big bear Fishing Report 2024

Sept. 21

Well we never saw a bluefin today. Or a dorado for that matter. We were ready for them too. I had my lucky bluefin cap on, Gunny had his bluefin pants on and Mark is fat. Nope. Never saw a one. We did once again see some yellowfin tuna of all sizes. One kelp we looked at had an incredable school on it. We just sat there and watched the tuna boil around in fury. It was really cool. We just watched because for one, we already had our limits and for two they were the smaller grade. We called it a little earlier then we planned on due to the weather. Oh man. It was really nice weather in the morning. Then suddenly after lunch time it got really windy out and we started to really roll around alot. I'm currently standing with my legs as far spread apart as I can get them just to be able to type this report and I am misspelling every other werd.

We are headed to the barn now and we get 2 nights in to spend with our wives, fiances, girlfriends, friends, pets and family depending on which crew member we're talking about. We come back out Tuesday night on a 1.5 day trip. This was definately a memorable trip and I mean that in a good way even when it was bad it was good. Cool group and myself and the crew are glad we got to spend this 8 day with them. Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I have one spot open on a 5.5 day Guadelupe trip departing November 1st and returning, November 6th. The trip is limited to 10 people and the cost is $1800. There is a $200 permit and customs clearance fee, all other permits and food are included. Please contact Toke Aw (310) 454-1965 if you are interested in this unique adventure with us aboard the Apollo.

I hope you are all getting in on this great run of BFT. Good luck and thank you to all who have been able to make it out with this year.

JJ

34 pass. 170 skipjack tuna 1 yellowtail.

Starting November 1st we will be running full day Coronado Islands trips. Bring your yellowtail gear and your passport.

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."

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Hey everybody. More of the same today. Lots of sanding and grinding as we prepare for painting next week. The five of us have worked from 0700 hours until 1600 hours for the past two days and the weekend forecast calls for more of the same. No rest for the wicked, I guess. Anyhow, I'll update you all with some photos this weekend and you can see just a glimpse of what we've been up to.

Injury of the day: Boat-work always has a high level of danger involved, especially with being twenty feet in the air, scaffolding surrounding the boat, electrical chords running wild and very dangerous equipment in our hands. It's a very stressful situation and accidents do happen and today, one did. Jed got stung by a bee.

Chat with you tomorrow.

Nov. 6

Well today wasn't at all what we expected. Last week it had been great yellowtail fishing in the zone we were in but for whatever reason most that fish wasn't around today. Famous words of Steve Loomis, "only one things for sure and that's that things will change". So true in life but especially true in fishing. Things will always change whether it be for better or for worse. Unfortunately today it was for worse. That's why you can't base your booking a trip on last year or even 2 weeks ago. Oh well. We caught a few nice yellows today and lots of other species we saved for meals later on in the trip because they'll be tasty. We're now heading south. We're going to start fishing first thing tomorrow fishing for D, all of the above.

Passenger Mike Payne brought a whole bunch of crab with him. I'm not sure exactly what kind of crab they were. They weren't king crab but the next best thing. Basically it was all you can eat because when I had all I could take down there was a lot of it still available. Delicious. Talk to you tomorrow.

Drew

The Dolphin III has been purchased by Mike Pritchard a veteran captain with a vast amount of experience.   Captain Pritchard has recently worked on the Legend and prior to that spent time working on the the Intrepid and Excel. The Tribute has moved to it's new home at Seaforth Sportfishing were it will be the primary open party overnight boat.
Captain Pritchard has renamed the boat to honor his mentor Bill Poole.   The boat was previously owned by Bill Poole and will be a fine edition to the Seaforth Fleet.

Nov. 7

                First of all, what the heck was that?!  Did you see that tonight?!  Holy Toledo!  It was like a rocket or something, blasting through the sky, then all of a sudden, boom!  It just lit up.  For a second there, I thought that was it.  I thought, see you later world,.  This is it.  Then it was just out of control.  I watched it with the gyros for a while and it was zippin and zappin all over the place with a huge green glow in it's wake.  Wow!!  And the whole fleet saw it.  From here, out to there, and into there and all the way down there.  I can't wait to hear the explanation.  I'll remember that forever.

 

                  OK.  Onto fishing.. Today, we had a bad day.  Just an old fashioned bad day.  And I wish that was all I had to say about that, but you make me write more to you.  That wouldn't be good enough.  So I'll explain it.  Last night I downloaded what I thought was a tasty looking water chart.  It shows much much less warm water around but there was a lovely looking strip of warm headed southeast from Clemente.  So I thought I had this great idea to start at the Island, and leave when they closed it down at 11:30.  Well it's what we did.  We started at the Island, only we didn't catch a whole lot.  A handful of nice yellows and some junk was all.  So we stuck with the plan and headed down that strip of warm water.  You know, the promise land, so I thought.  I was wrong.  And that's all I have to say about that.

 

                We did experience some great flat calm weather.  And we caught our first ever American wahoo in November, so that was cool.  Good boat, good crew, and good food.  We just missed the good fishing.  Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you.  Sometimes you're sitting field level, and sometimes you're sitting nose bleed.  That's all a part of the game.