Point Loma 5/1

holy mola · May-02-2004, 10:28 AM

Quick report from yesterday. Headed out of SI with the boards and went to EB for a half scoop. Water looked good, little wind in the AM, so we headed to the Ralphs, Doughnut, Dolphin Tank spots and checked it out. Doughnut looked the best so we anchored and got the wet suits on. Our first buddy paddles out and is waiting for a wave when we notice something breeching nearby. Didn't think much of it, saw another smaller breech shortly afterwards. Figured out it was a grey whale and her calf. A cattle boat full of whale watchers pulls up nearby and could hear the kids all go "oohhhh". Kept getting ready for a few minutes, figured she was gone as the cattle boat took off and didn't see her breech for a few minutes. Then I jumped in. Luckily I didn't see this as I was busy paddling out, but my buddy on the boat said she came up for air only about 10 yards away from me!! Too close for my comfort, but like I said I didn't know it at the time. I guess what you don't know wont' really hurt you. Surfed for a couple hours, while waiting for the guys to come back to the boat managed a nice size calico and sculpin and some other greenish rock fish. On the way back in, we decided to try a halibut spot. Weren't really getting anything when Wham!!!! My buddies clicker starts screaming. Turns out he pulls up a nice 31 inch halibut. Got a couple of other shorties, including the biggest spotted bay bass I've ever seen and went in. The wind was really cranking, I feel for those guys who went to the islands. Retrieved the boat no problem. Awesome day!!!
P.S. Anybody got any advice for me? I am running a Kodiak PF-17 bait tank. The 500 GPH pump wasn't getting it done, so I upgraded to a 1100 GPH one. The flow if good now, but I am wondering if too good. Bait is coming out missing a lot of scales and it seemed like a lot rolled early. Anybody have success putting a valve in-line to decrease flow? Any help is appreciated.
Mark

**Mstonefish** · May-02-2004, 11:04 AM

1100 gph for a 17 gallon tank is way too much, I have a 700 gph on my 45 gallon tank and it flows about perfectly. A 500 gph pump should be plenty for your application, what type of pickup do you have? did you check the old pump for obstructions/line wrapped around the shaft? These type of things can greatly affect pumps output. Typically your tank should take about 5-6 minutes to fill when empty, if you fill it much faster, bait will get worn out and beat up trying to keep up with the flow, if it fills too slow, then they will be oxygen starved and die easily as well. Try to install an inline 3/4" ball valve after your pump, this will allow you to regulate the flow to the tank. Once you get it dialed in you should have much better luck. There have been lots of discussions regarding this and I am sure others can provide some more technical input, but this should help. Welcome to the board, Mark

BTW, nice catch on the Butt

Albrektsen · May-02-2004, 12:26 PM

I have seen several web sites state fill time should be 7-10 minutes. If the water is cold, 10 is OK, warmer with less O2 as fast as 7 minutes. Per Randy at Offshore Bait Tanks, his 30 Gal tank works perfect with a 500GPH pump, and I have his 45Gal with the 1100Gph Shurflo Bait Sentry, fills in 7 minutes. I have a flow control valve to regulate the flow...

holy mola · May-02-2004, 01:30 PM

Okay, thanks for the info. The 500 gph was a couple seasons old when I installed the new bait tank this season, it must have been faulty. Because of the amp burn I would rather run the 500 if it should work. Guess I now have an 1100 gph bilge pump!

**Ali** · May-02-2004, 03:59 PM

300 gph should be perfect.

All good advice above.

1100 should make for a bait jacuzzi.

allenb · May-03-2004, 03:15 PM

I had the same problem with my bait tank. The strong flow beat up the bait. My solution was to place a screen in front of the out to the tank. This difusses the water stream, and keeps your water flow high.

Cheers,

Allen