Albacore  now

[Fubar]

Some friends of mine went out of San Diego on two different private boats. They both found good albacore action around the 390. One boat got a lot of yellowtail off a kelp paddy. The albacore were biting bait and trolled feathers. The bait was anchovies and was in great shape. Now would be a great time to go for the albacore. If you go, give us a report. ### Thanx ### Fubar

(Edited by Fubar at 10:13 am on June 23, 2001)

[hronk]

THREE weeks and counting!....hronk

[Slamfire]

More good news, El Nino is making a comeback. Of course, the guys making the prediction are responsible for global warming, so I don't know if it's true.

[BigDog]

Fubar, you are making me nuts. I want to get down there and get into Albacore so bad.......

[Fubar]

Big Dog ###I am makin me nuts. I wanna go too. ### ### ### ### ###Fubar

[Fubar]

Hronk ###I hope you catch a whole bunch. By the way you are going right by my house on your wat home so if you have too many I would be glad to help you get rid of some. There is an ice house not far from where I live. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[hntndux]

I've chartered a boat out of Bodega on the 21st of July so hopefully they're up here by then!

[Fubar]

hntndux ###Sounds like you are an albacore hunter too. Ever fish em there before? When do the usually arive? They are usually bigger fish up there. They are starting to get some in Morro Bay now. ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[hronk]

FUBAR: ###Your on! ###If we have any kind of trip like our last 4 day, you got yourself some fish. ###I'll try to get a picture posted of the results of that trip.....hronk

[MQ]

USAfishing.com this AM sez albies have been taken off Monterey in the last couple days. Yee-haw!

[hntndux]

fubar, this will be my first time out for them. ###I'm always looking for something else to catch or kill. ###They should start arriving in about a week or two about 20-25 miles out.

[Speckmisser]

Hey BigDog.

What's it take to get an albacore trip out of our area? ###Is it expensive? ###These are usually one day trips, not overnighters, right?

[MQ]

I usually drive down to either Monterey or Santa Cruz for the albies. Monterey is a little cheaper, but the further drive. Costs about $150 for the trip and the boats leave at 4AM or so and get back as late as 10 pm. All it takes is one good trip and you'll be "hooked".....

[hntndux]

I might have an opening on my trip for July 21st out of Bodega if anyone may be interested. ###I'll know for sure sometime this weekend.

[Speckmisser]

I haven't done a charter trip out here, and have no idea...do you bring your own rod and reel? ###What does it take..are you usually casting, or do you troll? ###I have a couple of Penn lever drags (GL-25 and GL-45) that I used to use back east on king mackerel and dorado. ###Seems like they'd both be adequate. ###

I've caught a couple of blackfin tuna and remember what a screaming run those guys make. ###I imagine albies are pretty much the same? ###

I dunno...it's summer time, and I haven't been in the ocean or on it yet. ###My scuba gear is dry-rotting, and my fishing rods haven't been unpacked since my last trip to Florida. ###All this talk about big fish is getting me hyped.

[BigDog]

MQ describes my experience. I went down to Monterey with the wife and some friends and we went out on an all day into the night trip. Unfortunately, there we only 3 fish caught on the whole boat. Picked a bad day.
But, I hear they are a blast to catch and I know they are good eating.
Keep getting the fever Speck and maybe we will get you out on the water....lol

[MQ]

You can bring your own gear or rent the gear. I prefer my own after a bad experience with rental gear. They use 2 rods for this adventure, one for trolling and one for live bait. The trolling rod should be rigged with 40-50 lb test line and the live bait rod can be set up with 20 to 30 lb test. The live bait rod can be similar to a salmon mooching rod , while the trolling rod is better off being a little stiffer. Some guys use stiff rods and 2-speed reels to winch the fish in as fast as possible so they can get there bait out again faster. I like a lighter rig where I play the fish a little more. Some of the hardcores will bring 6 rods with a different setup for each, but I think thats going a little overboard.

[BigDog]

Ok guys, you got to stop this. You are getting me ansty. Got me thinking about rigs and what I would need to get..... I have already spent a couple thousand on hunting so far this year and the seasons have not even started.... now you have me thinking about buying fishing gear and trips.....I am putting my fingers in my ears ....or a blindfold over my eyes I guess.

[hronk]

How about a "Jesses Hunting Forum" Charter out of San Diego ###in the summer of "02" ###either a 1 1/2 day or two day trip on one of the boats that specialize in Tuna?!! It would be a kick to meet the people we argue with and exchange info with. ###Get enough interest and I could call around. ###I've done trips from 1 to 4 days for the last 15 yrs and could help with "loaner gear" for the 1st timers.....Think about it. ### ###.....hronk

[Fubar]

Hronk ###That might be fun. I wonder if we could come up with enough people to do it? If anyone else would be interested post here and we will see how mwny we can get. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[BigDog]

Put me on the list. I can plan for it and stash the cash.

[spectr17]

I'm in and let me see if my Dad would want to go also.

[Fubar]

If San Diego is too far for some of the No Cal guys maybe we could charter an Albacore trip out of Morro Bay and meet there. Just a thought. ### ### ### ###Fubar

[Speckmisser]

Hey, this is sounding interesting...both San Diego AND Morro Bay. ###You can fly to SD from the Bay Area cheaper than you can drive...not to mention making the trip in 2 hours rather than 10. ###How much does one of these trips run? ###

[Fubar]

Spec an overnight trip out of San Diego is about 175 dollars. This includes bait and Mexican permits and bunk. You have to bring your own fishing equipment. They have rods and reels for rent also for those that dont have them. I posted a new topic with the links for the different landings. If you check these you should be able to get all the info you need. ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[Speckmisser]

Hey, cool! ###That $175 sounds bearable. ###And I have three good blue-water rod/reel combos from 20lb to 50lb...plus two old 6/0 Penns that'll handle pretty much anything that swims. ###None of these has seen any action since my last run to the Keys, and I'd love to blow the dust off of them. ###

[QALHNTR]

Sign me up! ###I've got three two-day'rs with a good group of guys already and NEED MORE. ###I've only got two jars of last year's albacore left.

[Fubar]

My friend just got back from a 3 day trip aboard the Big Game 90 out of San Diego. There were limits of Albacore and some yellowtail also. A couple of Bluefin were also taken. He said some of the albacore were line shy. This may have been due to the small anchovies they had for bait. Its hard to present a four inch anchovy on line heavier than 20 lb test. He said he caught a few on jigs and plastics also. He said the boat and crew were good and they had a fish hold which kept the fish almost frozen. The fish were 100 to 150 miles. The weather was good the first day and got kind of sloppy the second day. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[hronk]

7 days!!!! ###here Blufin,Bluefin.......hronk

[MQ]

A couple buddies went out in a private boat (23 footer) out of Santa Cruz on Saturday and got 7. There were hundreds of boats, which may have scattered the fish some. But the good days are soon approaching....

[Fly Slinger]

albacore trip...with all you guys....count me in

[Speckmisser]

Just posting to this thread to keep it on top...

I guess I could just start a new thread, though..huh? ###

I can't help it. ###EA said I was "deminted."

[bigtroutbane]

Just came back from an awesome trip. ###3 buddies and I chartered a boat out of San Diego and hit the Jackpot on YELLOWTAIL down at the ROCKPILE on Thursday. ###LIMITED OUT BIG TIME on Yellow Tail and about 8 Ling(?)COD and 1 Barracuda. ###

$210 bucks per person all tackle/rods/reels/and fish cleaning included. ###One of the BEST charters I've ever done. ###Best bang for the buck. ###

[rusman66]

Hey Im in.

[BigDog]

I agree, you are deminted.

[hronk]

I'm going on a limited load overnighter on 9/29 right after I get back from Colorado. ###I'll dig up all the info I can while I'm down there. ###I'll check on 1 1/2 day and 2 day trips. ###I'll also get Fubar the Tuna that I promised him on the last trip. ###I would like to go ahead and make reservations for a ###charter ### by Oct/Nov for next July/Aug....Let me have your input on how long of a trip you want, how much you are willing to spend and what month is best for you. ###Traditionally, June is a little early as is the 1st half of July. ###Things usually start happening, Tuna-wise in july/Aug & I have done quite well in Sept/Oct. ### BUT....each year is different, no guarantees!!!! ### I am already looking at a 5 day trip in Sept. of next year, so would like to plan this one earlier. ### Remember, we can't please everybody date/time-wise, so it helps to be a little flexable... ....hronk ###

[hronk]

Counting heads, ###We have about 10 people interested........Any others??? ###As we get closer, a post on the other boards might help boost our numbers......hronk ### ### ###

[Fubar]

Hronk ###If we are going to do this next summer any July or August dates are good for me. I think a day and a half would be good for the beginners. That gives you a full day of fishing. Any day is good for me but most people would probably want to leave Friday night fish all day Sat and get back Sun AM early to deal with everything and rest up for work Monday. I am OK with during the week as it is probably cheaper. I can go with the flow. ### ### Fubar

[BigDog]

Any month is fine with me. That far in advance, I can schedule vacation for it if I have to. 2 day would be my preference but 1 1/2 is fine also.

[MQ]

I went out (finally!) on the Wild Wave (Santa Cruz) on Friday and what a blast. 80 fish for the 22 aboard with action most of the day. I took my 15 year old for his first albie trip and he got a couple - yee haw! He couldn't figure why his arms were so sore the next day :o) ###Sushi time!!

[Fubar]

MQ ###Congrats on your albacore trip. Bet your son is hooked now. How did you like the boat and crew? How much was it? How was the bait? Thanx for the info. ### ### ###Fubar

[MQ]

The boat and crew are top notch. The Wild Wave is a 70 footer that takes up to 24 on albie runs. They have bunks down below deck for snoozin' and a galley with a cook (Salty from the long range boat Excess). Mike Baxter and his crew are very knowledgeable about the fish and their habits and had us into action most of the day. The bait was real good, with large, lively sardines and anchovies being offered. The cost is $175 apiece, which is a little higher than most one day trips, but the level of comfort is worth it. Plus the boat supplied all the rods for those without at no extra cost. Their equipment was in great shape (unlike some of those Monterey boats). All in all, it was a quality experience and I would recommend them to anyone. I would (and will) do it again...

[Fubar]

Today, the Admiral out of Virgs Landing in Morro Bay, with 21 anglers on board, caught 294 albacore. ### ### ### ###Fubar

[MQ]

Dang, thats some fishin'. I went out again on Monday out of Monterey. After a 4 hour cruise south we got into a few fish, but nothing real steady. The average must have been about 2 or so fish per rod. Most caught on the troll with zukes and black/purple. Bait were large sardines and the albies just weren't hitting them. Too big. Metal seemed to work better for those so equipped. I ended up with 1 and a buddy got three, all in the 20-25 lb class. There were some in the 30 lb class landed also. To add injury to insult, my truck spun a bearing on the way home. Didn't get home till 1 AM (after getting up at 1:30 the morning before). Now I gotta rebuild my engine before deer season.
Here is a picture of my son's first albie caught last month, along with my good buddy Tom (lets see if this works)
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/MQ/MattsFirstAlbie1.jpg

[Fubar]

MQ Thanks for the report and the pic. I always take along some fishtraps in the Channel Islands Chovey pattern with 1 1/2 or 2 oz leadheads just in case there is a bait problem. Like you said, they hit the iron in the blue and chrome too. The albacore are going nuts right now in Morro Bay and San Diego. Sorry to hear about your truck. Good Luck. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Fubar

[MQ]

Fubar - I guess that's the pennance I pay for all the miles and fun I had this summer. My boys and I hit it all (for the Bay area): salmon,stripers, shallow water rock fishing, albacore, doves...not to mention the 3 camping trips where we didn't fish. Dang, ducks and deer are just around the corner. Better get the wrench out....