Searching For Tuna Aboard The Searcher

© by John L. Beath, Pacific Northwest Editor for Western Outdoors Magazine 

New! check out John Beath's new halibut fishing site.

Friday, October 15th through 20, John will host the Western Outdoors Open trip. The trip aboard the Searcher costs just $875 for 5 days of fish-catching fun. Lots of tackle prizes will be given out during the trip. Sign up now before it's to late!

       An arid, remote looking island peeked out from the shadowy darkness of pre-sunrise. Peering hopefully out of the Searcher’s salon windows, everyone seated at the breakfast tables circulated the same question like a grade school secret. Is this it? Is this San Martin Island? By the time the question echoed port to starboard, bow to stern, breakfast filled empty stomachs and everyone’s sea legs stood solidly. Deckhands prepared bait tanks and the first round of trollers stood on the stern, hoping for the strain of fish to jolt them into action. The first full day of the five-day October Western Outdoor Fishing Adventure had officially begun for 24 anxious anglers. 

Anglers not assigned to the troll stood by with their own lures and hooks or the trip’s giveaway items from Iron Man jigs and Gamakatsu hooks. The night before, when the trip sponsored items were passed out, it didn’t take much to convince more than half the anglers aboard to have the free tackle tied onto their 30 pound outfits. Our job, in addition to experiencing the Searcher’s only 5-day trip of the year, was to test our sponsor’s tackle. It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it!

            The previous night, during the on-the-way-south seminar, Art Taylor, owner/operator of the Searcher, explained how to fly line live sardines, cast iron, and use dropper loops while on anchor. Our target would mainly be yellowfin tuna ranging in size from peanuts to near triple digit tackle busters. A few yellowtail would add to the fun – hopefully. Destinations would include San Martin Island, just 12-hours south of San Diego and Guadalupe Island, which takes another 12 hours to reach. The stop at San Martin was necessary for us to take the edge off our desire to catch fish. And, as Taylor announced, would prepare us for bigger fish than this area typically holds. But why did we need practice? 

“We can’t go to Guadalupe until all of you can fish together,” Talor announced. “The practice will do you good and prepare you for bigger yellowtail and yellowfin that will take you around the boat into other lines. You all have to be able to fish as a team. Remember, no angles, no tangles – always follow your fish!” 

            Just pondering his words made me think about the mayhem of several lines tangled with a mass of big fish dragging anglers in every direction. Should I have brought my running shoes? It didn’t take long for the first fish of the trip to savagely strike Ingrid Larsen’s jig, the only woman among a group of guys, and a first-time long-ranger too. There’s something to be said for lady luck because it can make you cry or it can make you cry with joy because it miraculously rubbed off. Luckily, the latter proved true as the rest of us ran to the port side, tossing Iron Man jigs or delicately cast sardines. Rods arched in all directions as a school of arm-long barracuda attacked anything and everything that dared to invade their waters. Some cursed, others laughed but I enjoyed every minute. 

Call it an omen if you like, but the early action combined with a dose of lady luck just made my fishing elbow twitch with anticipation. Bigger and better things would surely follow.   I think others could sense it too, because they began decorating their fingers with blue adhesive tape where they expected line cuts and abrasions so common with long-range fishing adventures. 

            Time for the second group of anglers to have a turn on the trolling rods. Fully light now, anglers waited closer to the bait tank, some spying the most energetic, greenback baits, others carefully held their Iron Man jigs. In less time than it took to stop the adrenaline flow from the first jig strike, two more anglers yelled “fish on,” as their trolling reels strained against the fleeing antics of a pair of yellowtail. Bumping shoulders and rod tips, anglers hurried to the gunwales again. This time, however, yellowtail hit nearly every jig thrown. Not big yellowtail – just 10 to 12-pounders – all with attitudes and appetites to paint smiles on everyone. 

            “The Iron Man jigs you gave us worked,” thanked Ingrid after tagging her second fish of the trip. Her husband, Charles, seemed to enjoy watching his wife hook and land fish more than his own success. He probably knew if she continued to catch fish, they’d be back another time. That’s the way these trips seem to work. Catch fish and you become hooked longer than the fish. It’s more addicting than any other fishing I’ve found.

       Trolling between stops didn’t last long enough for the complete rotation of anglers. A perfect little ridge, complete with current and fish on the sonar negated the need to continue the troll-and-stop technique. The remainder of the day would be spent sitting on anchor, picking away at a mix of yellowfin and yellowtail. Jigs quit catching fish so fly-lined sardines became the order of the day. By day’s end the Western Outdoor Fishing Adventure group could easily go under, over, around and back again in unison – without loosing any fish. With the expert crew’s help we put between 60 and 70 fish in the slammers, but nothing of jackpot size. We could fish as a team. Time to move farther south, where the big fish live.

 Calm seas and excellent cuisine rounded out the day’s fun. Everyone still hoped to catch the biggest fish of the trip for the lion’s share of the jackpot, which included one of the two Pro Gear reel gift certificates donated for the trip. The second reel would be top prize during the nightly Western Outdoors raffle which included Braid Speedster lures, jumbo spools of Izorline, more Iron Man jigs and Gamakatsu hooks, Western Outdoors shirts and some subscriptions to Western Outdoors publications.

 It took all night to reach Gaudalupe Island’s promise of bigger fish. Glancing past the spectacular island cliffs, we could see only one other long-range boat on anchor. Taylor used the boat’s scanning sonar to locate enough fish to set anchor away from the other boat. From sunrise to sundown, yellowfin to 70 pounds and a few yellowtail to 35 entertained everyone. Mark, “Big Dog” Seals, Cabria California, hooked fish after fish while some anglers struggled to stay connected. Techniques varied from Seal’s long rod and even longer cast, to Ziggy Urban’s unusual, but successful method of simply lowering his sardine in the water and telling it to swim away from the boat. Larry Duchene, Mission Viejo, Mike Kellems, La Mesa and Randal Park, Austin Texas always seemed to have fish on the end of their lines. 

My day’s effort won’t be soon forgotten either. Not after landing my first 50 pound yellowfin, only to be caught praying aloud for another tuna to bite my line. Their surface-boiling hits, line-peeling runs, and corkscrew back and forth boatside battles will do that to you. Is it a sin to pray to God for more fish or to land what does bite your hook? If it’s a sin we’d all go farther south than Mexico!

 Several prayers were answered late in the day, after Taylor moved the Searcher to the now vacated spot, where the other long-ranger produced 60, 40-plus pound yellowfin tuna before leaving for homeport. George O’Brien, Huntington Beach California, landed a 50-plus pound yellowfin, and I nailed a 58-pounder. Kellems and I pondered the idea of filing medical claims with our insurance companies, for an acquired addiction that makes the blood boil with anticipation and muscles contract from anticipation realized. The cure, more long-range fishing trips. To bad no insurance company would pay for this addiction. 

            You could call day 4 a winning day because it’s the day the bigger fish mixed with the 40-pounders. Just prior to the crimson sunrise, Mark “Big Dog” Seals pinned on the hottest sardine he could find. His cast landed well beyond anyone else’s ‘dine. Only a few of the diehard anglers lined the port side so early – a mistake for those who chew slow, sleep late or both. A big boil on the surface followed by Seals bracing for action announced the start of a big fish day. Seals went left, first going over then under another line. My eyes fluttered between Seals’ and the area where my lively and, now quivering sardine swam. Another boil and half a second to pray for my Penn 4/0 spool to start spinning. Yes!

              Two fish then three, as Kellems’ hooked up and said, “big fish, this is a really big fish.” Kellems’ fish soon sent him to the rail. My small, 40ish tuna came to gaff first. Seals continued his inch by sweaty inch battle, but Kellems remained glued to the rail. The sun fully appeared, the rest of the Western Outdoors group appeared and even hooked a few more fish, but both anglers still battled fish and fatigue. Kellems had lost a couple fish the day before and re-spooled with the sponsored 40-pound Izorline. Nearly an hour ticked by until Seals muscled his 60-plus pound fish to a pair of well-placed gaffs. Kellems’ fish finally came to the gaff to his delight. His biggest tuna ever, an 87-pounder now led the jackpot.

     “I told you it was a big fish,” laughed Kellems on his way to take a breather. “Next year I’m going to the gym before I go on a long-range trip.”

 Latter in the day a 20-foot long great white shark surfaced near the boat, giving the port side anglers a sight Captain Taylor has only seen twice during his long-range career. More big yellowfin tuna, including an 83-pounder for Steve Capen, Costa Mesa, and an 82 for Jay Sellars, Trabuco Canyon, highlighted the day’s list of big fish.

 By day’s end Taylor decided to anchor closer to shore to make bait and try for homegaurd yellowtail. Prior to the sun’s disappearance, everyone switched back to throwing iron. A 40-pound wahoo, the only one of the trip, bested the anglers by breaking off within a few feet of the gaff. Can’t win ‘em all. Evan Hanson, from Hook Line and Sinker stayed busy after dinner, fixing worn out drags on several reels including mine.

 “These fish will hurt you and your gear too,” laughed Seals, when he saw me watching over the repair job of my reel like an expectant father.

    Speculation ran high as anglers wondered if Kellems’ fish could be beat. Only a few hours remained before pulling the anchor on the final day of fishing and traveling 24 hours back to Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego. The current put the bulk of anglers on the stern and their sardines into a tangled nightmarish weave. Mark “Big Dog” Seals showed his stuff again, by constantly hooking fish, even during the morning’s shy bite. An hour remained when my spool began to spin wildly followed by five anglers to my left. Six on at once and they all wanted to occupy the same six square feet of ocean!

              Taylor jumped into action along with his deckhands, Richard Utter, Jason Reese, Greg Worthington and co-captain, Steve Thompson. It took the whole crew to unwind the tangle that more resembled a spider’s web than a group of Western Outdoor readers bunched tightly on the stern. Staring at the mess, I asked Taylor if he was good at puzzles. He said yes while untangling our lines, giving us a fighting chance. Talk about great dream-weavers, these guys saved every fish — a remarkable “un-twist” to the fall gathering of Western Outdoors readers. The trip lived up to the title, five-day fishing Adventure. Final score: 242 yellowfin tuna averaging 40 to 60 pounds and 45 yellowtail. Jackpot winners: Mike Kellems, 87, Steve Capen, 83 and Jay Sellars, 82 pounds.

Planning Your Trip

Anglers planning a long-range trip should come prepared for all sizes of fish. Experienced long-rangers bring everything from 15 to 80 pound setups. During the Western Outdoors Fall Fishing Adventure, we needed just three rods and reels with 30, 40, and 80 pound mono. The Izorline worked great, especially the 40-pound test. Bring lots of extra though, because these fish are tough on line and can spool you in a heartbeat.  If you don’t have your own gear you can rent it from the landing. Prior to departure you can get a list of recommended tackle items from the landing or Searcher office.

 For added comfort and precautionary measures, bring along some form of seasick remedy. The patch is on the market again and available with a doctor’s prescription.

 Costs are very reasonable, from $200 per day and include room, meals and bait. Beverages are $1 per can for soft drinks and $2 for beer. Your Mexican permit is not included but costs $50. The crew works hard to make the adventure memorable and earn tips that range from 10 to 15 percent of the base price. Your catch will either be filleted and Zip Locked for $3 to 6 depending on size or frozen whole. Upon arrival at Fisherman’s Landing, anglers may choose to trade their catch for canned albacore or pay to have it custom smoked, packaged or made into jerky.

Best advise before you go: First timers Charles and Ingrid Larsen say anglers should learn to cast first, before going on a long range trip. And park your car in the driveway, put it in neutral, tie your fishing line to it and then reel it in a few times. 

The Searcher and other boats at Fisherman’s Landing offer a variety of multi-day trips to suit everyone. For more information call:

Searcher {619} 226-2403 http://www.Searchersportfishing.com   e-mail: searcher@bajawhale.com

Fisherman’s Landing {619} 221-8500 web www.fishermanslanding.com