At last, after over seven months of being landlocked, I finally got the time to get on the water to go get some. I've been reading reports that Yellowtail fishing was starting to heat up since April. It's hard to to keep your level of anticipation low,when you see pictures and reports of nice hookups on fishing forums. Come May, the intensity of Yellowtail hookup reports is just to hard to bear anymore. I got to get into the action instead of just being a bystander and internet angler. So I checked my favorite 4-pack sportfishing ops in San Diego - Seasons Sportfishing. Sure enough, they had a full day open party trip with two slots open for May 24 fishing for Yellowtails at the Coronado Islands Mexico. I immediately contacted Jamie and got on the trip. Going into prep mode for this trip, I remembered that I still have the Quantum Cabo 60 PTS reel that's been sitting on the shelf that has never been fished. I found some leftover 80lb Daiwa Boat Braid I had laying around, and I immediately spooled it on. I paired the Cabo 60 with my Major Craft Giant Killing Hiramasa rated at PE 3-6. I wanted to really test this rod with a more hard pulling fish. The only fish this rod had caught so far was a 40lb halibut I caught last year while fishing for White Seabass. I also brought along my Stella 18000SW which I paired with my Ocean Revolution Stealth PE-5 rod, just in case I'll need a bigger reel with more line capacity.
Before we left the docks, we found out that the bait receivers only had live anchovies. This means we have to catch our own sardines or macks if we want our chances of hooking some nice Yellowtails to increase On the way to the Coronado Islands, we passed by alot of kelp in the water.
At the islands, we saw lots of bait breaching the surface and also bait balls below. I started to worry that the tails will be less interested in our offerings since there are lots on the menu available to them. Duane took out the sabiki jigs, and we started catching some live baits. Baits of choice were sardines and macks. It didn't took long and we've had enough live bait in the tanks.
The plan for this trip was slow trolling nose hooked sardines and macks. We wanted to cover as much area around the islands as the Yellowtails were scattered and also due to the abundance of bait in the water. My first hookup for the day ended up in disaster as my PR knot slipped just as the fish was boatside. This is the first PR knot failure I've experienced after so many years of using it and hooking up big fish. It was all my fault. Normally I'd tie at least 4-6 inches of PR knot connection. Not sure what I was thinking when I tied just 1.5 inches of PR knot connection. That was a big Yellowtail lost. A mossback! Bummer!
I also lost several fish after this first one. Mostly due to hook not reaching and setting in the Yellowtail's mouth even after a 4-count. Some of the macks we used were just big. Finally in the afternoon, I got one that stuck! To top it off, I had the hookup with my Cabo 60 PTS reel and MC Giant Killing Hiramasa rod. I was stoked! This was another huge Yellowtail, this time it's not getting away. The fish did pinned me against the boat a couple a times as it surged to get away from the gaff. We finally got it on the boat. Another mossback! So happy to feel that adrenaline rush again from the screaming reel, the pull of a strong fish, and that rod bending from the pressure. Just what every angler craves for on every fishing trip.
First trip is in the books for 2014! The Cabo 60 PTS performed as advertised. A solid reel with strong drag! I love the Major Craft Giant Killing Hiramasa, it's an awesome rod and I can't wait to get it bent again. Once again Capt Duane of Seasons Sportfishing worked extra hard. Seasons don't hesitate to burn more fuel and stay longer to get you on fish. They're an outstanding charter ops and I highly recommend them. Another good news is I have another trip lined up this June hunting for the elusive White Seabass - the "Ghost". Last year, I ended up hooking a nice Halibut instead of the ghost. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this time around I hook one. Hope you like my report. Hit the "Join this site" button to subscribe to my blog. Fish on bros!
