Cortez Bank 8/15

Fishdude · Aug-17-2004, 11:04 AM

Have my nephew Joe and his girlfriend Heather in town. They had never caught anything over 2lb's in there lives and wanted to go fishing with Uncle Scott. I was only to happy to oblige them.
We jumped on the Toro with 14 others and were told we would venture out to the Cortez and see whats happening. It was gonna be a hero or zero trip, along ways to travel for no one home. We arrived at 7am, anchored in 120' and hoped the Yellowtail would find us. We started hooking 13-15lb bonito, BIG bonies, damn there fun. And on the anchor we had one showing of yellows, mean yellows. We scored a few.
And on the bottom it was all you wanted rockcod, big chilis and reds.
The current got real screwy and we decided to move into the shallows by Bishop Rock. We put out some troll lines while we moved, one guy put out a big ol fire tiger rapala, 13", this guy was voted MVF(most valuble fisherman) for the day. His rapala gets smacked and stops the boat short of the kelp for BIG YELLOWS! They started foaming around the boat, and since we were now in 8 fathoms of water these things were spooling people. John from fishermans hardware was out with us and he let me tie on the new Jerry Jigs by Izorline, yes there back. I was rockfishing with it when we anchored at the first stop, and wanted to see if it catches Yellowtail also. I cast it out let it sink a little and BAM, I bring it in after a mean lil battle and recast, BAM, this jig was getting nailed. I bring this one in, recast BAM, but this fish was on steroids, he just started running and wouldn't stop, and eventually broke me off on some structure, line came back all frayed. x( They were eating the surface iron, the tady 9, the flylined dean, you name it. My nephew and girlfriend both hooked up on the flylined dean and got taken for rides by there fish, they both got snapped on 30lb. We were having a high loss rate but oh well. We started trolling again when this died and the firetiger gets bit again, in all that jig stopped the boat 8 out of 10 times!! Told John to stalk up, were all coming in to buy one. We trolled the same area all day, never made it to the kelp and we got bit everytime by Yellowtail in 8 fathoms, that was the number. In all we got 75 yellows, size 15-38lbs, a ton of giant bonito, and a 13lb barracuda on the troll. Also caught calicos, first for me out there. My nephew and girlfriend went through 3 fish each before they finally got 1 on board. Killer day at the Cortez, got some family on some mean fish, lots of life, calm seas, and mean Yellowtail. Damn I miss my camera. x( :7

PS: Wils, what I said about it being cold and we need to wait a little longer before the fish bite out there, disregard that statement :7

Stoughty Rods · Aug-17-2004, 02:21 PM

WOW.....that's a good grade of fish. Glad to hear that your family had a good time. They got to feel what a real fish fights like. Good deal. I've had decent luck with the firetiger rapala w/Yellowtail as well on the Huntington Flats when they were there thick. Bitchen report!

Fishdude · Aug-17-2004, 03:17 PM

8 out of 10 times is no fluke, we had yo-zuris and other colored raps behind the boat, but that was the jig of the day. They actually didn't want to wrestle with any more Yellowtail , too mean for them and were happier catching bottom critters, wimps. But they had a good time

Swazi · Aug-18-2004, 04:52 PM

Wow Scott! Awesome fishing on the Cortes. I love it out there, what a place!

Fishdude · Aug-18-2004, 08:50 PM

Yea Tim, it is pretty bitchin out there, the boat is into them again today.
Saw some big ass tuna rolling in the chumline too.

sickcat · Aug-19-2004, 12:28 AM

What a great day at the banks! Definately a HERO day.

Red Drum · Aug-19-2004, 12:43 AM

Awesome report! I've been dreaming about fishing that bank for years, I sure hope this is the year that I finally make the trip. Any pictures of the bruiser Yellows?