bennett springs Fishing Report 2024

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

Our private charter had passports and wanted to fish the islands so we enjoyed a day of stop and go action. They were rewarded with 73 yellowtail 68 bonito. Back offshore tomorrow.

With the weather forecast looking good and a favorable moon phase. We have decided to switch back to offshore fishing. These trips will be limited to 44 pass and do not require passports. Come prepared with a 25 lb bait rod, a 40 or 50 lb bait rod and a 60 or 80 lb rod to fish a flat fall.

TIP FROM THE CREW : Flatfalls get bit better on smaller spools, use the smallest reel you feel comfortable with. A Talica 10 or 12 2 speed or something similar is perfect. We will fish offshore until we feel there is a better option.

Again we have beautiful weather. Today we had our fishing tackle seminar and just kept traveling. Dinner was lobster and fillet, and some really exquisite sushi and sashimi for appetizers.

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July 18
 Slow day today. We didn't catch much fish due to the lack of current everywhere. We started in yesterdays honey hole for us. We caught one. Then we took a tour. Our next stop was the mainland. We caught one. No current. We then took another tour pretty much for the rest of the day. We did get 1st and 2nd place of the jackpot handled during one of our stops. A couple 35-40 pounders. We caught a few yellows here and there through out the day but nothing special.

What was special was our weather today. Flat calm, no wind, and sunny and beautiful. We looked at a lot of this Island today and I thought it was lovely. I don't think it would have been so enjoyable had we not had two full fish holds already. But we did so it was. Now we're headed up and it couldn't be nicer. Hopefully that storm out there won't effect our ride tomorrow. I want this out here forever.
 

Full day trip 18 passenger 90 Yellowfintuna (limits)

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

Good kelp patty fishing today along with plenty of poki bowl goodness. Limits of Skipjack (165), 58 Yellowtail, 20 Yellowfin and 16 quality Dorado.

Went 1 for 2 on local Yellowtail. Fish are holding tight to the bottom, much like the one's we've been seeing regularly at the Coranado Islands. Our guess is that fish is moving north. This one ate a sardine on the dropper loop. We have Monday open for charter, then some days in July. Come on out and enjoy the fishing.