Isla San Marcos Fishing Report
May, 16th 2008
Hola BDers~ Have to get this weeks out now.... crazy busy with weekend's Tournament.
Going to have a little different report this week. Likely shorter due to the madness starting today. It's Isla San Marcos 5th Annual Yellowtail ShootOut for 2008. I'll do the usual weather and then just go along and quote the photos of this short week.
Weather wise.... it's like the way it should be for the time of year. Nice Mornings in the low 60s, still wearing a sweat shirt till sun up. Once the glowing ball is quarter way high it's in the high 80s, but nice with little if any humidity. Water temps are still an issue. Up and down, just when we start getting 70 degrees it falls of the next day to 66. I'd say over all 66-69 degrees is about the overall temperature. Not the cleanest it can be, maybe 20 feet vis at some areas and 15 feet at others. Okay likely wondering about the dock photo... funny thing about it is When I got there around 05:30 there was a ton of sardine fry (normal) in the lights and right up on the shore. As I prepared my gear.... I noted that fry was getting chased and eaten. Was it grunts doing it or.... wait looked like mackerel, but nah. Put a bait rig in the water with the top two hooks not even in the water (2-3 feet deep under the boat) and wham mackerel were all over it. Made about 40 pieces, then headed out to fish not having to drive 8-10 miles to catch it at the normal bait grounds.
Took those fresh caught worms up to the 110 bajo and did a nice yellowtail on the first drop, then another on the surface iron. By this time a few boats started showing up on the fishing grounds. The Champ (Kevin Wards boat) had four guys fishing and I said give me one of you guys to lighten his load. Craig Gantz of Mission Viejo, CA jumped on board and after a spell put this nice yellowtail on and that was about the bite for this morning, total shut down. However most boats out did get 2-5 yellowtail.
The next day I had Doug "Branding Iron" Moranville and Mike "Tuna Twin" Herman both coming from Punta Chivato, but hail from La Jolla where Doug has a long time silkscreen shop and made awesome shirts for the up coming ShootOut. Mike lives in Point Loma, CA. I pick them up at San Bruno marina and no that bait was not at my dock... didn't think it would be , only once in 16 years that I've seen.
And whoa it's me starting off the next day with just another spring cookie cutter Isla San Marcos yellowtail. I caught the first two fish of the morning and put the rod down. Rest of the morning it was up to Doug and Tuna Mike to get it on.
As did Doug.... here's a three shot action sequence of that. The fish be getting bigger and bad ass. It's why I have the Tournament at this time of year, water as you see and fishing to match. Just wish more guys would fish the event rather than slam Baja for all the border stuff, Dam shame really. Oh well more fish and fun for those up to the quest.
Yup Like I said getting bigger. Thirty pound class yellowtail are the norm for this time of year. Had some fish come up and float in the distance, but too fast popping and then down to even start up the boat and run after that stuff. And why fish were chewing flylined and light sliding sinker live baits. Doug and Mike, with my two fish totaled for 8 solid yellows. Leave the fishing to the Baja Vets that still have what it takes to DRIVE down and take advantage of the still great fishing this place has to offer, all you NEVER going to Baja/Mexico again people.... well you get to watch us do it from your computer display.
Here's Tuna Mike on the Toad of the day. That fish pulled the boat at a speed of .3 knots up current. I was getting that off the GPS. These 110 bajo fish... clearly some of the strongest tails anywhere.
Now that's a nice tail, Oh no... need that one on Saturday or Sunday, this one goes 32-33 pounds and every bit as tuff. Like this ever year down here, kind of late, but like they say better than never.
That pretty much winds down this short week. Tournament meeting at Moosea Camp (San Bruno) at 5:00 p.m. where I will go over the rules and times. Looks kind of light this year, but no worries,plenty of great prizes for all... not to mention tons of fun with great friends. I'll leave you with The Hogens of San Bruno and a nice double hook up which blew up Beth's Calstar westcoaster e-glass rod... that happens for time to time, kind of why I use the graphfighter series. Look it's like this, us down here fish and catch the stuff you see in here everyday, things wear out!! And CalStar still makes the best blanks and rods on the market.
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