Islander May 2.5 Day 2013

[roby]

Video Reprt:

http://youtu.be/JYD51yYqefM


I was suppose to go on the June trip with the Islander, but I couldn't make it due to family plans and landed a spot on the May 2.5 day trip. When I first got to the landing I found out Jim Sammons, Paul Lebowitz, Adi, and Drew Gregory were on the trip as well. Jim was filming his first episode for the 2014 season.

Aside: Drew was promoting the Jackson kayaks and he is also known for the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cV4FCwtTEo&feature=youtu.be

That night we picked up some nice sized sardines and headed for San Clemente Island. Jim gave everyone two goodie bags from Sebile tackle and Adi gave everyone a BWE hat - thanks fellas! The plan for Saturday was to anchor near China Point and then when the wind picked up pack up for lunch and then head to the front side.

In the morning Bobby (Kobra) and I decided to head outside of the kelp in 90 feet of water to look for yellows. We had luck last year and wanted to check that area first. After an hour or so I headed in to Pyramide Cove to look for halibut. While fishing for halibut, the calico bass bite went off and on four drops with my halibut rig I had calicos at the end of my hook. I switched to plasitcs and caught a few more bass in a span of 30 minutes or so.

Finally, I left the bass fishing and went for halibut again. On my last lively sardine in 45 feet of water I hooked into a halibut (17lbs), which would also win the jackpot for Day 1. We eventually went to the front side of the island where a 8lb yellowtail was caught by Jarod and a 23lb halibut was caught on plastic by Drew (he wasn't in the jackpot).

On Saturday night, we anchored in Pyramid Cove and some of the fellas made squid at night. There were several pbers in the cove doing the same. The flying fish gettting chased at night by the seals is always fun to watch. Bobby even caught one in his net.

Sunday Morning, even though the wind was under 10mph, and Pyramid Cove was whispering, "The Halibut are here..." the Captain decided to move to the front side of the Island again. We fished near White Rock and made our way throughout the day towards Pyramid.

Bobby and I decided to go for yellows again since one was caught the day before and Paul had a nice 5 minute sleigh ride by a yellow in this area as well. From 9-11 Bobby gots four good hits while flylining a sardine. On two of them he had a nice 3-4 minute sleigh ride, but on both of them the hook popped out. I went in for lunch at noon. After lunch I looked for rocks in 200 feet of water with some other kayakers to get some taco meat. We did fairly well as a group and pulled in Bocaccio, tree fish, white fish, and sheepshead.

On the final day Paul Lebowitz won the jackpot with a 9lb calico. Right before the 9lber, he got a 7lber.

Overall, the trip was really enjoyable. We saw the footage Jim's crew caught on their days of fishing. I can't wait to see the show. Adi told the craziest halibut stories in the craziest ways. Bobby gave up fishig for bass for two days so he could hunt for yellows. The chef made outstanding meals. The Islander crew once again worked their asses of to accomodate for the kayaks. There was also that kayak-flip at the boilers....I better stay away from that one : )

The fishing and scenery are always fantastic on the Islander and at Clemente, but it's the stories that keep me coming back...


http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt285/shh77/Fishing/20130524_213138_zpsf3bb4cac.jpg


http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt285/shh77/Fishing/P5250113_zps9ecdc6cc.jpg


http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt285/shh77/Fishing/P5260125_zpsd30b2413.jpg




http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt285/shh77/Fishing/P5260126_zps01c3483b.jpg

http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/tt285/shh77/Fishing/P5250117_zps8b91aa7f.jpg

[SDROB]

Great report Roby! Congrats on the JP! It was night meeting you out and everyone else out there. I look forward to fishing with you again!

[StinkyMatt]

Hey Roby, that looks like MY fish! You stole my fish you bustard!:the_finger:



Glad you got the jackpot. Lets do somereal fishing this weekend.:D

[ful-rac]

Guess whos buyn this weekend! :luxhello:

[Deamon]

Roby! Great report, beautiful pics and awesome fish! Jim

[kaya_one]

Way to make us all jealous. Sounds like a bunch of fun.

[steveooo]

Cool report Roby :luxhello:
Thanks for taking the time to write it up and make the video :you_rock:

[DanaPT]

looks like good times. I can't wait for June!

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

This really was a great trip with an awesome group. The wind did make things tough but still had a great time pulling on some real good calicos.

If any of you have seen my show or know me you know I love to play it close in the boiler rocks. Well I paid for it on the first morning of the trip. There was a great pocket in the rocks that I was getting steady bites in and even pulled a 7 pounder out of. The problem was the wind was in our face so I kept creeping in to get the lure in the right spot.
Combine the wind with the swirling water I was left high and dry on top or a big rock and got destroyed by the next set wave.
A couple rods lost, a brand new finder smashed, and a full on yard sale, not to mention my bruises and cuts. Thankfully a couple of the free divers from the trip were near by and came in quick to help me gather what gear I could.

As they say if you play you pay and I did pay on this one. First time ever this has happened to me but it didn't stop me from sliding in close again to get the big calicos on the rest of the trip.

Such a great operation and crew they have on the Islander, and great guys on the trip. If you have not been on one of these trips you should go.

A HUGE thanks goes to Patrick Sebile for providing all the great gear for the guys on the trip, including the Soft Magic Swimmers that landed so many bass including Paul's personal best nine pounder.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/p480x480/574558_10151608942874019_452260715_n.jpg

This shot was just a few minutes before I was nailed
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/200037_459793380773806_1042299516_n.jpg

This is Drew's Halibut caught with a soft plastic while fishing for Calicos in the rocks.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/382389_459793427440468_1096890795_n.jpg

[PAL]

Edit: Hah! Jim and I were posting about the same time. Sorry about the repeated pics.

The Islander is always an epic time. We had a great set of anglers and free divers on board, and like Roby says, the Islander crew... there's none better. And wow, did Jim Sammons and Sebile ever load us up on cool baits. Easily $100 worth, probably more.

Hey Roby, nice butt. Grats on the day 1 JP. I told Drew he should ante up. Bet he does next go-round. It was his first time on a west coast sporty. He's still learning about our style of fishing, and he was lucky too. He got his halibut right up on shore while bass fishing. Even pulled its head out of water at landing from the video I saw. A mellow fish and skilled angler. That thick flatty was doomed.

That first day, the wind and south swell were nasty. Jim was looking for big calicos for his TV show, so we worked the one reasonably fishable set of boilers hard for hours. They didn't want plastic. Jim nailed a nice 7 but only by baiting a live sardine in danger close. As I said on Facebook, payment would be extracted. That's not my story to tell.

It was a relief to get out of the wind. Conditions were gorgeous on the lee side, if not as fishy. Picking away at smaller calicos in the thin band of shore structure up by White Rock wasn't too inviting, so I slow trolled a dine out in 50-60 feet. Hooked up a nice yellow and that devil tail went straight for the only structure in sight, the anchor of a 6-pack sitting 150 yards down current. FUBAR. I wasn't up to the challenge. Fail.

I talked to Capt Coniff that second morning. He expected the wind to build all day. I don't think anyone was thrilled to be motoring back to the lee, including John. We all made the best of it and still had a great time.

I spent most of day 2 looking to make good on my farmed yellow. They were around; Adi had a school swim right under him. By late afternoon we'd worked south to better shoreline structure with plenty of water movement just as the wind started ripping outside, so I rejoined Sammons, Gregory, Jackson videographer Jameson Redding, and Jim's cameraman Will Richardson in close where I belong. If I'm anything, I'm a calico guy.

The bass bite lit up, and I was fortunate to pull a 7 out of the stones on one of Jim's Sebile Magic Swimmer Softs - an epic weedless boiler bait. I was feeling redeemed (whew!), and the structure kept getting more dramatic, with cliffs soaring overhead and big wind chop thumping hard against the rock. The whole calico crew had it going, and then - wham! - I'm on another boiler beast.

This one rainbowed my rod and hung tight to the bottom. I was getting sucked into the stones. The fish rolled - Gregory and I saw an enormous dark head and then it was once again pinned on the bottom. Gregory bumper-boated me out of danger as I thumbed the spool tight.

When I got it yakside, the big bass was barely hooked on the outside edge of its mouth, so I jammed my hand in and pulled it out. Hurt so good! 9 lbs on the Boga, finally getting me over the 8 I was stuck on for 3 years. Thanks to Jim for the photo, and Drew for the assist. First time I've ever won a daily JP on a C&R'd calico.

We stayed out until the light faded, and the guys had a couple more shots at big boiler bass. Damn, is SCI ever good for monster bass! I'm ready to go again.

[ful-rac]

Nice!! Those bass look more like grouper!!

Those things look big in the pictures....they must have been huge in person!

[mtnbykr2]

Looks like the trip was a little more productive than a few weeks ago, congrats on the butt Roby, great report.

[TheBentRod]

Congrats Roby.

I did not know you were missing the June 2.5 day. Sounds like a good time.

I can't wait for the show.

[SorryCharlie]

I have to agree with everyone who has posted, the Islander crew was incredible. I’m not sure if I would be as nice as they were after a few trips with rookies like me.

This was my first mothership trip, and while the fishing was a bit slow (minus the calicos that it) it was a great trip with an awesome group of guys. I will definitely try to get a spot on next year’s trip.

Special thanks to Roby and Adi :you_rock: for all the fishing knowledge they were kind enough to bestow upon anyone willing to learn.

[Lipripper92592]

Score on the Sebile lures, those are pricey, looks like a great trip!

Jim,
What type of camera do you have set up on your yak, it reminds me of a contour? Thank you.
Chris

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

We use a V.I.O. POV (http://vio-pov.com/) we find we get a better picture from them and are easier to set up the shots because they have an attached screen control unit. With the new POV power we can also attach the unit to my larger battery for my bait tank or finder and never have to worry about battery issues.
We also rarely miss a shot because the camera is always recording a loop. If we get a hit I simply hit the record button and it saves thirty seconds from before I hit the button.

[capntim]

Great job guys. Wish I was there!!!!

[jorluivil]

Roby must have been smoking some good ganja when he picked the music for the video

[JarrodMc]

Like the guys already said, this was a really fun trip. There were some quality fish caught and we all had a good time. The crew worked very hard and they were all VERY accommodating. I'm glad I was able to get a spot on the boat last minute.

I managed to hook up on a few decent calicos fishing with Drew, Paul, Jameson and James with Will filming us. It was pretty good minus the howling wind and Jim rolling it in the rocks. We did manage some quality calicos all C&R before lunch. I caught all my bass on Zman Jerk Shadz and a couple on a trap rig I was bouncing on the way back to the boat for butts.

After lunch, we hit a new spot after moving to calmer waters. I saw Paul get broken off when his YT swam towards a boat and sawed him off. :mad: I moved out a little deeper from where I was fishing and had a good hunch about where I let a line out and within a couple minutes it was FISH ON!

I caught my YT on some bass gear that I was flylining in the boilers and it was the easiest one to get in the water quickly. That fish felt a whole lot larger on a light set up. Even with my Daiwa Lexa 300 buttoned down on drag, it still pulled. After a 10 minute fight Jim was able to gaff it for me. Thanks Jim!

Shortly afterwards I heard on the radio that Drew was hooked up on a "Ha Ha Halibut!" I wasn't close to him but after hearing it over the radio I knew it was a big fish. He caught it on ZMAN Elaztech!

On the 2nd day the fishing was a lot slower in the morning. Maybe due to a full moon, who knows. My FF managed to take a dump on me too... I still pulled some Calicos out of the shallows but it wasn't as solid as the day before. It was slow for me till lunch and I took a good break and got ready to head out and pound rocks in the afternoon. Roby and I fished with a few other guys around 250' and we pulled up good size Bocaccio, Sheephead, Treefish, a few Reds, etc. I nearly limited with a mixed bag before the winds really picked up and it was like Victory at Sea out there. Luckily we all managed to get in and on the boat safely with no big problems.

After we all loaded up and cruised a while looking for a better spot with less wind, we never really found a good area and called it a day. Paul nailed those 2 Calicos in a different spot than where I was fishing and Drew caught a Leopard Shark.

All in all it was a very fun trip and I got to meet and hang out with some cool people. It was great getting to know you all and swap stories and fishing tips. Thank you to the Islander crew, Chef Brian and Capt. John for the hospitality. You were all top notch. Thanks to Patrick Sebile for the goodie bag we got. Thank you Adi and Brent for the BWE hats.

[steveooo]

Wow! What a great trip.

Paul, congrats on the PB. What a toad Cali- a true So Cal trophy. I appreciate your write-up of the trip too. You have a way with words, and a love for kayak fishing. I felt like I was there. Thank you :cheers1:

Congrats to those who won the JP, and thanks to those that took the time to post a story and Pics. :you_rock:

[Rock Hopper]

Thanks for the pics and reports, fellas. A bunch of us from NCKA are going next weekend. Can't wait!!

[lamb]

Great reports and pics all! :cheers1:

I was stoked to have been able to make it on this trip. Work has just been crazy lately – I don’t have time for anything. I was sooo looking forward to fishing San Clemente Island. It’s almost impossible NOT to have a blast on SCI trips aboard the Islander (http://www.islander-charters.com/kayak-fishing/kayak-home.shtml). The Islander crew are the masters in business of taking care of people, especially us kayakers. Fishing is great even when it’s “slow”. Gotta love that vibe on board too. Always a group of awesome people to hang out with, everyone positive, pumped up and optimistic. That ever renewing hope that tomorrow is going to be the day! 2 full days of fishing, with 3 nights spent on super cool, comfy and friendly host boat – you can’t ask for much more.

The scenery is breathtaking.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/Day_1_Cove_Sunrise.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0086.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0281.JPG

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Fishing-wise, I’ve got not much to add that hasn’t been said. Just my own story to tell.

The trip was fun as always, and lots of lessons learned, lot’s of reminders. At least for me. When you see Jim doing rock climbing on kayak fishing trip 40 miles out in the Pacific on an uninhibited island, you better start taking notes. :) I always said you bass guys are crazy, fishing tight to those boilers. No that size lamb will ever make me go tight to those razor sharp rocks if there are any rollers. :gnorsi: I’m glad it all ended up well, glad you were not hurt Jim.

On the Day 1 we fished the Cove, we launched in good 10+ kt winds, that turned into steady 12 to 15kt rather quickly. My plan was to constantly pound the sand, both days, while hoping to cross paths with a yella’ or a cbass like everyone else. :drool5: Guilty!

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0032.JPG

I started working that one tiny beach. Headed straight to shallows, in 15 feet. Water was all steered up. The South swell that rarely hits that edge of the Island was pounding the beach. Not a huge shore break, but enough to dirty up the whole area. Visibility was very poor compared to what I’ve seen from my earlier trips to SCI. I kept thumping away, dragging my sardines around, covering bottom and flying the dean, casting plastics, catching occasional calico.

As I drifted further East and downwind from the big boat already, I decided to let the wind move me around the point with a nice kelp wall in 80 ft. Figured I’d sniff that area, and then swing around and in to get to that first haliland beach on East side of the Cove. I was hoping those rocks above the beach will shelter me from the wind that was pushing steadily.

My halibut rig goes off. I’m on a big fish that was busy trying to shake me off while hitting on the West run and taking me on a sleigh ride. Those first big fish on the bottom moments are the best. It was no halibut, that was certain. The initial stoke that I’m on a big pissed off croaker, as it kept going, turned into that excitement and optimistic desire I‘m actually riding a yellowtail. Off we went into the wind, towards the Islander. If I could have asked for a heading to be taken on a ride, that would have been it.

Big headshakes, steady raw drag peeling power. Another mighty ride… and another, and another. Pretty much, going where she wanted to go. ON a good note - still on the same course, upwind, towards the Islander. It’s just pulling too hard. …and then comes that moment. :( You just know it’s something you won’t be eating... unfortunately. :D BSB, big shark? T!? To make the matters worse, I couldn’t even button down the drag all the way on this particular halibut rig. LESSON/REMINDER: If you want to catch a halibut with any particular setup, it doesn’t mean you’ll catch halibut on that setup – somethin’ bigger may apply. We’re in process of taking applications, whoever signs in. Kind of like public forums on the internet. :D

15 minutes or so of a hard labor, being towed while huffin’ and puffin’, I finally get a big ol’ black on float. There goes that mandatory and spontaneous “f**k…” over my lips… :o They say the hope is the last thing that dies in people… (like I didn’t know that’s what was pulling me around :boxing_smiley:).

Now that rush of having to fight to make sure she lives kicked in. I’ve got to revive it, and conditions are not quite favorable. No one around to give me a hand. The fight was almost 15 mins; I was in for a life revival fight for another 15 or so minutes.

I saw she’d been caught before, apparently snagged – a thick 40ish+ looking mono and 2/0 were in her chin, on the outside. I’ve got to clean it. So after I finally got it up to the surface, I found myself looking for, out of all things, my pliers! They were in my dry bag, inside of the hatch. :doh: Totally unprepared, I don’t know what I was thinking. I got spoiled with the convenience of having everything at hand on my boat. LESSON/REMINDER: Have your act together out there when floating on a piece of plastic.

The fish was still relatively green, it kept kicking, not giving me enough time to work on hook cleanup. My hook was deep in its huge mouth. After multiple attempts with no progress, I started worrying I’m taking too long with my clean-up efforts. After all, she came with those hooks and she was quite all right. It crossed my mind I ought to be focusing on the immediate damage that I caused. My day’s trophy is this giant bloated floating big beautiful protected species (huge, trophy, giant - hey, I had to throw in at least something to sound as cool as Josh’s fish tales :D). In rush of a moment, being blown around, I concluded that my hook in her mouth was definitely a smaller of her problems. Since I couldn't really reach deep enough in her mouth to remove the hook, I cut my line right outside of her mouth thinking that would give her more room to swim when I flip her and point her down. It looked like she had enough juice to do it. I knew more I wrestle with her in that draining surface float, less of a kick back charge she’ll have. The time was not on my side.

That was one horribly bad call. :( LESSON/REMINDER: in 12+ steady blow, you find yourself spending more time paddling back to your big floating fish. I’d help her a bit, she would kick and shake me off; the wind would quickly blow me away, she’d come back up afloat behind the kayak. :( I kept paddling back into the wind towards the fish. I tried pushing it gently down with the paddle, flipping her, nothing seemed to work. The worst part – the wind would quickly separate us after my each attempt. :(

At that point I’m cooking –fully dressed up for a cold breezy early morning. I strip my hat (with GoPro on it, there goes my movie making :rolleyes:), jacket, clear the deck and get down to it. With both hands, I kept working her upwards and moving back and forth to get water flowing through her gills.

She finally takes off for the deep… Yes! :luxhello:

I now good ¾ miles further down wind, in 200+ ft of water. :o Put the shoulders in gear, start paddling back towards the shore.

I spent the rest of the time working this one section of the beach, pounding the sand up and down the beach, working from 20 to 50 ft. All for one good bite, that looking at the scars on my bait, looked like it could have been halibut, even a big one, but I couldn't be sure. In for lunch, and we moved out to the lee side for a shelter, and some more fishing.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/016A.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0165.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0103.JPG

Drew was hell bent on catching halibut. I spilled all my beans showing him how I liked to fish for them with bouncing live bait. The problem was - the front side has rather steep drop off, and there is not a lot of consistent sand areas. It’s hard to fish, with all the occasional stringers or rocky spots in relatively narrow area tight to the shore. We split up – he went really close in to the shore casting swim baits.

Countless calicos were on everyone’s menu the 2nd part of Day 1. I won’t ever complain about a situation where you can pretty much count on a strike almost every 2nd cast. In certain areas, they were thick, and more than turned on. You’d see them going crazy chasing bait around, snapping right below your kayak. It didn’t matter what you their way – action was non-stop. FUN!

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Then we hear Drew on the radio all excited about the big brown he connected with. Stoked that he scored the right kind, and very respectable size. :cheers1: Plus at the time, he wasn’t even strictly targeting them! I told him, it’s all about the attitude!! It was a pleasure meeting the rest of Jim’s film crew, Drew, Jameson, Will. All great guys. One hell of a fisherman Drew is, you can tell right away. That halibut stood no chance, despite being hung around for pics and put back in the water for video, all while on a boga grip, and tied with a lil' piece of rope :eek:

We went back to the Cove to spend the night – great dinner.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0311.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0341.JPG

Bryan, Islander chef, was busy cooking for us all the time, treating us with some great foot - one meal after another.

On anchor in the Cove, we messed around with some squid that were showing up. They were not thick.
We did some flyfishing… I mean fly fish net fishing, FOR REAL! :)
Here's Jarod with our trophy (netted) catch...

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0362.JPG

..that quickly turned into seal dinner when we released it.

Day 2: while it seemed slightly calmer than previous day, and we were all itching to fish the Cove, John predicted the wind was going to be building up… So we ended up moving to the lee side to fish the full day there.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/Day_2_Islander_Lee_Side.JPG

The conditions there were totally mellow. It turned out to be a good move – none of the boats that stayed and fished the Cove had any catches to talk about. We were doing quite all right

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/Day_2_Calico_Action.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/SCI_Calico_May_2013_.JPG

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/0154.JPG

Before the lunch, after good number of hours put into the sandworks, I get another one of those frequent kelp hung ups, it seemed. I grabbed the rod and gave it a strong jerk, and “the kelp” starts jerking back. :D Sweeeet! Felt like a bigger beaver, the proper up and down magic carpet action. I got GoPro on, game clip ready, gaff in "handy deploy" position… First glimpse of a lot of brown and white gets me really excited. Turns into a big Bummerville parade when I saw the tail on my big “halibut”. :o 50ish+ angel shark, I’d estimate… Ugh… Another spontaneous and mandatory “f**k…” slips over my lips. :(

Though when I told him the story the other day, Vito told me they’re pretty good eating. Pain in the arse to clean with the leather skin and dark meat mixed up with white, but supposedly very tasty.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/707/015A.JPG

Later on, I had a nice school of 10-12# yt swim right under my kayak, in about 20 ft of water. I just made a cast, ended up getting bit by a nice calico right as I tried to wind in in a hurry. They swam right by my sardine I was fly-lining. They were just chillin' by - it wasn’t meant to happen.

I will put some video together and post when I find the time… Crap, it would have been better had I cut some time out of writing this novel and put into that. :) Oh well…

Thanks again Jim and Sebile lures (http://www.sebileusa.com/home.php) for the goodies. That was very nice treat! You put my BWE/KFS hats to shame.

It was really good seeing and catching up with all the people I knew, it was my pleasure meeting all the folks I haven’t met in person before. I love putting faces behind the forum names.

One of the best things about any of these “out of town” trips for me is how everyone really works together, talks on the radio, and helps key in each other on what they’re seeing, what and how they caught their fish. Stories and knowledge are shared and laughed over. That makes the whole trip really cool experience that everyone remembers forever. And there’s never enough lessons to learn.

We fished hard, and had fun. :cheers1:

Great fishing with all of you! :cheers1:

[Deamon]

Felt like I was there with you guys! Nice write up Adi! One of these days...

[JarrodMc]

Nice report Adi. Love it

[Sin Coast]

Thanks for the wonderful reports & pics & videos guys! I'm having trouble containing my excitement about the Islander this wknd!