BY BOB SEMERAU
WONStaff Writer
LONG BEACH —The recent WON-Toronado two-day charter left the docks at Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach, under the windiest conditions of the summer, leading to a decision to backburner bluefin for the moment.
“It’s blowing 35-knots at the tuna grounds right now,” announced Captain Ray Lagmay as Toronado headed for the bait receiver. “We will load up sardines here and then head out to San Clemente Island, where we’ve been getting some good sized yellowtail,” concluded the seasoned skipper.
While bait was being loaded each angler received a goody bag from Western Outdoor News packed with 300-yard spools of 50-pound First String Monofilament, hook packs from Gamakatsu, a P-line minnow jig, and a discount coupon for a great Cancun vacation.
The angler boating the heaviest fish for two-days would receive a new Penn Carnage rod and a bag loaded with a $50.00 AFTCO gift card, P-line pliers, a 500-yard spool of Berkley Pro-Spec Chrome Monofilament, more Gamakatsu hook packs, and a P-line Haruki jig.
A recent change of ownership for the 75-foot sportfisher is breathing new life into the operation, with Toronado getting some new looks and vital electronics, including forward-scanning sonar. “It’s like seeing into the future,” says owner, Verne Sweeney.
Refreshing the bunks below deck, updating electronics with forward scan sonar, and tuning the props for better performance, are part of the work completed.
The change of ownership came about when Sweeney purchased the vessel last year, planning to continue operation out of Pierpoint Landing. Owner Sweeney says there are great plans in the works.
Running at well below max-speed to avoid the many bumps along the way, night driver, “Sulley,” dropped anchor off the outside east end of SCI just after 4:00 a.m. where four other boats were already set up. Dropper loop rigs and a few fly-line sardines were run out into the 100-foot depths, anglers hoping for pre-dawn yellowtail action.
As daybreak approached, anglers switched tactics, opting for fly-line dines or jigs. Angler Tony Beltran broke the morning ice by boating a mid-sized yellowtail while working a fly-line sardine.
Several more yellows came over the rail with the big fish of the trip landed by angler Carlos Vasquez early in the day. The 27-pound yellowtail gave Carlos the prize package including the Penn Carnage rod, special swag bag, and first day boat jackpot. Winds continued through the morning and so did the pick bite on yellowtail and calico bass. Serge Petrovsky and Bill Long both traveled down from Las Vegas for the trip and were rewarded with yellowtail for their efforts.
Buddies, Ruben Gozalez and Henock Bekele, try to fish as many offshore Western Outdoor News charters as possible each year. The duo worked the rail hard taking home a wide assortment of fish, with only one “long-line release” yellowtail for Ruben.
Fishing the bow for most of the two days, Mark Blaiwes and his group of Humbolt University students, Julia Slight, Nathan Blaiwes, Colby Palmer, and Sterling Chapman, bagged a big share of the fish. Sterling managed to fish the entire trip while sporting a heavy “boot” for a broken leg he’d suffered months ago. Sterling surprised everyone the next day with a special catch late in the trip.
The rough overnight crossing to the island and warm El Nino water led to loss of more than half the bait in the huge tanks aboard Toronado, and by mid-day, the live bait was gone.
Calico began to be too much and yellowtail too few when Capt. Lagmay called for a move back along San Clemente Island, stopping just around the east end of the island.
The afternoon added more calico, barracuda, bonito, whitefish, and a few sheephead to the count. Tom Bartczak fished squid strips to catch a beast of a calico, looking to be every bit of 7-pounds.
A long move up to the far end brought more of the same with winds holding strong and time running low for the remaining 24-hours.
“The open waters up at the tuna area are still too windy so we are going to run over to Catalina and try to make bait there,” came the announcement just after 6:00 p.m.
Comfortably nested into a cove along the outside shores of Santa Catalina Toronado cook, a seasoned veteran known only as “Chowder”, served up a dinner of delicious pork ribs, mashed potatoes, and green beans while the crew set out squid lights and waited.
Several anglers fished for nighttime yellowtail finding a number of rays (released) in the process.
Reports anticipating offshore winds laying down led to Toronado making a try for a spot out toward Santa Barbara Island where the boat had taken bluefin in days prior. Two-hours into the run, with strong winds and rough seas unabated, Captain Lagmay made the call to return to Catalina and the haven of the cove on the backside.
Throughout the morning Toronado worked a number of spots along the shore, anglers tossed jigs and plastics in hopes of finding yellowtail in the shallow waters.
Up in the bow, young angler Sterling Chapman, tossed a green and yellow surface iron for a “firecracker” yellowtail that gave him top honors for day two.
By late afternoon, fishing in the shallows at the west end of Catalina, Captain Lagmay made the call to start the run back to the docks at Pierpoint Landing. Deck crew Hank and Tommie pulled the fish from the RSW so photos could be taken, weigh-ins done, and awards presented for big fish.
Contact:
Toronado Sportfishing, Pierpoint Landing, www.PierPoint.net 562-983-9300
Toronado Sportfishing Inc www.toronadosportfishing.com 951-660-4130
Western Outdoor News, Landon Thomas 949-366-0726
