Sorry, Mr. Kerr
An error was made in the last report, from the Red Rooster’s catch February 4. Glenn Kerr, who got his first cows on the trip, does in fact own Glenn’s Alignment Service, but his shop’s not in Orange, it’s in Costa Mesa. So if you’re looking for an alignment or some hot rod or restoration work, give him a call at (949) 631-2888. If you’d like to see a really nice ad, check out Glenn’s woody in the back of the new 2005 calendar.
A Baker’s Dozen
Looking toward spring fishing, Shawn Steward kept an eye out on the way home with the Excel from the Hurricane Bank.
“I saw good sign of yellowfin above Alijos Rocks,” said Shawn at the dock February 9, “and we hooked a small albacore, too, but he fell off the jig.” Steward reported 78-degree water on the bank the day he left, down a couple of degrees from the day he got there.
It was another very good trip, of 15 days, riding the boat both ways. “Of the 24 anglers aboard,” said Shawn, “there were 14 who got their best-ever tuna.”
One of those was jackpot winner Paul Nakama of Valencia, who won for a 249.6-pounder, and scored with another at 235.5 pounds. Paul said he fished with a sardine on a 4/0 Super Mutu hook on 100-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Penn 70 reel and a Calstar 6465 XXH rod.
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Chris Johnston of Simi Valley was second, for a 233.1-pounder; a tuna he got with squid under the kite, on a 10/0 ringed 7691 hook, 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Penn 50SW reel and a Boomer Jr. rod.
“He was a real squirrelly fish,” said Chris, “and my best to date.”
Harold Kinne of San Carlos was third, for a 227-pounder he picked up with a squid and the kite. He used the boat’s kite rig: 130-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a 50SW reel and a Seeker 6465 XXH rod.
Fishing with her husband Harold, Lolita Newt of San Francisco got a little help from the crew to bag a 229.2-pound yellowfin. She got it with a mackerel on the kite, with 100-pound Big Game line, 130-pound Spectra backing on a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.
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“I loved it,” said Lolita. “I had fun and enjoyed everybody. I caught a big fish and it fought for two hours. Every time I got him in he took all the line back out. I hooked him when everybody was eating, at noon.”
Karl Forster of Thousand Oaks caught a 216-pound tuna with a sardine on a 7/0 Mustad circle hook, 100-pound P-Line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Penn 50SW reel and a 6465 XXH rod.
“These were very tough,” said Karl, “some of the meanest fish I’ve ever seen.”
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Stan Evans of Napa had a nearly-identical brace at 205.5 and 205.7 pounds. He fished sardines on 4/0 Super Mutu hooks, with 80-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Penn 50SW reel and a Seeker 6465 XXH rod. It took an hour an a half, he said.
Mark Dorton of Woodland Hills got three, weighing 200, 203.6 and 207.8 pounds. He fished chunks, on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook, with 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Jerry Brown hollow Spectra, with a Penn 30SW reel and a Calstar 6465 XXH rod.
Mark’s dad Carl Dorton of Tarzana pulled up his best fish ever, a 201.1-pound tuna he took with a sardine on a 4/0 Super Mutu hook130-pound Big Game line and 130-pounbd Spectra backing on a 50SW reel and a Seeker 6465 XXH rod.
Ray MacMillan of Mammoth got his first cow, a 207-pounder. He fished squid under the kite on a 10/0 Mustad 7691 hook, with 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Spectra backing, a Penn 50SW reel and a Murray Brothers rod.
The trip had 174 tuna over 100 pounds. Several anglers saw their best fish hang at 198 or 199 pounds; so close to a cow’s weight of 200. One was Dave Gedra of Mannassas, VA, who stopped me on the dock as he came off the Excel.
“I watched your videos before I went fishing, as a guide for improving my technique,” said the former San Diegan. “I got one just about 200 pounds and nine more over 100 pounds!”
“Choppy water,” summarized Steward on his catch report, “quality fish.”