karkarook lake Fishing Report 2023

The tenth annual George Davis trip aboard the Polaris Supreme arrived at Fisherman's Landing December 5, after spending ten days in southern waters with a super ultra-light load of seven anglers, including chartermaster Davis. There were five tuna over 200 pounds in the catch. One fish was well over 300 pounds. The big fish came in at 347.8 pounds, caught by Kevin Stokes, who is studying video making and cinematography, working on his B. A. in digital video at Mt. Sierra College in Monrovia. The giant yellowfin bit a sardine on a 6/0 Mustad 7691 hook tied to 100-pound P-Line and 130-pound Spectra on one of the boat's rigs: a Tiagra 50 reel and a Calstar 6460 XXH rod. It fought for 35 minutes. "He didn't fight too hard," said Stokes. He just laid there like a big cow. I almost lost him at the end, because his circles went all the way across the stern. They got him with four gaffs and lifted him over the rail. "My best tuna before this one was 180 pounds. It fought harder. I may have this one mounted. Next, I've got to go back to work and to school." Stokes said he does freelance work in video. Eleven-year-old Gunnar Johnston outscored the men by taking two cows; two yellowfin over 200 pounds. One of his fish weighed 217.8 pounds and won second place. The other went 209 pounds. Gunnar goes to Marinotha Christian Academy, and races motocross. His dad Craig Johnston is a construction manager in Orange County and was close by when Gunnar hooked his big cow. "I was up the rail," said Craig, "and I saw him get bent, and I shouted, ‚Дтdon't let go of that rig,' and I saw him pull back harder." Gunnar got the fish to gaff in 45 minutes, after it bit a sardine on a 6/0 Super Mutu hook on 130-pound Izorline fluorocarbon leader tied to 100-pound Momoi line and 130-pound Line One Spectra. He used an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod. "It's my first long range trip," said Gunnar. "It's fun, hooking up and catching these big fish. Craig Johnston said his son had been on one and two-day trips before, but this was his first long range venture. "My best fish before was a 30-pound albacore or a dorado," said Gunnar. "I want to do it again." His dad felt the same way. "He was bit hard at first," said Craig, "but he did his work in the corner." Charlie Middleton of San Pablo took a 213-pounder and won third place. He said it bit a sardine on an 8/0 Gamakatsu hook tied to 100-pound Soft Steel Ultra line and 130-pound Power Pro Spectra on a Penn 80 SW reel and a five and a half-foot Ugly Stick rod. The fight lasted 20 minutes. "The best fishing was during the squalls," said Charlie. "That's when I hooked this one. He took me around the boat twice. There was a lot of 18-inch squid around."
Jim Jacobs of Murietta had never been fishing before. "I didn't know how to hold the pole," he said. Jacobs got a 202.6-pound tuna after a 40-minute scrap. It bit a sardine on an 8/0 Mustad 7691 hook, also on one of the boat's rigs. "My first trip," said Jacobs, "and my first fish."

Captain Ryan Bostian called in tonight with an update from the San Diego out of Seaforth Sportfishing in Mission Bay, CA. We had very good fishing today with Captain Cameron at the helm. We had 102 Yellowtail (10 to 25 pounds) and 125 Pacific Bonito. We had excellent action today. We have light loads this week.

Today we came across some Killer Whales today! Pretty cool!

A rare and incredible sight in these parts! 

Fishing was not wide open today. The guys topped off with the yellowtail for the trip. They also had good fishing on the dorado on a couple of different kelp patties. Our weather continues to be great. As we travel home to make our 6:00am arrival tomorrow we will be dining on Pedro's exquisite prime rib dinner. Come see us at the dock or better yet book a trip and come out with us. Tomorrow we'll be heading out on Tom Chaparro's annual 5 day, 18 passenger, lite load charter. So check in again in a day or so. Thanks! Tommy and crew

10 bluefin tuna 2 yellowfin tuna. We are seeing fish from 10 lbs to over 200 pounds. A 25 lb bait rod, a 40 lb bait rod and a 50,60 or 80 lb rod is recommended. If you do not own the proper tackle. Seaforth is renting 50 lb rods with a 2 speed reel. These rental rods have already conquered a lot of our fish.

What a brutally slow morning. We drove around until 2 pm. and had only released one 190 lb., and four 50 lb. tuna. It was beginning to look like we were going to miss. Then we found the boomer sonar school of cows. They bit full speed, eight going at a time for two hours before they slowed down. Here is the result of those two hours. Scott released a 185 lb., and kept a 180 lb., 187 lb., and 231 pounder. Bob released a 180 lb., and kept a 210 pounder. Al released a 170 lb., and kept a 210 lb., and a 211 lb. tuna. Craig released a 170 lb. and a 185 lb. tuna. Roger kept a 160 lb., 170 lb., and 180 pounder. Sheridan released a 180 lb., 185 lb., and kept a 187 lb. tuna. Tom released a 175 lb., 195 lb., and kept a 228 pounder. George released a 180 lb., 190 lb., and kept a 213 pounder. So what was a bad day turned into an awesome day in just two hours. It was so fun. We had to hang up our jock straps and sun visors today and change into warmer apparel. It was a little cool, breezy, and started to get choppy late. Lunch was stuffed bell peppers with marinara sauce. Hors d'oeuvres were sushi, sashimi and corn dogs. Dinner was New York steaks. One more day to fish.

Today was mainly a travel day. We have a strong current working against us so we only had time for a couple drifts. However we did manage to land some 15 lb Yellowtail bottom fish. Our ETA for tomorrow is 530 to the dock.

~~This is the after picture of the port side navigation system. If you notice, the monitor itself is a daylight monitor. The sun is shining directly on it and you can still see the screen. This system has radar, a plotter, and a fathometer. And it's all AIS capable. (Automated identification system) All ships that have AIS, can be tracked on a website, called www.marinetraffic.com. All of the systems can be overlaid so you can have your plotter, radar, and depth viewed at the same time

 

 

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This is the starboard side navigation system. Which is identical to the port. In addition to the previous mentioned features, the monitor can be switched to a computer system which has Nobel Tech times zero catch navigation fish finding and my favorite, bottom mapping system on it. You can, and we have been, making our own bottom maps for the previous three years. Cool stuff. In addition it has live weather from Weather Works XM Weather. Also it has SeaView Ocean Imaging capabilities to where we can download water temperature, chlorophyll, sea height, ect. The port system also has its own computer.

 

~~The monitor on the left is a sound activated fathometer for fish finding. And the monitor on the right is a daylight monitor for our sonar, for fish finding. In the front is one of our pairs of Gyroscopic binoculars

~~All of these electronics need new antennas. And this is how they get there. We literally pulled out a third of a dock cart of old wiring

 

 

~~Say good bye to the old radars.

~~Drew grinding away on a little cancer on the deck.

~~The roto hammer is one of our favorite tools for chipping up cancerous areas on the deck, but the noise is unbearable to our neighbors in the boat yard.

~~The deck hatches had to be completely stripped

~~We re-skinned the outside of the galley doors. They now have a nice white formica finish.

~~Creative, yes. But I bet he spent a half hour looking for that office chair in the boat yard!

~~The boat looks kinda small in some of these upcoming pictures without Tommie in them for perspective.  ~~Jed's missing from these shots because he was taking the pictures.

 

 

~~Drew resealing inspection plates for exhaust

~~Tommie detailing wood work

~~Tommie prepping for paint

~~Final coat of deck paint. Looking good!