Hey Gang!
Launched out of Channel Islands harbor yesterday, along with me this time were my buddies John Yokayama, and Mike Blackwell.
Our destination was the North side of Santa Cruz Island for a little boiler bassing. The ride across was very nice with some widely spaced swell, that would later provide us with the necessary surge to really get the calicos going! We arrived at about 6:45ish to my starting spot, which pretty much set the pace for what was going to happen for the day! For whenever the fish bite well first thing on that spot its going to be a great day.
And it was one of those such days! We had 10-12 fish the first drift,
and from there it just got better as we worked our way up the island, by 8:00 we had already caught and released limits (30) and by 9:00 we had released (50!) And by 10:30 (70!) At noon I decided I wanted some dinner fish, so I thought I try some of the hard bottom area off the West end for some reds, but not before we caught and released (81) legal calicos, with most in the 2-4lb range (can you say bass thumb :-)). The ticket for the calicos was to find boilers with the green water with the foam on it, and running an gunning! Slide into a fishy looking area and if you didn’t get bit in three casts keep moving! When we found the pockets of fish they were very aggressive, with lots of followers. We had 4-5 occasions where we were able to catch the followers if you were position to throw on them.
The reds also cooperated as well, in the 2 hrs or so we fished them we caught a dozen or so of the 2-4lbrs and a few misc rockfish/ sheepshead/ whitefish, in water from 105-125ft deep.
The ride home wasn’t too bad either, we made it back to Channel islands harbor from the West end of Santa Cruz (35nm) in exactly 90minutes! Counts: 81legal calicos to 4lbs (only one short all day) and 20 mixed rock fish. Interestingly we only caught 6-8 short lings all day!
All the bass were caught on 5in Big Hammers, with Reef Critter and Stawberry colors being the hotter colors, although anything with red/ brown/ or orange was working. Reds wise the 5in Silver Sardine color Hammer was hot! But we did get a number of the rockies on squid tipped grubs. Captain Larry

All day I was thinking about you out there slaying them while I hanging out with the in-laws;(

Had to get my fix on fri. night @ LB wall but the fish did cooperate.
Glad you had a stellar day, AGAIN.

Josh

That sounds like a darn lot of fun cappy. For you guys who don't know Larry or haven't fished with him, he doesn't bs about how many bass he gets. I used to read his fish counts and wonder what on earth he was doing, but Larry just knows how to get them on rubber like nothing you ever saw :) 81 bass is a great day, but I know last year you and crew had over 100. Dang, come to think of it, where was I ... I shoulda called you this weekend :)

His trips sound like a blast, we should get out with him sometime.

hmm, that would be an interesting trip LOL. You guys are both big goofballs, we would probably have a great time :D

Check out Larry's boat. Thing is bad:

http://www.calicohuntercharters.com/

that thing is bad A..

How long will the bite be this good for?

Hey There, the bite actually just got started since the weather stabilized, and barring storms they bite pretty much year round. Although sometimes better than others, based on tides, surge, etc...Captain Larry...

Yes you should have! :P ...Cappy