2 days and Counting - 10day Vagabond Cow City Trip

Well I am going a little crazy getting everything ready to go.. Friday can't get here soon enough, tackle bag, check, rods, check, reels, check, misc.stuff, check, check, check..... I know I will forget something or take to much of other stuff. But I am going!!!!!

10 days of fishing for Yellowtail, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Dodos and what ever else we can find, but we are going for the Cows (yellowfin Tuna over 200lb.) This is the last trip of the season for the Vagabond and the crew, so it is no holds bar for the big fish and the best fishing. There will be 3 people I know on this trip and have fished with before, so that will help my chances of getting what I am looking for- A COW....

I will return on 12-8 and will post a complete report then. Check for update for on board from Capt. Mike..

The link to the Vagabond website is here on my page..

Cool Tuna out..

Check....

1 1/2 days on the Q105 - No Fish

Well with the bite going off for the last 2 weeks, I figured it was time to get out there and help myself to some of the easy pickings.... WRONG... It started out good, got down to the docks Firday night with my fishing buddy "Big D" and we talked with a lot of people going out as well on 1 day and 2 day trips and the mode was high on getting into a epic bite. The counts had been down for the last couple of days but that means it time for the bite to start up again... I was Hoping.. Well we headed out around 9:30pm and headed south about 100 miles and would be in the zone around grey light. Had a boat meeting with Tim and then a talk from Dave Clark from 976-TUNA and most of us entered the raffle for a trip on the Q105 next year, all for a good cause.. Thanks for the T-shirts Dave. :-)

The morning started out slow but we had a few bites on the troll, then we stopped on a paddy and picked off a few rat size Yellowtails, a few where kept, but most where tossed back for next year..

We then trolled the rest of the day and stopped on a some good meter marks but just could not get the fish to bite.. I think we have caught all the stupid fish.. It was bound to happen some day..

Came in to some nice dolphin schools with tuna under them but there was no way to get the fish to boil..

Fished until we could not see the lines and started home.. The fish count was to low to post but we did have a jackpot winner. Winner photos is at the top of this post..

The trip was a nice boat ride for most of us, great boat, great crew, the skipper did all he could to put us on fish, but he can't make the bite the hooks.. Better luck next time..


Here is the link for what pictures I did take.. Sorry there went more action shots, but needed to catch my own fish and there was not that much action to shot..

Photo Link


Well that is itfor the local season for me this year, looking forward to the 10 day in November..

Cool Tuna.

Tiny's 4 Day on the Vagabond 2008

Well it took me a while to get caught up on things and go over all the pictures from the trip. So here you go, we all had a great time , with some great fishing. The jokes where great and the drinking was on as well. The new members all made it back to shore, we issued a few new nicknames as well.
Sleeping Beauty, Fabeo Jr., Welcome to the clan..

I would like to thank you all for the tackle bag decorations..

Jackpot winner Milkman did get the fish to the boat in record time..

Tiny thanks for putting together another great trip and thanks to the Vagabond crew for doing the best again..

Photos are up and either click on the picture or use the link to see them all. Let me know if you would like a copy of the DVD from the last 4 years and the Best of slideshow.

Click Here for Slide show.

Email me at bentrods@gmail.com

Thanks again,

Cool Tuna - Panic

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