campaspe river Fishing Report 2025

24 yellowtail 1 bluefin. Still fish around but the changing conditions have them acting up.

Sep. 10

Well, today was just swell. We caught bluefin. Yup, lots of them. We found a school a little while after breakfast and stayed drifting till a little while after lunch. I've just now been staring at this screen for a few minutes drawing a blank on what to write. Mark just woke me up for my watch and I guess I'm not a midnight writer so I'll keep it simple. It was a lot of fun. The fish were in the 30-40 pound range with our spring scale calling the biggest at 49 pounds. After that school wouldn't bite anymore we went on search for another and found just a dandy of a school but it would have nothing to do with us so we search, search, search. About an hour maybe longer before dark we found what we were looking for and stopped the boat on a school of biting fish and had another nice shot at them before and into and after dark.

I'm going to have to give Tommy the credit for todays fishing. For a while today I thought maybe it was all about my lucky 7-11 cap I've been wearing but I think Tommy just did a good job of finding those schools today. Hat or no hat, we just nailed them today. The weather was good today and we're still drifting and my legs aren't very spread apart so you know it's good drifting and good sleeping. We're going to give it a little while tomorrow before having to call it a trip and head for home.

Drew

Saturday, July 6th, 2013

Hi friends. We just finished up breaking down tackle, scrubbing/freshwater rinsing the tackle, scrubbing the boat, cleaning the upper deck, and putting fresh line on the handout tackle for our 6-day trip tomorrow. With all the chores completed, I'll give everyone a rundown of our daily events.

The bluefins eluded us today. Well, they eluded our sonar, fathometer, our baits, our hooks, etc. You name it, and they eluded it. We did see plenty of fish but they were all scattered out all over the place. Jumper here, jumper there, single sonar pop here, single sonar pop there. Absolutely no substance to any of it. Very frustrating to say the least. Our tuna count was nothing to write home about but we had a backup plan that we worked to perfection.

After getting the slip from the BFT, we managed to locate numerous kelps and had ourselves a couple of good stops on some Yellowtails to salvage the day. The gang had a rollicking good time and we ended our trip on a high note. Speaking of high notes, our sea conditions were once again fan-freaking-tastic today. The wind, mist, and chilly air kept us bundled up but it burnt off by lunch and we got in a mini bronzing session.

So that was our day in a low cholesterol peanut shell. We went the distance for the gang today and are burning the midnight oil. We stayed out late for Archie and company and our ETA for tomorrow will be 0900 hours. We'll be turning around for a 6-day adventure and we will be guided under the stong hands of Drew "Strong Hands" Henderson.

Take care. Fillet Mignon, crab, holandaise, asparagus, and mashed potatoes are calling our names. See ya.

P.S. Gunny says hello and thank you for following Richie's ravishing reports, Rosalyn.

We had a good day of fishing today on the yellowfin tuna most of the fish
were 40 to 55 pounds a few standouts in the 70 and 80 pound range! We again
had heavy losses due to tackle failure and of course the great white sharks!
Our weather was excellent all day. The guys are fishing 40 pound test to 50
pound test with very small hooks mostly size 1 or 1/0. Most of the fish lost
are probably in the 70 to hundred pound range. There just on so long that
the line wears through or they get munched! Everybody had a shot at two to
as many as seven fish throughout the day but our land ratio was down around
30%. We're going to do this again tomorrow hopefully we have better luck on
the landing end of it!, All in all it was great day.
*

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Hi friends. Cherry on top of the Sundae action today. Pretty much a repeat of Friday with steady action on 12-20 lb. Bluefin tuna with a little bit more of that 12-25 lb. Yellowfin tuna to go along with it. Integrated schools for the most part and our score was a 75/25 mix of Blues to Yellows and when we left the area around 1330 hours, the boats still in the area had some steady stops on a little bite more of the Yellowfin with a sprinkling of Bluefin as well. Multiple spots of breaking fish, jig strikes, and machine fish were plentiful and we really didn't have a long break in the action today, we stayed pretty steady. The true cherry on the sundae today was our weather - flat calm and sunny. With our Bluefin limit topped off, we called it a trip and with two scoops of bait to spare in case something cool comes up in our travels to home. We'll see.

So that is all. We put a bow the Ron Heil five day trip and we're motoring up the line in fantastic seas with a little bit of sunshine and the ice cream is being passed about the vessel. Can't say much more about this trip other than it was simply awesome and Ryan and the gang from Let's Talk Hook-Up have some big shoes to fill as we'll be turning around for a four day trip tomorrow. We'll be arriving to Fisherman's Landing tomorrow morning at 0530 as there will be three other long-range boats from the landing getting in and we're in the early slot. We'll report with you tomorrow and take care.

-Team Supreme-

P.S. Ana, the little monster is coming home safe and sound.

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Hi friends. Our early morning bite was brief but we managed a handful of dropper-looped Yellowtail and a 30 lb. Halibut before we pulled the pick and began looking around for trophies. The hunt was short-lived as we saw very little sign of fish and with that, a new game-plan was drawn up and we started looking around different areas for sign of fish. It didn't take us long before we pulled up on a sonar school of Yellows that bit fast and furious. The fish were the school-sized grade but we welcomed them with open arms and open hatches. The bite was short and sweet and after a couple hours of action, we found ourselves back in search mode with little success. Not much going on in the different areas we looked at and before we knew it, the deadline was up and we had to make our way up the line to be in position tomorrow morning to finish out our trip with a half-day of tuna fishing. The reports sound pretty solid and we're hoping that we can find us a morning school and top off on tuna and put a lid on the 2011 Ron Heil five day adventure.

The Yellowtail zone was productive enough for us to call our stay here a success so we're traveling up the line in OK weather to wrap this trip up with some of those better grade Bluefins. It sounds like there are some hits to be had and we'll be there to find out for ourselves. Wish us luck and we'll chat with you tomorrow. And yes, Ana, the fish-catching machine formerly known as Brendan is locked up with Dad and will be released for the morning bite. Take care.

-Team Supreme-

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

Hi folks. A much deserved sleep-in for the boys was a fitting reward for yesterday's performance and we switched from tuna mode to Yellowtail mode. We arrived at our destination a little bit later than we would've liked and we found out why we would've liked to be there earlier. The bite was over with everywhere we looked but we still managed to put together a score on 15-22 lb. Yellows with a couple handfuls of those 30-40 lb. cows. We saw a really nice spot of those cows come up in the late afternoon and we're excited about the potential for tomorrow.

So that is what we'll be up to tomorrow, start off fishing for cows in the morning time and from that point forward, it'll be a toss up whether we stay coastal or we head back up to do some offshore prospecting and finish off on some offshore tuna/kelp paddy 'tails and mahi-mahi. The ideal scenario would be us loaded up with some cows and bail offshore but we'll see. Things could change at the snap of a finger, this water could roll over, and we'll have to re-evaluate things. We'll see. Wish us luck and have a good weekend.

-Team Supreme-

P.S. Ana, the little monster is safe and sound once again. He started off this morning by doing some push-ups to get physically ready to do battle with the mighty Yellowtail and it paid off. He had a very good day. We'll be releasing the beast here in an hour or so (0530 hours). The boys miss you and say HI.

Friday, August 12th, 2011

Hi friends. Stellar day on the Bluefin grounds today. In actuality, I should say we had a stellar morning and a stellar evening on the Bluefins. We found our desired water conditions first thing this morning and after a few jig strikes for a handful of fish, we had a single jig fish that turned into the real deal school. Every bait that was tossed in the water was eaten, every angler hooked up, on-the-corner style Bluefin tuna fishing and once one stop dried up, we motored around for a short while until another single jig fish started the melee all over again. It was truly awesome fishing. The afternoon was a whole different story as all we could muster up was a few Yellowfin jig strikes and not very consistently at that. Happy with our morning hits, we decided to steer the Supreme in a southerly direction to arrive to the Yellowtail grounds first thing tomorrow morning. That was until a hunch that an evening float was mere minutes from beginning steered us back one-hundred and eighty degrees back up to the tuna grounds. After going hours without much action, like a light-switch the ocean came alive and we ended the day with sheer pandemonium stops on the school-sized Bluefin and we also had a whack on some 30-50 lb. Bluefins as well. This fishing was as good as it gets for Bluefin tuna and we continued hooking fish all the way until the darkness set upon us and at that time we actually did leave to go to some Yellowtail fishing.

The ocean is a funny place. After "character building" type days where boats would catch absolutely nothing for weeks and weeks, Mother Ocean has decided that we've paid our dues and she is giving up a bounty that is truly gold in our book. Today was a day for the personal log book and the gang enjoyed every second of it. How could you not? It was one of those days that everyone has been waiting for and it just goes to show you that you can't sit around at home and go with the mindset that "I'll book a trip when they start biting". If one was to go through our log books for the past five years, you would see that every year has been different with different time-frames of the best fishing. We are at the mercy of the ocean both fishing and weather-wise (which by the way, was flat calm and gorgeous today). These fish have been M.I.A. for the better part of the 2011 season and all of a sudden, they bite. If we could've predicted that today was going to be a banner day, I assure you, we'd all be living in houses on the hill and driving Ferrari's. What I'm getting at is book a trip to go fishing, not to go catching. Enjoy fishing for what it is, getting away from the stress that land-life might bring, enjoy good food, good people, and just go out to have a good time and experience for yourselves what the ocean is all about. Don't sit around and wait for it to start biting because as is the case with this fish, it might not be here tomorrow. Any trip that you book on a boat, you have the chance to have banner days like today or you have might have a slow trip; that is fishing and it has been since the beginning of time. A lot of people have paid their dues with slow trips and days like today is the most rewarding feeling to those who have had those slow days. Today was a classic reminder that every year is different and when you book a trip, expect the unexpected. Come out to take a fishing vacation and enjoy the ocean for what is, a mystery.

All words aside, we had a terrific day. We're going to enjoy some ice cream and hit the racks. We'll be on the hunt for 'tails and seabass tomorrow. Wish us luck.

-Team Supreme-

P.S. Ana - We kept the little monster locked up safe and sound last night and when we unleashed the beast this morning, he had an awesome time and captured his daily limit (5) of Bluefin tuna. Brendan and Scott are having a fantastic time, they say hello, they love you, and it's all good.

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Good evening friends. Standard operating procedures for a turn-around day on the Polaris Supreme. We offloaded Mr. Eric Rogger and company along with their gear and fish, said farewell, and began the many task that we must complete before loading an entirely new group for another trip. Big fish honors go as follows: Mary Lukas, 46.4 lb. Yellowtail. Chad Snyder, 42.2 Yellowtail. John Warner, 40.8 lb. Yellowtail. Congratulations to the winners and we'll see everyone next year. A big thanks goes out to Eric for consistently putting together a fine group of people to enjoy the rail with and thanks to Eric for being one of those charter-masters who just plain gets it. He knows how a group of people should co-exist both at the rail and as people living on a boat. With that, bring on Mr. Ron Heil and his friends for another five day adventure.

A standard travel day was expected today as we loaded bait, ate lunch, did some light rigging, and some heavy napping. But as they say, expect the unexpected. Right around the time we were getting setup for our tackle seminar, we spotted a bird school with some breaking Bluefin below. We hit the school numerous times and only Bob Hagan could coax one into eating a bait. On a side note, if there's one thing that you should know about the crew on-board the Polaris Supreme it's one thing - we love ice cream. Nestle Company's number one driver, Bob, outfitted us with the goods from Haugen-Daas. All natural fruit bars, vanilla-chocolate almond ice cream bars (bomb), caramel cone (double bomb), strawberry ice cream, coffee ice cream, and Dulce De leche. Bob brought on the goods: the sugar, the calories, and the saturated fat, and for that, the fish god's thanked him by giving him a Bluefin tuna to start things off. The area where we caught Bob's fish was loaded with life and it was very close to home, so we'll see if something materializes in that zone. To the overnight fleet and private boaters alike, go get 'em. Tomorrow, we'll a bit further from home to do some Bluefin tuna fishing. Boats in the area had scores from good to excellent and we want some of that, so we'll be arriving there first thing tomorrow morning.

In closing, the weather is double A+ and we'll be fishing first thing in the morning. Wish us luck and we'll chat with you tomorrow evening. Take care.

-Team Supreme-

One last thing. We have one spot available on our Andersen/Lund 8-day trip that just opened up departing October 1st. If you'd like to come out and join the dynamic duo of Dan and Howard or join any trip for that matter, give Susan a call at (619) 390-7890.

~~Sep. 10
 Holy moly was it hot and humid today.  Starting today early the sweat was on.  My mom brought the little one down and the poor little girl was sweating worse than me.  She probably doesn't care though.    We left on our annual Bogart 2 day trip.  So we fished a little this afternoon and we'll fish tomorrow.  We got a couple tanks of anchovy today with just a few sardine mixed in.  We have a bit of mackerel left over that we'll use.  We fished for yellows this afternoon.  We reached the honey hole at 4:00.  Of course conditions did a complete 180.  Current wise.  The water was still blue and warm but the current was opposite to what the yellers have enjoyed here as of late.  So we saw no sign of yellowtail.  After a couple anchor jobs we gave up on them and anchored in tight to the kelp and we caught some assorted rockfish and bass and such.  Now we're headed out to who knows where.  I have a couple places in mind.  I'm going to wait and here the evening reports from the other boats before deciding.

 There is a few things as of late I wanted to tell y'all about that I forgot to.  I finally saw the green flash!  Kind of cool I guess.  I wasn't looking for it this time.  Maybe that's the ticket.  I just happened to look over and poof, the sun turned green for a flash.  The lightening show the other night was amazing.  Especially the part I missed while I was in bed sleeping.  And we saw a wave cloud I think.  I think it was a wave cloud.  It looked like a wave rolling through.  Or a side ways tornado.  There was 0 wind, and all the sudden that thing came through and it got super windy but just for 30 seconds or less and then it was gone and the wind went back to 0.  Pretty cool I thought.  Done.