Red Rooster San Diego Tuna Fishing Trip

[StillInScrubs]

I had been wanting to do one of these long range trips out of San Diego for over 13 years. Well the planets aligned and I signed up for one. We were expecting a mixed bag of YFT up to 100lbs, wahoo, yellowtail and grouper. This trip didn't turn out thatway, but it was pretty good none the less. The trip was sponsored by Charkbait.com and they were helpful with getting some of the needed tackle.

I flew to San Diego on November 1st and met up with some of the regulars of Noah's Tackle who lent me the 50 and 50 wide Avet's and Baja Boomer rods I would need for this trip. If you need tackle for a trip in San Diego it is worth the effort to get to Noah's much cheaper prices than anywhere else down there .11/2 Loaded the boat and ran for the bait barges. 600+ scoops of sardines and greenbacked mackerel. The Red Rooster is a 105 long ~35 foot wide Aluminum fishing
vessel designed specifically for long range fishing trips.





We then ran south until 11am on the third day when we hit the top of the ridge
called the 13 spot. The ridge is about 2/3rds of the way down the Baja Penninsula if
you look on the map.

At this point we started catching 15-30lb YFT, small yellowtails, and some dolphin. I ate the heart of my first tuna which is tradition in those parts, who was I to tempt upsetting the fishing gods.







The next day we ran to the 'cow pastures' I caught a 47lber on 135# test it was a fun little tussle.
Then just before dark I landed this little 197lber. I lost three big ones just before I landed this one so I was seriously frustrated.
I was now 1 for 4.





The next day I took a skiff ride which you can watch at http://www.charkbait.com/Chart...y.htm and
came back with this 253.8 lb . This fish took more than 2.5 hours to
land. It bit a sardine I was fishing under a ballon 100 feet from the boat.
The fish cleared the water on the initial strike missing the bait. It swirled
around and came 2/3rds of the way out of the water the second time. Crazy stuff.




Another day of catching "200lb trout on the lake." Now I understand the name Pacific.








This in myself with the crew member Spike, without whose help I would not have landed this fish.

The next day I caught four fish in this order 168lbs 15minute fight; 202lbs 20
minute fight fish came up puking humbolt squid pieces, ~140lb fish which I
gave to the galley for sushi nice fillet and release shot, and 169lb tuna after
20 minute fight. Fish #3 and #4 caught on video to follow when my buddy
gets it to me.









This squid tenticle came up with the 202lber. The wolf packs of cow tuna were feeding on them. The ~140 pound fish that I donated to the galley had softball size chunks of Humbolt squid in its stomach. A friend has video of these tuna attacking the squid, awesome stuff.









The next day was slow I caught a ~180lb striped marlin and then a 217.7 lb tuna on the kite rod.













Each night we would run to Magdalena bay to make bait. After the final day of cow fishing we spent a day and a half on the ridge fishing smaller stuff. I busted out my muskie rod with Calcutta 400 and 15# test and proceeded to destroy the football YFT with a white gotcha plug with an orange head. Wicked fun. Sorry no pics. At one time a sent an ~5lb yft to the bottom and had it grabbed by a grouper which ripped its skin off on either side, but did not get the hook.







My 217lber is in the corner.








My final fish pile at the docks.


Resources:
Red Rooster III great boat
Noah's Tacklle is the place in San Diego getting on line too. Cheap custom rods and the lowest lure prices.

Charkbait for your other online needs.
[/img]

[FinalPoint]

Thanks for the report...I really want to do one of these trips.

[Gladiator Tuna]

ya buddy!!!!

[Captain_Dav]

I'm hoping to take our boat down there in a couple of weeks. That has to be one of the best reports I have seen on any message board. I love the pictures.

Was that your first experiance with the Humbolts? Did you use any of them for bait? They are a blast to catch. Tight Lines

[StillInScrubs]

Yeah first time. I didn't catch any myself, but I will. The cows were tearing that one apart like great whites on an elephant seal. It was some crazy stuff. A friend got it on video. I'll post it if/when I get it.

[Tuna Devil]

SWEET :thumleft:

[HMS BEAGLE]

Man what a fishing trip, that is quite an experience....How many over two tubs did you catch? That photo with all the YFT tails along the transom is something else. Way to go....Excellent read Thanks

[robalo]

It is good to see the larger fish are still around. The siene boats were gradually decreasing the size of tuna on the west coast. It appears most net boats are operating in the western Pacific now. Are the long range boats still going into Mexican waters? By the way, I had a suspicion you stand up fishermen cheated with the rail. Now I have the photos to prove it. :lol: