Need Help Please What type of trip do do

[Fishious]

First long range trip? Go for the variety, get some experience at the rocks pulling on 80# plus YF, mean ass Yellowtail that want to rock you, and consistant action, and if the planets align, skinnies. On the ridge you'll fish schooly YF, surface, yo yo, and dropper loop Yellowtail. Grouper, DoDo, and the occasional carp, and if the planets align, skinnies.

The 10-11 day lower bank trips are trophy hunts for guys that get out a few times a year, or are looking for more of a challange than schooly Yf can provide. The cow trips can be an exercise in frustration, if you're not ready to watch 200#+ tuna blow out on brailed scoops of bait, yet never take a sardine with a hook in it from 30 lines in the water.

I was also going to add that there is some advantage to having some experience with the larger tackle. Knowing when to switch setups and topshots, how to rig the baits, weight or no weight, etc? Then I remembered the last trip I took on the Indy last December... A noob using the boats loaner gear hooked three cows, landed two (with mucho help from the crew and skipper) and lost the third at deep color after the deckhands took turns on it for over an hour (estimated at 350#+). So you'd have that beginners luck thing going for you, but I'd still rather have the experience in my back pocket.

You'll have a lot more fun on a variety trip, spend more time pulling on fish, and find out if going after the toads is really your thing. If you do a cow trip and it's a boat ride, you'll be second guessing yourself for a long time.

[Albacrazy]

Unless the reports start coming in like the Cow season of 2005, I think the money and experience would be better spent on a variety trip. Lots to see and experience out there.

[hawgboy]

At your age i would want the experience of fishing the locations and variety. if you fish the stages of long range and put a cow tuna as the zenith, then if and when it happens it will be much more rewarding. Since 2005 alot of kooks have landed cows, its not that they are good fisherman, its the fact that they have more time and money than most. Keep on the the stepping stones and you will be a better angler and have more respect for the sea.

[MikeyLikesIt]

I have done both and enjoy both but to be honest with you it sure is fun to fish a variety trip when you get a chance to fish Ball Slapper Dorado and then end up around Alijos and get into that nice 50-100 pound Yellow Fin Tuna along with some Wahoo ( my favorite type of fishing) and some really big Yellowtail and Grouper on the bottom...then you run into the Ridge and fish the high spots for wahoo, BIG GROUPER and if your lucky...the Pargo attack the boat. Pargo are a fantastic eating fish and are great fun on light line. You leave the Ridge and head up toward Natividad and then Cedros and Benitos for some off the hook surface iron action on the Yellowtail....sight fishing is a riot. Maybe a few drops for WSB and then hit a drift for Reds. That is a really fun trip and you get to use a wide variety of equipment and techniques on the various fish da jour.

this gets my vote. You will get to experience alot of different types of fishing......and wont get "tired" of soaking a bait.

I gotta call BS on the Pargo on lite line, however...... not that its not fun, but how the HELL do you get them outta the rocks?

[kelpbass_kid]

thanks for all the input, you guys confirmed my thoughts. I'm definitly going to shoot for a 7 or 8 day, variety being the target.

What would you consider to be the best boat for a good price. I was thinking the Red Rooster III or the independence. What are your thoughts?

I'm also considering a cedros skiff trip on the Qualifier 105 (I love fishing plastic the most).

[eightmd]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the SD LR fleet. However, the Indy and Rooster are both my favorite boats. Looks like the Rooster might be giving good deals. When I look for trips I look at the Indy, Rooster, Shogun, and then start going down the list. They are all good but, we all have found our favorites.

[cksea]

take your 70ft. Lydia sportfisher or Vertigo, 38ft. Canaveral sportfisher down to the ridge or the rocks and find your own fish. Much more fun, much less crowded.

[kelpbass_kid]

Originally Posted by cksea

take your 70ft. Lydia sportfisher or Vertigo, 38ft. Canaveral sportfisher down to the ridge or the rocks and find your own fish. Much more fun, much less crowded.

Heh, those are boats I work on. That would be cool though, but its not my call.

[backlashjack]

Go to Cabo, you're 18.......... Party all night, fish all day..... Bring condoms.