Report 06-14
With tanker fever in our blood Dean and I went back out on a sundown to sunup local trip searching for tanker c-bass. We launched “UnReel” at Davies around 8:30pm. We checked Nacho and LBC for squid but none was available. At least it looked that way to us. We made a couple calls and tracked down some squid and after loading up on a nice scoop we took off to go tanker hunting. We set up in 72’ and dropped our rigs at 10:30pm. Had some good marks under the boat within 20 min but we had no action thru the night. The FF was showing us that sunup was arriving as the brighter the morning got the more bait and fish we saw on the meter. We only had until 6:30am to fish and at 5:30am we where getting worried it wasn’t going to be our day. Around 5:45am I pitched out a squid on my Phenix PSW-869 (first fish on my new stick) with a TLD10 loaded with green 65lb spectra with a 3’ 40# fluro leader and a 3/8 ounce slider with a 6/0 Aki hook with a couple squids pinned on and shortly after putting it in the holder saw it twitch. I grab the rod and set up the fish and it was game on. Short time later Dean put the steel to a nice 45# class coastal tanker. Some quick high fives and fist pumps and we where back to work trying to get Dean one. Well we fished until 6:30am and then had to pack it in. Was hard to leave the area with things coming alive but I had to be at work by 9am and I made it.
Here are a couple pics:
Tight lines,
Behdad
Report 06-07
Dean (Bank Robber) and I snuck out last night in search of Dean’s first ghost for 2010. We both had tight timelines to work with, so we hoped we could get it done early and get back home to spend some time with our families. We launched UnReel at Davies in LB around 8pm and headed for the beachside east end to get bait as well as to look around and check out the conditions and boat traffic. We crossed at 18kts and arrived at the fleet around 10:30pm. Made a call for squid and got what we needed from the Marie Clare. After getting baited up we metered around for awhile. Both Dean and I weren't feeling it so we bailed out and looked elsewhere and finally set the hook around midnight in 52-55' of water. Dean dropped down a white bucktail w/squid and a Tady TLC glow w/single hook and a live squid. I dropped down a TLC glow w/single hook, a live squid as well as a dropper loop set up. After that we both got ready for the wait. About 4:30am we got up to start chumming squid for the gray light bite. About 5 min after the first toss of chum, Dean gets bit on the bucktail and after a nice battle gets it to the boat where I got it with the gaff.
Nice fish that went 40lbs even on the spring scale (looks bigger than that). Sweet!!!! Was way stoked for Dean as he made some major sacrifices today to make the trip and he totally deserved what would be the JP fish of the day. We rebaited and dropped the gear back down. 5 min later, my rig with the TLC jig bends over in the rod holder and I'm on. Didn't take long for me to bring the 18 to 20lb croaker to the gaff in Dean's hands using the heavy gear.
I managed 1 more 12lb fish on the same TLC jig and it was released untouched. We were done, so we passed off our bait to near by boat and headed for the barn. We ran 25knts back and were on the trailer about 8am and back in the driveway just after 9am. Felt good for both of us to be back early. Here’s the nights catch with our good luck charms again
Thanks for the company Dean, had a blast and we need to do it again soon. Congrats on the 40#!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Behdad Seabass Report 05-17
I had been debating on where to fish Sunday night for Monday this week. Cat seemed to slow down and there wasn't much bait to be had. Coastal c-bass went off earlier in the week but the bite seemed to die there too. Talked to a buddy and got the word that there was no squid to be had at 5 to 6pm Sunday night. Checked the weather and seas where supposed to be flat but they where talking about wind and light rain for Monday. Great !!!! Stayed up until midnight Sunday scratching my head trying to pick an area to fish and finally decided to work the coast for a beast. Been hunting for a 50# plus c-bass for years and figured how many chances do you get to go after tankers so it was decided, coastal it was. Even with the plan set I still wasn't feeling it. Alarm went off at 2:30am and I got up, looked outside and saw wind and drizzle. Went back to bed until 3am and finally kicked myself in the butt and said lets do this.
Towed "UnReel" to the closest harbor to the bite and the launched and headed out in search of bait. Wind was about 10 to 15knots, little to no swell, on and off drizzle with the heavy overcast skies. Took about an hr to load up on 4 to 7" Spanish, 6-14" greenies and a bunch of extra dines just in case. Worked the kelps and reefs early for 1 40 to 50# Black that had me fooled for a bit. Released him and just after doing so notice birds going off outside and below me in 60-120' of water. Looked like there was way more action out there so I pulled the gear and anchor and made the move. Set up to drift the lower end of the bait and birds as there was another boat working the upper edge of it a couple hundred yards away. Dropped a greenie down on a dropper loop and set him on the bottom. Next rig had a 4oz banana sinker with a 6' fluro leader and I put on a greenie on that one and set it at 50-60'. Last rig had a ¼ ounce slider and I put a greenie on that one and put it about 100' back. Spun the chair around and kicked up my feet and was watching the birds and bait work over some krill about 25 to 30yrds behind the boat and then saw 4 to 5 good marks on the FF at about 10-20' down. I then looked back at the rods and the surface rig rod started to load up a bit so I ran and got it out of the holder and lifted the tip and started reeling down and then ZZZZZZZZZ!!!! It was off to the races. Did the fire drill and cleared the other two lines while fighting the fish. Thought for sure I had a T as the fight was long and hard with the fish going from the bottom to the top and around the boat a couple times. Never had c-bass fight that hard or long before or make such long smoking runs. Anyway, finally after what seemed like forever I caught a flash of color. Looked purple and I was kind of bummed as I didn't want to mess with T's but before I could confirm what it was it went on another smoking run. Thankfully I had a loose drag setting (no need to pull a hook or break a not in the deep water as they got no where to go) and I just let the fish go. That was its last hoo-ra and it pretty much came in after that. Popped up about 20' from the stern of boat and when I saw color and realized I almost had my prize I about pooped my pants. All I kept saying is "oh man, oh man" and worked it closer to the boat where I stuck it right on the top of the head with the gaff. Pulled it over the side and then THUD!!!! it hit the deck. Caught my breath, made a couple calls to the boys and then started packing it up. Took her to the scales where she went 55.3. My new P.B. and man it feels great to have reached the 50# club (is there a 55# club ;) ) after all these years.
Went home and cleaned the fish. Only one mack in its belly and it was still connected to my hook. Got my stones, the hook used to catch it and 6 to 8" of tag line attached as a souvenir. Can't ask for much more, well maybe a mount. Hope to try again next week for a 60#'er. Got to have goals
Oh, the banana shot. Running joke for me has been c-bass or tails on the boat every time I/we had bananas with us. Only mist out once last year and we had no bananas on board. First trip this year and I was blanked. Guess what, no bananas. Even replied to a thread about bananas on BD and said "I won't leave the dock with out them again". Last three trips I've taken them with me and have managed 1 or more keeper c-bass each trip. I'm loving bananas right now ;)
Anyway, wish those fishing this week good luck,
B
Cat C-bass report for 4-19. First for 2010
Glory Shot
Finally got a break in the weather on my Monday off day and took full advantage of it. Hooked the boat up around 9pm and was at Davies around 9; 45pm. I made a call to the Long Beach Carnage and they where tanked up and would be hanging out in front of Avalon. Sweet, no bait making would be needed. Made the crossing in no time. Weather was nice. 5 to 10kts of wind and a 2 to 4' swell. About 4 miles from Avalon that changed and wind gust felt like they where up to 20+ sometimes. Finally made it to the LBC and they tanked me up good. Thanked them and went on my way.
Ran for a while to get to the zone that had been producing and while underway had some very, very strong wind gust happen around midnight. Wind was crackin’!!! ...and blowing the boat all over. Thought to myself, what are you doing, but toughed it out and finally it started to settle down for the night thru the morning. Set the hook and waited it out until 9am and didn't see anything caught around me but did here of two fish taken by one boat. Decided to make a move and get away from the crowed. Ran for a while just looking for conditions and finally found the right conditions around mid morning. Dropped the hook in about 36' of water and had a nice go around and managed a 30 to 35# pounder for my efforts. Fish was caught on a Phenix PSW808 with a TLD5 loaded with 65lb green spectra and a 3' 40# fluro leader with a 3/8 slider above a 8/0 Aki twist hook. Got to run but here are a couple pics of the fish and a pic of the return crossing mid channel.