By Bill Roecker

“We had 18 passengers on the Angler’s Choice five-day trip,” said Intrepid skipper Kevin Osborne after docking his rig July 31, “and we went straight to Guadalupe.

“When we got there we caught quality yellowtail of 25 to 45 pounds and tuna from 30 to 60 pounds, in gorgeous water of 72.5 to 73 degrees. There’s some bait around; we made greenback mackerel that we used for yellowtail. Balloon fishing for tuna was very good.”


“After we were done with the island,” Osborne continued, “we went offshore and I found a temperature break. We had a bluefin school stay with us for four and a half hours. They were 30 to 40-pounders.”

Jim Kastorff of San Diego won first place for a 105.2-pound yellowfin he took with a sardine on a 3/0 Mustad Hoodlum hook he ringed himself. He tied it to 40-pound Seaguar Premier Fluorocarbon leader, 40-ppound P-Line and 50-pound Line One Spectra backing on a Tiburon 7540 reel and a Truline VBG blank with his own custom Acid Wrap.

“That fish beat me up for an hour and 45 minutes,” said Kastorff. “I almost asked the deckhand to take the rod, I was so tired.”

For his effort, he won a new Tiburon SST 850 reel.

Michael Moon of Rialto won second place for a 56.6-pound yellowfin, which won a Tiburon SST 7540 reel. Richard Bringgold of Folson won third place for a 52.5-pound Guadalupe yellowfin tuna.

Two boys were fishing on the trip. Jake Posnock of San Diego got seven tuna. The best one weighed 47.6 pounds. Jake is 13, and goes to the Jewish Academy, where he plays football, baseball and basketball.

David McMillan of San Bernadino is 11. He got a 37-pound tuna. He goes to Golden Valley Middle School, and plays football.



Searcher Finds ‘Em By The Ton

Art Taylor had the best trip he’s ever had to Guadalupe Island over the five days leading up to July 31, when he docked at Fisherman’s Landing at the end of his Strictly Fishin’ Charter with 25 anglers. They appeared to have near-limits of yellowfin and yellowtail. Hoisting all the contenders at the scales had Taylor sweating happily.

Eric Sallis of Santee won first place in the boat’s jackpot for a 74-pound tuna. He said he bagged it with a sardine on a 1/0 Flyliner hook on 50-pound Izorline and 680-pound Spectra backing on a Tyrnos 16 reel and a Calstar 700 H rod.

John Yam of Long Beach won second place for a 70.6-pounder, and Pat Patino of Orange won third place for a 68.6-pound Guadalupe Island yellowfin tuna.



Golden Is Golden

Jeff DeBuys docked Independence July 31 after the Golden Group charter of five days with 29 anglers.

“Spectacular tuna fishing,” he said to dock reporter Bill Roecker, “and the yellowtail fishing was off the charts. We had a couple of bite-offs, too. The water conditions are very favorable. I’d have to say the trip was a perfect 10.”

Bill Hawkins of Seattle won first place. He fish, a 95.8-pounder, bit a sardine on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he used 40-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 50-pound Izorline on an Avet LX reel and a seven-foot glass Seeker rod.

Chartermaster Thomas Golden of Ventura won second place for his 85.4-pounder, and Lamar Bushnell of Ventura won third place for a 71.8-pound yellowfin.



Boy & Kite: Winning combo

Andy Cates brought Red Rooster III home to H&M Landing July 31, after a four-day trip, the Mahoney Charter, with 29 anglers. They had a mixed catch that included some quality yellowfin from Guadalupe Island.

Frank Lo Galbo of Rancho Palos Verdes is 15, and goes to the Army-Navy Academy in Carlsbad. He won the jackpot for his 83.3-pound tuna, on his first trip ever.

“I wasn’t expecting any fish this big,” he said at the scales. “And I didn’t think they were as strong as they are, either.”

Frank took his winner on the double trouble sardine rig under a fishing kite on the boat’s kite rig.

Steve Blakeley won second place for a 67.2-pound tuna, and Stefani Merli got third place for a 63.7-pound yellowfin.