ballina tides Fishing Report 2025

Skipper Drew Henderson docked the Polaris Supreme June 17 after a five-day trip to the mid-Baja islands, on the Pacific side, of course.

"It was windy until the day we came home," he remarked. His 18 anglers managed a good catch of yellowtail and rockfish, however.

George Farnsworth of Kenwood won first place for a 27.6-pound yellowtail. He said it bit on a sardine pin ned to a 3/0 Gamakatsu hook. He used 30-pound Yo-Zuri line on a Saltiga 30 reel and a Calstar 870 M rod to beat the fish in 12 minutes.

"We had a great crew," he stated. "And that made a great trip."

Regular long ranger Joe Beck of San Pedro won second place, for a 27-pound yellow. Michael Robbins of Santa Cruz, one of three generations of family members on the trip, won third place, for a 25.4-pound yellowtail.

Tommy Rothery docked his Polaris Supreme at Fisherman's Landing August 22 after the season's best tuna trip to Guadalupe Island. There were 24 anglers aboard the first Dan Heil Memorial trip. "I felt like he was there with us," said son and chartermaster Ron Heil. "He would have really enjoyed this trip." Tuna fishing was excellent for the group, so much so that Rothery was able to give the spot up to Art Taylor and the Searcher. "We had plenty of tuna," said Tom, "all we needed. The sharks got some of them." Steve Patterson of Grants Pass won first place for a 103-pound yellowfin. "My best tuna ever," he said. Patterson used a sardine on a 4/0 ringed Gorilla hook tied to 40-pound P-Line and 65-pound Izorline Spectra backing, on an Avet LX reel and a Rogue Rod of seven feet. "He slaughtered me," added Patterson. "I couldn't get my new rod off the rail. He tore up the cork and the diamond wrap." Don Pieper of Arroyo Grande was second for a 72.6-pounder, and Buddy Bales of Spokane, WA won third place, for a 72.2-pound yellowfin tuna. The season's 12th wahoo from Guadalupe was included in the catch.

We had a great day fishing open water on the yellowtail up to 25 lbs, and dorado up to 20 lbs. Our weather is excellent. It couldn't be any better. Today was just a fantastic day.

Today was filled with a lot of action and success. We had a lot of bites but also many shark casualties as well. Our solution pull until the line breaks or the fish is on the boat. In the process we were able to rule out certain 1/0 hooks that were not strong enough for the tuna we are catching and learn how hard we could truly pull on these fish.

From the hustle we were able to boat enough fish to make this our best day thus far, and stream line our gear selection.

Pictured here is Sophie and Windy with two big tuna that were successfully hustled from the sharks on the right gear.

Hopefully tomorrow has similar results!

 

4th of July action! 38 passengers 6 yellowtail 149 barracuda 7 kelp bass. Very good action all around the islands today. Fly lined sardines and surface lures were the best today. Come on down and see us the weather is flat calm.

The Pacifica checked in this afternoon with an audio update from offshore.   We have limits of Yellowfin Tuna and 4 Bluefin Tuna.

We have plenty of room on our 1.5 day trip leaving Monday night and other 1.5 and overnight trips throughout the week.  We also have a full day trip Sunday at 5:30 AM.  

Bring your 20# and 15# sticks with fluorocarbon and small flat falls.

Thursday, August 16th, 2012

Hi friends. We dropped off Eric Rogger and friends to a dock full of curious bystanders and passengers ready to depart on various trips on other boats and the Ron Heil group looked on as well, ready to load the boat and get underway. Why wouldn't they? With the catch we unloaded, you'd have to be a fool not to go fishing right now. A fool, I say. Anyways, we completed all of our turnaround chores, loaded groceries, loaded passengers, and bid the docks farewell. Our bait loading was about as much fun as trying to hit a nail on the head but instead hitting your finger. Our bait looks okay for now but we're closely monitoring the situation. Nothing anybody can do about it. From the guys on the bait boat busting their butt to get bait to all the boats that demand, the guys on the bait receivers, or us, it is what it is.

Anyhow, Chef Shawn kicked out the prime rib, artichoke, and baked potatoes to the peeps and everyone is hitting the rack for tomorrow's wake-up call. We'll be gettin' nasty with it at 0545 hours. Real nasty. Wish us luck.

-The Supreme Team

Aug. 27-28

Here's a 2 dayer for you all. I forgot to write yesterday's report due to my enthusiasm not being crazy high about it. So we fished in these bluefin grounds all day yesterday and for a few hours in the morning today for not much. Yesterday we were seeing sign of fish around. We didn't see any schools driving around but we'd get a meter mark and stop the boat and after a while we'd see a handful or two sometimes more come under the boat and sometimes we would get a few and other times we wouldn't but at that rate the final tally wasn't anything to write home about so that's probably why I didn't. Today wasn't better. I can't say we ever saw a fish even on the machines. We looked through the traditional area early for nothing then went that way for a while then we turned that way for a while and then we turned that way for a while and then we called it a trip. It means nothing for future trips the way this bluefin is. Tomorrow can be wide open. A hell of a trip anyways if you've been reading you'd know it. The boats clean and everyone on board is stuffed and rested. We'll be getting in at 6:00 in the am tomorrow and then we're departing on the 9 day! I'm really looking forward to it. Getting out of this cool August offshore weather and into the warm wahooey weather. As Joe Beck would say, "yeah baby". Thanks to everyone on board and shame on those who were thinking about making it but didn't. You missed the best bluefin bite you've probably ever seen. Drew