Short Version - Went out yesterday with Floyd on his 19 foot Sea Pro CC in nice conditions to the 371, Hidden Bank, West Of Hidden bank, back to 371, 425, 101 and the Rock Pile. Water temps varried from 62 all the way upto 69.5 degrees. Caught two yellowtail off of a nice patty between the 371 and the Hidden Bank and a legal barracuda (released) off of the Coronados. One Yellowtail went 25 pounds bled and the other 20 lbs bled. We did a nice job of catching what was hooked, but lost a ringed J-hook to a
diver's ear that crashed the Paddy. The area is probably a week away from going off with conditions looking good at the the 371 and the 425. Water color started looking like greenish from the 101 north to the Point Loma. 371 and 425 areas had nice blueish colored water with temps between 67 to 69.5. Alot of bait in the water and under kelps between the 371 and the Hidden Bank.
Long Version:
Left Shelter Island around 4:30 am and headed out to the 371. Got word that these areas were not producing so we did not really expect to kill it. Stopped at the 371 and found a nice paddy that had alot of bait but no takers. 2 other boats also working the area. One group (Wellcraft with a tower) asked if they could try the patty and we said sure just don't dive on the patty. They trolled around us then decided to work their way south to the Hidden Bank. We continue for a bit longer, then decided to headed the same direction. Mid-way to the bank the other boat (Wellcraft from earlier) was stopped on a paddy. We drove by saw them, and thought hell we'll will move on to see if we can find our own paddy. Karma has a way of working. Next up just a short distance away is a great looking paddy with a bird on it.
I'm thinking this is good. See schooling Yellows in various sizes so of course we stop. Fish followed the iron but no bites. Tried live bait on 30lbs. No bites. Dropped down to 20 lb line and bingo large model on. At this time the other group comes by. We again invite them to join the paddy and ask them not to dive while we are there. We also mentioned that light line was the ticket. We both work the paddy with their group throwing irons plus whatever else that was not working and then they chose to go back to the other paddy so they could dive/spear. Just as they start their engine and begin leaving I get hit with another large model. At first I thought it was small and then the thing takes off like a freight train. Comes in at 25 lbs bled. Continue working the paddy for a while when the same boat comes back and sets up to dive the patty.
Are you fucking kinding me.
Picture of Wellcraft
Get on the wire and we are pissed now. One says you have not caught a fish in 30 minutes although there are breezing fish all around the paddy and several following our baits. The divers go in anyways while our lines are out. Shortly afterwards Floyd feels a pull, he does a short count and
hammers it like you would do with any yellowtail. A few seconds later we hear a diver yelling
"Get over here", "get over here", "get over here". Seconds later we realized one of our hooks caught the divers ear and he was actually yelling "it's in my ear, it's in my ear, it's in my ear". They get the diver to the boat. I get on the radio to ask "if he's okay". They said yes. Anyways the paddy became shot and they scared off the yellowtail school completely. I don't even think they got anything off of this paddy. What a waste and we did not even get paid for the free ear peircing or return of the ring J-hook.
One more picture of the divers!!! Dude on the back got yellowtail'd slammed!!!
On our way to the Hidden Bank, we run into several more paddies holding lots of bait but no biters. Box area then head west several miles then back to the 371. Probably a week too early for the area. Work over to the 425 to see alot of bird activity and huge dolphin schools with some doing massive water jumps upto 8 feet in the air. Water temp here was 69.5 degrees and the water color was dark blue. Felt fishery but just early. Continued up to the rockpile were the water went to a cold and green color. Work our way back to the Coronado's were we found a nice paddy that had baracuda on. Lots of bait tail biters.
Good trip on the water with some nice fresh Yellowtail. You need to go long if you are going anywhere over the next several days.
25lb Yellowtail
should have got a couple more cranks in on him!
Linear Mode
