Twilight Recap

[PoolMan]

Well, about 30 of us got onto the Electra for the evening twilight. It was a mix of NCSWA clubbies, schoolmates, karate classer's, and one BD'r (wheresmypliers). About half kids and half parents including two Mom's and two little girls. We picked up a couple scoops of bait and headed south to the Carlsbad Powerplant kelp. Joey Helgren was at the helm. The kids had a blast messing in the bait tank and looking for sea lions on the short run. First stop produced two calicos (one was short) for yours truly, but not much else. We moved further south about a mile and got over a hard-bottom spot where we had a good steady pick on calicos, sandies, assorted rockfish, and short sculpin until dark. I think everyone had a fish or two, and the deckhands did a good job of handing fish to those who were having hard luck. Once dark hit the bite slowed a bit, so we decided to finish things of with a shot at the big squids. Joey moved us offshore a bit and after about 20 minutes slowed the boat and stated that the "modern electronics" showed squid at 150 feet. The first bite came about 30 seconds later, and it worked into near steady mayhem with lots of the big guys all around the boat, rods bent, lines crossed, kids yelling, and squid on the decks. We basically left them biting with about two per rod all the way around. Right before we pulled the hook a big thresher (10 foot plus) came by but did not hang out. We did a kids raffle on the way home where every kid was a winner. Jackpot was a two-pound sandie and paid $42. I'm happy to say that the captain and crew really understood that the focus was getting kids to fish and were very tolerant of the antics on-board. Hopefully the next time we offer another twilight we can get some more of you out to enjoy the fun. Next meeting is the last Thursday in July at the Crazy Burro. See you there.
Chuck