Trip #8:

Boat: Thunderbird 1.5 day

Departs: Thursday, October 2th

Fishing: October 3th, 4th

Returns: October 4th pm

Thunderbird Crew:

Capt. Jeff

Capt. Chris

Jose

Nate

Goofy

Cast of Characters:

Bill Parks

Steve Morgan

Riley Dyer

Jim Bertella

Justin Becker

Jacob Richards

Luke Burson

Paul Morgan

Mike Allen (Scribe)

Patrick Thunyakij

Bruce Granse

Kevon Kong

Michael Harris

Ryan Burson

Oscar Ochoa

Ed Chutney

Jeff Allen

Andrew

Ron Shrout

Murphy Parks

Romeo Ochoa

James Harris

Ozzie Baktiari

Arriving for a trip in the month of October at Newport Landing is a far easier experience then one would have in the summer months of June – September. The dread of driving through the neighborhood in hopes of an empty space large enough to accommodate the larger trucks that many of the club members own seems to dissipate as the offerings are far more plentiful. While the welcomed views of summer also tend to be less abundant, the ensemble of club members arrived with plenty of time to catch-up on some conversations and enjoy a beverage or two.

As conversations started circulating about what the plans were going to be, the one thing that was well understood by everybody was that the wind was going to join for this trip as it has in past trips in October. We knew what kind of conditions we were going to be battling and with appropriate planning, Jim showed up to the landing in a full life vest. You can never be too safe and the tribute to Hayden was much appreciated as we waited for the Thunderbird to arrive back at the dock from their previous trip.

We did our boarding and safety speech thing and pushed off from the bait barge with a nice assortment of medium to large sized Sardines as we set off to seek our entertainment at Pyramid Cove. It was going to be too windy and nasty to try our hand at the Bluefin, so it was determined that day one was going to be spent fishing SCI for the very hit-and-miss Yellowtail. The crossing was bumpy and we arrived at the cove around 3am thanks to the nice cruising speed of the Thunderbird. At the cove were maybe 3-5 assorted sport and private boats as we set the anchor and deployed the squid lights in hopes of floating some candy. The squid never really floated for us so the early risers of Patrick, Jeff, Jim, Luke and I joined Capt. Chris in jigging up some squid. Thankfully the squid liked the jig and we were able to make a couple full hand wells worth. Luke was little to no help as he must have still been waking up and tied his squid jig up-side-down. He made several drops while the others around him easily pulled a piece or two until he discovered his mistake. I have enclosed a picture below of the correct orientation of a squid jig for those who are unaware. As the very early morning wore on more club members joined to help including Ed, Paul, and Ron.

The Fury joined up with us in the cove around 4:30am and passed off a couple of scoops of squid to help our cause as we transitioned to fishing dropper loops in search of a pre-gray night bite.

The pre-gray night bite never materialized and Ron hooked into the first dropper loop YT of the trip at right about 6am. That started our bite that was pretty much over by 7:30am. We had to work through a bit of a learning curve of tangles and getting our game together as we probably suffered a 30% casualty rate over the next one and a half hours. One YT that had earned its freedom from another angler elected to swim through Bill and Murphy Parks dropper loops at the bow and proceeded to tangle itself up. Jeff was quick to the rescue and within the tangle managed to somehow get the still connected free swimmer. Jeff handlined the 20-30# YT and was able to bring it aboard! I have seen a lot of things in my time on the water, but that was a first for me. When the dust was all settled on the first bite of our trip the club ended with 10 YT and a Halibut. Ron and Jeff led the way, each catching two YT from the stop much to the envy of those less fortunate. Most fish were caught on the dropper loop but Ryan did manage a YT on a squid tipped YoYo.

About the time we were pulling the hook and starting off for our next spot, the military came through and gave us and the rest of the fleet the boot… Jeff came on the speaker to let us know that we would be spending the next 12 hours of fishing a 3 mile stretch of the island with winds blowing 20-30 knots all the way…

Stop #2: We made our way towards White Rock and secured the anchor at around 8:45am. The water was nice and clean at 69°F and we fished the spot until 9:15 or so for lots of Calicos eating the fly lined Sardines. No real size to the Calicos as thoughts of taking down Jim’s reigning Calico title for the 2025 season were on everybody’s mind.

Stop #3: We made a run up the island a little bit to the next stop that Nate told me was called Waterfall. We fished the spot until about 10:30am for more Calico’s with a little mix of Bonita. This spot also yielded a younger model YT that Riley managed to bring to gaff for the 11th YT of the day.

Stop #4: We moved on to a reef area where we dropped the anchor and stayed for about 20 minutes until 11:30 or so. The area really didn’t offer much but Ryan did manage to catch a Blue Perch which we know would have made our Club President very happy if he were on board. 

Stop #5: We arrived at another spot that was referred as Little Flower at noon. This stop produced much of the same assortment of Calicos and club guest Ozzie managed to score himself a YT, bringing the total up to 12 for the day.

Stop #6: As it was now past noon and Goofy’s boat burgers were starting to make an appearance. We ended up near a couple of military dive boats. We were greeted with more Calicos and the size was becoming legal with a few nicer models. The wind was continuing its beat down and getting ever stronger as we fished. It was here that the first bird bite happened with Patrick doing the honor.

Stop #7: The next stop wasn’t very eventful other than more wind and white caps. We were near the cove where Jeff was expecting the rest of the fleet to make their way towards this afternoon/evening. He wanted to get us set up on his alpha spot so we pulled the hook and made our way over to Pyramid Cove where we would stay for the night at around 4pm.

Once in the Cove many enjoyed watching the Pacific Queen attempt and re-attempt to get their anchor to stick. We had to do the same compliments of the wind that was blowing at a legit 30 knots at times. Bill was able to create a make-shift drinking light in honor of Hayden and the bar was open as we worked our way into Friday night and dinner on the hook at the alpha spot with thoughts of redemption for the early AM! Goofy served up Meatloaf as the night settled upon us.

Day 2: At around 4am, I made my way to the deck to find that Ron, Bill, Romeo, and Pat were already up and at the rail. Chris had been greeted with floating squid so our tanks were full and no rations would be put on squid use for the day. The cove was full with 15-20 Sport boats as Jeff’s idea that everybody was going to make their way rang true. Also joining us in the cove were a few Rizzo Dolphins. So here we go, we have floating squid and a ton of boat traƯic and Rizzo Dolphins roaming the cove as we get closer and closer to 6am which was about the time the action started the previous day. 6:25am hits and the first YT of the day bites Jeff (again) on the dropper loop. This is quickly followed by Steve hooking another! Both fish are landed so we are on the board so far with zero casualties. A quick look around and little to no action was happening on the decks of the surrounding fleet. As the morning rolled on Jim elected to switch to a white fluke and gets bit on his 2 nd cast. The fish kicked his butt as he fought the fish on his Tranx 500. Ultimately the fish came to gaff and our count was now 3 YT. As the sunlight came through Patrick was rewarded with another dropper loop YT. The fish was caught using a 40# fluorocarbon dropper loop that I guess is a thing that I wasn’t aware of, having always just used mono for the dropper loop. Patrick’s fish would end up on the gaff and the count was now 4 YT and pretty much no other action happening. Our thoughts for redemption or at least a little fish karma for battling the winds the day before would fall short for the time being.

Day 2, Stop #2:  We pulled the hook and moved to the other side of the cove. This stop added another two YT to our counts as both Murphy and Ryan caught younger versions of YT on the surface iron. Sorry, my phone died so no pictures can be provided as visual evidence…

Day 2, Stop #3: We made another move away from the Cove and around to the frontside and shortly after getting the boat all settled on the hook, Luke hooked into a nice drag puller on a fly lined Sardine that elected to run straight down. We were in pretty tight to a reef and the fish on the other end of Luke’s line seemed legit as he moved throughout the boat and caught a bunch of line and tangles as he maneuvered his way to the stern. It was a bit of a cluster, but the crew did a great job of keeping Luke in contact with his fish which later came to gaff as a thin YT probably in the mid 20s. The Calicos were really starting to go when the Navy came running towards us and ultimately booted us off the spot…

Day 2, Stop #4:  Jeff tried a new spot that he wanted to check out and no love was found so we quickly moved on.

Day 2, Stop #5: Anchored up and starting chumming to a nice flurry of Bass boils. The stern was in full action as lots of Calicos were on the chew. The bite kind of came and went and Jim managed to catch and release a YT on the bow while most were in the stern fishing the Calicos. Thank god that Calicos do not grow to be 200lbs… These things regularly eat baits that are pretty much the same size as them so I could only imagine what they would eat if given the chance to grow that large…

Day 2, Stop #6:  This would prove to be our last stop at around noon. As the Thunderbird settled in tight to the island, the Calicos went oƯ for the next two hours! It was every cast with a fly lined Sardine. The mood on the boat got really serious and the concentration level intensified as we took aim at Jim’s Calico trophy. As the bite prolonged the quantity of nicer grade Calicos started coming over the rail. Plenty of four and five pound fish were being pulled over the rail and released. Those fishing squid on the bottom that were named either Oscar or Romeo got into several beautiful grade Trigger fish! It was nice to be out of the wind at this spot and it got hot as the bite went on. Several anglers tapped out and took refuge at the top deck where I am sure a beverage or two were consumed in the sun! The bite was great and all worked really hard to take down Jim’s Calico trophy. But in the end the best contender was landed by Ozzie (guest). Ozzie’s fish was a PB for him as he quickly released the fish after a couple of pictures. Congrats Ozzie! As the clock hit 2pm it was all said and done as we pulled the hook and headed for home. Jim’s Calico Trophy would remain in his possession and the usual ritual of breaking down gear and mixing in a nap were all being performed as we listened to the Dodgers take down the Phillies in game 1 of the Division series!

Day 1 Jackpot: Oscar with a 34# YT (Honorable Mention – James)

Day 2 Jackpot: Steve with a 32# YT (Honorable Mention – Patrick and Jim)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!