spirit of adventure - 9/28 to 10/3/06

Awesome report!   

very cool. I feel like I should pay to read these reports. thanks!

what do you mean penn modified gt2? how?

I have to figure out whether to keep my 330 gti or sell it and get some kind of
other 'big' reel.  probably the former, but I'd only get maybe $50 for it.

J

the qualifier 105 did a kayak trip at cedros.  looked like alot of fun. the deck of the spirit of adventure is a lttle higher, and so is the rail, but it's not too bad.  i i love yellowtail.  very challenging.  pound for pound, i think they do fight harder, and from a technical point of view, it is a harder fight.  more
to contend with in the shallows.  we actually did get one dorado, but not like past years.  i'm actually thinking of getting a pair each of the avet two speed sx, mx and jx for 30, 40 and 50# topshots.  but that would be another $2k.   

Hi All,

Two problems with the Q105 are.....1 it drifts backwards in the tuna shuffle.  It has a round bottom and when it drifts that way.  All the lines on both sides of the drift end up in the middle.  Nobody reels in, so when you get a fish...you get a tangle.  Sorry, guys..but it is the worst Long Range boat I have been on.  Been on the Excel (2 times), Shogun, Polaris Supreme, and Q105.

2. It is old (Q105) and the airconditioning goes out on it and sometimes the fish hold ice box.  Have not been on it in 4 yrs.  Maybe , they have worked on they problems.

Ken kickfish

The Islander runs regular kayak trips to Baja and the islands http://www.islandersportfishing.com/schedule/schedule_kayaking.htm

They have retrofitted the boat with kayak storage racks and a swim deck for ease of entry. They regularly run 1.5-2 day trips for kayak fishing. Pretty good possibility of large Calico's and yellowtail. It is a nice boat but not up to the standards of the Excell, Shogun or RP. For a 2 day trip it is fine.

I like the Avet JX 2 speed for Guadalupe because it lessens the chance that one of those 100 pounders will spool you out especially when you have over 100 yards out on the bait soak. I run 500 yards of 65# hollow spectra with 25 yards or less of 40# mono/fluoro. With 30# test, I use the avet LX single speed.

Scott

Thanks Alan, That was a great post.It brought back memories of my first Guadalupe trip 10 years ago.My cousin and I were noobs following Willy from Hi's tackle around like puppies.
 I guess we had beginners luck. I caught a brace of 35lb. yellowtails,then my cousin caught a 47lb'er.The skipper looked at the fish and remarked how lucky a catch it was on a 4-day trip.The 1st place jackpot went to a 80# yellowfin caught under the boat on a loose line :smt013But the yellowtail was good for 2nd place money[dinner for all at Harris Ranch]
 That trip got us hooked bad.The next thing you know it was Calstar rods and 2 speed reels,making ringed hooks,and hollow spectra.
 I always had good luck on the Royal Polaris and the crew kept us in stitches constantly :smt005The food is off the hook,way too much,and good.Frank LoPreste likes to say,if you don't gain weight it's your fault.
 Last year I lent my gear to Larry and Candy from up north.I believe you serviced my reels after they hooked those 200# tuna on that incredible bite          Thanks again,Mark

Alan,
Thanks for posting that awesome report.  I grew up down south tuna and yellowtail fishing offshore and all that the islands emcompass.  I go on trips down there every couple of years.  I'm beyond hooked.  In fact, I still keep track of whats going on down there year round.  I recently talked with my wife, set some goals and in 2008 I'm in, a 5-day.  Its 2 years from now and its all I can think about. 

thanks, guys.  yeah, mark, i still remember the day that larry and candy came over the house.  we started talking about their trip.  they had your heavy gear and that was all.  i started pulling more gear out, explaining that i wasn't going to let them leave without it.  i think he was shocked that i would dump so much stuff on a total stranger.  there was just no way that i was going to let them take a knife to a gunfight.