ballina evans head Fishing Report 2024

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 9-6-2014

 Good evening friends from the bridge of the Polaris Supreme. I'd like to start with a little recap of the Gary Roberts 9 day trip. What an epic trip! We really did cover all the grounds you cover on a 9 day and boated all the species that we were looking for. Although we didn't get the numbers on the dorado that we were looking for, we more than made up for it in wahoo and tuna counts. I really think Drew did an exceptional job of trip planning with avoinding any bad weather and putting us in position for the best fishing we could possibly have. I don't recall the last time in my 9 years on the boat that we've had that consistant fishing for the "skinny's" as we did. The guys fished hard and were rewared for there efforts. We ended the last couple days of the trip at the tuna grounds to pick up a handful of quality bluefin to settle jackpot and all you could eat beautiful grade of yelloefin tuna from 20-40 lbs. What an awesome 9 day! We really missed you this year Gary and look forward to seeing you back next year with the same group of awesome guys you bring out year after year.
 We also departed this morning on our 6th annual 5 day trip with Robin Gledhill and his Blue-White Industries charter. We are always excited to have these guys out with us. It's quite the unique trip with a special menu, different types of wine every night depending on the dinner all the way to our fancy dinner attire consisting of the classic tuxedo t-shirts! Love it! You never know what Robin is going to bring to the table. We started offshore looking around on the tuna grounds to get the lines wet, didn't find much to start, but fishing the first day of a 5 day is a bonus anyway. Tomorrow at the crack of light and get this party started. The weather looks great so far and looks just as good for the next few days, so let's hope the weather man is telling the truth.
 It's almost that time to head downstairs for some grilled pork chops and the wine of the night Chalk Hill Chardonnay, for the passengers of course. Robin also wants to send a shout out to Janet, Taylor who couldn't join us this year because him and his wife are due to have a little one any day now, and all of the rest of his friends and family that are tuning in over the next 5 days.
 Before I check out though, I do have to mention some day and a half and 2 day tuna trips that we've added here starting at the end of September. Here's some dates to mark on your calender: 2 day departing Friday 9-26 arriving Sunday 9-28, 2 day departing Monday 9-29 arriving Wednesday 10-01, 2 day departing Friday 10-03 arriving Sunday 10-05, 1.5 day departing Sunday 10-06 arriving Wednesday 10-08. You can book any of these trips on the website polarissupreme.com or call Susan at the office at 619-390-7890.
 Til tomorrow my friends, a good night to all and to all a good night.

 Jed and crew

33 passangers

48 yellowtail

52 bonito

2 lingcod

1 calico bass

1 sandbass

Fish the technique your most comfortable with

Lifting one of these fish completely off the deck after the long battle may be the toughest part ! Another amazing day of local big fish for captain Matt and the guys. 35 anglers. 20 bluefin tuna. Same tackle suggestions as earlier posts. If you do not own a 2 speed reel. Please rent one from Seaforth Sportfishing when you check in for the trip in the morning.

Many of you know Captain Ray Montera who has been involved in sportfishing most of his life. In March, his 32 year old Chris son was severely injured in a C4 blast in Afghanistan. We are holding a fundraiser on October 8th at the Bali Hai on Shelter Island. He is one of our own and we are rallying to support him.

As an Army soldier, Chris Montera was often taken aback when people would thank him for doing the job he loved. On a fateful day in March, he came to face the sacrifice. He was on a dismounted mission and was hit with explosion of C4, which literally blasted and propelled him into a grape field. He suffered major issues with blast lung and severe burns over much of his body. For 9 days he was on ECMO (lung bypass) until he was stable enough to be transported to BAMC in San Antonio for the treatment of his shrapnel wounds and third degree burns. On April 2 a fungal infection set into the wounds on his lower extremities and Chris underwent bilateral AK amputation of his legs. He was further diagnosed with an incomplete spinal cord injury in the thoracic area of the spine at VA Polytrauma Center in Palo Alto.

Through all of this, Chris remains focused and committed to rehabilitation. It is estimated that he will remain in Palo Alto for 3-6 months while he works to regain his upper body strength, which will be necessary for the next stages of rehab in the C5 program at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego where he will be fitted with prosthetic legs and with determination will learn to walk again. There is no doubt in our minds that Chris will recover to live an independent life. The goal of this fundraiser is to be able to assist Chris with expenses he will no doubt encounter on his journey to independence.

The event will be held at the Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island On October 8th from 6:00-10:00 pm. There will be food stations serving food from many San Diego restaurants along with a no host bar. A raffle, live, and silent auction will take place during the event along with live entertainment by Mango Bay and World Famous Jim Gibson. The outpouring of support of raffle and auction donations from the sportfishing community, tackle, fishing supply manufacturers, and local businesses has been phenomenal. The evening will be great fun for all and will serve to help a young man who put it all on the line.

There are several ways you can help:
First and most important is attend the event.

Tickets are $50 in advance or $450 for a block of 10

Advance ticket purchases will include 3 raffle tickets and assorted swag

Cannot attend but would like to help, make a cash donation in any amount.

Donate an item for the raffle or auction. Anything from fishing items, art, gift certificates, clothing...anything is greatly appreciated.


We look forward to having you at the event. The sport fishing community has come together to take care of a wounded warrior of their own, and it promises to be a fun filled evening for all.

To purchase tickets for Island Nights at the Bali Hai, please visit our website at http://christophermonterasupport.com/island-nights-at-the-bali-hai

To donate items for our raffle/auction please visit our website and complete the donor form http://christophermonterasupport.com/sponsors-anddonors-supporters/donor-form

Captain Ryan checked in tonight with an update from the San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing in Mission Bay, CA. We returned late last night. Our trip today and Friday have been cancelled due to weather. Our next trip is going to be Saturday.

We had 25 anglers catch 7 Bluefin Tuna, 38 Yellowtail and 35 Bonito. We had some nice quality on the Bluefin Tuna. We had 6 Bluefin Tuna between 60 and 108 pounds. To be exact we had Bluefin Tuna weighing in at 108, 102, 90, 90, 80 and 60 pounds. We also had one small one that we caught on the troll early in the morning. There is excellent sign of big Bluefin Tuna right now.

It is very important to be prepared with the correct tackle. A Shimano Talica 12 or 16 two speed filled with 65 or 80 lb spectra. Connected to 5 feet of 80 or 130 lb flouro and a 250 gram flatfall. A sinker bait rig fished with a Talica 16 or 20 two speed filled halfway with 80 lb spectra than topped off with 60 or 80 lb mono to a short leader of 80 lb flouro. A 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook and a 4-6 oz torpedo sinker.
Please bring the correct tackle. During our last trip we had 20 hookups and got 6 of them.

Mike Pritchard called in with this report for the Tribute. "We're off to a great start here this morning. We made a move down to the Yellowfin grounds that really paid off. We have over 150 Yellowfin tuna on the boat this morning. To that you can add 150 Yellowtail. We'll keep you updated as the day progresses.

"We're leaving on a 1 Day trip tomorrow night. I know some Bluefin have been caught locally. It's a good time to go fishing. There is still very good fishing to be had. Hope to see you on the water."

The Tribute out of Seaforth Landing in San Diego, CA checked in with us today.