on the water Fishing Report 2024

47 nice grade Yellowfin, 7 Yellowtail and a Bluefin for today’s group in awesome weather.

The Apollo called in earlier. They have just started on their 5 day trip. They have 11 Albacore for their 9 guys. Nice Job, JJ!

Often times the very FIRST piece of the puzzle is the most difficult to locate. Today we stopped on multiple small schools of yellowtail that were surprisingly hard to hook. Full size yo-yo jigs on 40 lb mono produced the first 2 yellowtail of our season. We also spent a couple hours fishing the bottom to assure everyone had plenty of white meat. We’re hoping this is just the tip of the iceberg. Make those resos !

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."

Traveled all day. Our agenda is eat, sleep and travel. Should arrive at noon. Weather is good now and we like it this way. Lunch was pork shiskabobs with whole wheat soba noodles. Thanks for checking in.

Tommy and crew

We ran up and fished a few spots around Cedros to finish the trip off. We found a school of those jumbos around 3:00 and it kept us busy until the beautiful sunset and moon rise. The biggest fish went 45 pounds. We're headed for the barn now in as flat of a sea as is possible. We arrive/depart on Saturday leaving smoky San Diego on another ten day.

We departed today on Joe Beck's 5-day charter. Good group of guys, good weather, now let's hope for some good fishing. Thanks, Tommy

Tommy Rothery docked his Polaris Supreme at Fisherman's Landing July 31 after an open-party trip of five days with 23 anglers. Rothery was enthusiastic about both the quality and the quantity of fish he encountered at the islands and on kelps. Several youngsters were aboard, and they enjoyed catching and releasing yellowtail and dorado, while keeping a few of the larger models to take home. Some of them posed with their catch at the scales. "We released an awful lot of fish," said Tommy. Matt Herrington of Huntington Beach won the jackpot for a 36.6-pound yellowtail that fell for his sardine on a Mustad 91450 hook in the 2/0 size. He said he fished with 40-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader, 40-pound P-Line, a Trinidad 40 reel and a Calstar six and a half-foot rod. Scott Oberg of El Centro won second place for a 32-pound yellowtail. Steve Algrim of Long Beach took third place for a 26.2-pound yellowtail, and the trip posed at the head of the dock.