central illinois Fishing Report 2024

39 yellowfin 69 skipjack. If we get into a hot and heavy stop it is important to work together as a team. The crew and captain are the coaches, the passengers are the players. Communicate with each other. Anticipate that you will be moving around the boat, whether you have a fish on or not. Be aware that you are not the only person on the boat. Listen to the crew. And most importantly have fun. Team work makes the dream work.

Hello Everyone, Today we fished for trophy Yellowtail and Wahoo. The yellows were biting good but most were able to get int the rocks, or get eaten by waiting sharks. We did manage to land some trophy Yellowtail as well as a single large Grouper. There were less sharks later in the evening so we were able to land more Yellows at night. There was very little Wahoo sign as we were driving around, we did manage to troll up one. We stopped fishing around midnight and started traveling up. We will see if we have time to fish tomorrow or the following day, depending on the speed we are making. Will Report again tomorrow , Team Supreme

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."

With good signs of big tuna on the lower banks - perfect for our Mag Bay trips - we have some late openings due to cancellations.

Our first trip departs Mag Bay on Nov 27, returning on Dec 4 (Tuesday to Tuesday), and will fish 6 full days right in prime big fish waters.

Please contact Chris Yamada at [email protected] or 310 701 7650 if you have any interest or questions. These are awesome trips, only 10 anglers, and I invite you to join us for an excellent time.

The Voyager will be fishing Seabass this wekend on it,s 1.5 day departing friday night. San Clemente, and Catalina is the destination. Limited load 12 people $300 includes meals and bunk. Contact Jodie at 858-220-1593

Captain Ryan Bostian checked in this evening with an update from the San Diego, CA. Today we had 22 anglers catch 5 yellowfin tuna. 4 of our tuna are 75 pounders. Please bring a 20 lb. bait Rod and size 2 hooks as well as a 50 lb bait Rod with some 3/0 circle hooks. We will fish for whatever we see. It may be 12-90 lb. yellowfin or it may be 60-200 lb. bluefin. Very weird year !

~~Oct. 11
 And here's what we did today.  The crew rigged up mucho tackle.  I'm talking the grande stuff for the grande fish.  After that and after breakfast we did our tuna seminar and I talked Tommy into doing a couple parts of the seminar.  All I know for the past 10 years is my tuna seminar.  It's nice to get a different perspective.  Anyways, after that we were finishing up tackle rigging when poof, all three trollers went off.  So we caught a couple meals.  3 nice dorado.  So then it was lunch time of street tacos.  And then some napping went down and the afternoon movie was Caddy Shack.  When 5:00 rolls around it's cocktail hour and it looks glorious.  Drinks, cigars, and friends.  Then we had baby back ribs for dinner.  Once again like the first 2 nights we tried for some giant squid to use as bait, but we were unsuccessful. 

 Still no storms brewing up down below and we're getting more and more confident we won't be getting pushed out of the fishing grounds until we say so.  2 more days of travel before we arrive.  Everyone is enjoying themselves now because in a couple days, it's going to be war.  We'll be battling it out with 200+ pound tuna and wahoo.
      

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.