03-29-2006, 04:18 AM
I sometimes find it hard to distinguish crazy from willfullness and determination.
One day I set out on a 3/4 day boat (Sunday) I had already been out of the house since 3pm on Friday fishing the piers at night, 3/4 on Saturday, Twilight Boat on Saturday and back on the Docks early Sunday morning. (6am)
We left at 6am with 5foot swells at 10seconds, from the NW and 15kt winds.
I was up in the wheelhouse with the skipper as usual talking about the hot bite on Pacific Bonita (similar to Skipjack Tuna). His concern was more on the weather report and the safety of the rest of the passengers.
It was a 2hr ride to the Island (Anacapa) and we got there with a minimum of rail marathoners on the deck.
We hit a spot on the calmer back side of the island and dropped the hook.
Bait was rolling, birds were diving on it and the swells were picking up together with the wind.
My son and I were catching some nice Bonitas as others continued to stir up some "Starboard Stew".
By 10:am the swells were now 10feet at 5seconds and the wind was howling at 22kts.
The skipper dicided to pull the plug and head for the hill just as soon as I pulled up a nice 20lb Bone for JP. Keep in mind that the state record in CA is 21lb 4oz. I thought I was very close until the scale came out.
Most of the Bones in the area were only running between 4 to 9lbs.
We headed back just in time. The swells just jumped to 15 to 18ft at 4seconds with 30kt winds.
We watched the horizon dissappear right in front of our own eyes while watching over the stern.
A slow, steady, rough ride and we were back to the safety of land. The skipper gave everyone a "Wind" check for a free return ride. All of us regulars on the boat just
d as we received it while the "Once a year" tanglers looked at the Capt with disgust and said "Never again"!
I went home early only to have the wife ask me why I looked so tired. "Isn't fishing supposed to be relaxing"? "That's what you always tell me".
I kissed her on the cheek and said"Good night". It was only 3pm and I slept like a baby.
[signature]
One day I set out on a 3/4 day boat (Sunday) I had already been out of the house since 3pm on Friday fishing the piers at night, 3/4 on Saturday, Twilight Boat on Saturday and back on the Docks early Sunday morning. (6am)
We left at 6am with 5foot swells at 10seconds, from the NW and 15kt winds.
I was up in the wheelhouse with the skipper as usual talking about the hot bite on Pacific Bonita (similar to Skipjack Tuna). His concern was more on the weather report and the safety of the rest of the passengers.
It was a 2hr ride to the Island (Anacapa) and we got there with a minimum of rail marathoners on the deck.
We hit a spot on the calmer back side of the island and dropped the hook.
Bait was rolling, birds were diving on it and the swells were picking up together with the wind.
My son and I were catching some nice Bonitas as others continued to stir up some "Starboard Stew".
By 10:am the swells were now 10feet at 5seconds and the wind was howling at 22kts.
The skipper dicided to pull the plug and head for the hill just as soon as I pulled up a nice 20lb Bone for JP. Keep in mind that the state record in CA is 21lb 4oz. I thought I was very close until the scale came out.
Most of the Bones in the area were only running between 4 to 9lbs.
We headed back just in time. The swells just jumped to 15 to 18ft at 4seconds with 30kt winds.
We watched the horizon dissappear right in front of our own eyes while watching over the stern.
A slow, steady, rough ride and we were back to the safety of land. The skipper gave everyone a "Wind" check for a free return ride. All of us regulars on the boat just
d as we received it while the "Once a year" tanglers looked at the Capt with disgust and said "Never again"! I went home early only to have the wife ask me why I looked so tired. "Isn't fishing supposed to be relaxing"? "That's what you always tell me".
I kissed her on the cheek and said"Good night". It was only 3pm and I slept like a baby.
[signature]