2018: Trip 1 Thunderbird (1.5 Day)

May 17-19, 2018

2018 DWRRC Trip #1

1.5 day Thunderbird

“Why do we do this. waking up at 4 a.m.. Weather behaving like a hormonal teenager. Spending hundreds of hours to experience just a few moments. A sport where anticipation and failure are occasionally interrupted by success. Why do we do it? A lot of people ask that, there's a lot of explaining to do.”**

A few regulars, a few new faces, a few old friends. Waiting patiently and sometimes impatiently on the tired, weathered dock of Davey’s Locker. A chill in the air, talk of the potential weather, desires of opting for calm waters.

Captain Jeff wants to brave the weather and fish San Clemente island. He thinks it's our best shot at putting a trip together. Can't disagree. His Intel is usually better than our various opinions and speculations.

Perfect load of cured sardines.

Anticipation and rigging, dropper loops, yoyo jigs and flyline setups.

Beer and soda, brown liquid on ice, plenty of munchies, sleep well.

The morning started off slow. No love on a couple Halibut drifts. Yellows in the cove wouldn't cooperate. 59degree water. Out to fish the bottom stuff.

The outside weather was breezy but fishable. The wind and current were going in opposite directions and made it relatively easy to get down to the depths we needed to fish. The first couple of drops in 300 feet of water produced a few size compromised rockfish.

Jeff decided to go a little deeper, and put us on some spots right at “60 fathoms”, the legal depth limit. We found some very good fishing for Reds a few Chuckleheads an Brian Wynne produced a beautiful 16-pound Lingcod. (Jackpot and patch honors.)

A couple hours later, and close to full limits in the sacks, Jeff decided to hit the Cove again and see if the Yellows would cooperate this time.

The fish were there, but they certainly didn't want anything we had to offer.

Captain Jeff made the run to the lee side of the island, to look at conditions. Sunny and beautiful, no wind, clean water, but still cold, 60.5degree water.. Jeff anchored up in tight for us to fish the skinny water. Much to his and our surprise the Calicos immediately started to play. The baits needed to make towards the beach to get bit. The numbers were not big, but most the Calicos were. Andy S. started off the leader board, with a 7.1lb Calico followed soon after by Brian W. with a beautiful 7.4lb Checkerboard. There's a target now on Brian's back.

Goofy helped to finish off the day with his tri tip dinner and his infamous congeniality.

It was a good day.

“It's not a religion, but it checks a lot of the same boxes. Sanctuary. Hallelujah moments. Community and Camaraderie."**

Parks

(**Graham Morton, 2017)

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