Dates: Trip 1 July 14, Trip 2 Sept 22. Trip 3 Oct 20
Trip Chairman: John Lavarias
Trip 1: July 14
Six SCTC members included Phil Capriccio, Don First, Dick Ableser, Jim Bateman, Rick Whearty, and John Lavarias.
The group fished Santa Barbara Island where they enjoyed nice weather and calm seas. The fishing was good for some and not so for others.
Dick Ableser broke the ice with the first White Seabass and soon landed another. Phil Capriccio followed with a nice one and then another. Capriccio was the hot stick of the day with an “Island Grand Slam” catch of 2 White Seabass, 1 big Yellowtail, 1 Halibut, and Calico bass. John Lavarias and Rick Whearty also caught big Seabass, but unfortunately, they were the wrong color…Black. Don First battled a disappointing “Mud Marlin” and Jim Batman caught Calico Bass. Captain Wes added a White Seabass to the count.
The final fish count was 5 White Seabass from 20-28lbs, 1 Yellowtail est. 30lbs, 3 Halibut 8-15lbs, 1 Sheepshead, and a number of Calico Bass. As the tradition on the Options, the fish was divided equally so we all went home with a few dinners.
Trip 2: September 22
The 6 SCTC members included, Don First, Andrew Weiske, Doug Drummond, Larry Holmes, Jim Bateman, and Mike Kenyon.
The trip started out on very windy with rough seas, so they anchored up at to wait out the weather. It paid off as the winds died down and Captain Wes later found calm water teaming with Dorado. They ended up fishing off Catalina’s East End and off Pyramid Head.
The guys reported catching 20 Dodos, 1 Yellowfin tuna and a Mako shark. The Mako was lured back to the boat after biting of the Yellowfin’s tail and was free gaffed by deck hand Jiro.
Everyone was able to take home 15 to 20 lbs of filets.
Apparently, the guys were not very proud of their catch, or maybe they were BS ing about the catch as they did not submit any photos…makes you wonder.
Trip 3: Oct. 18-20 2-Day
The 6 SCTC members on trip 3 were John Lavarias, Don First, Phil Capriccio, Hank Brown Jim Bateman, and Rick Whearty.
The trip plan was to fish Catalina on the first night, then Wednesday proceed to an area off of San Clemente Island to search for Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado in warmer water, followed by anchoring up at SCI for the night/early morning bite.
The guy anchored at Catalina’s West Cove the first evening and scored 3 White Seabass. At around 4 am they pull up and headed to the Tuna grounds off San Clemente Island.
The sea was flat calm and conducive to a comfortable ride and good sleep. After a 30-mile ride to warmer waters they found the porpoise and tried for the Yellowfin beneath, but they wouldn’t bite. This was the result time after time. Concurrently they found many kelp paddies only to be disappointed with no Dorado hanging around. 12 hours of beautiful weather and greasy flat water but no fish.
Captain Wes decided enough is enough and made way to SCI’s Northwest harbor and try for Halibut and settle in for dinner. Well, great dinner, but no Halibut. Wednesday turned out to be a bust.
After the anglers turned in for the night, Captain moves the boat to one of his secret spots. Around 2am everyone was awakened to the call of Seabass on deck. The crew managed to attract a mass of squid to hang around the boat. This drew in the Seabass and Yellowtail. There was a consistent bite of both species until the Black Seabass showed up and that shut the bite. 3 Black were brought to the boat and release. One estimated at 175lbs was coughing up about 3 doz. Squid and had 2 lobsters in its mouth.
With all the success Thursday morning and the long ride back to port we decided to call the trip early and head home.
The final fish count was 8 White Seabass to 28lbs and 16 Yellow all in the 25 to 28lb class. Not a large quantity but an estimated 600lbs of whole fish…plenty for all. The largest White Seabass and Yellowtail weighed on a certified scale…both were 28lbs.
A great fishing season aboard the Charter Vessel Options
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