Each year is a
different, different conditions, different opportunities, and
certainly different fish on tap. I've really got to stress
this point. In past years, for instance in 2005 when we hit the cows
hard (30 fish at 200# and one at 306 or so) the following year's
charter filled super fast, with folks expecting the same sort of
fishing. Not realistic, and as that next trip proved, not likely
since we caught probably 200 marlin during that one and failed to
bring back the red meat. Last year, the guys had a 283 to show for
our 8 day, certainly NOT something to be expected on an 8 day
charter. This year, different game entirely.
We began the trip
optimistic as could be, everyone hoping for a great time. And, we
all did have a great time. There were folks from all over the place,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, even Bahrain (by way of South Africa).
We began our fishing at Benitos for some excellent yellowtail
action. The forkies were eating the iron and munching bait as well.
From there we traveled down to the Ridge seeking tuna and wahoo. We
found some tuna, some nice grade yellowtail, and some dorado along
the Ridge and the banks. Interestingly, we caught both yellowfin and
bluefin tuna in the same waters, and to me that's quite unusual.
Kind of line our 4 day RRIII charter this year where we caught both
species of tuna in close proximity. I think that points to the
strange year we've had in terms of fishing. Really a mixed bag, with
unsettled water of cooler temperature. With respect to the
wahoo, well we found some, not a whole lot but we sure did catch a
few. Typically we'd get a troll stop, a hook up on a Marauder and
then we'd catch another follower on a bomb or iron. We did not get
many chances, sure wish we'd have had more opportunities or found
that bit of kelp or structure on the surface which would have
produced more "skins."
We kept heading
south, eventually fishing south of Mag Bay. We found a few wahoo,
typically a troll hook up, followed by one or two fish on the Catchy
Bombs or Iron. Fishing was not easy on the Ridge or further south.
But, on what was to be our last morning's fishing we hit the mother
load of dorado. I've never experienced a dorado bite like this
one. Absolute pandemonium, as the fish swam around the boat looking
to bite anything that touched the water. It was like an aquarium
looking down over the rail. I've never seen so many dorado - just
filled with 'em eating the paint off the boat! There were always a
half dozen fish coming over the rail. In less than an hour's time we
boated about 300 decent quality dorado! One downer in that regard, I
really wanted to spend some time tossing some of our new big
poppers. I know the fish would have jumped all over 'em. But, the
skipper said, NO JIGS, NO LURES - fish bait, for safety sake. So,
bait it was, and the fishing was nothing short of incredible for the
time we were able to fish 'em. Once we hit our limit, Andy (our
skipper) called in another long range boat to take over the bite,
and as we drove away we heard those guys hollering just like we had
been.
Not so many tuna this
year, but each year is different, and I'll be you dollars to donuts
that next years trip will score the red meat.
Video from the trip:
IPOD
compatible MP4 file and for a quicker load time please visit our
YouTube Channel for this video.
Click on the images for larger views - for
the guys on the boat, if you'd like a higher resolution copy emailed
please send me back an email.
One more ride for the Chark this year, last one for a while...maybe.
An 8 day'r is a great way to end a season, if it's got to end, let it
end on an 8 - or longer trip! 
