santa cruz albacore - 9/19/09

It was about time!  Guys have been catching albacore here in Northern California since July and I've been tied to the dock!  You know, wife, kids, in-laws, work!  All of the usual excuses that keep you off the water.   Well, my brother wanted to go so I made some phone calls, rounded up a last minute crew and had everyone ready to hit the road at 3AM.  When we arrived, the parking lot at the launch ramp was empty.  Not a good sign.   We launched the boat and fired up all of the electronics, including the FLIR infrared night vision camera.  Running 20 to 25 knots with infrared night vision, we were able to make the 45 mile run before daylight.  We ended up the day with 15 albacore for the 5 of us.  I was fine all day with 7 hours of sleep the night before.  Too bad I can't say the same for my crew.  I guess the 3AM departure time threw people off.  I ended up with as much sleep as my four crew members combined.  My brother and nephew arrived at home home late the night before, had a few too many drinks and only got 2 hours of sleep each.  My neighbor was finishing up paperwork to close an important business deal and also got 2 hours of sleep.  And finally my 20 year old deckhand stayed up to watch TV and got no sleep at all.  The worst part was that my nephew was hung over, in addition to being sleep deprived and puked on the cushions in the cabin.  Most of the boat is clean this evening.  Tomorrow morning I clean the cushions! 

Sleep is critical. 

Great report! I wish they come close by let see if we can get a slayride, Thanks for the pics and report!

Great report! I wish they come close by let see if we can get a slayride, Thanks for the pics and report!

That would be way close for them for us to get a slay ride by an albacore...

Entertaining report, as usual. Thanks.

Howard

Great report! I wish they come close by let see if we can get a slayride, Thanks for the pics and report!

want a slay ride , come down this way and lets hook into a sturg!

  I am sure we can alter the Grady into a fine mothership!  Nice report, beautiful tuna and sorry for the sorry state of your crew!  Sounds like you must have had to talk to yourself on the 45 mile ride back in! 

Jai Boi thats wat im talking bouts haha lol im all stoked now lets go fishing for watever fish tats bites haha i ain't picky i just gotta get rid of this freaking feen haha lol WTG thanks for sharing an awesome report Me Sooooooo Jealous 

Keo

Al,

If you ever go again and need a fresh crew, I'm volunteering.  I'll share all expenses.  Great catch.  I wish I have the guts to take my boat that far.

Rey

no one yet has hooked and landed an albacore from a kayak in northern california.  i want to be the first boat that makes that happen, but not at the expense of one of your lives.........

no one yet has hooked and landed an albacore from a kayak in northern california.  i want to be the first boat that makes that happen, but not at the expense of one of your lives.........

But what a way to GO!!! I'll volunteer    j/k...but seriously if u were going to check out Thanks on the report plus pics... no sleep, running fast, hung over... I would've chumed too! But most definitely made it to the gaff hatch...

Thank you for the great report and pictures Alan! 

At least you scored some nice fish, despite the crews lack of sobriety and alertness. You should put your nephew to work on those cushions. If you play you pay, and cleaning up after ones self is a good habit to keep