gray reef Fishing Report 2025

The Ranta Charter started off fishing yellowfin tuna with a decent little score on school sized fish ranging from 10-20 pounds. Most of the fish were caught on the flylined sardine with 30 pound test and a 2/0 hook. We also had as handful of troll fish that came off of green and black zuker feathers. The next day we sought after some quality yellowtail between 20 and 30 pounds. Sadly, these fish didn't show like we hoped they would have. We saw a couple small schools of fish that came up and boiled in the chum, but nothing would stick with the boat. Fish were being caught on flylined sardine, yo-yo jigs, and everyone's favorite technique, the surface iron. We managed to pick away at some of these fish in the morning before calling it quits and moving on in search of a better bite. After hearing reports of the yellowfin bite picking up, We decided to make a run to the grounds to get in on the action. We arrived mid-morning with high expectations, as a couple other boats in the area had some big scores off big schools of yellowfin. It didn't take long for our dreams to turn to reality as a four way trolling hookup turned into a wide open bite. They were biting anything that was thrown in the water for a solid hour until most of the passengers had their fill pulling on these tuna, that averaged 15 pounds. We had a couple more stops for not as much success before pointing the boat towards something new. The last day of fishing was spent offshore looking for kelps, but dirty water and 20 mph winds made it hard kelp finding conditions/ However, we managed to pick up a few nice Dorado as well as a couple more yellowfin to add to our total. This was a great trip with some awesome people, a couple a which had their first experience out here fishing saltwater. A big thanks to Dan Ranta for putting this all together, we hope to see you all out here again sometime soon! Till next time, Team Supreme

~~Sep. 21
 Well, as promised we left on another trip today.  This one being an LA Rod and Reel Club long range 2 day trip.  We got a nice jump on things.  We were done getting bait and leaving the harbor by 11:00 this morning which allowed us to get to the tuna grounds by 5:00 this evening which allowed us to find a school of yellowfin before dark which allowed for most of the anglers on board to catch at least one which allowed me to feel satisfied about our day today.  Catching fish on a departure day.  Those fish were free.  Tomorrows the true day.  That's when we get real nasty.  So right now we're anchored up in the cove of an island and I couldn't be happier about it.  For the last week at night this boat has been running.  We've always been traveling somewhere so it feels real nice to be on anchor with the engines off.  It's even better that we're in a protected cove.  It's like being in the bay.  I can't speak for everyone on board but I'm pretty sure I'll be sleeping with my thumb in my mouth tonight.  Until tomorrow....
        
 

Well, fishing was cut short as we had to perform an emergency air evacuation for a passenger. Coast Guard did their job with perfection and the reports are the passenger is going to be ok.

Some blue fin were caught for the day and a yellow fin. We will be back at the dock tomorrow and head out on Joe Beck's 5 day on Monday. We still have some open spots on his trip and a couple on the father/son, father/daughter trip with Larry Brown on June 14th. Give Susan a call if you can come out and join us.

Thanks,

Hello everyone, Today we had a hit on the better grade Bluefin Tuna. They were 30-40lbers, beautiful fish. There was also some Yellowtail and Yellowfin mixed in as well. Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to catch some Bluefin to add some variety and size to the fish hold. Will report again later, Team Supreme

Today we scoured the zone we had been seeing our tuna and today they were nowhere to be found. Hoping they show themselves again tomorrow. 16 yellowtail 3 dorado 59 bonito 1 skipjack.

Guadalupe Update

7/27/2011

Passports

 

Dear Polaris Supreme Anglers,

 

I hope this letter finds all of you well.  As summer fast approaches we have gotten final Guadalupe questions answered.  And below I have done my best to try to convey them all to you.

Not all trips will go to Guadalupe.  Last year there was already excellent fishing at Guadalupe mid July.  In a normal water temperature year like we have now, we start to see Guadalupe produce good yellowfin by mid August.  So mid July, mid August is the time slot we may start fishing Guadalupe.  Your guess is probably as good as mine.  But we do know if the yellowfin do show, they will be there in full force by September and October. Either way we want to be to be prepared for any scenario.

Passports, Visas, Mexican Permits, and Guadalupe Permits (one bracelet for each day of fishing at Guadalupe) will be required by all passengers on all trips four days and longer from July 18^th on that may go to Guadalupe.  This is a Homeland Security US and Mexico Customs and Immigration requirement to go to Guadalupe Island.

I realize the logistics seem very complex, but all you, as a passenger will need to acquire, will be a passport.  We will acquire all other documents.

The decision to go to Guadalupe will be made four to five days prior to departure.  This will give us time to prepare our forms, and notify our customs brokers, (Us and Mexican), Department of Homeland Security, Customs, Immigration, Agriculture, and Coast Guard.

We need your passport information now!

Our decision to go to Guadalupe will be made on the basis of whether there is good fishing or not at the Island, weather, input from charter heads and passengers as to their desire to go.  The Captain and owner will make the final decision based on the above-mentioned and any other issues that may come up.

 

A typical route on a five-day trip would be as follows:

     Day 0 – Board 9:00am * Depart Landing11:00am * Depart Bait Receivers 1:00 pm

                   It is 60 miles from San Diego to Ensenada * Arrive Ensenada 7:00 pm *

                   Two hours to clear * Depart Ensenada 9:00 pm

 

     Day 1 – Fish day light until dark off shore for albacore, bluefin, and yellowtail on

                  kelps.  It is 182 miles from Ensenada to the North end of Guadalupe and 196

                  miles to the south end.  217 miles from San Diego to north end of Guadalupe.

                  237 miles to south end.                                   

 

     Day 2 – Fish Guadalupe daylight and on into the night for yellowtail and tuna.

 

    Day 3 – Fish Guadalupe until dark.  You could also go back off shore at the end of the

                   Previous day to fish albacore, bluefin, and yellowtail on kelps this day.

 

     Day 4 – Fish off shore for albacore, bluefin, and yellowtail on kelps.  We must be within

                  60 miles of Ensenada by 4 pm to be into Ensenada by 10 pm to clear out of

                  Mexico.  Depart Ensenada midnight.

    

     Day 5 – Arrive San Diego customs 6:00 am.  One hour to clear.  Arrive back to the

                  dock 7:30 am.

 

The typical scenario for a four-day trip would be one day less at Guadalupe.  If indeed the Island was the main destination.  The time involved to target Guadalupe on four and five day trips will not allow us to have time to fish Cedros or Benitos.  Six or seven day trips will.

This is the longest expected clearing times.  We are hoping to keep Ensenada down to one hour and San Diego down to a half hour.  There is no scheduled check in into Guadalupe, but we expect to be inspected by Conapesca and/or the Mexican Navy.

Only on trips going to Guadalupe requiring clearance there will be a clearance fee of approximately  $3260.00  divided up amongst the passengers on board.  This will cover the cost we will be required to pay in and out of San Diego and Ensenada for customs, Immigration and Agriculture.  Other cost will include the following

 

Cost 5-Day:  (carrying 24 people)

                      Mexican Fishing Permit $ 87.00 (cost incurred on all trips to Mexico)

                      Mexican Visa  $25.00

                       Daily Guadalupe Bracelet  $ 5.00   (per day) times 3= $15

                       Clearance Fee  $135.00

 

                       Approximate total $257.00       

 

Our bait dying in Ensenada Harbor has been a question brought up and will not be an issue.  Ensenada Harbor is very clean, if not cleaner than San Diego Bay in the summer when there is no runoff.  It is also cooler than San Diego Bay and chance of red tide is slim in both bays this year with no El Nino. 

 

Thank you all for your patronage.  If you have any questions or concerns please call me or Susan at the Polaris Supreme office.  619-390-7890

 

 

Thanks,

Tommy

June 28

I told you all we would be departing today on a 5 day trip on my last report and I have to tell yah, that's exactly what we did. We're out on a private charter with Mr. Pfleger and some of his boys. Things went alright at the bait receivers. We got two boxes of a mostly spanish mackerel with some greenies and about a 7.375 average of sardines mixed in. Things are looking a little scary with our sardine stocks of San Diego this year thus far. You may want to make sure you pack your bait catching rigs if you're coming out this year and also think about getting your anchovy fishing skills back. You may need them.

We're thinking about starting offshore tomorrow on a southerly track. We're not going to put the brakes on and fish locally where most the tunas been caught lately. We're going to put ourselves in position to do other things the next couple days after tomorrow. We may look for white sea bass and yellows somewhere down the line. It's not something we'd do on a normal long range trip but this is a special one. I'll explain later. You know how Pfleger is with his sea bass.

Tommy's running the boat but I'll still be your author so enjoy and I'll see you tomorrow.

 

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Hi everyone. A fun day was had by all here on the Polaris Supreme. For a while, it was looking rather bleak, but we got on a breezer a little after lunch time and "put the wood on" some Bluefin. That last quotation was a Mark Clark-ism, I don't know what putting the wood on means but he apparently says it when he would like our anglers to hook up and pull on some fish. Well, from lunch time until sun down, they were looking like they all worked at the lumber section of Home Depot. We also had a nice sonar school towards the end of the day that gave us a ripper up until dark. Lots of good times for the boys today here on the Polaris Supreme. All the kids had a blast and we're throwing out the "sack" tonight to hopefully do this again tomorrow. Hopefully, the time of day thing gets straightened out and we have some action in the morning time. We'll chat with you tmorrow.

Richie and Team Supreme

P.S. The Phrase Is "putting the wood to them" not on them. Thus the Clark-ism variation. The Term comes from a time when your father would make you go to the wood pile to pick your own piece of lumber to spank you for lipping off or what ever you did wrong. So we spanked the tuna, put a hurt on them, or put the wood to them! Tommy.