive and look for them again. I’m amazed at all the small boat fishermen who just sit there dangling a bait long after the area has died and wonder why they go home with a paltry catch. And take only what you can eat in a day and let the rest go, they don’t hold up well longer . There’s not the unlimited numbers out there anymore. Oh, by the way, cast jigs and feathers are worth a try if fish come up good, but early season Barracuda favor the bait. Good luck! |
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Barracuda/Calico Bass/Bonito The way I like to find these fish along the beach or kelp is to drift over a spot with meter marks or not. A couple of rods fish the bottom and a couple flyline bait. Maybe chunk up a couple of baits and toss out. If nothing within 10 minutes or so, move on. If anyone gets bit, especially on the surface, then drop the anchor and with any ensuing bites, drop the Chum Bucket over the side. Most often the fish will show in this order over 20 minutes or so: Mackerel or Perch, Calico Bass, Barracuda or Bonito, finally Yellowtail if around. Doesn’t hurt to toss some chunks out occasionally. Live chum is better if you have enough bait capacity. Remember, he who has the liveliest bait and furthest from the boat will get the most strikes. If the tide is slack, give it extra time for the current to change, everything can change right away then. Also come alert if birds begin working near you. If bait bites get consistent, feel free to try casting a shiny jig into these birds. If you get a lot of short bites, try smaller Anchovies if you have some, or even slabbed out Sardines. Good luck! |
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Inconvenient By the way, Fisherman’s Hardware in Huntington Beach no longer accepts checks for purchases. On larger buys this is not very customer friendly. Maybe will use the Longfin more now. A larger selection of everything anyway.
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Long Range Tackle and Info See Curtis at Performance Tackle on Katella Ave in Los Alamitos (Orange County, CA) for a knowledgeable person and higher end gear for the big tuna as well as Socal Bass. This store is much more complete than a few years ago. He knows his stuff. |
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New Luhrs Saw the new 29 ft. Luhrs express fisher with tower at the Lido Shipyard yesterday. Sweet looking boat really set up for fishing. Clean and well thought out with twin Yanmar Diesels. Has come a long way from our old 28 ft. flybridge model. Go take a look at it. |
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For What It’s Worth Several times in the last year I have had some boat canvas that I wanted to upgrade or repair. From a recommendation by someone at West Marine I found Blinn and Young on 17th St in Costa Mesa. (Right across from Trader Joes). Very inexpensive and accommodating for these things that came up. Try them. Inauspicious building. |