I need to start out by thanking a few people becuase without thier assistance this trip would never have had been half as good as it was.
#1 Standupangler - George is the man no question and it needs to be said here. He lent me four rods. The Avet 50 wide and rod I caught most of my fish on was awesome. The Avet 50 and rod I caught my biggest fish on was amazing. He also lent me a turbon (sp?) which I never used becuase it was just too small for this spectacular bite, but would have been perfect any other year. He also lent me a 90J with a newel reel. Also didn't use much becuase the wahoo bite never materialized and a cow would have murdered me with it, I did cast it with a Catchy 33 attached just before my skiff fish, but that story will come. George even took some of us out of towners out to dinner the night before and let me crash at his house the night before the boat left.
George you have a turkey hunting guide whenever you want one for the rest of your life (it must be legal turkey season he he.) Look for George's report in the hunting section this spring.
#2 Jay "Wiredog" and John "FishSticker" - These guys were awesome enough to pic me up at the airport and drive me around town the night before the RRIII left. They are two standup guys, a pleasure to fish with. Hope you guys have a safe drive home sans speeding tickets.
#3 ACIronMike, Ricardo thanks guys for the help at the docks and the drive back to the airport. Mike got some great footage of the trip on his video camera it was awesoem to watch.
#4 Crew of the RRIII awesome crew, hard working and professional to the end.
#5 Noah's Tackle for the last minute top shots and gear. Great to meet all of the guys at the shop. My next tuna rod with those unique grips will be purchased through you.
#6 Anyone else I forgot to mention. Thanks.
Ok. So here we go. There are many times in ones life where great expectations are never met. Some rare times when low expectations are exceeded and once in a life time events where great expectations are blown away......
I left home in Cincinnati around 1AM for the drive to Indy to catch my plane. No problems whatsoever and was on the ground in Pheonix walking off the plane when my phone rings. It was Wiredawg asking where I was at. I told him my flight would be in San Diego arounf 10:30. After sitting on the ground in Pheonix for 1.5 hours we still got to San diego around 10:45. Jay and John are driving in circles around the passenger pickup area of the airport waiting for me. I was blown away, that these guys would do this for me. Threw my gear in the truck and off we go for my first fish tacos. This is the first time I had ever been to California so I was and still am a big newbie. We then went and looked at the fishing tackle porn shops. I was told over and over look but don't buy. Great advice from these guys.
I finally got ahold of George and the guys were grasious enough to drive up to Noah's for the second time that day. We met George and the other Noah's Tackle regulars (whose names escape me) had a great time going around seeing Clermont, shooting the shit about fishing and hunting, and oggling tha tackle at Noah's. The guys took us out to the Godfather's restuarant in Clermont and it was back to George's to catch some sleep or at least try.
The next morning we were up bright and early and down to the docks. And these two guys were waiting for me.
Jay and John already had my stuff loaded in a cart. Sweet.... The ykept commenting that I had fucked the prom queen by making this my first offshore fishing trip, but i had no idea then what they meant, I just couldn't fathom it.
Anyway, loaded the boat up and off we go. For those of you who live in San Diego daily viws like this make scrubs very envious.
I just watched in awe. Anyway off to the bait tanks.....
I didn't take many pictures because I was just standing there trying to take it all in. Simply amazing......
After loading the boat, off we go. About 5:30 Capt. Andy Cates comes down and talks with the group. He explains the basics of the boat and saftey information and explains that he will talk again to tomorrow about gear as we have a long run south before our first stop.
With this I spend the rest of the evening listening to Mike, John, Jay, and the others talk about tackle, knots, and fishing trips from the past. I was in awe the whole time. This was a trip I had been waiting to take for the last 13 years and now it was here right now. I kept holding my breath waiting for something or someone to wake me up.......
End of part 1.
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