SoCal Mothership trips early 2017?
 

Does anyone know of a group, either on BWE or elsewhere, that is planning a Mothership trip this year?

I'd love to drag a yak out to the Channel, or to Catalina, or wherever and float around for a few days. Pretty much the only thing on my currently 33yr old bucket list that's actually obtainable. :D

Thanks,

- Kenny

Nothing?

I could have sworn I saw a thread on this site a few years back about mothership trips to Catalina or one of the other coastal islands.

If not, is there anyone that might be interested in doing a trip? Sometime in the spring, March - May sometime. I wouldn't be opposed to being the catalyst to get this started. I even have a few friends still back in AZ that I know would love to do this.

Thanks everyone!

- Kenny

It's the Islander and most of the trips are scheduled in may and june

PM sent
 

PM sent...

Awesome. Thank you Gents!

I just sent some old fishing buddies an email about planning a trip this year. Once I get some traction, I'll contact the right folks and get this ball rolling.

If anyone is interested in this, please post and let me know. I'll start making a list of folks and start putting some sort of planning in motion.

Thanks guys!

- Kenny

Some of these motherships do not accept PA kayaks.

Just something to check out first.

Oh, good call.

Do they typically drag the boats out, or do they deck load and strap them down for the ride? I cant definitely see it being a problem if they are dragging them behind the ship.

Seminar
 

It sounds like we need to get the Islander guys to do a seminar at the Fred Hall shows....
There's lots of info about the trips on this site if you search for it!

From the pictures/videos that I have seen, they load the kayaks on the ship.

Towing slows them down.

Perhaps due to the weight and the size of the PA, they have decided to not allow them.

Hoping to get some info on the trips this year, too. Had booked the 1.5 day last year but it was cancelled :(
The Islander website doesn't have kayak charter dates posted yet.

Last year they allowed two PA-14's but that was it.

If you've never done one of these trips you need to book one. If you can go for the 2.5-day trip, it's not cheap but you'll have two full days of fishing, literally. I recall fishing from darkness to sunset which was from right around 0530 until almost 2100. I don't recall how I fished all day without having to crap but I do recall that the sun has just set when I finally got back on the mothership.

If you can go for the 2.5-day trip,it's not cheap but you'll have two full days of fishing, literally.
x2.

I think i fished 12-14 hours on those two days. crazy.

Hash tag thank god for the stealth 14, 2-foot wide center live well hatch

:cheers1:

Tony and Don both had their PA 14s on the 2.5 day last year, but I would not bet on them allowing again this year.

This trip and a Makobob trip to Baja are my 2017 resolutions. Hopefully I can get my pa 12 on board for the mothership!

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Glad this has been brought up as I plan to trying it for the first time. Can you guys recommend to bring for trip? Do they provide live bait etc? Also new to Kayak fishing so thanks for help.

Makobob allows all the PA 12 and 14's never a problem. AND a Baja trip for a WEEK costs less then a mothership trip. HOWEVER mothership trips are AWESOME and their food is GREAT TOO. Tight Lines.

You guys should check out the Islander's new pricing before you get too excited for a trip this year.

I've gone six times in the past, but don't think I'll be making too many more trips.

Devastated.

I couldn't find their new pricing on their website. What's the new pricing?

It's expensive...they will do PA's on certain trips. But it's alot of fun! The yellows Bit and got Bit on this trip last year.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...pshkpk5e5d.jpg

Yep................I recall one of the 2.5 trips my total out of pocket cost for everything was around $700, that includes the trip(cost of trip, snacks, tips, etc) fuel to and from SD, dinner at the landing, parking, etc.

Our 2.5 day trip last year was $600pp. This year we were quoted $825pp.

Your guys' trips are usually booked through OEX, though, so pricing may be different.

Holy mackerel. $800 per person for the boat ride? Someone is getting greedy and sticking it to the plastic navy. Unless their capacity is only 6-8 people, that's an incredibly high price.

Who else can we check with? Why dont we get a list started and see what we can dig up...?

For half the money you can spend triple the days fishing in baja. No brainer for me. There are islands there also. And fished much less. The islander trips look cool yes but for the $, much better alternatives to the South.

Since one fishes from a kayak on these trips, the number of anglers should not matter that much if at all.

It seems to me since the crew does not gaff fish, or do much for anglers during the long hours of fishing on the kayak, the cost of such trips is way over priced.

How much does gas cost?

Then again how many anglers are on each trip to divide the fuel cost?

If you don't think the crew does much, then you should try loading and unloading all the kayaks plus all gear and rods for 20+ anglers several time per day of the trip. That is on top of all the other things they have to do for the operation of the ship, fish cleaning loading bait on to your live well, bringing you drinks and snack to your kayak and picking up fish, so you don't have to have then on deck for hours. They don't get to just kick back because we are out on our kayaks. They worked harder then I have seen on any fishing charter boat. You couldn't pay me enough to do that for the kayaker on those trips!

Yeah you tell'm MARK! :luxhello:

That's amazing service. I never knew they were that hands on with trips like this!

double post

THE FOOD WAS ALSO AMAZING NOT THE TYPICAL BURGERS, ETC YOU GET ON 1 1/2 DAY OR SHORTER FISHING TRIPS. EVERY MEAL WAS OUTSTANDING, BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINER. THEY EVEN HAD SOME FOOD AVAILABLE AT MID AFTERNOON FOR THOSE THAT WANTED IT. THE LOADING AND UNLOADING THE KAYAKS WHEN THE WATER WAS CHOPPY AND WIND BLOWING SOMETIMES OVER 14 MPH, WAS EXTREMELY HARD, YET THE CREW DID IT ALL. VERY HARD WORK. IT WASN'T EASY FOR US KAYAKERS AT TIMES, BUT A LOT HARDER FOR THE CREW LIFTING THOSE KAYAK ESPECIALLY THOSE, TWO BEAST, PA 14'S.

Did you see the shark?
 

How big was the shark that hit it?

Because of the things noted above I was able to do the things noted below

Don't get me wrong, the new pricing is a bit tough to swallow but it is still totally worth it. On previous kayaking trips the Islander folks were starting to not even break even with what they were charging. Owner/Captain John was hinting to this on our 3.5 day trip last year.

Mahigeer - if you have any doubts as to whether the crew busts their asses off or not, try reading just about any review of their operation. They are TOP NOTCH. The one thing you will see repeated time after time is how awesome the crew is and how hard they work to make everything damn near PERFECT. The boat is also in pristine condition. I didn't realize how nice it is to have two to a bunkroom until I had the opportunity to go out on other boats. I won't mention the other two boats I've been out on (both well known and both good fish producers) but the Islander blew 'em both out of the water in regards to cleanliness, accommodations, and overall space to relax.

Also, as mentioned, the food is off the hook. Three real meals and snacks in between. I've never eaten so well over a three day period.


Anyway - I didn't mean to start up a debate, just wanted to let you guys know that the prices have gone up a bit this year.

Looks like I had the wrong idea about what goes on these type of trips with regards to the crew.

Still, $825.00 is a lot of money for 2.5 days. Not all of it fishing.

I hope someday I can effort it though.

No, thats awesome. I think a lot of us are surprised to hear just how well serviced these trips can be. I legitimately thought it was load boat, ride out to the spot, dump yaks, fish, reverse process. I never thought about the food, service, etc.

I'm super interested in this, so long as I can make the $$ work...

Actually, you get TWO FULL days of fishing. If you play your cards right you can fish from sun up to sun down.

I better start saving now. Come on income tax return!! I see whatever I get going towards this trip.