By Colin Sarfeh for FishingVideos.com

October calls. In my past years, October has brought images to mind of Halloween, pumpkins, colorful leaves, and changing winds. Oh, and one other thing: the collapse of the summer fishing season. But after my first 10-day long range fishing adventure, I will now imagine epic battles with 100-pound Yellowfin Tuna, water-ripping tussles with Lamborghini-laced Wahoo, and one on one fisticuffs with high-flying Dorado or mossback Yellowtail.

On October 7th I boarded the Red Rooster III, skippered by Andy Cates. I had been anticipating this trip for over nine months (this was a college graduation present given to me by my parents; I consider it the gift of all gifts). Our generous sponsors from Newell, Yo-Zuri, Seaguar, and WestCostAngler.Com donated many prizes, including reels, fluorocarbon, lures, hooks, bait rigs, T-shirts, and much more.

After rigging and tackle seminars and much anticipation, we arrived at The Rocks at 10:30 AM on Friday morning. For those of you who have never been to Alijos, but have always wanted to go, the three rocks stand above the water as the pinnacle of an under-water mountain. For the first-timer, this is just amazing. I'm sure any angler who has been to the rocks can attest to this.

We spent four full days at the rocks, with steady fishing on the 60 to 100-pound Yellowfin Tuna, as well as a pick on the Dorado, Yellowtail, and Wahoo. The Wahoo were few and far in between, but those who put in the time casting bombs and jigs got their chance at 40-60 pound 'hoos. The hot jig seemed to be either the chrome and blue or gold and blue Catchy Tackle Sea Strike 33's. There were many Wahoo bite-offs when fishing straight mono for tuna, but whenever anyone tried the wire for the 'hoos, the picky fish wouldn't come anywhere near the bait.

As far as tuna fishing goes, during the first two days the fish seemed finicky, and many anglers had to drop to 40-pound gear to get bit, which resulted in longer battles. This author caught two of the 70 to 80-pound class tuna on a single-speed Avet LX loaded with 40-pound mono and got absolutely worked by the fish before finally getting them in. After that, it was 50-pound mono and 2-speed reels for me, which worked out nicely as the fish were biting on the 50 and 60-pound gear on days three and four. Fluorocarbon was a big help in getting bit, as most of the fish were striking after a long soak (thanks again to our generous friends from Seaguar).

After the sunset on our fourth day of fishing, we pulled anchor and headed towards the ridge where we hoped for a better bite on Wahoo. On our way closer to the beach, skipper Cates found a floating kelp patty that was absolutely loaded with 10 to 30-pound Dorado, which all anglers took advantage of. This bite was like nothing I have seen before, but is common to long-range ventures. The hungry Mahi were eager to bite bait, jigs, or anything we threw at them. After a couple re-drifts on the patty, our RSW hold was satisfied with limits of healthy "flapjacks."

After a day of pick fishing on yellowtail, grouper, and rockfish, along with some snotty weather on the ridge, we finished the trip targeting some heavier yellowtail in Turtle Bay and later at Cedros Island. At Turtle Bay, the Yellowtail were thick, biting on yo-yo and surface iron, as well as on dropper-loop and fly-lined sardines. These fish were in the 10 to 20-pound category, nice fish to play with on lighter gear, but Capt. Andy wanted the bigger fish. After a quick jaunt to Cedros Island, we anchored up in a weather-free bay where the bigger 30 to 40-pound yellows started biting on both the fly-line or a sliding sinker rig with a greenback Mackerel pinned on. Forty or fifty-pound gear was the standard here and still meant a tough fight with these homeguards.

All good things have to come to an end. "Time to break down the gear and prepare for the ride home," said skipper Cates. As quickly as the trip came, it ended. It's a sad time when you have to finally stow away the rods and reels until it comes time for the next adventure. The travel day home is spent reminiscing on the good times, friendly pranks, and great fishing spent with newly acquainted friends. That's what its all about - just being out there away from everything and sharing the rail with great people (the awesome fishing helps too!).

Red Rooster III docked October 17 at Lee Palm Sportfishers to unload our catch, the final chapter of this young angler's first true long-range voyage. It couldn't have ended any better as I ended up taking third place honors in the Jackpot for an 83.7 yellowfin tuna I caught with a sardine pinned on a 2/0 Hayabusa circle hook while using an Avet LX 6/3 with 50-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, 50-pound clear Izor mono, and 65-pound Izor spectra and a Seeker 6465H Rod.

Chris Natividad took second-place with an 88-pounder, just shy of the first place 92-pound YFT Kelly Harlow caught. Kelly seemed to be the hot stick of the trip, but a quick mishap with a fighting belt got him a fun nickname (which my new buds from the trip should all remember, but can't be repeated online) and that stuck for the remaining days of fishing.

As the next summer's fishing season comes to a close, I will no longer look to pack away my tuna gear, but will embrace the changing of the season with a smile on my face, knowing that the potential for epic fishing is only a few hundred miles south of the border. New friends, beautiful scenery, and awesome fishing await our waters below. I want to thank Bob Peterson and friends from WestCoastAngler.com and Richard Hightower from Newell Reels as well as Andy Cates and the crew from Red Rooster III and many other experienced anglers aboard for "taking me under their wing" for my first long-range trip.

I couldn't have asked for better people to fish with and would advise any who are looking to embark on their first trip to fish with any of these generous anglers. So, the next time October calls, there's no doubt I'll answer. But what happens when December or January arrives and the cows start calling? That's soon to be answered.