Feb. '99
You have planned
a four or five day trip for this coming season and you are wondering where you are going
to be fishing? Chasing albacore along the 1000-fathom curve">
Feb. '99
Yellowtail fishing at these southern islands can be divided into three techniques: Flylining, tossing iron and bottomfishing. Let us start with flylining. Usually you will be anchored over a high spot with the current running off the stern. What tackle do you need? I would start off with a 40-lb. live bait rig. Try a Penn 4/0 and whatever length rod you prefer. Something like a Calstar 6465 or a 765L will do the trick. Most of the "tails" will be in the 20-lb. class so 40-lb. will do the trick. Hook size will depend of the size of the bait and line you are using. With 40-lb. and a 6 inch sardine try a 5/0 hook. You want to fish with a heavy enough line to keep the ‘tails from turning their head and running to the bottom. If the ‘tail reaches the bottom and "rocks" you, you have lost. If the yellowtails are of a smaller size you can drop down to 30-lb and still have a good success ratio. Try hooking you baits in the nose or above the anal fin. As with any bait fishing pick the liveliest bait. Get it into the water quickly and let it swim. You will have a crowd on the stern so to avoid tangles drop you bait in on the sides and let the current take you bait to the fish.
Tossing iron is the most fun and challenging way to catch yellowtail. You are trying to fool a "tail" into eating your iron. When it come to rods and reels you can use the same combo I mentioned earlier in the article. Lures like Salas, Tady, Ironman and UFO when used correctly catch more fish than bait. Most of these lures come with treble hooks. Trebles are fine for yellowtail. If the bite get wide open you may want to fish with a single hook lure. It will be easier for the deckhand to get your fish UN-hooked and you’ll get back out quicker. I like the Salas 6X Jr. in blue/white or blue mackerel patterns when fishing for tails. Fish the lures with either yo-yo or countdown retrieve and you should catch your share of yellowtail. If you are not fishing in deep-water (less than 120 feet) start with yo-yoing. Do forget to crank as fast as you can on the retrieve. Tails like a fast retrieve. If the flylinners are catch fish then switch to a countdown and retrieve. Start with a 50-count sink and a high-speed retrieve. This usually works, if not try a longer sink.
There are times when the yellowtails are holding just off the bottom. If you can not get bit on the yo-yo iron try fishing a dropper loop on the bottom. I do not like this style of fishing but it can be very productive. Bring out you Penn 6/0 with 60 or 80-lb. line and your trolling rod, tie on a 7/0 or larger hook, enough weight to hold the bottom and have at them tails. If you have a Penn International go ahead and use it. The larger reel will allow you to persuade the yellowtail that you are in charge. Give the yellowtail a chance to swallow the bait before you set hook. Once you set the hook DO NOT, give that yellowtail an inch of line. Getting them off the bottom is critical. After you have pull them up 30 feet you usually have won the battle.
You can also catch yellowtail on the troll. They will hit tuna feathers as well as Rapalas. If you plan on using Rapalas be very careful when you bring the fish on board. The treble hooks on these lures are very dangerous to anglers as well as yellowtail. This covers the basics of fishing yellowtail at Cedros or San Benitos Island. You can use these techniques just about any island that has yellowtail.
This month the long range fishing industry lost one its most loved captains. Rollo Heyn died in a tragic accident on the Royal Polaris. We will miss him dearly and our prayers are with his family.