ISLANDER 3.5 DAY - Reports on pg 44!

Bring the biggest gun you can bro!!! And don't forget the soy and wasabi!

Bring the biggest gun you can bro!!! And don't forget the soy and wasabi!

I'm bringing a cannon dude and soy wasabi is alway on stand by .

Why rigs should I prepare for yellow tails? This is exciting!

Flyline live bait, dropper loop live bait to the bottom, or yoyo or fast retrieve jigs.

Flyline live bait, dropper loop live bait to the bottom, or yoyo or fast retrieve jigs.

And be prepared to do all 3.  Often times I'll troll around with one bait fly lined with no weight and one dropper loop trolling bait deeper.  If I come across a fishy patch with lots of bait around, I'll troll a big circle around it, and depending on what I feel like, might reel in the dropper loop and start yoyo-ing, while leaving the fly lined bait out.

Keep in mind that yoyo-ing an iron is different than jigging.  When yoyo-ing, you're dropping down (to the bottom) and just reeling it up as fast as you can.  Think of it as vertical trolling, working the whole water column on the retrieve.

-Allen

Also have a bait rig ready. Simply a 1oz egg sinker above your hook, fishing squid strips or live squid if we can be so lucky. I modify mine. See below.

For my bait rig (1oz egg sinker directly above the hook) I like to put just a bit of space between my sinker and hook. I felt like I missed some bites before I made this adjustment. I first started tying little mini-Carolina rigs, using a barrel swivel then a 2" leader to the hook. An easier way to do this is to either us a Carolina Keeper or rubber core egg sinkers. I used the rubber core egg sinkers last year and I think I prefer that method.

More rubber core sinkers are on my still-to-get list.

Also have a bait rig ready. Simply a 1oz egg sinker above your hook, fishing squid strips or live squid if we can be so lucky. I modify mine. See below.

For my bait rig (1oz egg sinker directly above the hook) I like to put just a bit of space between my sinker and hook. I felt like I missed some bites before I made this adjustment. I first started tying little mini-Carolina rigs, using a barrel swivel then a 2" leader to the hook. An easier way to do this is to either us a Carolina Keeper or rubber core egg sinkers. I used the rubber core egg sinkers last year and I think I prefer that method.

More rubber core sinkers are on my still-to-get list.

Forgot to mention the egg sinker above the hook.

Wow, a lot of great info! Thanks a lot, these are great helps for newbies like me.

Wow, a lot of great info! Thanks a lot, these are great helps for newbies like me.

+1!

Looks like we get to be the first trip of the season. Tomorrow's trip got cancelled due to not enough sign-ups.

Kinda weak. I was hoping the crew would get a chance to scout things out on this weekend's trip.

 
Keep in mind that yoyo-ing an iron is different than jigging.  When yoyo-ing, you're dropping down (to the bottom) and just reeling it up as fast as you can.  Think of it as vertical trolling, working the whole water column on the retrieve.
 

I would add that when you get a bite, keep reeling for a count of 3 before setting the hook.  This also goes for bait too.  This is what Kevin Nekada taught me when he guided Adrienne and I  last year in February at La Jolla.


Is there ice available if I use a fish bag on my kayak?  Does anyone ever go offshore a ways in search of tuna cuz it seems like there is a good chance of yellowfin being around too?
Is there fish processors at the docks where we launch?

Is there ice available if I use a fish bag on my kayak?

- There is an ice machine in the galley, should be enough to throw a few scoops into your game bag.-

Does anyone ever go offshore a ways in search of tuna cuz it seems like there is a good chance of yellowfin being around too?

- Yes, but AFAIK nobody from NCKA has ever caught a YFT at SCI.

Is there fish processors at the docks where we launch?
- Yup

If you don't want to bring your game bag you can always just radio the skiff to come and pick up your fish and put them in the fish hold.

Does anyone ever go offshore a ways in search of tuna cuz it seems like there is a good chance of yellowfin being around too?

I think we would discourage one from shooting too far offshore in search of tuna.  It's more of a safety thing for the captain and crew to be able to keep track of the kayak out on the water.  But you could ask the captain and see what he thinks.

-Allen

Is it too early to jinx the weather?   


Tuesday Night

W wind around 10 kt. Increasing clouds. Mixed swell...WNW 1 ft and S 1 ft. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft.


Wednesday

Variable winds 5 kt or less. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing. . Wind waves 1 ft or less.