Get Your Gear Ready

Ok, it is getting close, the 4 day trip on the Vagabond with Tiny's group is leaving Wed. 7/30.. The Albies have been slowing down a little but the warmer water fish like DoDos and Yellowfin and Big Eyes have been replacing them. So it could be a big varierty trip this time. So you only have this weekend to get that new line on the reels and the rods cleaned up. Make sure all the hooks are in the bag and you have picked out the best feathers for the troll. Get the sun screen packed and make sure you have packed the cigars for the jackpot fish.. Got any good jokes or dirty stories?? Remember to bring cash for the poker game and to tip the crew.. I hope Mike has stocked up the cooler with beer and Dr.Pepper..

You know I will post the report when I get back..

One Cool Tuna - Panic

1.5 day trip on the Vagabond 4th of July

Well headed out on the 4th for a day and a half of fishing for the Albacore Tuna. Started out smooth sailing with a great sunset. But by the morning thing had gotten a little rough on the water and the wind had come as well, this made the fishing tough. We found the fish but could not get them to bite as often as we had hope. We had a few highlights with DJ getting his first Albacore and as tradition calls, he ate the heart. (so I didn't get a picture of that) But as the fishing was a little scratch, I did not take may photos, I take more pictures when I catch fish. I was able to take a few at the end of the trip of the catch for the ones that where lucky enough to catch some. I was limited to the one but some caught singles as well and a few doubles. DJ with 3.. Most of fish where on the troll with a few being bait fish. Blake won the jackpot with his prize fish 27.5lb. Thanks to the crew of the Vagabond who as always make the best of the trip, they served up a great steak dinner (Dan can cook) for the ride home. Gordy was a great capt, and the rest of the crew did a great job helping all. Fish total of 26 Albies and one yellowtail.

Enjoy the pictures I did take. Contact me if you have trouble see the photos.

PHOTO Slideshow.

Click on the photo see single pictures

5 Days on the Vagabond - Cedros Island

Just got in from 5 days on the Vagabond out of San Diego, cruised down the coast 300 miles to the Cedros Islands. Had a great time and spent 5 days fishing for the big Yellowtails and rockcods. These fish down there are big and will put the hurt on you. We limited out on the yellows and did great on the Rockcods. Please check out my photos at:

Cooltuna Vagabond Trip

Leaving on Friday - 5 days on the Vagabond

Heading out Friday for 5 days on the Vagabond. We will be looking for YT down at Cedros Island and Benitos, and Chester's Rock. I will post a report when I get back..

Fred Hall Fishing Show

The Fred Hall Fishing and Tackle show starts today in Long Beach, Ca.

This is the worlds largest Fishing Tackle and Boat show on the West Coast.

Show hours are Wed-Fri. 2pm to 9:30pm Sat. 10am to 9:30pm Sun. 10AM to 7PM.

See you there on Sat. Just try to find me..

For all the show info check out the link: http://www.fredhall.com/

Cool Tuna..

5 Day Trip to Cedros Island - Vagabond

Looking for 5 spots to fill on the Vagabond Sportfishing. This will be a trip leaving 5/16 at 7PM and fishing for 5 days and returning 5/21 that will be a Friday to Wed. trip. The cost is $1095.00 and includes the meals and permits. No fuel charge yet, but that could change. We will be heading down the coast to Benitos/Cedros Isle area and trageting Yellowtail and rock fish. This is a great area and I have fished it before, with great luck on Giant Yellowtails in the 30lb.+ range. They love to put up a great fight down there. Please contact me at bentrods@gmail.com ASAP. There is a limited number of spots open and I will need a deposite to hold the spot.

Cool Tuna - Jeff

Openings on the Tiny Charter - 7/30/08

We have some opening on my July trip if you know anyone that would like to join us. It is a trip I have been taking for years with the same group of guys. Great time for Tuna and anything else that is off-shore that time of the year in San Diego waters. Albacore, Blue Fins, Yellow Fins, Yellowtails and Dodo's. You get 4 days of fishing on this trip, because we normally stop on the way out or get on fish the first day if they are close.

Vagabond - Mike Lackey Capt.
July 30th to Aug. 3rd - 4 days leave by noon on the 30th, back in on the 3rd in the AM.
$1325 per person limited load (22)
Food and permits included (No Fuel Charger yet but could if cost goes up to much)
$200 deposite by March 1st to hold the spot.
Photos from Tiny's Charters are on my photo site below, just go to the Tiny's Trip albums. (2007-2006-2005-2004)

http://community.webshots.com/user/64starfire

Call me Bentrods@gmail.com or contact Charter master Roger Windeler (Tiny) direct - Windywha@verizon.net

Happy Holidays From Cool Tuna

Best wishes to all for a Happy Holidays and a good New Yeas in 2008.

Royal Polaris Returns from a 10day - Tuna

Went down to the Docks last Sunday AM and caught the group unloading from a 10 day trip. Found this special guy with a shaved head and found out he said "If I get a fish over 100lb I will shave my head" well you guessed it.. He got a 190lb YFT (Yellow Fin Tuna) Zack is 13 and only weights 90lb himself. But what a fish. Check out all my pictures on my Smugmug link. Just click on the photo above. I also have a link on the side to a lot of my trips from Tuna Fishing as well as other kinds of fishing photos - Webshot Link

Read the complete report on Bloody Decks - http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/range-reports/88209-royal-polaris-davis-boats-10-day-11-2007-a.html

Vagabond Comes in from a Long Range Trip

IMG_6368.JPG, originally uploaded by cooltunaphotos.

The Vagabond coming in from a long range trip. See photos of Tuna they caught on thier fishing trip.

El Gato Dos 6 pack

Went out last weekend on a local boat, the El Gato Dos out of Seaforth Landing. This is a nice 6pack that I had always seen but never been on. Check another boat off the list. Great boat and great crew. Brian (Capt) and John (1st Mate) did a great job putting us on the fish and working hard to find us fish. Started out early, left the dock at 4AM to make the rock pile just south of the islands. But everyone else had the same idea for a Sat. morning. Counted more than 50+ boats. But still got 4 yellows and some nice Cudas. But the bite shut down early with all the preasure, so we moved due west to see if we could find a few paddies. About 5 -6 miles west of the islands we came on a 200lb Marlin and got him to chase the jiggs. He hit one and the battle was on, for about 30 seconds... This guy had plans on going south and he spooled me in before I had a chance to even pull on him. The reel was straight mono and he was taking it all. He gave us a few parting jumps with the jigg hanging out the side of the bill as he headed south. Note to Brian, one word "Spectra".... We moved on and came across a few large whales and metered some fish deep, but could not get them to come up and play. Headed back toward the islands to see if we could find the yellows in the middle ground. On the way back we spotted a small paddy and trolled by with a large yellow hitting the Marlin jigg. He put up a good fight and came in at 23.8lb. tried a few other paddies with mixed results, hooked up but the broke off in the paddy on us. So it was close to 2PM and stopped a few more spots but could not find anyone who wanted to play and we called it a day. Total for the gang was 5 Yellowtails and 4 Cudas, 1 Marlin hook-up.

Here is the link to the photos - http://community.webshots.com/album/560480225?vhost=community

Cool Tuna -

Mexico Fish Report - Erendira - Castro's

Here is the link to the Mexico Fishing report, I was quoted in the Erendira Report. Thanks to Gene for the posting.

http://www.mexfish.com/mfn/mfn2007/mfn070820/mfn070820.htm

New Milestone reached - 100,000 hits and 1000+ viewed

Well thanks to all the fans who have checked out my Photos and visited my site. I have just passed 100,000 hits on my photos and had over 1000 visitors to Cool Tuna Photos site. I am working on a new and better site already with more features and more photos. As well as great links to other sites and more fishing and photo info. Hope you have all enjoyed my stuff and I hope you will come back often to see the latest updates.

Back from Castro's - 2 days of fun and fishing

http://outdoors.webshots.com/slideshow/560274637rTxQvT

Well got back from Castro's Sunday night, the boarder crossing was helllllll.... 4 hours in line to get across... Note to self...Don't come back on Sunday again.... Well got out of town on Friday afternoon, picked up new friends Jim and Dillon and headed out for the weekend.

Arrived at Castro's about 7pm and got settled in with a little dinner and set up the rigs for the morning. Planned on having 8 total but found out late that 2 had been a no show. So 6 people and 2 boats would have to work. No problem, had Oscar booked on day one and was ready to go hunt down the White Seabass (WSB). Got up at 5 AM and headed out at 7AM. We started out making bait and hit a few boils but only hooked a couple of young WSB about 1-3Lb. Heard a report that they were biting south at Colonet and made a B-line down the coast. Spotted lots of bait balls and some boils but could not get a bite. Started working on the bottom and started to fill up the cooler fast with Reds and Lings as well as the assorted rock cod. Even hooked up on a 4ft Thresher but only had it on 25lb test and could not get it in the boat before the line was cut. We still had a great time and worked the area hard. Made a few stops on the way back up the coast but still could not get the WSB or Yellows to bite. I did manage the big fish of the day, a 11lb Ling, that was fun. Back at the camp we did see another party had landed 2

WSB, one was 34lb and the other was 42lb. So they are down there we just could not find the hungry ones. We did make plans to out on Sunday as well and we hoped for the chance to get our target then.

Day 2 - Got up at daylight and headed out with Pancho and headed south as well. Bait was not as thick this morning and Pancho did not have a bait well to hold them in, so it was catch re-pin them on and re-cast them out. We did see our prize once, as we were cruising along this 40-50lb WSB was just swimming along side of us. He had to be on more than 4 ft down and 4 ft out from the boat. As we stopped for him, he turned and burned and that was it. Did spot more life but only could manage bottom fish that morning. Still had a good time as always down at Castro's. Our other boat did better, Daryle and Ellis and Miguel managed to get a Thresher as well as a 13lb Ling and a Bonita as well as the assortment of Rock Cods.

So between the 6 of us we filled 2- 100 gallon coolers with cleaned fish and headed out of town by 4pm for the drive home. Should have left earlier, but the 3 hour drive took 8 hours instead. Line at the tolls and did not get to TJ until 8 and then had to go to the Otay broader to cross back into the US. 4 hours in line, did not get back home till midnight. The trip recap was:

Great time at Castro's as always.

Oscar is the best capt down there.

WSB are the hard ones to catch, but they are down there.

Make sure your foot is on the tire before you get out of the boat... Ouchhh ..

Don't leave on Sunday, stay the extra day and take your time going back on Monday.

I will be posting the link to the complete set of photos in the next day.

Link is posted and a slideshow is added here as well.

Heading South of the Boarder this weekend

Going down to Castro's Fish Camp, it is a fun little spot just south of Ensenada in Baja. Great rock fish and WSB and Yellowtail sometimes. I am hoping to get on some of the big WSB (White Sea Bass) if you don't know the code.. Last year I got my first one down ther around the same time. But they are know as the "Ghost". I will give an update when I return, there are photos from other trips to Castro on my Webshot site, check out the other links.

Cool Tuna,