I had the good fortune to be charter master on the Independence for the first trip of the 2013 summer season.
Good fortune is an understatement when describing this major event in my lifetime of fishing. Before I left the docks I had told people I would like to finally break through the 60-pound barrier on Bluefin tuna. Along with almost everyone else on this epic trip I shattered the record for my previous personal-best Bluefin.
On the trip down I happened to walk into the wheelhouse as the captain of the Angler was telling captain, Jeff Dubois, our timing was perfect, that we indeed had grasped the “golden horse shoe”. We were told about a concentration of large Bluefin swimming in flat calm seas.
So much for sleep this night; as I near my 72nd birthday I still have trouble sleeping the night before any fishing trip. Now the die was cast, this night would be filled with visions of crashing Bluefin and screaming reels.
About 10 AM the next morning we were told by Captain Jeff we had arrived in the “Bluefin zone”. A fact evidenced by aircraft and tuna seiners. As usual, the tuna become very boat-shy when the net fleet starts working. We struggled that first day; we’d run up on a spot of working, jumping tuna only to have them sound as our bow got within 20 yards of them. We’d only pick one or two of those fish. Even the normally willing-to-bite yellowfin had become suspicious of any boat in the vicinity. However, we did manage to slip the hook into a couple of those big Bluefin.
That night Captain Jeff announced he wanted to stay in the zone one more day. We awoke to more calm seas, but Jeff had moved us away from the seiners into our own little fish pond. The day started slow and we worked for every fish we landed. As the day wore on only a few big bluefin had been hooked while all the other anglers stood around and watched one or two lucky anglers battle their beasts. Things were not shaping up to match my visions of what could be.
Around midafternoon the captain’s excited voice announced a large spot of big fish was in view and we should prepare with heavy line. Even though we were forewarned we were simply unprepared for what happened next. This school stuck with the boat for the next three hours. Too many anglers continued to fish with 40-pound line and star-drag, high-speed reels. Important lessons in fishing are often harsh; too many fish were lost after an hour-long struggle. The disappointment was heavy on the shoulders of those who lost fish and those who couldn’t get hooked up in this field of hundred-pound-plus jumping tuna.
After an eternity one of those fish ate my fly-lined sardine. Fortunately I was fishing with 60-pound line, a quality hook, and a two-speed reel; things that made the crew voice immediate approval. Experience has taught me that timid anglers, much like timid poker players, often lose the battle. I was not timid and pulled hard with a tight drag, not stupid tight, but one that matched my age and experience.
That fish went 120 pounds and fulfilled my wish for a BFT exceeding 60 pounds.
At the dock we discovered the group had landed 24 BFT over 100 pounds. Our hot-dog angler, Bobby, accounted for 3 of them. My friend, Steve Raye from Portland, handled the jack pot with a larger unit that went 174.
The usual kudos go to the crew of the Independence. However, Captain Jeff deserves a special gold star for his performance on the tank. Once before I have observed Jeff’s willingness to brail the bait in order to bring a huge school of tuna into the boat. Jeff again displayed his magic and brought that magnificent school of large Bluefin to the boat for over 3 hours.
Photo's from the weekend
"FISHING with PHIL trips. Text of call Phil to join us this Friday or Saturday night!
Where: On board the Enterprise, Long Beach Marina Sportfishing. 180 Marina Drive, Long Beach, Ca.
Book: Call or text Phil at 424 237 0250.
Why book with Phil: You get extra prizes, 5 times the raffle tickets for great prizes, get entered into an annual drawing for a bigger prize, and lots more. All for the same $40 but only if you book with Phil.
Come out for a Fishing with Phil Adventure and we'll guarantee you a really fun time with a great opportunity to catch more and bigger fish. The Enterprise has a top notch crew for you and Phil Friedman Outdoors will have pro-staff on deck to help you have a great time.
Phil will also being looking for interviews for his radio shows, as well as shooting photo's and videos that will be posted for you to enjoy and remember you "FISHING WITH PHIL" trip.
Come on out and enjoy the fun.
Call or text Phil for all the extras Hablamos Espanol
424 237 0250
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I can hardly wait for this weekend’s Fishing with Phil
Twilight Trips on the Enterprise out of Long Beach Marina Sportfishing. The
trips have been more fun than ever with a great crew, wonderful sponsors like
Bass Underground, Taco Surf, Big Fish Bait and Tackle in Seal Beach, Pierpoint
Landing, Flambeau, and others.
Last Saturday, Captain Andy Siratt had a plan. “Come here
Phil,” he said to me. “I want to know what you think of the plan I have?”
Siratt said he wanted to fly out to the sculpin grounds, limit everyone out on
some great eating fish and then drop back to the sand bass zone.
As far as my opinion on whether it was a good idea, I
learned long ago that Captains like Andy or Frank Savino are way more
knowledgeable than me regarding where to fish. They have an extra sense about
the sea and that’s what makes them so good at what they do.
Siratt based this plan on the previous night’s fishing when
Captain Frank Savino found that the bass wanted to chew late. If that was
indeed the pattern, Siratt’s plan seemed not only logical but probable. Well as
probable as anything can be on the water. Deckhand Nick Kim went from angler to
angler making sure that everyone was rigged up properly while cook Bobby Rubino
filled the air with the sweet smell of grilled onions and scrumptious
cheeseburgers.
Instant hook-ups greeted angler Steve Phelps and his buddy
Daniel on the sculpin grounds with some nice fat, great eating fish. The two
men had their limits in less than 20 minutes. The rest of the boat had limits
in under an hour. The first part of the plan went according to script on a
gorgeous night with calm seas and no wind.
As we headed towards the bass zone, Phil Friedman Outdoors
raffled off rods, BASS UNDERGROUND shirts, Flambeau tackle boxes, Raven Lures,
and more. The anglers who booked with Phil (call or text 424 237 0250) got 5
times the raffle tickets as well as a chance to win some other great prizes
just for them. The atmosphere was fun, friendly and festive as we were making
new friends on board the Enterprise.
When we arrived to the bass grounds, Siratt tried to anchor
but conditions were ass-backwards to use the vernacular. “I’m going to try
something crazy,” said Siratt. “I’m going to anchor stern into the wind.” It
worked. We settled over a hard bottom that instantly started to produce big
sand bass. “Don’t have to measure any of these,” said the Captain. “All nice
fat ones.”
Anglers using a leadhead and squid were having the most
success. Big bass were gobbling up the mollusks and sometimes busting anglers
off in the structure below. “I’ll stay late,” said Siratt. “Just keep getting
em.”
In the end, the 23 anglers on board boated just over 50 big
sand bass along of course with a limit of nice sculpin. Sometimes the best laid
plans of mice and men go astray, and sometimes they are a slam dunk.
Fishing with Phil
We are on the Enterprise every Friday and Saturday evening
from 6:30pm to just after midnight. If you book with Phil, you are
automatically entered in a “SPECIAL JACKPOT” , you get extra raffle tickets to
win great prizes and you are entered in an end of year raffle for even more
prizes.
Just remember that you must
1) Book with Phil. Call or text 424 237 0250 or Email [email protected]
2) Pay Phil cash at the Landing before departing.
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