Tuna Report 2nd Annual Huurricane Bank Classic 2009

rusty_038 · Nov-05-2009, 10:50 AM

Thank you to the Qualifier 105 for another successful trip. We had 3 sponsors this time and they did not disappoint. The Rusty Hook donated over $4000.00 in t-shirts, DVD's, tackle, rods, and reels. Bryan Porter from Seeker gave away $4000.00 in tackle including 6 Super Seeker blanks, Seeker hats, visors, and t-shirts along with discount certificates for Seeker products. He also gave away an Avet JX 6/3, tackle boxes, and a host of Berkley tools. Accurate Pro-Staffer, Bob Michner, gave away a Boss 870 reel and had 30 loaner rods & Accurate reels for everybody to use.
We left San Diego with a good load of sardines. After the saftey meeting, we raffled off the swag. Hurricane Rick was developing into a Catagory 3 hurricane so we were on course for Alijos Rocks. Along the way, we ran accross a kelp paddy and it was loaded with hungry dorado. Free swimmers were everywhere and the battle was on. I shot some good video footage for the trip DVD. After boating limits, we continued out trek to Alijos. Upon arrival, we trolled up some nice wahoo. We dropped the anchor and put up the kite. Jeff Bruner hooked the first tuna that ran about 85#. Jim Beecher hooked up on the kite and landed one close to 100#. We spent the night, checked the Hurricane Center, and trolled up more wahoo before we embarked for the Hurricane Bank.
Hurricane Rick was up to a Catagory 5 storm with 200+ mph winds and 40 ft seas. The storm track was projected to run towards Cabo San Lucas. The weather was up, but the ride was not too bad. Along the way we had our tuna seminar and we spent our time making topshots, Fluorocarbon leaders, wired up some jigs, and got the drags set. We arrived at the Hurricane Bank and started trolling for Wahoo. Water temp was 80 degrees. After some short stops, we dropped anchor and started tuna fishing. The weather at the bank was hot with about 10 kts of breeze and water temp 84-86 degrees. Fishing was hampered by junk (small tuna, rainbow runners, and jacks) and sharks. You had to keep weeding through the junk to get rewarded with a nicer sized tuna. Lots of gear was donated to the sharks. They were eating the sardines. Some guys tried fishing small tuna and skipjack for bait. They only caught sharks. Most of the bigger fish were caught on the kite and with balloon floats with sardines.
I got to try out one of Shimano's new Talica 16 II reels that sales rep Mark Mills loaned to me. I filled it with 65# Power Pro spectra and topped it off with 30 yds of Izorline XXX 80#. I used a Calstar BTG90J-H prototype. A 9 ft rod rated 40-80# I rigged it with a spider hitch tied to a Owner Super Mutu 5/0 circle hook. This was my "go-to" rig for flylining sardines. I was able to cast a bait farther with the Talica and was always bit. I ended up landing 3 tuna from 120-148# and 3 or 4 more in the 50-90# range on this outfit along with several wahoo on surface iron. The 9ft rod worked great using good rail technique. I only lost one fish to a failed knot. I also had my GF100J "Extreme" 8ft 2in rod with an Accurate Boss 665H 2-speed lined with 80# Berkley Hollow Braid and topped with 80# Izorline XXX. I caught 2 tuna in the 120-130# class and some 60-80# tuna with the same flyline set-up. The rod was used on the rail also and performed flawlessly. I got a chance to break in my new Super Seeker 2x4 hooking a potential cow on the kite. Unfortunately, the fish won it's freedom breaking me off on one of the props towards the end of the battle. The 2x4 is an excellent 7 ft rail rod the was beating the fish pretty good. I also got to try out my new Super Seeker CJBF 70H. I caught a few wahoo and small tuna on that rig with surface iron and Kaku Tuna poppers.
Getting back to the report, Seeker rep, Bryan Porter landed his 1st place jackpot 236# tuna on a SS 2x4, and Avet TRX 50W on a double sardine rig presented on the kite. Veteran long ranger Phil Lisi of Costa Mesa took 2nd place with his 229# cow taken on the kite. Jeff Bruner of Lakewood took third place with his 215# tuna on the kite. Phil Lisi also won the "High Roller" jackpot with his 208# yellowfin caught on a sardine with a balloon. Tony Montez of Moreno Valley landed a 213# tuna on the kite but was not in the High Roller pot. The bigger tuna were not showing well due to the high water temp (last year's banner trip had 76-78 degree water). After 3 days of fighting through the junk and sharks, we made a move for Clarion Island.
After checking in with the Mexican Navy, we cruised the buffer zone catching a couple handfulls of wahoo before the sharks started taking 90% of the fish. The buffer zone was pretty much de-void of life. We hit one bird school for nothing but runt tuna. We continued east to another location and the water was 82 degrees and green. No tuna sign. We moved to the Jaime Bank off of Cabo San Lucas. One tuna was landed by Tony Montez on a baloon rigged sardine that went about 180#. Crewman Jiro Spagnola also landed a nice 30# grouper on the dropper loop rig. We spent the night and the following morning for no action. Out of time, we started our trek home. We had some rough weather stretches going up the line, but the
Qualifier 105 handled it well.
Thanks again to the Q105 crew: Captain Joe Crisci, Tim, Travis, Jiro, Sean, and in the galley, Chris and Cappy. In the office, Vicki and Teta. And lastly, Captain John Klein for getting the trip off the dock.

Good fishing,
rusty_038

The Rail is my friend.

The 3rd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic will again be on the Qualifier 105, October 2nd to October 17th 2010. We will be the first scheduled trip to the Bank. Call the Q105 office at 619-223-2786 or The Rusty Hook at 310-832-2429 for more info.

Scotty · Nov-05-2009, 03:15 PM

Rusty,

My Dad, Bruce, was on the trip and said he had a great time. He wanted me to thank Capt. Joe and the crew of the Q105 for a great trip and also thanks to everyone on board for the great experience and any help you may have given him. I cant wait to watch the video footage of the trip. Thanks, Scott

Guy · Nov-05-2009, 03:28 PM

Sounds like a great trip, any pics?

rusty_038 · Nov-05-2009, 08:07 PM

Pics are coming. I ran out of time this morning.

Good fishing,
rusty_038

The Rail is my friend.

JIGMASTER420 · Nov-05-2009, 08:42 PM

VERY GOOD REPORT!! THX..

medunn16 · Nov-05-2009, 08:55 PM

Can't wait for them pic's Alex!

spike · Nov-06-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty_038

Pics are coming. I ran out of time this morning.

Good fishing,
rusty_038

The Rail is my friend.

Nice fishing as always Alex, congrats on a solid trip.

nick17yz · Nov-06-2009, 09:35 PM

awesome trip!!!!!

1:11 · Nov-07-2009, 12:18 AM

oh Alex, you had to put up the picture of me with the smallest tuna on the boat, lol.

well, the search for the 200# tuna continues and the list of another big fish loss, this time the infamous pulled hook, goes on. Did you know i pulled three circle hooks and snapped one sickle all in one day? , Yikes ..

It was great fishing with you.

Alex and his store THE RUSTY HOOK, donated gift bags to every angler on board. The offering was extremely generous. Ive been on trips where everyone received at least one piece of terminal tackle, but on this trip each angler received a bag stuffed full of gear, shirts, hats, and also there were several people that received reels and other expensive offerings. Thanks Alex, you are way kind.

Also thanks to the big Homey, Bryan "Bubba" Porter, and Seeker for donating alot of tackle including many Super Seeker blanks, and not just leftovers, these were all the hottest blanks. I was fortunate enough to draw the XXXH, which is great as ive been wanting one and will wrap it for myself. Thanks Bryan and also to your Berkley connection and all of that gear you donated as well as other stuff. Fun fishing with you too. Hope to do it again.

I will post up some more pics when i get caught up.

And congrats Jeff on your first cow. That was a great fish. Jeff is a very good fisherman. Ive never fished with anyone that can remain as calm on a heavy fish as Jeff.

Jason

rusty_038 · Yesterday, 08:50 AM

Got the final word from the Q105 office. Our 3rd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 15-day trip will be Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 returning on Sunday, October 17th, 2010. Cost of the trip will remain $3995.00. We will be the first scheduled trip to the Hurricane Bank for the 2010-2011 long range season. Call the Qualifier 105 office at 619-223-2786 for information and reservations. This trip will fill up fast.

Good fishing,
rusty_038

The Rail is my friend.

rusty_038 · Yesterday, 08:53 AM

Hey Jason!
The pic I posted was the only one that I had. Still pretty cool. It was a pleasure fishing with you. Hope you learned a ton of new stuff. Worm knots and Long rods rule! Post up some pics that you had on your camera. I could use more pics for the DVD.

Good fishing,
rusty_038

The Rail is my friend.

Luhr'd Away · Yesterday, 08:58 AM

Incredible