Vagabond 3 day Trip Report 6/25-6/28

1:11 · Jun-29-2006, 11:08 PM

Decided at 7pm on Saturday night to take a 3 day leaving Sunday at 1pm on the Vagabond. When I called and found out that there was one spot open due to a last minute cancelation, I went for it as there were few 1.5-2 day options. Got all my gear ready and tried to get to sleep. Was awakened at 5:45am by the alarm clock and out of the house by 6:20am to make the 5 hour drive from Las Vegas to Point Loma. After a quick stop at Del Taco Barstow I made it to the landing by 11:00ish. Checked in, then Grabbed a fish platter from Point Loma Seafood and back to the boat. The crew loaded up plenty of good quality sardines with some real horses mixed in, along with a few 6" macs. Cleared the point around 1:30ish. Had safety and fishing seminar and were told we would be looking for Bluefin. The day prior to our trip was slow fishing so nobody knew how we would do.

Day One Fishing
Started pulling jigs at first light at around 150-170 miles. Looked for kelps and porpoise and finally got our first piece of action around 11am. Pulled up on meter marks and threw bait. Captain Mike indicated that the school was big and they were good grade Tuna. I hooked up immediately on my new Avet JX 6/3. Loved it. Got the fish on 40# on Calstar 6460H, 65lb spectra with 100ft top shot blue Izor 40#, 4/0 118mag hook, uni-knot. The reel was everything ive heard about and more. The drag was so smooth. Cast extremely well and surprisingly no backlashes. Landed the fish in about 5 minutes, a 30lb Bluefin. Nice. Better get back in the water, never know if this will be the only stop. Casted in on the Torium 20, Seeker 6870, spectra with 30# Izor topshot flylined bait with 3/0 118mag hook. Walked my bait to the bow, casted him out and hung another fish. My bait came to the surface after swimming towards me and the fish boiled on the bait, tail and back out of the water, big splash. After he finally stopped and I pulled on him a while, the fish felt very heavy. Wouldnt you know it, hooked him on 30lb. Pulled hard and was really struggling to gain line. I decided this was a big fish on light line and that I would land him fast or break him off fast. Kept pulling hard and finally got him to color only to see a foul hooked 30lb Tuna. Hooked him near the anus, ouch. Got the fish and was absolutely exhausted and my forearms were completely full of lactic acid. 15 minutes later i was fine. That was our only stop of the day. 7 Bluefin on the stop 24-30#. We didnt lose too many fish, but guys had trouble fishing bait. Everybody tried their best, but we just didnt hook alot of fish. At least 18 people rented rods. Guys couldnt cast and wouldnt butt-hook baits. Consequently, we landed just a few. Certainly not a slam on the guys because they did their best and listened to the crew, But Mike put us on Tuna and If we had a group BD'ers on there, Im sure it would have been a different result. I got my only two biters on two baits cast.
Had a few kelp stops and we landed a few rats with one or two quality Tails. I got bit zero times on the rats. DAY ONE OVER --> Dinner--> shower and off to sleep in the Ice cold stateroom. Shared with 3 strangers. Everybody was friendly and considerate.

Day Two
was similar. Captain Mike had decided to start off the day fishing the high spots off Colonet in search of better grade Yellowtail. Fished the spots for about 45 minutes for a few avg size yellows with very little action. Headed back out to the grounds in search of more Tuna. One stop on metered fish for the day with 6 Bluefin 12-18lbs, I got zero biters. It was a rat stop where Bluefin decided to float. We also had many stops on day two for all you can eat rat fishing. Yep the rats sure are small. People were keeping a few rats to take some fillets home as it was afterall a $750 trip. People wanted something to take home. Everybody was respectful and just kept a few for a meal or two. The water was infested with rats and I dont believe there is a problem with our yellowtail fishery. They wanted to die like rainbow runners. It was fun getting bit instantly, grinding em in and letting em go. Thank god for those Rats!!!

My Tuna was good enough for JP, so thats nice, haven't won one in years.

Boat Review
The boat "Vagabond" was plenty comfortable for a short trip. The food was very good including a bone in rib-eye that was excellent. Rick did a great job in the galley especially considering he had a fill-in assistant, Richy who was also a good guy and did his best. The crew was very knowledgable and helpful. Captain Mike worked both days of fishing until the sun was completely down and the jigs didnt come out of the water until it was dark. Second Captain David was also very knowledgable, helpful and a cool guy. He gave me much insight for approaching freshwater Bass and Striper fishing from a Saltwater type mindset, electronics, bait schools, winds, etc.. Eyeopening talk while hanging out in the wheelhouse on the run to the grounds. Deckhand Tim was kind enough to Lend me a hat, as it was the one thing I forgot. Very good crew, hard working, very friendly and courteous. Excellent fish handling straight into the RSW after every stop. Nobody had to tell the boys what to do, as they were on top of it all. Good Experience, tough fishing with a reward, great group of friendly passengers. Excellent weather contrary to what the landings are saying at least further down below. Nobody got hurt, no boat problems. 25 lbs of Bluefin Fillets from Anthony's and some yellows for tacos. I had a great time. Thanks Captain Mike and Vagabond Crew!!

Didnt take any pictures. Batteries were in my duffle bag and I was too lazy to go get them. Darn! Oh well, next time.

warzon · Jun-30-2006, 10:38 AM

great report the vagabond is a good boat It is one of my favorites Mike is a good capt and tim is one of the better deck hands I have come across.

1:11 · Jun-30-2006, 12:51 PM

Yes Timmy was great on the Deck. For a young Guy, one of the more knowledgeable guys in the fleet. Not to mention, the kid is so polite and helpful and a blast to fish with. He kept letting out Supertrooper Meow's. I never once saw him get frustrated on the trip. More important, he works his ass off. As Rex Hudler would say, He gets it. The entire crew was fantastic. There was another Young Man, cant remember his name, thin guy, short dark hair. He was totally on top off it and displayed mad skills with the Forschner on a hamachi snack donated by a passenger.

Blackjack · Jun-30-2006, 12:58 PM

The Dell Taco in barstow is the shit, I ate their this last weekend. The tacos are at least 3 times the normal del taco.

Jig Strike · Jun-30-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lend-a-Fish

If we had a group of Allcoasters on there, Im sure it would have been a different result.

What's an "Allcoasters"?

warzon · Jun-30-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jig Strike

What's an "Allcoasters"?

its another board

Jig Strike · Jun-30-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warzon

its another board

Exactly.

**MikeyLikesIt** · Jun-30-2006, 04:09 PM

excellent, detailed report. Just like we like 'um.

dont mean to slam ya, but

Quote:

But Mike put us on Tuna and If we had a group of Allcoasters on there, Im sure it would have been a different result.

different result?
As in: seven or 8 people fistfighting over who has the "correct" number of wraps on their "double latte inverted full gainer San Diego knot?

go post that shit over there. Allmost and BloodyDecks dont really see eye to eye......

**Saluki** · Jun-30-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lend-a-Fish

If we had a group of Allcoasters on there, Im sure it would have been a different result.

I agree......................... You would have a tangle fucking mess of guys sawing each other off, whining and bitching about politics. ect.

1:11 · Jun-30-2006, 05:01 PM

Holy Shit, i copied it from my post on Allcoast. Let me change it. As a matter a fact, I think there actually were alot of allcoasters on there. Everybody talking like they can fish, but not knowing WTF. Thanks for straightening me out. Let me revise that post yall.

Yeah, I really dont post there that much anymore because of all the bickering and arguing. In fact Ive heard that the BD is more catered to the SanDiego guys that fish Tuna, and Allmost, is guys that think they fish tuna. Certainly no offense. If you guys are telling me that Im spending time on the wrong board, then I will have to take your advice and switch to BD. Afterall, most of the cooler guys on the other one are here too.

gimme · Jun-30-2006, 05:43 PM

Nice report and good job on those Bluefins. How many people were on your 3 day trip?

yellofvr · Jun-30-2006, 05:53 PM

Sounds like a nice trip. To bad no pic's.