Shogun Report 10/10-18

Da Big Dawg · Oct-21-2009, 11:50 AM

Ok fellas, this is my first report so bear with me. It started Saturday mrng, quickly getting to the landing and checking in...and the excitement was in the air, especially for myself being that it was my first trip over 2 days. Shortly after checking in we boarded the beautiful Shogun...meeting the crew and captain, and I was very impressed with how smoothly we boarded. After getting a beautiful grade of bait, off we were to our adventure with two days of travel straight to the rocks. As we were trolling down, chanting "HOOK UP", we landed a few good fish...with one weighing in a whopping 63pds. Nestor Murrillo set the bar up high, but it was a taste of what was coming to us. As soon as we pulled up to the rocks we hit a kelp patty on the south end and it was Dorado heaven, wide open with fish jumping, getting hooked and hearing reels screaming line off. I guess it was Alijos way of saying welcome .

Shortly after arriving at the rocks, and boy were they awesome, it was the first time I had seen them and it was a sight to see, we started fishing and landing the "Real Deal", great tuna in the 60-90 pd class. Funny thing while we were fishing, I was all harnessed up and ready for a tuna to put me to the test, as it would be my first Biggen, but no bites for me. So I placed the harness and belt down, getting relaxed, soaking my bait out, thoughts running through my head what to do when I get the bite, thinking back on everything I've read on bloodydecks, letting all the knowledge soak in, and then WHAM! It hit me like a freight train, I set it on strike, wind, wind, wind, ,... and that oh so beautiful sound of line getting peeled off, thinking "damn no rod belt"... so oh well, guess I gotta do it Jack Nielsen style, use the rail. As I was fighting the fish getting a little tired with that huge smile on my face, I killed that fish and it was a biggen for me around 70-80pds. And while it wasn't wide open, it was steady action going on at all times. There were lots of smiles and friends along with memories being made at Alijos. The kite was producing very good quality Tuna on live squid and the double trouble rig..with live squid being the better of both.

Another funny story at the rocks...we had an angler using the dropper loop; he brought up a rod and reel, an Avet LX and Calstar...he quickly puts on line and BAM, hooks up a wahoo and lands the hoo! After a few days at the rocks with time running out, the Captain decides to make a run for Cedros to chase some yellows. We end up making a stop at Turtle Bay and it was also a sight to see with so much life going on...birds, dolphins, seals. We made a few stops for yellows and ended up catching some Tuna as well. After a few stops we land on yellow tail heaven where the YOYO iron was king, again a new experience for me...dropping the jig down, wind..wind..wind, and suddenly WHAM, you cant wind anymore and then that sweet feeling again of yellow tail hooked up to the business end. It was WFO, almost every drop you were being hooked up…so so sweet.

We ended our day chasing school sized tuna on the porpoise. It was a great trip in every way, the weather was good, food was great, with Screamin Mahi being my favorite plate. Made some new friends and memories to last a lifetime.

I would like to thank the Shogun crew, who were awesome in every way possible, very hard working team with great customer service and making the trip just that much better and made it possible for me to have that much fun.

Lessons learned for me were short top shots from here on out, I could totally tell the difference from straight spectra fluoro, it made all the difference on hook ups in my opinion.

Lastly I would like to thank everyone that helped me prepare for this trip, as I went in there with alot of great advice from many of you!

Hey Steve how about a beer brother!

yft1979 · Oct-21-2009, 12:25 PM

Awesome report, what size hooks were u using at the rocks? Heard that smaller is working better this year. Less than two weeks and Im jumping on that boat!

Shaka760 · Oct-21-2009, 12:26 PM

Great to have you aboard, hope to see you next year!!!

Da Big Dawg · Oct-21-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yft1979

Awesome report, what size hooks were u using at the rocks? Heard that smaller is working better this year. Less than two weeks and Im jumping on that boat!

3/0 ringed circle hooks tried 4/0 also but thought 3/0 were working alot better for me and sized up well with the bait.

mcrae · Oct-21-2009, 01:34 PM

Hey Andy I think I 've fished with you before on the Big Game 90. Great report, glad you got out there and did well.

freshwon · Oct-22-2009, 09:02 PM

Dude,

SO stoked for you. That is exactly the same stoke I felt on my first 8 day. Now it gets expensive but better. Isn't the SHogunba no nonsense fish killin machine? Bruce and Norm are so easy to fish with. Good Job!

Da Big Dawg · Oct-23-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshwon

Dude,

SO stoked for you. That is exactly the same stoke I felt on my first 8 day. Now it gets expensive but better. Isn't the SHogunba no nonsense fish killin machine? Bruce and Norm are so easy to fish with. Good Job!

Yeah it was a great trip we are already looking at trips for next year! I'm Hooked

bward · Oct-23-2009, 02:27 PM

some solid fish. i gotta get on that boat.

OFN · Oct-23-2009, 04:31 PM

Nice, great report.

nick17yz · Oct-23-2009, 04:59 PM

nice job!!!!!!

NCalTunachaser · Oct-24-2009, 07:59 AM

Andy,
Great Report and Pictures, it was fun fishing with you and all aboard the Shogun for this trip. The Shogun is a great boat and Bruce has got to be one of the best Captains in the fleet, he has a great work ethic, always working to make the trip a good as he possibly can. Maybe we will see you on this trip next year.

redbeard · Oct-24-2009, 10:32 AM

Nice report Andy, really enjoyed your enthusiasm. Had a wonderful time fishing with a talented group of anglers. I could not believe how well we all jelled so fast as a group. I never saw "that guy"
I have wanted to fish with Bruce for some time, and I was not disappointed. Bruce has a very quite way of getting things done. I enjoyed his talks and direction.
I was very happy with the crew, always there when needed. There was a situation when I was on a bigger tuna at color. I was in the corner, finishing it off and needed a few more cranks in able to gaff the fish. Trouble happened, my reel broke. I could not turn the handle, and when I took my hand off of it it started to go backwards. Matt and Tommy look at me like I'm crazy, and I tell Mat to cut the line, I can't reel in the last 8'. He reaches over and wraps his arm into my line, gives a tug, and Tommy gaffs my 85lb. tuna. That was pretty cool, and completely unexpected, but greatly appreciated.
All in all on of my favorite trips of all time. The Shogun is a very nicely designed boat. It was nice that everybody could sit down for dinner at one sitting. The ride is excellent, all be it a little slower than others. One thing that they do is they have a spray RSW, as opposed a full well. At first I was a little concerned about the quality of my catch, but after much reassurance from the Tommy and others I calmed down. Upon returning to the dock all my fish were in excellent condition, and just the right temperature.
I now have more fishing friends, and great memories. Yes it was, a great trip!