gulf of mexico Fishing Report 2024

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."

Capt Mike Pritchard of the Tribute called in on the first day of a 2 day charter, we have over 60 Yellowfin of a really nice grade. We currently have 3 hanging and they are ranging from 25 - 30 pounds, with a couple in the low 40 pound range. Very good fishing and they are even biting the popper, which makes it even more exciting. Hopefully we will have more today and tomorrow, we will check back in later.

Saturday, September 8th, 2012

Hi friends. We arrived this morning from our Garry Roberts 9-day trip, wheeled up their gear and fish up to the top of the docks, and got down to business on our turnaround chores. When all was said and done, Robin Gledhill and the Blue/White group was on the boat and we shoved off the docks en route to the receivers. Our bait loading went well and we'll monitor the health of our sardines throughout the trip.

For dinner this evening, instead of prime rib (thank you!) Robin brought us some fresh halibut to play with and Chef Shawn prepared it wonderfully. The wine was flowing too. I had Robin give me a list of the wine that was passed around from table to table and I was going to write about it but there are too many big, fancy words for me to type out. All I can say is that there were plenty of dry, light wines to not overpower the fish, but to accent the flakey, white fish. Perfect. I didn't have any. Sad face.

Anyhow, we'll report back to you tomorrow. Hopefully the fishing is great, the seas are flat, and the sunshine burns us all like lobsters.

-The Supreme Team

P.S. I'd like to give a shout out to the lady and gentlemen at Fisherman's Landing for completing my request of breaking seventy dollars with ten seven dollar bills. They are the bomb and they are my friends.

Also, we'd like to give a shout out to our thumb-sized calico bass, Charlie, that Jed and myself released today in the bay. We've taught him the way and he's been through a lot: transit from San Diego Bay, to Alijos Rocks, and back and he also experienced his first USCG helicopter rescue. He's a G and we wish him well.

P.S.S. Those of you waiting for the pictures of last trip, due to technical difficulties they wont be up till we arrive from this trip on Thursday.

176 yellowfin tuna 2 skipjack tuna. Finesse bait gear has proven to be very important. Today’s high liners were fishing 15&20 lb and #4 & #2 live bait hooks. Keep a 40 lb rod nearby because we have had some short windows of aggressive fish.

Plenty of stops on breezing, foaming, jumping, tuna. Colt Snipers and flylined bait on 25 lb. 16 yellowfin tuna, 14 bonito tuna, 1 mahi, mahi, mahi, mahi, mahi.

Took off today on a 5-day and we are hearing that the albacore took off in the morning but then died, but the prospects for yellowtail are great. So we will look for the yellowtail first thing in the morning. Our weather is absolutely gorgeous. For dinner we dined on a boneless Cornish Game hen with a summer favorite, fresh zucchini, and a side of fettuccini. Very tasty. Thanks for checking in. Tommy and Crew

A nice one!

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.