benbrook Fishing Report 2025

Tom Rothery docked his Polaris Supreme at fisherman's Landing October 13 after an eight-day trip with 22 anglers.

"We had another fantastic day fishing the 30 lb. class tuna," he wrote Friday, October 10. "Our weather is beautiful. We are going to finish up our trip with some yellowtail fishing before heading home. The guys are having a great time. We've had good fishing, good company and good food. And on that last note, for dinner we had a really good honey dijon mustard crusted wahoo. Just superb. Our next trip is full but if you have some time our 10-day with Larry Brown on Oct. 25 still has some open spots. He has over 15 sponsors for many freebies and raffles. Give Susan a call in the office, at 619-390-7890."

Rothery reported water temps along The Ridge as 79 to 84 degrees, and 72 degrees at Alijos Rocks. He stayed just a day at The Rocks, without seeing much sign of tuna that wanted to bite.

"The Ridge was excellent for dorado, yellowfin and yellowtail. We got off the high spots and off floating kelps," he said.

Two brothers, Scott and Neil Langlois of Rancho Cucamonga, showed off a typical dorado and a wahoo.

Kevin Veal of Huntington Harbor won first place for a 37-pound wahoo that ate his Tady 45 jig in a new green/gold combination. He said he fished with 40-pound P-Line, an Accurate B2 870 reel and a Seeker CBJ 100F.

Steven Belardes was second for a 36-pound wahoo, and chartermaster LeRoy Balardes won third place for a 31.6-pound yellowfin tuna.

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

Hi friends. Bait-making at 0300 hours this morning went very well us. The bait is on the large side but we're hoping to find some large mouths to feed them to. After only catching a couple of 'tails in the AM, we took to the open ocean and were rewarded with lovely weather that was just what we needed. The seas were still kind of confused but with a light wind, the hunt for kelp paddies and breezers was a pleasurable day aboard the Polaris Supreme.

We jigged up some small yellowfin throughout the day, most of which were released, but we had a couple of standout moments to share. First off, Steven Lowe caught a beautiful wahoo on the troll. Sweet. We also had a kelp paddy that kicked out a bunch of really beautiful mahi-mahi's. It was a little crazy there for a minute. Things almost got out of hand, but you know us, we don't let any fish--especially those silly dorados--get the best of us. After calming the situation down and restoring order, we had a box full of flatheads. Booyah. Our last fish of the kelp was caught by our master of ceremonies, Joe Gigliotti. Joe put down the cards and poker chips for a few moments to land himself a 40 lb. yellowfin. That crazy card shark, he's so savvy! Joe pulled off a veteran move: let all of the other anglers fish off the dorado's and then when we thought the game was over, G-Money played us all for fools and landed himself the token tuna. Nice job, Joe.

So that was how our fishing went today. I can't leave you without letting y'all know about what else went down today: I bronzed. I know, right? After nearly having all of my espresso-brown tan blown off by Hurricane Paul, Momma Nature showed us her love and gave us gorgeous weather and sunshine for the day. Our weather today started out pretty okay but by days end, it was flat calm with just a breath of wind - A+. Just a beautiful day for soaking up the sun and burning fat. That's right. Along with the bronzing, hot dorado action, and awesome weather, I managed to get in a couple hours of getting my swell on. Yeah, I said it. Like I told Gunny today," I wish they made a size large shirt with the sleeves of an extra large." He laughed.

Off topic, once again, I would like to say something. This crew is just dandy. If you don't want to party with us, I don't want to live. We're all about getting stretched, Hunger Games book club meetings (Drew is almost headed for the final book), and living a more healthy lifestyle. We aren't just dieting, we're working on our strength and conditioning too. I'm changing my lifestyle, Mark is changing his lifestyle, and next trip, Drew "Chuck Norris Wears Drew Henderson Pajamas" Henderson is changing his lifestyle. It's fantastic! But not to forget, we're fish-hungry fishing machines as well. What the bow and arrow is to Katniss Everdeen, a rod and reel is exactly the same to us. It's like an extension of our limbs. It's just so natural and pure. So you throw in the fact that we are all some pretty darn good fisherman--even Mark with his swing-for-the-fences style of angling--you've got the ingredients to have yourself just a rollicking good time here on the Supreme. We have fun, we fish, we life a healthier lifestyle, and last but certainly not least, we bronze. Sonny Jim.

For tomorrow, I see no other reason not to workout, bronze, and go catch some 18-22 lb. yellowfin tuna in sunny, windless weather. That's our plan, anyways. If we do well on the yellowfins, we get to do my favorite activity that we do here on the Polaris Supreme: fish for BIG bluefin tuna...and bronze while doing it. See ya.

The team you dream about,

P.S. Joe Gigliotti would like to say hello to his striking daughters Nicki and Alex. There are a lot of crayons in this box that we call "the universe" and you two shine the brightest. Very sweet, Joe. Very sweet indeed.

Polaris Supreme Update 8-5-11

Hello everyone. So here we are again as we wrap up Dr. Jim Prigmore's 4 day fishing trip. I must say, the fishing gods made us work this week and weren't quite as rewarding as we would have liked. Our first day out there was nothing short of perfect conditions, water temp, color and choice bait to choose from. We weren't graced with the counts that we were after, but the fish holds did get some company from the 3 pelagic species that wre being hunted. The anglers got a taste of what it was like to get blind jig strikes from yellowfin tuna and tuned up on offshore kelp patty fishing for dorado and yellowtail. Anytime the deck hatches are being opened and fish are sliding in, that's a good thing. Making sure to beat feet south in time to wake up to a cow yellowtail bite is exactly what we did. A few lunkers were already in the box well before the sun rose and continued into the post dawn hours. Things were looking up for the day, but as the morning progressed our conditions did not prevail. The current was not with us and we all know, you need current to catch fish. All of the grounds were covered, sometimes 2 and 3 times over until we did drop in on a couple spots that were holding some quality halibut. I believe one that was around 30 lbs hit the deck that day with a couple more just shy of that were soon to follow. As the day came to a close and the grounds were more than covered, Captain Tommy had to point the Polaris Supreme north to get us up the line for our final day of fishing. By daylight were sending bait to the bottom only to be bringing up a nice score of lingcod, vermillion reds and some miscellaneousottom dwellers. We only had til about lunch time to keep the lines wet before the trip was called from the bridge. Time to head for home.

Team Galley, as usual came through day after day with one superb meal after the next. From breakfast anyway you wanted it, to the sushi/sashimi spreads and the dinners that would rival any 5 star gourmet resteraunt. Chef's David Schooler and Barry Benson never let us down. Look for the Polaris Supreme tomorrow at Fisherman's Landing about 7 am to depart with Eric Rogger and his fine group that he brings year after year. Be sure to check back in with us as Captain Richie takes over the keyboard with has always entertaining fishing reports. Thanks for checking in and talk to you tomorrow!

Jed and crew

Jackpot winners were as follows:

1st Place: Sean Arbunich 37.2 lb Yellowtail

2nd Place: Dave Smith 35.8 lb Yellowtail

3rd Place: Steve Larsen 33 lb Yellowtail

Congratulations Winners!!

Polaris Supreme Update 8-4-11

Good afternoon and thanks for stopping by faithful Polaris Supreme followers. This morning we once again woke up to beautiful weather at the seriola lalandi grounds (yellowtail for those of you that aren't up to speed on scientific names). At o'dark thirty we already had two premiums in the box. 30 pounders. As Mr. Sun showed his face, we continued to plunk away at a few more in the upper 30 pound class. Knot too long after breakfast was done, the bending of the rods came to a hault and it was time pull the pick and go looking. South bound we headed to locate the school grade yellows. About 45 minutes into the journey, we found the right conditions and started chasing down the breezing forktails. The anglers picked away, a few here, a few there, but then the fish decided to get a nice case of lock jaw and eventually were nowhere to be found. That led us on an hour and a half tour to drag some sardines along the sandy ocean floor.Some success was had as we hauled 3 halibut over the rail, one being about 30 pounds! Congratulations Tom! After about another 2 hours of searching, it was time to switch gears and get back into travel mode. Have to make sure we cover plenty of ground the rest of the afternoon to get us into position for a few hours of wet lines tomorrow as we get ready to wrap things up and call it a trip.

This evening Team Galley is going to be serving up a delicious grande veal chop with risotto and mixed veggies. Certainly one of my favorites. Well folks, until tomorrow with my final trip undate and I turn the reigns back over to our trip reporter extraordinaire Captain Richie Elias, I say good night and check back tomorrow.

Jed and Crew

P.S. Richie, only one CB order

 

 

Polaris Supreme Update 08-03-2011

Good evening friends. So to start our offshore adventure today, the morning was surprisingly warm. We all rolled out of bed just as the sun cracked and right into shorts and t-shirts. The seas weren't quite so friendly, but very workable. Our coarseline prevailed for most of the day and gave the crew some descent looking conditions for spotting those kelps and any other activity on the water that might lead us to find a score. The kelp patties were fairly plentiful for a good portion of the day, but we just couldn't find that right boomer to shut down on. However, we were able to gather up a couple handfuls of dorado and just when we thought there might be a lull in the day, the beautiful sound of 4 clickers screaming at once got us right back in the ball game. Although nothing of size came, we did get the guys on some yellowfin tuna in the 12-15 lb range, with a couple anglers landing their first ever! As the sun closed the distance between itself and the horizon, we got on a string of smaller kelps that produced plenty of just below keeper size yellows. Those stops gave the anglers a real idea on working together at the rail in some fast paced action here on the Polaris Supreme. We got the blood flowing and gave'em a small taste of what's to come.

Tomorrow is a brand new day as we head south to the yellowtail grounds to target big numbers on 18-25 lb forktails and go in search of those mighty 30-50 lb cow yellows! The weather forecast looks great and we are excited. Just as I'm typing up the evening report, I smell the aroma of Chef David's famous seafood alfredo pasta seeping it's way into the wheelhouse. With shrimp, giant scallops and an A alfredo clam sauce, it's always a gormet delight! If there's one cure to a rough day of fishing, it's to sit down to an amazing meal prepared by none other than the Polaris Supreme's "Team Galley". So on that note, I'm going to head downstairs to enjoy a tasty dish myself. Until this time tomorrow my friends, I bid you a good night.

Jed and the one and only Team Supreme

Polaris Supreme Update 08-02-2011

Good afternoon sports fans! Reporting to you live from the bridge of the Polaris Supreme, we departed today on Dr. Jim Prigmore's 4 day fishing extravaganza. We have an ample load of beautiful sardine on board with us and are anxious to get them over the rail and let the feeding begin. Where we end up isn't set in stone yet, but where ever we do end up, we are going to show this eager group of anglers how we do it Baja California style. The weather is gorgeous rolling down the line and let's hope that holds up for us over the next 4 days.

We were lucky enough to have our lunch plates graced with Chef David Schooler's Polaris Supreme style cheese burgers that had to weigh at least a half-pound sided with some awesome maccaroni salad. As always on our departure days, the group will be putting down a more than healthy portion of the always delicious prime rib. So our hopes are high and our fingers are crossed to go get the job done Supreme style. Well, it's about time to head downstairs for the fishing seminar to get the guys all tuned up on fishing for the days to come. Make sure to check back with us tomorrow after dinner for our day 1 report. Talk to you tomorrow!

Tight lines and bent rods,

Jed and Team Supreme

P.S. We would like to send out one last thank you to Mr. Tom Chapparo and his fine anglers with and extra special thanks to Mr. Herb Yamanaka and his beautiful gifts that he so graciously brings us every year. A big congratulations goes out to our jackpot winners: 1st Place goes to Joe Gigliotti with a 39.6 lb yellowtail, 2nd place was Charter Master Tom Chapparo with a 38.8 lb yellowtail and not very far out of 2nd place was Dr. Steven Gammer with a very nice 38.2 lb yellowtail.

What an absolutely, fantastic, unbelievable day. We had more marlin than you can imagine. We hooked and are released over 220.
The wahoo fishing was also fantastic. The group had a blast pulling in "crocodile" size wahoo. And we topped off the day with even bigger dorado than yesterday. The weather is good and we just had an awesome day on all three, wahoo, dorado and marlin.

The first good catch of wahoo arrived with skipper Drew Henderson and his 20 anglers aboard the Polaris Supreme October 28. Over 100 wahoo were caught, and 65 came on a single wild day of fishing at the top end of The Ridge on the Dennis Bunker Memorial trip. Fishing was good for other species as well, but the wahoo drew all the oohs and ahs from the spectators at Fisherman's Landing, as many looked to be over 50 pounds. "We got the job done," wrote Drew on his internet report. "The morning looked very bad. There was wind and a choppy confused sea. That, combined with no fish, led to hopeless thoughts. I don't know why, but after lunch the whole entire bank we were fishing lit up with life. "It didn't take long before we quit fishing tuna and put our sinkers on. We have everything you would hope and ask for on a ten-day trip except one thing, the cow tuna. The storm below is dying. Ourselves and three other boats are going to look for them. I'll be cuddling with my horseshoe tonight. I'm sure they will too." Rick Bynum of Sacramento won first place, for an 80-pound yellowfin tuna. He said he bagged it with a sardine on a 3/0 Eagle Claw hook on 50-pound fluorocarbon leader, 60-pound P-Line and 80-poundSpectra backing. All of it was on a TLD 30 reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6465 XXH rod. "It was fun!" added Bynum. "It took a half-hour." Ddaze Phuong of Orange was second, for a 66.4-pound wahoo, and Mike Grella of Sylmar won third place for a 63-pound wild wahoo. "We saw a little dab of big tuna one day," reported skipper Henderson, "but they wouldn't come up and play."

Encouraging sign in full day range. 19 Bluefin 7 Yellowfin 7 Yellowtail 31 Bonito. 

Captain Andrew Viola called in a bit ago with an update from the Pacifica out of Seaforth Sportfishing in San Diego, CA. We returned this morning from a 1.5 day trip and the fishing was as good as it gets. We had limits of Bluefin Tuna and 10 Yellowfin Tuna. The Bluefin were mainly 18 to 25 pounds but we also had 5 or 6 fish in the 60 to 80 pound class. We did manage to catch two of the bigger models (150 and 170). We have a 1.5 day trip tonight with a few spots and an overnighter on Thursday. Come out fishing on the Pacifica.

Fishing here remains slow. However the quality of fish is still great, and we are capitalizing on the fish we are hooking. Still some losses due to sharks but still chipping away at some great quality tuna. We were able to make a tank of Tube Mackerel tonight along with 3 milk crates of chunk. We are looking ready for tomorrow!