The "Season" is pretty much over for So Cal, The only open party trips left are the 1/2 and 3/4 day'ers. Still some scattered private 2 dayers available and of course the long range guys are still at it. But for us "Local Yocals" the Hundred count Albacore trips are on hold till 08.

Sitting back tonight trying to re-cap LESSONS LEARNED this year and thought I would share some thoughts on one of the lesson I learned and in the process help others and to learn from posted comments on this thread.

Yellow Tail: I have always seen lotsa posts about using 40lb + line to keep them out of the rocks or any other available structure that they will seam roll into in 2 seconds flat. Have caught at lot of YT this year on 25lb, have lost some but have landed a much higher raito than last year. While you can use brute force to keep them away from rocks with the 40 you can by finess reduce their ability get into position to out muscle your 25 lb rig.

What I have learned is that it is important to NEVER and I meaan NEVER let that YT get his head turned 180 deg away from you. Do not reduce pressure for one second. Do not strighten your glasses, wipe you brow, gawk at the sunrise, take a deep breath or admire a nice 25 pounder that just hit the deck. Never let up for a second. By keeping as much pressure as possible immediately after the hook set you can keep the YT from getting that 180 trun on you. Once they get turned its freight train time. Have found that if this can be done for the first min. or two and grind them off the bottom 10-15 feet your chances of loosing your trophy to structure is greatly reduced. They seem to get distracted from the rocks and concentrate on fighing for freedom. Do I loose some to the rocks, you bet. Probably the bigger units that just flipped me off, turned 180 and just power stripped my 8lb of drag right into the razor rocks. When they get turned their power application is instant and seemingly unstopable. I usually do not even have enought time to jam my lever drag forward to max. it happens so fast.

One other change up. I was pulling a few hooks doing this. Had an old salt tell me to up hook size to a 4/0 when using Sardines. The wider distance between the shank and the hook point enables the hook to grab on to a thicker chunk of the jaw which is harder for the hook to pull through. This has "almost" eliminated hook pull and does not seem to reduce getting bit.

So you might say, why not always use 40 lb. I could do that but I always get bit more often than others and I do loose more, but.... at the end of the day I usually end up with more than my fair share. While I would like to land 100% of hooked fish, loosing some definetly induces much more sport and fun into the endeavor and forces you to develope better fishing skills. I could use 50lb, hook 4 and land 4, you know, meat fishing. But using 20-25 I will hook 7 and land 5. Which method sounds like more fun.

This is a great site with a lot of knowledge sitting behing thoes keyboards. Why not share something learned by your valuable expierence. EXPIERENCE: The best way to learn, it gives the test first and the lesson afterwards.

All comments, additions, thoughts: deep or shallow(lol), corrections, etc are encouraged.


Walt

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Walt,

Good reflections Captain Walt, thanks for sharing. Even though I fish in Florida waters information like this is always welcomed for the day that I can make it out to the beautiful West coast waters.

Regards,
Mac

Good LL on Yellow Tail.

How about setting up a journal of sorts so we would begin a collection of these high value skill tips.

MS what do you think on an index and abstact arrangement someplace on the boards?

SD, great Idea:

What do you thing Master Charkster. Not only will it provide an access area for learning it will also give incentive for everyone to contribute and share what we have all learned the hard way. A place where we can get the kind of information that you will never see in a fishing magazine.

Walt

great idea, walt is a great person to fish with and very well educated.

ive fished with walt quite a few times this summer, and i learn somthing new all the time.



im the good lookin one lol, walt is the one maning the motor.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DODOMAN,

quote:

Originally posted by Walt:
Yellow Tail:...it is important to NEVER and I meaan NEVER let that YT get his head turned 180 deg away from you. Do not reduce pressure for one second... Never let up for a second. By keeping as much pressure as possible immediately after the hook set you can keep the YT from getting that 180 trun on you. Once they get turned its freight train time. Have found that if this can be done for the first min. or two and grind them off the bottom 10-15 feet your chances of loosing your trophy to structure is greatly reduced... When they get turned their power application is instant and seemingly unstopable.

WORD!

quote:

Had an old salt tell me to up hook size to a 4/0 when using Sardines. The wider distance between the shank and the hook point enables the hook to grab on to a thicker chunk of the jaw which is harder for the hook to pull through. This has "almost" eliminated hook pull and does not seem to reduce getting bit.

Like Bruce Smith says, "If they'll eat the big hook, feed 'em the big hook." Good reflections there, Walt.

The boards do hold great information and can be searched by topic. As well, the Fisherman's Journal section (which Walt has added to in a very positive way) is very "sticky" and available for updating whenever someone gets the notion to write up a little essay for us (and they get a free tee too!).

MS...

So we use the FJ as the depository of the lessons learned. Can we set up a LL section in the FJ an assigne WALT as the moniter of that section or if passes on find someone with lotsa education and common sense to be the editor ic.

what say u Chark?

Oh Happy Thanksgiving bros

ima need help here.


whats a LL, FJ, DEPOSITORY, ETC.
HOW DO I GET THERE.

if it has to do with fishing im in.

louie. Go to the front page of the charkbait website. Click on fishing info. This will open in a new page. Then, click on the link to fishermans journal. There is " killer " info in there on everything.

Guys, what did I learn in '07? A ton but most of it is elementary to you pros:
1) Charkbait is an outstanding retailer
2) Excel is a wonderful boat with a great crew.
3) While not a good as Tennesseeans, Californians are OK.
4) Long Rangers are great guys as a whole.
5) Newbies shouldn't worry about not knowing enough. First day, I didn't catch a fish. It pissed me off and I made up for it the 2nd day. I was culling fish on my 3rd day.
6) You need less gear than you think on 5 day trips. A 30#, a couple of 40#s, a 60-80# rig will get you buy. I never used my 60.
7) Tying practice knots is good, but not like tying knots and trying them out on real fish. Get the deckhand to watch you tie a few before you start fishing. I lost three or four fish the first day because my knots, that looked so pretty, didn't hold worth a darn.
8) FRESH LINE each day. Its cheap. Get the deck hands to help you with the connections. Watch them and you will learn.
9) Be considerate at the rail and bait tank even if the other guys are not. On my trip, most everybody was great. There were a few kids that slowed things down and cost me my biggest fish, but so what. I caught enough and didn't need the jackpot money!!!! I missed out by 1 oz
10) Take your own trolling rig. Everyone told me to use the boat gear. Problem was they never could find it when it was my turn. I missed numerous trolling turns when the deck hands couldn't find the boats gear. It was amazing how this stuff "disappeared".
11) Pay early to board early
12) DOn't eat everything they put on your plate.
13) DOn't take so many clothes. Most of the guys wore the same pair of shorts at least 2 days in a row. You are not trying to win a beauty contest. I wore long sleeve shirts to avoid burning of the arms and was glad I did.
14) Each afternoon, there seemed to be a lag in the fishing around 5. I know this could change, but I used this time to run and take a shower when there wasn't a line.
15) Get a wide brim hat and plenty of sunscreen. You are on deck all day.
16) DOn't eat everything they put on your plate. Oh, I said that already! That is ok, I need a reminder since the food is so good and plentiful.
17) Get the fish tacos at Pt. Loma seafood before and after the trip.
18) Tip the deckhands after the trip. They earn their money. I asked for advice on what to tip and got answers from $20 to $500. I tipped just over 15% and think it was fair.
19) If you are flying to SD, ship your gear in advance. I carried my reels on board the plane without any hassels.
20)Make friends on board. You will come back the next year!

outhouse, i sea you have been molded into a longranger........... congradulation...........your a long range fisherman,,,, dont get caught on a 1/2 dayer.lol


oh , you forgot one other thing on your list.


21) the beer.lol

Wikiapedia aka LR

LR = Long Range

LL = lessons learned

FJ = Fishing Journal link found on Charkbait HP

HP = Home Page

IMO = In my Opinion

JIC = Just In Case

LMC = let me see

OOO = out of office

GF = gone fishing

WFO = yeah right

Thanks SD for the info.

So when I'm OOO GF on a LR trip trying to remember LL and it's WFO, should I look at the FJ found thru the HP JIC?

What I learned in 2007..........

1. Bigger baits can catch the smallest fish. DOH
2. showering during a hot bite after I've caught 3-4 fish is much more rewarding later when the rat race for the showers begins. heh heh heh
3. being 1st in line at 0500 isn't a reality when the Seniors who eat breakfast at 0300 are already there, in line 10 deep. Drat!
4. Getting your place in line saved is easier when you offer to buy the guy in front of and behind you a breakfast burrito from the stand at Point Loma.
5. Using boat rods is a fast way to get looked down upon by serious long rangers. Having a VERY, VERY serious tackle box, with AAALLL the right gear, begins to change that view and then when you hook and land the first 200 plus pound Cow of the trip, you become completely exonerated.
6. Sleep becomes extremely difficult if you clean your plate each meal! It is difficult at best to roll over a beach ball in your sleep.
7. Sattelite phones can lead to the edge of bankruptcy. HOLY CRAP that was expensive.
8. Most long rangers are awesome at helping the newbies. I witnessed some incredible acts of kindness last year on my 10 day.
9. When oogeling the 2 Hot Girls from 5 star fish processing, a Guy will agree to about anything.
10. No matter how many times some folks are told, they can NOT grasp the " Follow yer bait " theroy...........AT ALL!
11. I also learned that when my Wife says " WE need to repaint or anything like such " loosely traslated it means " You " need to whatever.
Happy tThanksgiving to you all and may all of you have tremendous trips out at the " Cow Pasture "