Man, what a cluster!  They stocked some HUGE Golden and Blue Rubies as well as normal trophy rainbows.  I was amazed watching some of the videos and talking with the Rangers.

On the other note, I'm glad I wasn't fishing.  Fist fights, Kids just disrespecting other anglers, and crowds.... I mean CROWDS!!!! 
Dave is going today so hopefully he gets one of the beasts.  I'll throw up a report for him if he's successful.  I would join him, but I have a 13-hour day ahead of me all week leading up to my surgery because apparently surgery is just unpaid time off and I'm costing the company while I'm gone even though they aren't paying me.

Quote from: jrodda on November 08, 2026, 05:10:36 PMthis guy rolls up in front of me, middle of the ocean, and stops 150 yards in front of me, apparently as the spot he wanted to relax on the boat with his family. I know we were in no danger, but why stop in front of the only boat around? Because you're an idiot.

BTW, there's no shortage of them out there.  Whether it's done on purpose or sheer ignorance, incompetence, Negligence, or Naivety...  The 80% rule works for every facet of life, especially in boating where it's more like 90%.  (That's only my rule I've been running with the last 20 years... thus my boat's name... the Curmudgeon!)  hahaha

That is awesome the sign and the smile on his face are top tier

Well, I hope you get out Friday. I'm going to need something to read about in my post op drugged up state!

Congratulations on Concolors first ahi!  Hopefully it just gets better. Love the pics and the story.

Sasquatch went out today for nothing and hopefully we see a report from him, but well... you know...

Bravo again!

Nice session! Sure wish those buggers would cooperate up here, been a long time since catching one. Great quality on everything.

Still trippin' on the date as I write that.

Hated getting up at 0400 to launch at sunrise. Finally got up at 0415. Picked up the boat and was getting gas at the ass crack of dawn. The boat looked especially shiny and clean in the fluorescent light. It is neither shiny, nor clean, so I took the pic so I could aim for something this offseason when the real work begins.



Beat the sun out of the jetty by a c&nt's hair.



I'd just put on a new 4 blade prop the other day hoping to get on plane quick, more stern lift, and better mid-range performance. This was the only 4 blade prop recommended for a Yamaha F60. As soon as I got out of the gate I was on-and-off cavitating. f@ck! Annoying in the moment, as well as knowing I now have more work ahead of me.

I guesstimated the coastal ledge distance, then slowed down to tie on and put out all 4 of my trollers. Just put in the 4th rod holder yesterday, trying to check into the same asylum that Tom is at with his 5 rod spread. Marlin skirt starboard corner; daisy chain starboard long; Ledge Runner port corner; High Speed Vibe starboard shotgun. Once I had them out, I marveled at how the plugs helped add dimension to the spread, everything a little longer than the next, and on turns the skirts could navigate the space between the plug line's water entries perfectly. Never a tangle all day. Yummy.



I was trolling for about 30 minutes before my daisy chain went off. Looked small enough that I barely had to slow down. Still, many lines to navigate. It complied and perfectly danced around the marlin skirt, I went to bounce it, banged it right off the cowling and into the boat. First yellowfin for Concolor!



The water glassed out nicely but it was getting a bit hot out there.



Thought I saw a couple surface splashes along the way, but they never took an interest in the spread. I did throw a KM out to a splash once while the boat was moving, which could have gotten messy...

I was getting down toward Oceanside and was feeling less life, so turned it around. Reeled up and got back on plane, wanting to skip some dead water and hopefully get hit in the head with some signs to drop the lines back again. Well, first I saw a humpback come up, showing off its fluke. Nice! Then another swimming with it! Idled nearby to see if they would put on a show but they seemed to dive down and disappear.

A mile later, I spot a mako go full aerial! Okay, time to fish. Dropped back all the lines again.

Then another two whales, and another mako going aerial just a couple miles ahead! What a show! Then my daisy chain got doinked but it didn't stick. Went to make a loop around again and 3 other boats trolling by f@cked up my angles and rhythm. No bites as I passed through it.

I felt the day coming to a close as the wind started to put a ripple on the water. I knew the wind would come up a good bit in a few more hours, and I did just upgrade to a 12 gallon tank which should easily take me to 2pm, but the ocean seemed to quiet down. Just as I was thinking of finishing my trolling, this guy rolls up in front of me, middle of the ocean, and stops 150 yards in front of me, apparently as the spot he wanted to relax on the boat with his family. I know we were in no danger, but why stop in front of the only boat around? Because you're an idiot.



Too beautiful of a day to harp on that forever. Pulled the lines in and flew in, no cavitation problems in what was following ripples of a sea. 4 Apache helicopters flew hella low just in front of me as I was approaching the harbor. Back in at noon.

Thinking of taking Friday off to launch. Sunday looks like rain again and Saturday's booked, and there is still much to be caught out there.

Productive day! Too bad about the bigger yellowfin. Those bullet tuna continue to elude me but it's nice to see they're still around (and that they will take a shot at the high speed vibe). You made pretty solid work f this season, hope the surgery goes smoothly.

Quote from: Latimeria on November 08, 2026, 01:22:47 PM"'Bring a dropper loop rod...'
Translation: Go catch white seabass, yellowtail, barracuda, bonito, and yellowfin tuna in depths where none of them are supposed to be. Totally normal day. Nothing weird about that at all.  I think the baits been deeper to keep cooler.  My yellowfin were plugged with squid and that yellow I caught 400'+ deep is just more evidence.

Also, congratulations on accidentally becoming Southern California's largest private barracuda processing facility." 😆

I shouldn't have been surprised after you got the yellow at 400', but that seemed like a fluke. I wouldn't even think of looking at hard bottom in 250' right now with the groundfish closure, but now I'm thinking about scouting it out in the coming weeks.

It was the last weekend before my surgery and I was going to take my boat out one more time by hell or high water.  Friday night, the marine conditions looked good.

Saturday morning ramp... a cluster f@ck...  Ugh...

As usual, the marine weather was way off in both size of the swells (x2) and the wind speeds.  What a washing machine out there!





Warm water everywhere, but not as clean as it used to be.  Also not a single strand of kelp anywhere to be found!

No way I was going to get to the 178 or at least burn up a lot of time getting there and I needed meat for the fridge!  I know the fleet has been fishing the inside dropoff, so I decided to start there.  I had a few buddies out there also we were going to buddy boat and keep all of us informed.  Friday was a great day for the fleet... but you know how that goes... Should have been here yesterday...

My buddy called me on the radio when I get a triple hook up!  Bent butt/Spreader Bar (This one at least sounded right) as well as both my jet head side trollers.  Unfortunately trolling 5 rods takes a bit to set up and to figure out how to fight the fish in without tangle.  I had to do the spreader bar last since it was the furthest out but started with the rods that were not bit and moved up from there.  Lost a football on the bounce and picked up the second.  Now to the bigger one.  Funny how a 20# yellowfin can dwarf the little 5-6# footballs!  LOL... But NOOOOO!  The 20# model pulled the hook 15' from the boat.  ARGH!!!!!!

Well, at least I got one of the 3 of the triple hook up.



Immediately these f@cktards came out of nowhere and started doing circles around me.  Jezus christ I hate Saturdays as well as the "New Money" anglers.



After 4 loops he took off and I commenced trolling.

I picked up another YFT and lost a few more but they were even smaller.  I saw the fleet and decided to do a huge circle around them to get any outer orbit fish that were well away from everyone.



Tons of bullet Tuna...



I caught 5 or 6 and it was just nice catching something.







I was near the ledge and decided to drop for some rockfish before heading in for the day.  The wind got up to 20 knots and I was soaking wet from all of the spray.

No working trolling motor so I had to manually motor in place as best I could.  I made a dozen drops before realizing it was too much as I was taking water over the stern.

I got a red...



As well as 4 or 5 sculpin.





Turned around and two douche bags started trolling circles around me.  My god....



I picked up an few more whitefish and called it the day. 



Not what I had in mind for the last ride of 2026, but not too bad coming home with some tuna and groceries.

Now it's time to prep the house before going under the knife again.

Thanks for reading and until next tide!

"'Bring a dropper loop rod...'
Translation: Go catch white seabass, yellowtail, barracuda, bonito, and yellowfin tuna in depths where none of them are supposed to be. Totally normal day. Nothing weird about that at all.  I think the baits been deeper to keep cooler.  My yellowfin were plugged with squid and that yellow I caught 400'+ deep is just more evidence.

Also, congratulations on accidentally becoming Southern California's largest private barracuda processing facility." 😆