10-Day Goals...

[Pangamaster]

Different people like different things. On my 10 day it was drive down for 2+ full days to the lower banks...hunt for larger tuna....drive back. No wahoo or any other fishing for the bulk of the trip. We had a short stop for yellowtail on the way back and reds on the way down. My 20 - 80# never got touched except the last yellowtail spot.
3 of the fishing days I didn't catch a single fish. This kind of trip I learned was all about the chance at a big fish. I did catch my largest fish ever at 176# I got to see others catch even bigger ones...which is cool in itself. That one day with my biggest fish made my trip. Pretty cool! However when I plan my next trip I will take into consideration ....do I want a couple big fish....or a wide variety...and plan my trip around the best time of year and length of trip for that kind of fishing.

[Lou Kohn]

Keith,
Finally I see your post. I want to say thank you very much for the donated fish that my mom took to the retirement home. You have a special place in all their hearts. The fishing gods will smile on you. I enjoyed your company and learning new knots and set ups from you on the 8 day Intrepid trip. I was the big tattooed hairy guy in a good mood all the time. I'm heading to Cabo on the 2nd for a few days of margarita fishing. Spend my 50th with a fishing pole, friends and easy fishing. Agin thanks, you don't know what those fish meant to those seniors. Take care and I hope to see you on a future trip. I should have my wellcraft up by the time the fishing dies down but it'll be my pleasure if you want to get flatties or bass in winter.
Lou

[cactilen]

Hey Lou it was blast fishin an bull shittin with ,hope to see you out on the water again.Len Layman.

[cactilen]

Keith said to say hello lou.He can no longer play on bloody decks.Maybe some day ali will let him on again.

[Lou Kohn]

Hello Len,
Like the old saying goes, "If you can't make a good impression, make a lasting one!" You and Keith both made a great impression. If you can't take it, don't start it. I think all the guys on the trip would say that the trip wouldn't have been the same without you two. Great fishing and lots of laughs. I hope to be on trips with both of you in the future, and wait to see what kind of trolling lure you'll come up with. Please keep in touch.
Lou

[Lou Kohn]

Oh and by the way, to answer the poll question, GO LONG! Good fishing karma always gets the cows grazing!

[cactilen]

Hey Lou, we are going on 11 day the 27th of nov.,See if you can make it I think there is room .Would be cool to share the rail with you again.. Your az buddy Len

[Alaska4me]

Very interesting comments on this post. Most are very valid ones in MHO. It simply boils down to one thing; if you are on the boat, you fish where it goes. Your choice is to pick a trip that will best suit your desires. I usually have gone in Oct on a 10 day trip, on the American Angler ( I love the boat and crew). I know when I go that it is more a variety and not a cow trip, I am cool with that. If a 100 pound fish hits the deck that is great. I agree with Iron Thrower, relax, enjoy the time away, have fun, hang with others like yourself. Personally I have not caught one over 100 pounds...yet. This year I am going on an 11 day trip in Dec on the AA, knowing that this is more a cow game, I understand that there maybe less quanity more quality. But hey, when it is frozen and in the freezer it is all good.
If I was concerned about the price of trip vs. amount of fish brought home; I would have taken my $ 3,000 plus bucks to my local fish monger.
I go for the enjoyment of fishing, the friends I meet and to enjoy being at sea.
I hope I never loose sight of why I fish, if I do I hope I get spiked, gilled and gutted and dumped at sea.

[tclongbeach]

I remember being on the PS for my first 10 day. The first 3 days trolling and looking were unproductiive - (BTW, noone on the boat was ready for cows. We were soaking our 50lb -80lb rigs - I had no idea how big the fish were at that time.

So on day 4 of 5 fishing we went to the stones and settled into an OK bite, as 3 other LR boats were there picking as well. The capt (drew on this trip) polled the boys after and asked... wanna take a shot at a 100lb toad at the stones or go to the ridge for some guaranteed smaller grade.

The boat was split 50/50 (and I had voted ridge) We stayed at the stones, al the other boats left, and I picked upan #82 Yellow Fin Tuna for 3rd in the JP. I got so much lip service for choosing the ridge and then getting 3rd JP fish....

heres my point... If you do a 10 day and you're lucky enough to find cows, that's great, but its a crap shoot - a gamble in my opinion. You get 5 days searching, which may - or may not - be enough time. It may be good for 5 or 10 anglers, but most likely not 24.

I did some math and figured that I need 7 days on the water to get a decent shot at a cow, so I needed to go on a minimum 12 day trip to get into some good odds that I can get a cow.

My first 13 day trip - I hammerred 190lb tuna. 4 of them at mag bay. Then - the following year - I was humbled by not catching a cow (others were picking...boat was doing ok, I wasnt) until DAY 9. can anyone say prozac? I was going crazy on day 8-9 before I landed one..

But time and patience at the rail paid off....and I landed a #232, my best ever.

Soooo... what Im getting at is that for an extra 2 days ($500-600) you get 40% more fishing time at mag bay and 100% more at HB. Thats a 40% -100% better chance to get a cow. (3 days is 60% and 120% better chance... respectively)

In conclusion, a 10 day is a gamble at cows and your risk and money is better spent on a 12+ day for getting cows. Therefore 10 days should be a mixed bag and cows only if based upon local reports of success on the pasture. A 12+ day is a solid cow chasing trip where your odds are MUCH better at landing a trophy cow.

all IMHO.

cheers.

[afraser]

11 day trip for me this year and I really hope we get a shot at both 'hoos and cows. I don't care if we don't get many of those, just as long as we get enough for everyone to get one. Now if I remember correctly, on the last cow trip, we stopped for schoolie Yellow Fin Tuna on the way down and back from mag bay, and it doesn't take long to catch enough of those. Shoot, one stop and you can put 10 of those on the boat. More than enough for the freezer if that is what you want.

Of course, I'd like to get some 80-100# tuna or 50# wahoo on the smaller gear I have too. The raptor, avet hx, and the accurate 500 are all itching to get the shine off.

[bhsquid]

Very good take on the question Todd. I agree with you 100%

[Desert Wahoo]

IMO, the shot at wahoo on the late 10 fall 10 days is tough at best. And the shot at cows is tough also if youre the one not getting bit for 4 days. Had a 200 plus on for 45 minutes only to chew through 100 lb. And it took 4 days to get that bite, after getting an 80 lb,er the first day. Prozak is right. Very patient fishing, But also VERY exiting. Leave on the intrepid in one week!