“Hard To Whip”

Tommy Rothery of the Polaris Supreme was a happy skipper after his nine-day Catchy Tackle trip September 10.

“We had really good wahoo fishing,” he said on the dock at Fisherman’s Landing, “and good yellowtail and yellowfin tuna as well. We released a lot of fish; about 150 dorado, 94 yellowfin and 96 yellowtail.”

“We’ve had some good ones on this run before,” agreed chartermaster Wayne Martin, “but this time we had gorgeous weather, lots of skin on the bombs and on the 26-ounce trolling heads in bright colors. We had incredible food by Chef Javier Quintanar; everybody came back fatter. And we had a first; a wahoo on the troll after dark.”

Bob Byrum of Helena, MT won first place, for a 125-pound yellowfin tuna. He said he bagged that tusker on a squid, flylined on a 4/0 hook and 50-pound P-Line, with a TLD 30 reel and a Cabella’s six-foot rod.

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“He was hard to whip,” remarked Bob. “It took 40 minutes, but I’ve been there before. He was good fish.”

Jerry Martin of Murietta was second, for a 104.4-pound tuna, and Wayne Campbell of Huntington Beach was hot after him for third, with a 104.3-pound yellowfin tuna.

Standing in with the winners for their exceptional fish were Ed Malinski of Vista, with a 60.7-pound yellowtail, and Reg Callender of Huntington Beach, with a 46.1-pound dorado, moving into position as the season’s second-best of its kind.

“Beat The Shark”

Mike Lackey brought his Vagabond home to Point Loma Sportfishing September 10 after a five-day trip.

Jerry Bullard of Orange won first place for a 69.9-pound yellowfin tuna. “I beat the shark,” he said, “by about a minute.”

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He added he was on the fish for about 20 minutes, after it bit on a sardine and a 4/0 Hayabusa hook tied to 40-pound fluorocarbon leader and 50-pound Spectra backing. He said he used a Torium 20 reel and a Penn six and a half-foot rod.

Byron Cloar of Hawthorne was second, for a 55.5-pounder, and Mike Stimpson of Lemon Grove was third, for a 51-pound Guadalupe Island yellowfin tuna.

Brace ‘o Buts

Shogun returned from a four-day Catchy Tackle charter (the second of the day) with Mark “Razor” Gillette as skipper, to Fisherman’s landing September 10. A pair of large halibut from the Cedros area took first and third in the jackpot, an uncommon event.

The boat’s report for September 8 said in part, “Our day at San Benitos Islands was nothing short of spectacular. We fished just over half a day for the best day of yellowtail fishing that we have experienced this year. The size was not the grade that we have experienced at the Alijos Bank, but for sheer numbers, it was fantastic. The average size of these fish was 14 to 16 lbs., with the bigger fish edging near the 25 lbs. mark.

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“Shogun fished along the coastline today,” read the report for September 9, “from just outside Punta Baja to San Martin Island. Conditions were very unfavorable along the beach here with cold, green water and a steady breeze. As always, Shogun fished hard and long, and this afternoon picked up one yellowtail, four halibut, a few calico bass, and all the action you could want on barracuda. Today's photo is of angler Rob England with his catch of a 28 lb. Halibut. Holding the big 'Butt for the picture is crewmember Justin Jackson.”

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Robby England of Canyon Lake won first place for a 31-pound halibut. He said it took a sardine dropped on a 16-ounce sinker, with 80-pound Izorline, a Penn 6/0 reel and a Sabre six-foot rod, after a six-minute scrap.

Charles Kalil of LaHabra won second place for a 26.5-pound yellowtail, and Bruce Ward of Phoenix won third place for a 26.1-pound halibut.

Arnie Cohen Charter

Red Rooster III docked under Andy Cate’s hand at H&M Landing September 10 after a three-day “flyer” to Guadalupe Island, a move that paid off with some big yellowfin tuna and yellowtail of assorted size.

“We got one big one on the kite” remarked Cates, “and we only lost a couple to the sharks.”

LA Rod & Reel Club members swept the jackpot spots. Marv Smith of Chatsworth was first, for a 79.8-pound yellowfin. He said he fooled it with a sardine on a 2/0 Hayabusa hook, on 30-pound Izorline with 50-pound Spectra backing, a Torium 30 reel and a Calstar 700M rod.

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Phil Bell of Venice Beach was second for a 77.1-pounder, and Sam Rubinfeld of Marina del Rey was third, for a 74.5-pound Guadalupe Island yellowfin tuna.

Rare Shortbill Spearfish

Jeff DeBuys docked Independence at Point Loma Sportfishing September 10 after a four-day trip. “We had limits of wind,” he joked.

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Doug Edwards of Encinitas trolled up a rare shortbill spearfish, a tropical billfish much esteemed as food in Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific. It weighed 40.5 pounds. He said he planned to eat it.

Tom Spayne of Whittier won first place for a 45-pound yellowtail. He said he bagged it with a sardine on a 4/0 Mutu hook, with Big Game 40-pound line, a Torium 50 reel and a Loomis seven-foot rod.

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Relatives got the next two spots. Tom Powell of Point Loma took a 32.6-pound yellow, and his nephew Corey Powell won third place for a 31.6-pound yellowtail.