Full Day Dana Point Charter During Fourth of July Weekend

[Mead_Stripers]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to plan an all day fishing trip for my dad and nephews during the Fourth of July weekend. Has anyone taken a chartered boat out of Dana Point? I know they have a full day and 3/4 day. I would appreciate any feedback as to the following:

1. How good is the fishing out of Dana Point?
2. Are the fish pretty safe to eat? (I heard people should consume too much of the Newport fish.)
3. Is there a big difference in taking the full day versus 3/4 day charter?
4. I see that yellowtail is in full swing around Dana Point. What lb test would you recommend? What type of gear/tackle would you recommend? (Sorry, I'm primarily a freshwater fisherman.) For some reason, I don't think my 6 lb test is going to cut it out there.

Thanks for your anticipated advice and comments.

Best regards,

Paul
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[tubeN2]

The fishing around Dana Point is on fire right now. If you are going for YellowTails, then you won't have a problem with the table fare.

The fish to watch out for when eating is the bottom feeders that are local.

As far as gear goes, you will need a rod and reeel that will handle 20-50lbs and 30 to 40lb test line based on your ability to handle big game.

If you are taking a boat directly out of Dana Point, you should chose the boat that leaves the earliest for better results. Sometimes the fish bite in the early morning and sometimes it is not till later in the day.

Depending on the ocean current you may be able to get away with light sliding sinkers and a #2 hook for best results.[cool]
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[Mead_Stripers]

Hey TubeN2,

Thanks for your advice. It sounds like I need some serious gear. Yeah, I hope we can land a couple yellow tails in July. What's the "fishermen's etiquette" when it comes to your neighbor hooking a big fish? I've been on boats before where people just caught smaller fish. I'm wondering if the etiquette changes when someone hooks a large fish, i.e., yellow tail.

Based on the gear you recommended, what is the average time to pull in a large fish once you've hooked it? I obviously don't want to be too aggressive and risk cutting the line. But at the same time, I don't want to keep the fish out in the water unnecessarily, which increases the chances of the fish getting off the hook, or worse, my line getting tied up with someone else. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks again.

Best regards,

Paul
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[tubeN2]

Getting the big fish on the line is kind of like taking center stage at a show. If you have the "Big One" on your line, simply yell "Hot Rail!". Most people will move as needed so that you can spend the necessary time with your fish on the line.

On the same token, listen for the others that yell "Hot Rail" too.

You can plan on spending at least 10 minutes babysitting your Yellow tail while underwater. Sometimes it can be longer. Just be patient, keep your rod bent and hang on.[cool]
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[Mead_Stripers]

Hey tubeN2,

Thanks for your post. It's very helpful. Here's to having many "hot rails" during the Fourth of July holiday.

Best regards,

Paul
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