Nov. '00
Well after two days of excellent yellowtail, full limits for all hands, Skipper Andy Cates headed out to Guadalupe Island for one last chance at get his passengers a quality tuna. When we arrived at the "Lupe" the Royal Star was in the alpha spot, the prime fish catching position. Well there was not much for us to do except to catch his leftovers. Andy anchored off the Royal Star’s stern and to its port side.
Just as we suspected hooking and catch yellowfin was difficult. We tried a few different anchor positions but always the same result, a couple of tuna now and then and the rest of the time we just watch and waited for a tuna to come by. After an hour of this we took off to a spot a few miles down the island called Twin Canyons.
Well the Twin Canyons area was completely dead. But we gave it the old college try. After an hour of trying we headed back up to Pilot Rock. Andy knew that the Royal Star had to leave before us to get home. Andy was just biding his time and when the Royal Star left to go home we drop right into the alpha spot. We were due in the same day as the Royal Star so I asked Andy why we were not leaving at the same time. Andy said that with the new engines that the Red Rooster III has know he can fish three hours longer at the "Lupe" and still make it home on time.
The anglers on the Red Rooster III should thank Linda Halpain for putting those new engines in. Those extra three hours produced another 50 yellowfin tuna. Just as soon as the anchor came tight the current swung the Rooster in the perfect position and the bite was on. The tuna continued to crash the stern of the Rooster in small but hungry packs. Each attack would produce three or four and sometimes as many as ten hook-ups. With 50% of the attackers losing their battle and ending up on board the Rooster.
From 12 noon to 3 PM everyone had a shot at getting a quality tuna. Most of the tuna were in the 30-50 pound class but there were a few that topped the scales at 65 pounds. As we neared your departure time our bait was running out but the tuna were still biting. The last three baits each produced a fresh yellowfin for the lucky angler. It was a perfect way to end a trip. Our time had run out, our bait was gone and we left the fish when they were still biting. This ending always brings the angler back because it leaves the perfect memory.
A quick
thanks to
the crew
of the Red
Rooster
III,
Skippers
Andy Cates
and Jeff
DeBuys,
Big Jim
and the
rest of
the guys
worked
their
tails for
us. They
kept
tangles to
a
manageable
level most
of the
time. They
were
always
with the
angler
when they
were
hooked up
on tuna.
They even
let me
gaff a few
yellowtail
at Benitos
Island.
And of
course
Jorge
served his
usual
great
meals to
go along
with his
one of a
kind sense
of humor.
If any of
you want
to join us
in 2001
for our
5-day trip
just check
our
website
for the
dates and
information,
maybe we
will see
you next
trip.