Exceptional Fishing On The American Angler 8/6-13/2020

'     I attended my second annual Kimura/Uesugi fishing trip aboard the American Angler.  This group has been chartering this great fishing vessel every year from 1994 to the present.  Not only are they experienced fishermen; however, they are great, salt of the Earth, people.  We enjoyed some of the finest yellowtail and bluefin fishing I have ever been a part of.  Although we traveled many miles at sea to accomplish this fantastic catch it was worth every minute when we arrived at our desired location...

     We left San Diego's fabled landing the morning of August 6th.  Our first destination was the southwest fishing grounds around San Clemente' Island.  Our targeted species, the elusive bluefin tuna, which had been swimming in this location for the better part of a month were nowhere to be found.  Like the great Houdini, these fish presented themselves prior to our arrival in the size class from 20-400 pounds and as magical as the great Houdini was, they simply disappeared. A week prior to our visit to these grounds, monster bluefin's were being landed on kite baits that ranged in size from 100 to 300 pounds, while the school size (20-70 pounds) were being caught on regular sonar marks and on the drift.  As luck would have it, their disappearance left the fishermen and crew wanting.  We saw some foamers  (game-fish feeding on bait-fish at the surface), throwing bait and lures at them; however, these elusive tasting tuna's wanted little of our offerings.

     From this location, we anchored up at dark in San Clemente's Pyramid Cove until midnight.  As the clock struck midnight, the skipper fired up the American Angler's engines to head to another fabled fishing grounds called the Cortes Bank.  I've fished on the Bank a few times in my past.  It is renowned for attracting large yellowtail and surfers when the swell is up.  Some may have seen photos or heard of stories in which the Bank supports 20-50 foot waves.  Fishermen have enjoyed beautiful grade yellowtail as well as big tuna on this Bank depending on the year and season.  The Bank is a land mass beneath the surface, not visible without the use of electronics.  The land mass beneath the surface rises from the depths of the Pacific to 10 fathoms beneath the surface of the ocean.  From the Island of Santa Catalina, the Bank rises west of her about seventeen miles.  

     The morning bite was as advertised on home-guard yellowtail.  I caught five of these warriors from 20-30 pounds, and two of the anglers aboard landed yellowtail that would ultimately finish second and third in the jackpot of our trip.  I caught my fish on surface irons and bait.  My first and second fish were caught on a surface iron lure I named "LADY BER."  LOL, one might claim I am a bit of a nut naming my lures; however, this lure and name had significant importance.  

     The lure was a Salas 7XL with a single hook.  The name I gave it was in memory of my mother (Bernice), a beautiful lady who had recently joined our creator in his heavenly mansion.  "LADY BER" had a kick to her unlike any other lure in my arsenal or my life.  It was so pleasurable to tie her on my line, cast her out and watch her entice two beautiful friends of mankind.  Just like mom, she shinned like the midday sun.  The other three yellowtail my hook found a way into their mouths came on sardine bait and "LADY BER's" sidekick ("The Glue").  Unfortunately, one of the bruisers I hooked into using "LADY BER" had taken the lure down to a pinnacle  in its home and sawed it off.  Then I used "The Glue."  Like with mom, nothing last forever aside from the memories in our heart...

    That afternoon the skipper took us back to the bluefin grounds outside San Clemente' Island.  As luck would have it, they were still in their Houdini mindset and we only were able to catch one fish the entire afternoon.  We again spent the beginning part of the evening in Pyramid Cove, leaving again at midnight for the opportunity to fish the Bank for the morning bite on yellowtail.  As was during the previous day's fishing, I was able to snooker five more of these fabled Cortes yellows using another lure, called a YoYo 6X Jr. jig, in mint and white.  It's name was "Little Lynne-ita."  After the fifth fish boarded the Angler's deck, this little yoyo found a rock that I could not  free it from.  Although ten fish later and two lures lost, I would not trade the exchange for anything....

     Getting word that the tunas were still not showing south of us, the skipper pulled the string and headed due southwest to a little place that some call yellowtail mecca heaven.  Thirty six hours later, after fishing only a few kelp paddies and finding some Mexican homegrown puff floating in the vast Pacific (which we released), we found ourselves in another yellowtail playground.  There was a lure I used, after getting my first fish in the morning on a sardine, I named "Cedros Candy."  This little Taddy-A2 seemed to attract a fish a drop for two hours straight.  It was sensational fishing and the "candy" was sensational in its own right.  Within a few hours I had my trip's limit of yellowtail and then began fishing for the locals (native panga fishermen), the crew (x three fish), and some fellow anglers (x five fish).  As a group, we hooked and handed the native's our rods, and when they were busy fighting fish, we proceeded to load the bow of their panga with over fifty yellow's. After handing off several hooked fish to them to fight, I contributed another five in rout to a spectacular catching day.  Needles to say, my arms were fatigued in such a cool way...
 
     With only two days remaining on our voyage, the skipper pulled the plug again about 2:00 PM, deciding to head back north to another fishing ground outside Santa Catalina Island because word got out that the elusive bluefin had shown up there.  This area was another 36 six hour ride away and about 60 miles from San Diego.  We arrived at the fishing grounds for our last day of fishing about 3:30 AM.  There were already several boats in the area, telling me we had a great shot at catching this elusive prey.  During our day of travel, then laying in my bunk in the stateroom before falling asleep, I said a few prayers to our creator... 

     "Dear Lord, considering I have been seeking the sashimi of these elusive bluefin for several years, failing to land one on three trips prior, could you please give our skipper the wisdom to put us on a spot in which they would be willing to come out and play.  Could you also give me the wisdom and discernment to catch my limit...a bunch of friends and my two boys really wanted a dinner of these fantastic tasting fish.  Thank you LORD.  I love you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind..." 

     It never ceases to amaze me how kind our creator is.  By daybreak I had five bluefin chilling in the vessel's RSW fish wells.  Amazingly enough, three fourths of them were caught on a lure called a "Flatfall."  Her nickname was "Hollywood" because she had white glow and chrome stripes.  On one stop during the day's events, we motored in close proximity of a football field sized "foamer."  Most of the fisherman cast bait to this hungry bunch.  Considering "Hollywood" became one hooked tuna's dangling jewelry after its teeth were sharp enough to separate itself by chewing through my line, I dropped down a 200 gram colorful Flatfall named "The Wicked Lady."  As luck would have it once more on this sensational trip, a forty-five pound bluefin inhaled "The Wicked Lady."  This king of the school would eventually take home the jackpot purse, eclipsing the weight of all other contenders onboard, including the thirty-six and thirty-two pound yellows taken aboard earlier in the trip.  The fight was about fifteen minutes, as this tuna warrior had the heart of a champion.  I was using  my sixty pound line outfit with "The Wicked Lady" because of her size, otherwise I'm sure it would have been a much longer fight had she been tied to the 40 pound outfit I had used most of the day.

     After boating the potential jackpot fish, my sixth of the day and the limit on these tuna, the skipper told me to continue fishing and to give the fish I would catch to other anglers and the crew.  By day's end, I had caught over twenty five bluefin, helping others to achieve their limit and giving the crew a reward of sushi for their hard work.  At one point, the skipper, the crew, and several fishermen were astounded at just how dynamic the Flatfall worked.  Fellow fishermen  were suggesting they rub my arms, seeking the good luck through osmosis.  The skipper suggested after a short time that; "I have never seen anything like it."  In basketball jargon, I was "on fire."  With each fish I hooked into, and later bring aboard, I could only look up and thank our creator for the good fortune he bestowed upon me.  It was one of those fabulous days in which I knew he was answering my prayers....

     For all the fishermen who dream of days in which the fish actually cooperate with your intentions...keep the faith.  Those days just may be a cast away! 

     I wish you all screaming reels, tight drags, and the best sashimi in the world ;)