gualala river Fishing Report 2025

The season's fourth 300-pound tuna arrived November 29 aboard Polaris Supreme with owner-skipper Tom Rothery at the helm as the 90-footer docked at Fisherman's Landing. The trip was 13 days for the boat and ten for the anglers who flew home from Cabo, and was sponsored by Rothery's partner Tom Pfleger, who heads PIER (Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research). A small group of 14 anglers including Pfleger was aboard.

~~Nov.15
 Well today went as expected.  We woke up on the anchor after a lovely nights sleep and shortly after daylight we started scratching tuna.  It didn't take long to meet our quota.  Some already had it and were dropper looping for yellows and getting a few.  Anyways a little after 7 we pulled anchor and trolled around for wahoo.  One  more than half the boat caught a wahoo by lunch time and we took off for Alijos Rocks.  We traveled the rest of the day while we looked for something floating with dorado under it but we never found anything as expected.

 So like I said, we'll be at the stones in the morning.  We're going to try for some more wahoo before starting north to finish off our trip.  You never really can have enough wahoo.  There is 2 or 3 passengers left on board who have not caught a wahoo so we're going to make sure they get one before anyone else tomorrow.  We call it the troll of shame and Glenn, if you're reading at home, I always think of you when we do this.
         

 

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."

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

Well. That's a wrap ... We ended up with 51 bluefin tuna for our morning efforts and then we left. We also had a kelp for 19 cow yella. Our traveling weather is fantastic and our ETA is looking like around 0700 hours tomorrow morning and the boat will be turning around and departing on Mary Chaparro's 6-day adventure. Look for reports to continue from one of the boys. Take care and good night.

Captain Jodie Morgan called in from The Apollo. We just returned from a 2.5 day trip and we had limits of Yellowtail and 52 Bluefin Tuna (25 to 65 pounds). If you are interested in jumping on the Apollo call the chartermaster Allan 714-797-9030 to get in on a Two Day trip July 17th and 18th.

Friday, July 27th, 2012

Hi friends. Short report this evening as the weather is up once again. We checked out a different zone today and were only rewarded with a few fish for our efforts. We feel that the weather is jacking things up and once it backs off, the water structures will form again and we'll get back to business. Anyhow, like I said, our weather is sloppy but everyone is taking it fine and enjoying their dinner. We'll arrive back to the docks tomorrow morning and our ETA is looking like around 0630 hours. We'll brief you tomorrow and give you a trip wrap-up. Take care.

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.

~~
 Sept. 5
 The bluefin were a no go again today. We once again saw plenty of schools, they just don't bite. We ended up picking up 3 60-80 pounders. I wanted at least 3 to make jackpot easier, unfortunately for an easy jackpot but fortunately for a Mike Grella, 2 of them were caught by the same man and no one person can take more hen one place. We'll just have to weigh a bunch of those wahoo. We scratched at the yellowfin all day long. In the afternoon we were seeing straight schools of it but it wouldn't bite too well. One at a time. Anyways, the fat lady has sung. We are on the way to the barn all fat and happy. It's been a great trip. Lots of wahoo, yellows and tuna. Tommy will be coming back out for 5 days and I'll be going home. Ever since my wife went back to work I only get to see her and my daughter on the weekends that we're in for the morning and for the last month that's only been once so I'm looking forward to spending some time with them and watching some NFL,
 eating some bluefin and wahoo and relaxing. See you all in 5 days.