The annual SFR sponsored Yellowtail Shootout aboard the immaculate Independence Sportfisher returned to Pt. Loma sportfishing on August 25 after a five day mixed offshore tuna/island yellowtail trip to the fishing grounds south of the border. Accurate and Avet reels, Seeker rods and bragging rights were up for grabs for the five anglers who landed the four biggest yellowtail and single heaviest tuna by the end of the trip. The trip started with an orientation and safety speech by Captain Jeff DeBuys and crew followed by giveaways for all aboard thanks to Owner Hooks, Seaguar Flurocarbon and Keepin it Reel products.
Day 1 found us on the tuna grounds at daybreak with great weather and good signs of fish as some early jig strikes by yellowfin tuna had us hopeful for a great day. Single and double jig strikes followed by one or two fish hooked on bait or megabaits became the pattern for the morning. The fish sank down in the afternon with sporadic hookups for the entire fleet so Captain Jeff fired it up and headed us for the yellowtail grounds around San Benitos Island.
We arrived at the island in the morning darkness to the sound on the anchor being set, anglers hooting and yellowtail flopping on the deck. I was bit by a hungry yellowtail within 15 seconds of dropping a lively sardine to the bottom. The morning darkness saw yellows hammering the dropper looped baits before switching to the yo-yo irons as the sun began illuminating the horizon. Thats the kinda sunrise I like to see !!! Truly Awesome !!! The yellowtail action never let up with quality 18-36 lb fish flying over the rails all morning. Captain Jeff moved us around San Benitos and put us one one productive drift after another. Early afternoon winds and a change in conditions signaled the time to pack it up and head to Cedros Island for the evening.
We arrived in time to load up the bait tank with a couple hundred jumbo greenback mackerel in hopes of hooking some of the Cedros Island "Jumbos" in the morning. The mackerel would come in handy as the yellowtail were thick, big and nailing every sardine, mackerel and surface jig that hit the water. A couple of hundred yellows later everyone took a step back in amazement at the awesome show we had just witnessed. With limits of quality yellowtail on board it was time to leave the islands and head north back to the tuna ground in search of a hungry school of bluefin or yellowfin tuna.
Early cries of "Hook Up" following a jig strike let us know that fish were in the area and it wasn't long before Captain Jeff we found us a school that really wanted to bite. Everyone was bit and every bait in the water got bit by a hungry bluefin tuna making for an exciting last day to the trip. Close to a hundred bluefin hit the decks before it was time to pack up the rods and reels and head back to port. Great way to end to the trip !!!!The final order of business was to unload the fish and weigh the four biggest yellowtail and single biggest tuna to determine the yellowtail shootout winner. Bart Williams took fifth place and a Seeker rod for his 32 lb yellowtail. Fourth place went to Omesh Persaud with a 32.6 lb yellow, while Doug Stewart's 34.2 lb yellow napped third. Greg Moore and his 22.4 lb tuna took first in the tuna division along with a new Avet reel. Yours truly took the yellowtail jackpot with a nice 35.4 lb yellow. I can't say enough good things about Captain DeBuys and the entire Independence Crew, truly top notch!!!!