Do
you want a shot at a big fish? No, I mean a big fish that weighs more than you.
Do you want to catch more fish? So many that by the end of the day, you are
worn out, you have run the tank to empty, and you feel it in every muscle in
your body. That feeling tells you that not only have you had a great day, but
you are going to sleep well tonight.
The
opportunity for big fish and more fish is why anglers sign up for long-range
ocean charters. The occasion is also here for you to join me on a saltwater
long-range Pacific Ocean trip. Regarding long-range fishing, San Diego,
California, has an incredible fleet. We are about to board the Independence,
one of the finest sport fishing boats you can sign up for.
So,
pack your bags, grab your gear, bring your drink—everything else is prepared,
and it is almost time to cast off. They tell me we are headed to where the big
boys play, and I am excited. I am outside my usual realm, but I love to test
myself, so let's see if a freshwater bass angler can keep up with these
guys.
Of
course, as with everything I do, I have some inside info, and I happen to be a
guest of the Charter Master, my friend Dick Schaffer. Dick is the owner of
Purfield's Pro Tackle in Los Angeles. He charters between 2 and 3 long-range
trips each year. This trip is a 5-day adventure headed south to the blue waters
of Mexico.
Okay,
perhaps you have been on a boat or two and are headed to the Channel Islands
overnight. Those stuffy bunk rooms and greasy grilles can make you think twice
about heading out to sea for five days or more. So, before we leave the dock,
let's take a look around and see if we are willing to make this
commitment.
Boat Tour
The Independence dockside waiting for you.
Your
Quarters
You
sleep in a stateroom.
There
are 13 two- and three-man staterooms, each with air conditioning, hot and cold
wash basins, and a satellite TV with a DVD player. The rooms have ample
storage, and each bunk has a reading light. Four private toilets and hot shower
rooms throughout the boat are cleaned twice daily.
The
Salon
The
salon has a seat for everyone; this is where you eat your meals.
In
addition to dining, instructional seminars are held here. Pay attention in
class; the crew will give you essential information on the bite and techniques.
The details will make the difference; isn't that always the case?
Want
to take a break from fishing? The salon has a 50" plasma big screen with
satellite television.
The
Cuisine
That's
right, I said cuisine, not food.
Your
meals are prepared by a world-class chef in a restaurant-quality kitchen next
to a walk-in refrigerator.
Look
at this meal, is Wolfgang on board?
Paul
Strasser serves dinner. Paul is the owner, builder, and one of three captains
on board the Independence.
Three
excellent meals are served each day.
There
is always something to snack on and help yourself to the coffee, ice, and soda
fountain.
Staterooms,
a salon, a chef, cuisine, and service. WHAT! This boat sounds like a fine hotel
with a fishing deck and propellers.
Wow,
that's pretty impressive so far, but this is a fishing trip, right? So, in that
regard, what else can the Indy offer?
Stats
Carrying
18,000 gallons of fuel and feeding twin engines, she has a 6,000-mile range.
With 1,500 horsepower, she cruises at 11 to 12 knots.
At
112 feet in length and a 32-foot wide stern, there is plenty of room along the
rail for fishing.
She
has the fleet's largest bait capacity, 700 scoops, and fish holds.
There
is even an onboard tackle shop complete with a line spooling station.
If
you need fresh line, leave your reel in the drop-off box at the end of the
day. Place a tag on your reel with your line choice. It will be re-spooled,
waiting for you to pick it up the following morning.
Equipment
and electronics she has the latest.
There
is constant communication between other boats providing fish reports. These
reports provide information on the conditions and the bite and keep boats from
stacking up in one spot. A typical move from one location to another can take
up to 4 hours. If you make that move and arrive at the destination to find 3 or
4 boats already working the area, you have wasted run time and blown the day.
The Indy has the range, the equipment, the experience, and the knowledge to
place you over the bite.
Captain
Jeff DeBuys is watching over the action.
The
Independence is a fishing-catching machine.
Paul
Strasser scouting.
The
Ride
This
boat has a unique construction.
She
is the only long-range vessel to incorporate a modern steel hull with an
all-aluminum superstructure. This combination produces a very stable ride and
drift with increased speed.
A
Kodak Moment
This
was my first long-range trip. Being a bit new to this type of fishing, I was
happy to have seen a professional photographer aboard. That allowed me to put
my camera away and focus on these new techniques. Shooting pictures or catching
fish, you are doing one or the other. The man with the camera is Barry Wiggins;
he took most of the shots shown in this article. Barry puts together digital
images of the trip. I wonder if Barry can join me on the
FLW tour. I need to cash checks instead of showing you guys photos, LOL.
I
am sold, how about you? The Independence is not an average charter boat. I can
tell these guys are pros; sign me up, I am ready to go.
Time
to Fish
A
5-day trip between travel time will provide four full days of fishing. It is
also a good starter trip for a first-time long-ranger. It would be unfortunate
to be on a more extended trip and find out you do not like it. You are not
going to run into any taxis along the way, but I can't imagine that anyone who
would come near this boat and likes to wet a line would find something not to
like.
Depending
on location and season, you will have a shot at a wide range of fish species.
The prime goal for most long-range boats is Tuna, including albacore, Yellow
Fin, and Blue Fin. Other species include, but are not limited to, Yellow Tail,
Dorado, Calico Bass, Rockfish, Grouper, Wahoo, Sheepshead, sometimes Halibut,
and even White Sea Bass.
Cow
Tuna, remember I said big fish!
Dick,
with an exceptional Calico
Wahoo
Big
Halibut
Awesome
Yellow Fin Tuna
It
was my first day on the rail, and it was a slow start. I only hooked up once
and landed a small Yellowtail, which gave me something to think about that
night in my bunk. The next day, I was a man on a mission. I got in the Zone and figured it out, boating 13 Yellowtail weighing up to 30 pounds.
Equipment
and Techniques
Just
like freshwater bass angling, saltwater angling requires extremely
technique-specific equipment. In fact, on a trip like this, the rod, reel, and
line types will have a broad spectrum. I had equipment rigged from 30 to 80
pounds test. As with all fishing techniques, regardless of where and what, the
proper equipment will have a direct impact on execution and success, which
will, in turn, translate into enjoyment.
Let's
look at the main techniques you can expect on this type of trip. As with just
about all methods, there are variations and advanced details. As a long-range
rookie, I will illustrate the basics.
Techniques
and Equipment Review
Surface
Irons
One
of my favorite ways to fish is with surface irons, a topwater technique. It is
often a response to visual surface fish activity or birds working on the top.
Just like the lake, it usually occurs early morning and late in the day but can
happen at any time. Having your surface iron rig ready and on standby is a good
idea.
I'm using a Newell S338-5 spooled with 40-pound monofilament and a 9-foot Calstar
GFDH 900M.
Surface
irons are jigs, though relatively large, and made from lightweight aluminum.
Usually, they feature a treble hook at the back of the iron. Often selected by
size and color, the best at this technique will tell you that the way a surface
iron swims will out-trump color. Sound familiar?
When
retrieved, irons have a side-to-side kick, similar to a walk the dog, Spook.
Irons are handmade, so each one will be unique. It is the slight imperfections
and subtle miss-alignments that make a surface iron swim just right. A steady
retrieve will work fine, but some guys mix it up with a fast, then slow, then fast pace. The fish should decide, not the angler.
Another
critical aspect of working these lures is the cast. On a rod 9 to 10 feet long,
the angler who can present the iron the furthest from the boat will generally
outperform the rest. Most fish are boat-shy. It also takes a particular type of
cast, not only from a mechanical standpoint but also for safety. Typically,
someone is close to being behind you, or the boat superstructure is a couple of
feet away. When done well, it is a beautiful thing to watch. The iron hangs
directly behind the caster, around four feet from the rod tip. On the back
cast, the iron never gets more than a foot or two behind the angler. It reminds
me of the action of a medieval catapult, which lifts off straight up and then
arcs out, launching a considerable distance.
Mono
is easy to cast; others choose braid. Experienced anglers I spoke with
selected 80 to 100-pound Power Pro braid. Their main reason for this size
was simply that with 65-pound braid or less, it's almost impossible to pick out a
backlash.
Topwater
It
is a lot of fun when you see fish busting on the surface. You make a perfect
cast just past the boil, work the iron into the action, a fish visually hits
your lure, and Fish On!
The
Yoyo Iron
Another
technique I favored was vertical jigging yoyo irons. Yoyo irons look like
surface irons, except their construction features heavier metals. The iron is
dropped vertically and allowed to free spool to the bottom. Depending on the
depth, a typical technique is to reel the lure up about halfway through the
water column, then disengage the reel and let it fall again. Usually, after a
few ups and downs, the current will move your iron off position. Repeat this 3
or 4 times, wind up, and then drop back down.
I
am rigged with 50-pound mono on an Avet HX 5/2 and a Calstar Grafighter 7400
H.
The
reel is a two-speed model. For bigger fish, the two-speed is the way to go. You
present your lure and hook the fish in the higher gear. Wind until you can't
wind anymore, and then switch to the lower gear/speed. It is like riding a bike
up a hill; the lower gear makes it easier.
Like
a surface iron, this lure shape creates a flutter effect as it moves through
the water column. Often, a lure will be struck on the fall or right as it moves
up from the bottom. Dick gave me a few tips for detecting strikes on the fall
that paid off. Count how long it takes for the lure to fall to the bottom when
fishing a spot. Once you have the count to the bottom, when dropping the lure,
if it stops before you reach the end of the count, engage the reel, wind down,
and set the hook. A fish has probably caught the lure on the fall. When
free-spooling the lure to the bottom, feather the spool with your thumb, and
with the other hand, let the line pass through your fingers. This will allow
you to feel the "Tick" your line transmits when a fish takes your
lure on the fall.
Yellowtail on the Yoyo
I
watched some anglers cast their irons farther out and hop the lure back to the
boat. I was doing pretty well with the yoyo straight up and down. Mix it up
like anything, and let the fish tell you what is best.
Hooked up coming down the rail.
If
you do not mind the work, this method is fun. It is very similar to vertical
spooning for largemouth, except these fish are more challenging to bring up.
Working the lure vertically through the water column, you hang a solid fish,
and there is an immediate load on the rod, but your efforts have just begun.
Hook into a few, and you will be happy that you have a two-speed reel.
The
Dance at the Stern
Fly
Lining Bait
When
done correctly, fishing live bait at the stern of the boat is a
well-choreographed dance. Go to the bait tank, get your live bait, and rig up.
Approach the line on each side of the boat near the transom. Once in line, cast
or pitch out to the side of the boat. In the water, your bait will drift back
past the stern. As your offering moves back, slowly sidestep and follow your
bait. Keep moving back and turn across the rear rail. Once you reach the middle
of the stern, reel in, get a fresh bait, and repeat the process.
Everyone
following the procedure provides an equal opportunity for all to target the
zone. Understand that the captain positions the boat relatively close to the
structure and action. By the time your offering has moved from the side of the
boat and then behind, the following will most likely happen if you stay in one
place. Allowing your bait to continue to fly line back well beyond the boat
will most likely cause you to be out of range. Engage the reel to keep your
bait near the transom, and you will cheat the natural action of your live bait.
But worse, you are creating a situation that will cause your line to tangle up
with others, which is not good.
Learn
the dance step; it works and is in your best interest. I wish the local sport
fishing boats had a better "dance floor." All boats should have a
dance floor drill sergeant on board because some guys won't respond to anything
less; hello! I think the first guy who won't move should be tossed overboard.
The issue will be resolved quickly; it is only a 10-mile swim to the Mexican
coastline and then a long walk home. Okay, maybe that is too harsh, but you get
my point.
Bait
options: Sardines are typical, but you might also use anchovies, larger
mackerel, or small squid. A common live bait fly line setup is a 30-pound rig:
a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader attached to a 30-pound monofilament main line
with a 3-turn surgeon's knot.
Leader
lengths will vary from angler to angler. Many choose to keep the knot out of
the rod's guides, so they tie a leader slightly shorter than the rod length or
a very long leader so the knot stays in the reel spool.
This
is that end of the day worn out look I mentioned.
For
hook selection, the bait size and technique will influence hook size. For a fly
lined sardine on a 30/30 rig I am using an Owner ringed fly liner 2/0 live bait
hook. I nose-hook the sardine. The ringed hook acts as a pivot and allows
better swimming action for live bait. If it is windy or the fish are deep, add
a weight to your line.
An Avet MXJ 6/4 reel spooled with 30-pound mono and a Calstar GFGR 700M. This is a 7-foot medium-action rod. When a heaver line is needed, I will switch to an Avet JX 6/3 spooled with 40-pound mono.Note
the ringed hooks.
The Bottom
of the Bottom
When
fishing the bottom, a dropper loop rig with 40 to 50 pounds of mono is a good
choice. The dropper loop is the saltwater version of the drop shot. The drop
shot origin is purported to come from the saltwater dropper loop.
The Dropper
Loop Rig
The
length of the drop and hook loop is essential. Too short of a drop or a hook
loop too long, and your bait will be too close to the bottom, where you will
target bat rays and other undesirable species. This should give you something
to consider based on the angle of your presentation. The further away the rig
is from the boat, the closer your bait is to the bottom.
The
same rod and reel setup for the yoyo iron will work fine. I use torpedo weights
when fishing the dropper loop. Weight selection will vary based on current
speed, drift speed, and water depth. Hook selection will change with bait
options. A 7/0 to 9/0 hook with a nose-hooked mackerel or a slab fillet of
white fish is a nice selection.
You
are generally fishing deep with mono. Monofilament line and deep water equates
to stretch. When you feel a bite, do not swing. Due to the line type and
distance between you and the fish, a swinging hook set will be ineffectual. You
want to wind into the fish with a reeling hook set. Once the rod loads up,
swing it if you choose.
Trolling
When
searching for fish, the Independence will use side scan and down scan
technology. They have been doing this for many years and had the technology
long before it was available to us on a bass boat. The electronics on the Indy
will scan to the side 500 feet in each direction. Side to side and under the
boat equates to a 1000-foot-wide scouting lane. Either searching or moving to a
new spot, it is time to troll.
Every
angler is given a number. These numbers identify caught fish, rod storage,
tackle storage, and trolling teams. Five anglers rotate for 30 minutes on the
troll off the stern. Various lures are employed, with tuna feathers being the
most common.
I
rigged my feathers to 80lb mono spooled onto an Avet Pro EX 30/2. The reel was
matched with a Calstar BWG 6460 XH A/R.
A
specific type of reel is required for this trolling method. The rail is wrapped
with straps. Each end of the strap has a snap-lock clip. The clips are attached
to the reel's eye holes. The drag created on the lure and line holds the
trolling rig horizontally under, out, and away from the rail. It is a
hands-free technique. When a fish hits the lure, the movement of the boat sets
the hook.
Trolling
Making
Bait
During
the trip, it will be time to make bait. Even though this boat has a 700-scoop
bait capacity, the largest in the fleet, having different bait types, such as
mackerel or squid, can be advantageous. These items are not always available at
the bait dock in San Diego. The captain will use electronics and lights to
locate and attract bait schools.
A
Sabiki rig is an easy-to-use pre-tied setup featuring up to 6 micro jigs.
Bioluminescence is prevalent in the ocean, and some rigs have glow-in-the-dark
fluorescent beads that attract bait. At one end, there is a single swivel. Tie
the swivel to the main line on your 30-pound live bait setup. On the other end
of the Sabiki, you will find a swivel with a snap attached. Place a sinker on
the snap, and you are ready.
The Sabiki
Rig
The
crew will recommend which size sinker to use. Current strength and depth of
bait will influence weight size. You want the weight to keep your rig vertical,
avoiding drifting and tangling other rigs.
Lightly
vertically jig the Sabiki. You will feel small tugs as bait fish eat the micro
jigs. It is not uncommon to catch six baits at once. Reel up and take the catch
to the bait tank, where a crew member will be waiting. The deck tech will have
a unique tool that easily removes the bait unharmed from the jig hooks. The
tool provides hands-free unhooking so you do not remove the fish's protective
slime. This ensures lively, longer-lasting bait. With everyone up on deck
making bait, it does not take long before you have a good supply.
Heading
Home
If
you have not noticed, I like Avet reels and Calstar rods. By the way, this gear
will change how you view your freshwater big bait swimbait equipment. It is so
relative and a matter of conditioning. These reels make my Calcutta 400 feel
like a low profile, and my jig stick makes my big bait swimbait rod feel like a
worm rod. Spend some time with larger gear, and you may realize that what you
thought was big is not. Exposure is a brilliant thing; misconceptions can stem
from the lack of it.
The
lessons from this type of angling transcend all fishing disciplines.
The
author and his bounty.
As
you can see, the Independence is top-rate and an exemplary operation. I had a
great time on board. I spent time with my friend Dick and made new friends as
well.
Recognition
This journey, sights, and fishing memories will last a lifetime. I want to thank
Dick Schaffer for this opportunity. Barry Wiggins, the permission to use your photos is
greatly appreciated. And finally, thank you to the crew of the Independence; it
was a fantastic trip.
Photo Credit: DStewartFishing took the tackle images, the Sabiki rig, and the photo of the Independence as seen from the dock. Barry Wiggins Photography took all additional photos, which were used for this article with permission. All rights are reserved.
Note: The gear highlighted in this article was top-of-the-line
in 2010. Some items may be out of production during this article’s reprinting.
Nonetheless, this gear is still worthy of the angling described. I
recommended that you check with your charter for gear and tackle suggestions.
