Mike Nixon caught the first yellowtail taken on a sportboat at Catalina Island in 2012 on board the Big Game 90 on Friday. The group of 15 anglers were fishing on a 2.5 day trip and opted to stay at Catalina because of improving conditions, more market squid moving into the pristine waters of Catalina Island and because the US Navy had closed much of San Clemente Island where mostly rockfish were being taken.
"Big Game 90 Captain Mike Jewett said this is the first sportboat yellowtail of the season for the islands," said Nixon. "We fished Catalina Island both days where I caught a 39-pound yellowtail on Friday morning taking the jackpot."
The giant yellowtail was taken by Nixon just before sunrise Friday as he soaked one live squid and one fresh dead squid on a 1/2-ounce leadhead in 80-feet of water. Nixon was rigged up with with 65-lb spectra and a 30 lb fluorocarbon leader.
The anglers on board also caught another smaller yellowtail and lost several others. To round out the catch, anglers took some calico bass, 2 halibut, one nice lingcod and lots of other rockfish.
For Nixon, this is a case of good things happening to good people. Nixon is not only and avid and capable fishermen, he is also on of the very first to volunteer his time when it comes to the Phil Friedman Outdoors Youth Program. "Great to see Mike not only get the first yellow but such a big one at that," said Will Ebersman from Phil Friedman Outdoors.
Anglers are now hoping that the season is about to take off. Water temperatures are now over 60 degrees at much of the island and a tad more squid seems to be moving in every night.
Photo: Capt. Bryan Holtan left, shows off the first Catalina Island yellowtail taken on a sportboat in 2012 by Mike Nixon on the Big Game 90. The giant fork weighed 39-pounds.
Photo credit: Mike Nixon
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wow pretty cool yellow tail post. Keep up the good work Phil. I always enjoy your posts.
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