The Seeker Rods five-day trip aboard Excel returned to Fisherman’s Landing July 14 after visiting the bluefin grounds and Cedros Island, where the 20 anglers made a good catch of yellowtail and calico bass, most of which were released.

“We released about 80 or 90 of the 100 or so bass we caught,” chartermaster Denny Kaneoka told dock reporter Bill Roecker. “I got a bunch of bass on dark-colored plastics.”

Regular Excel angler Phil Ruemmler of Pasco, WA won first place for a 23.6-pound yellowtail. He said he got it with a sardine on a 6/0 VMC hook and 50-pound Yo-Zuri tied to 40-pound P-Line, on an Avet LX reel and a Loomis eight-foot rod.

Paul Callihan of Carlsbad won second place for a 23.4-pounder, and chartermaster Denny won third place for a 22-pound yellowtail.



Big Biscuits In The Dark

Three a.m. is a tough time to be up fishing, but Royal Polaris anglers who made the sacrifice pulled in some wonderful white seabass at Cedros Island on a five-day trip with 32 anglers and owner-skipper Frank LoPreste at the helm. The trip was sponsored by Hi’s Tackle of San Francisco.


RP regular Kathy Rounds said, “We got all we wanted on the yellowtail, and we saw some 70 to 90-pound bluefin, but they didn’t bite. We got one small one.”
Lino Gantan of San Francisco won first and second places for his marvelous 50.6 and 45.8-pound white seabass, his best ever for the species. He told Roecker he got the big one in 15
minutes, after it bit on a sardine on a 3/0 hook, 50-pound Ande line, an Accurate BX 400 reel and a Seeker 6470 rod. He said it was a hard fight.

“The thing acted like a seal,” said LoPreste. “”It took a lot of line.”

Kristine Page of San Diego won third place for her first and largest white seabass, on a sardine and 50-pound line. She’s 15, and will be a junior at University City High next fall. She’s active in school sports, in volleyball, water polo and swimming.

One other white seabass, not entered in the jackpot, weighed 48 pounds. There were a dozen in all.



Out Of The Wind

“We have been mixing it up on the beach and below,” said the report from American Angler, “having good fishing on these Yellows, and a few other species. We are on the anchor in a very calm place and enjoying it, before we stick our nose back out into the wind and start shaving off some Latitude. The gang is well and we are planning on a full day of offshore action day after tomorrow and hope to finish up with some Tuna--keep your fingers crossed. The photo of the day is Adam and Cam.”



55-Pound Yellow

“Today we had very good fishing on nice yellowtail,” wrote owner-skipper Mark Pisano aboard his Independence July 12. “The afternoon started slow but built through the evening hours to a wide-open bite on 18 to 30-pound fish with a 55-pounder topping the day. With our yellowtail fix in, we plan to try for tuna tomorrow. The weather is good with just a light breeze to keep it cool. Thanks for checking in and wish us luck.”



“Every Jig Was Smashed”

“What an afternoon we had today," noted the report from Intrepid July 13. “We were traveling North in off-colored water with hopes of reaching Cedros by morning when we came across a very large school of yellowtail. Game On! We finished up with full limits in two hours. It was all good yellows in the 20 to 40-pound range, with Valene Garrison landing the biggest of the stop right at 40 pounds. It was one of those bites you get in on only once in awhile, as every bait and every jig was smashed as soon as it hit the water. In the end we drove away from one of the largest spots of yellowtail we have seen in a long time. We will be at Cedros tomorrow enjoying a Seafood Buffet in the lee before continuing North.”



Slide Fishing’s On

“We had another nice day of yellowtail fishing,” said Red Rooster III skipper Andy Cates July 13. “Today action lasted until the evening after making a move to Cedros. The morning at Benitos was ok but the sea lions were aggressive and kind of spoiled it.

"Cedros was no slam dunk, but we did get to see some great slide-type fishing where everyone has one on and the stern is yellow with yellowtail. It was really a good time and good action. The fish were a bit bigger at Bonitos 18 to 25 pounds as the fish at Cedros were more like 14 to 16 pounds. Still a lot of fun though. With the Yellowtail urge being satisfied we are headed up to the beach and hoping for a few Seabass. We have some live squid so we are hoping for the best.”



A Finning Swordfish

“Today we worked offshore,” wrote Royal Star skipper Brian Sims July 12. “We had a slow morning, highlighted by a finning swordfish that we watched under the bow for a few minutes. The cameras were snapping full speed as this bright purple denizen of the deep cruised along the surface unperturbed by our presence. We also had some short stops on smaller yellowfin that kept everyone on their toes. In the afternoon we found a more lively area and put together a nice score on 18 to 30-pound yellowtail. At times the action was hot and heavy, with everything in the water getting bit. Mas Yokota gets the honors of today's shot, proudly displaying a 25-pound yellow with crewman Sean Bickle on the gaff.”



Shogun Report

“We are down here on the bluefin grounds,” wrote Bruce Smith July 12, “and seeing fish again. Spot after spot, sonar school and now dodging some seiners, makes for a long day when the fish just don't bite. Towards the end of the day we did get two schools to finally stick around and we put some fish on the boat. The weather is good. Tomorrow, or should I say the trip leaving on the 13th is light, but we are going. I found out some new 'hot dope' and we will be going to look at a new area of fish on the 14th. The bluefin were 'seen' by a solid informant who knows what he is talking about and the size ranged from 15 to 40 kilos. Now if we can get them to bite. Wish us luck. Other than that, it sounds like a body of albacore is moving in from the west, but is still 290 miles out. In albacore terms they could literally be here next week, no problem, especially with this full moon.”