What was planned to be a three-day fishing odyssey upon the
open sea became, unexpectedly, a tale of resilience, camaraderie, and enduring
fishing zeal. Our group of Marina Del Rey Anglers and guests set out with
anticipation drumming in our veins, gear prepped and hopes high for a stretch
of days filled with angling adventure.
Yet, as often happens on the water, the wind shifted. A
mechanical failure with our charter boat forced us to dock earlier than
planned; the horizon of our journey was suddenly trimmed by necessity. But if
you picture disappointment settling like fog among us, think again. The
mechanical woes proved no match for the bright current of our spirit.
Unfazed, we turned challenge into opportunity.
We savored every hour on the water with double the enthusiasm, each cast thrown
not just for the catch, but for the joy of being together in pursuit of a
shared passion. Every fish landed became a victory not just over the sea, but
over circumstance itself, a testament to our resilience and determination.
A Sunday Night Departure
Seaforth
Landing, Mission Bay, San Diego, a setting sun as the MDRA awaits our PM
departing charter.
Our Offshore
Angling Uber Approaches.
Sunset Shoreline
Angling
Cresent Moon
Over a Calm Mission Bay
After a Night of Travel, the Angling Commences
Making Bait –
The morning sunrise greets Charter Guest Gary of Pacific Lures as he jigs for
squid.
MDRA
President Myles Blatt is hooked up and ready for the gaff.
The gang
watches intently as MDRA’s Keith Lambert battles a nice Yellowtail. Keith went
on to catch several more quality fish.
Going Over -
Charter guest Todd Woods is hooked up and sliding down the rail.
Woods
Scores a Hefty Yellowtail
The Author –
D Stewart with a nice fly-line Yellowtail.
Captain Ryan
Block gaffs a 125 lb. Bluefin, hoisting the mighty tuna single-handedly over
the rail. This Big Blue was fooled with an artificial flying fish on the kite,
producing a magnificent topwater Blow-Up!
The Bounty –
Anchored by the Big Bluefin Tuna Kite Fish!
Winning Techniques this Trip
Fly Line – Anchovies and Sardines, 25 lb. or 30 lb. with
#2 Mutu circle hook. If your bait doesn’t swim right away, make chum, and get a
fresh bait.
Dropper Loop – Live Squid was an excellent choice.
Rig a 50 lb. leader and an 8 oz. sinker. If you weren’t making bait with a Sabiki
Rig, the Dropper Loop Rig was the ticket to catching Yellowtail. This method
also produced a nice 20 lb. Halibut for the author.
Drift Rig - Employed by deck anglers while the boat deploys a kite rig during a drift. 80 lb. braid mainline with a 50 lb. monofilament leader (stretch during hookup/drifting boat weight in play). Dress
a 5/0 hook with a live squid (got to make bait, get up) or sardine.
Yoyo Iron – A good choice to show the fish something
different. The Yoyo accounted for Yellowtail during the day when traditional vertical
knife jigs were not catching.
Kite Fishing – featuring an artificial flying fish
bait, the kite produced a highly respectable 125-pound Bluefin Tuna. The top-water
blow-up was spectacular!
Trolling – Tuna feathers on the troll scored smaller Bluefin.
Tube Bait – Casting a tube when near inshore kelp beds
produced quality Kelp Bass.
Author's Yellowtail and Halibut Catch
My
Trip Takeaways
Maximizing Fishing Time is a
Key Strategy; seize every opportunity, as
they are rare during a challenging bite, especially if the trip is cut short
due to boat trouble. There's no such thing as too much fishing time. Rest when
you're back home. Eat and drink while the boat is moving to the next spot. Wet
lines are the only ones that get bites. Don’t wait, as the bite can stop
suddenly. If the boat breaks down, it's part of the game, but it means the end
of fishing time. If space on the boat permits, having double setups rigged and
ready can keep you in the game with less time spent re-rigging during a hot bite. You
don’t need an extra setup for everything, but having the primary setups doubled
can prove valuable.
Time on the Water
is often said to make for a better angler. This adage is essentially true;
however, it is not entirely complete. Quality Time on the Water is what you’re
after. Prepare everything ahead of time, so you’re 100 % ready when the
critical moment presents itself. Knowing your equipment and rigging and being
prepared to make changes when necessary will give you a sense of confidence
and control over your fishing experience.
Observe the Hot Sticks.
If you find yourself not leading the pack, take the opportunity to closely
observe what other anglers are doing that sets them apart. This open-minded
approach can lead to valuable insights and improve your own fishing techniques.
Listen to the Advice
the Captain and Crew provide. They know the bite and what is working better
than anyone on board. The Charter wants you to succeed; it’s their business
model.
A
Positive Attitude
will serve you well, regardless of what you’re doing.
Never stop learning.
Heading
Back
Deckhand
Cole is rigging at the bait tanks. Keith Lambert and Myles Blatt are at the
stern trolling.
Chairmen Ted
Cotter (left) and Todd Woods relax and enjoy the sights while traveling
between the fishing grounds.
Heading Back
to Port
Escorts
Pacific
Sunset
Back to the landing
as the sun sets on another outstanding MDRA adventure!
Angling Passion
Setbacks do not define the Marina Del Rey Anglers; we are
defined by the gusto with which we chase our next adventure. Boat trouble may
have shortened our trip, but it could never diminish the memories we created,
nor the excitement for the next time we set our sights on the horizon. In the
end, it’s not the length of the voyage, but the spirit of the anglers, crew,
and captain that makes the journey unforgettable.
