priest lake Fishing Report 2025

After spending all day yesterday searching for yellowtail without success. Today we decided to put the feelers out and look at some new areas. After a couple hours of searching we found exactly what we were looking for. The yellowtail we found today were really active for about an hour. In one hour our 15 anglers managed to put 20 very nice size yellowtail on the deck. Our yellowtail today were caught on yo-yo lures, surface lures as well as fly lined sardines. Make sure you bring a bait rod to go with your yo-yo rod from here on out.

~~Sep. 18
 Well we had some action today.  We fished our wahoo/tuna honey hole.  It wasn't red hot but we made some drifts and caught some fish.  Our last couple schools we saw before lunch didn't react so we took a tour.  We found some tuna a couple hours into the tour.  The bigger ones.  The 25-35 pounders but we weren't ready.  Some were napping or lounging.  It hit us quick.  Everyone that made it out hooked up but it didn't last long.  We got on a couple of more deals after that but they were smaller fish.  12 pounders so we continued on our tour.  We looked for yellowtail in the afternoon but like everywhere right now it seems, there wasn't any current. 
  The weather straightened out for us today.  It was nice again.  We have one day left to fish and we want to do it catching yellowtail.  The elusive yellowtail.  That's usually the fish we don't have trouble finding but we've struck out this trip on them thus far.  We have about 30.  We want more so that's what we'll do.  From where we'll be fishing we can fish until lunch but then we have to hit the road for home.
       
 

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

Captain Ryan Bostian called in with an announcement. We have finished our boat work and will be running our first trip on Saturday, February 3rd. We will be fishing the Coronado Islands. However, we will be looking around and will be targeting the best opportunities. During the beginning of the fishing season it is very important to make an advanced reservation. Call Seaforth at (619) 224-3383 to get in on the action.

1.5 ROCKCOD TRIPS!!! APOLLO'S January/February Rock Cod trips are now online and ready to be booked! Don't miss your chance to get out with JJ and the crew!!! Call FISHERMAN'S LANDING at (619)221-8500 to get your HOT spots!!!

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.

Epic fishing is here once again! 10 cows hit the deck, topped with a 307!! Thanks United Composites, Okuma, Phenix Rods, and Seeker for outfitting us with what I think are the best on the market if your looking for cow gear. Now these days I should say super cow gear!!! Not to forget owner hooks!#okuma #phenixrods #unitedcomposites #seekerrods

Say what????? Limits of Yellowfin (25-45 pounds) the last day of November and after our last storm. Yup! Great sign of 100-200 pound plus Bluefin too, but the couple bites we had got away quickly. We have a few more trips this week before we go to the boat yard.