Diablo Rojo en el Huli Cat (non yak)

The BKM was running short on sorely needed ammo for the ongoing sweep and destroy missions targeting the Filthy Arthropods swarming our coast and threatening the Cali tourist industry.
I set out on the Huli Cat early yesterday morning, with a load of FIVE customers, to make crab bait and calamari steaks. Yes FIVE customers on the Huli Cat. Not even enough to pay for gas and crew. Tom, this is yet another reason your known as the best.

Headed out to "the edge" in great conditions. Just enough roll to help "auto pump" these stubborn mutant mollusks from the deep. Just before arriving at the spot, Tom says that there is a boat already there and they have the squid up. Boy was that a relief. Anyone who has dredged one of these up from 600 to 1200 ft knows that it can literally be a pain.

Tom glides the boat to a stop right next to the other and we drop in. I stop my jig at about 200ft saying to myself "no further, 200ft should be easy". About 7 seconds later my rod goes bendo. Aargh, now I remember what this is like. Button down the drag and start the hard slog of pumpin it to the surface.

After boating that one I say "If they really want to go for a boat ride, then they'll have to come to me." I drop down about 30 ft just outta sight and kick it in gear. 4.7 seconds later and bendo. I repeated this a number of times before Tom said "Wind em up, lets leave some for the next trip." I think I boated about 7 in an hour. Tom noted that this was some of the best squiddin he'd seen.

On our way back to check on the Arthropodic Entrapment Devices (AEDs) Tom and the crew put stomachs and beaks into neatly labeled ziplock baggies to be sent off to a biologist. The customers were all chatting about how they would feel it for the next week.

We arrived at the AEDs and started to put crab on the boat. The AEDs weren't very full, but the light load allowed us to fill up on limits for everone. Just another day on the Huli Cat.
I now have enough bait n steaks to last the winter!!

Awesome.

Wild stuff, thanx Sharky!

dam those are big , 60 pounders?

Great video Sharky!  I remember down in socal it was a blast to use those beasts as giant water guns, if you timed it right you could soak just about everyone down the rail.  Looks like you had two great captains on board, Chuck is the man.

Thanks for the report.

-Patrick

Awesome Sharky, looks like a great time! I went on a squid trip with captian Tom a couple of years back and it was pretty fun. Tom is such a humble dude and works super hard to put you on the fish. I miss Salmon fishing on the Hulicat.

Thanks for the report!


-Eliot

That is awesome

Man...You guys lucky hooking them in less than 100ft deep!  Need to go deeper for a good exercise   Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Sharky.