Two more giant yellowfin brought in
Skipper Kevin Osborne docked Intrepid January 19 after a 12-day trip to the Buffer Zone. The second annual WestCoastFishing.com charter returned with two over 300 pounds, and three more over 200. Point Loma Sportfishing, Intrepid's regular home, was having their sidewalk re-paved, prompting the sportfisher to dock at Fisherman's Landing.

"It was scratch fishing," skipper Kevin Osborne said, "but we got some jumbos. Overall, it was a great trip with a great group of guys."

Joe Wisener of Indianapolis, IN won first place with a 324-pound yellowfin. Joe fished a salami on an 8/0 ringed Owner Super Mutu hook, 130-pound pink Yo-Zuri, 130-pound Jerry Brown spectra, an Avet 50 SDS reel and a 2x4 Super Seeker rod.

"My bait ran up the side of the boat right after I cast," Joe said, "and I was going to reel it in, but Kevin told me to let it go. I'm glad I did. I ended up on the bow fishing away from everybody else. It was early morning with gray sky."

Ron Sleight of Irvine won second with a 318-pound yellowfin. Ron fished a big mackerel on a 9/0 hook, 100-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon, an Avet 50 reel and a Calstar rod.

"Took me three hours to get him," he said. "He was hooked perfect, right in the corner of his mouth."

Chris Pauly of Mammoth Lakes took third with a 280-pound yellowfin. Chris used a 9/0 Owner Super Mutu circle hook, 100-pound Izorline, a Penn 50 International reel modified by Cal Sheets, and a Calstar rail rod.

Russell Greve of Sacramento landed a 252-pound "devil fish" that took him over three hours to catch.

"He never circled," Russell said. "He'd just splash out on the surface between us and the Excel when I hooked him. In the three hours, he never cooperated. It's my personal best, and the hook came out as we gaffed it."

Mark Milam of Tucson, AZ caught a 203.6-pound tuna. Mark fished the "biggest salami I could find" on a 9/0 Owner Super Mutu hook, 130-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, 130-pound Jerry Brown spectra, a Avet 50 W reel, and a Calstar 770 rod.

Chartermaster John Bakos said they're already signed up to do it again next year, adding two days to the limited load trip.

Bill Havens of Salty Dawg Custom Rods was also aboard.

"We tried a half day at Hurricane Bank," Bill said. "It was wide open on all kinds of fish, but nothing real big."

Vagabond's First Fly Down/Fly Back
Vagabond owner skipper Mike Lackey returned January 19 after a Magdalena Bay fly down/fly back trip. It was an open charter with 11 anglers.

"This was our first fly down/fly back trip," Lackey said at Point Loma Sportfishing. "It was really cool, a fun trip. We'll be doing it again next year.

"There was cold water at the lower banks, so we ran to Puerto Vallarta and spent two and half days there. We had a 140-pound average and our big one went 185 pounds. Incredible bird life--mind blowing! They'd fire up around noon. It would show up on the radar, and it looked like boats were moving in, it was so thick.

"We tried Cleofas Bank, where we saw 50 to 80-pound fish, and we stopped on the Morgan Bank and got some nice yellows and a couple grouper."

"I brought on a couple of my brand new 'Rail Dawg Grips,'" he added, "and everybody liked them a lot. They're made for this west coast rail-style fishing. They're real tough and lightweight. I'll be leaving a couple on some of the Long Range boats."

CAPTION:THE LATEST BIG CATCHon the Intrepid featured Joe Wisener, Ron Sleight, skipper Kevin Osborne and Chris Pauly. PHOTO BY PAUL SWEENEY