So it's been said before and I will say it again.... The Islander crew just kicks ass! Both the SCI trip and this one were top notch food and service. Plus they are all good guys.
They worked hard yesterday moving us mid-day trying to find better action. Loading kayaks with full bait tanks etc... def isn't taking the easy way.
All in all for me the trip was a blast! TS is a beautiful place to paddle around. It didn't have the oceanic feel that SCI has but fishing off shore islands are just amazing place to watch mother nature.
Day started off windy and overcast with quite a consistent swell coming
from the north. I went strait to the kelp for some slow but big calico
action. At about the crest of high tide they seemed to shut off so I
paddled to the outside to chase some birds and make a drift or two. After
about 45 min of chasing these small bird flocks I hear a
SSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH. I'm like that's the biggest dog I have ever heard and it's about time to check my bait. About 2 seconds later.... half the fleet had to hear me yell Sh&*!!! One of the blue whales had came up with in a 100 yards of us. One guy got snotted on but he can tell that story. Long story short it was amazing to watch them from so close and so humbling as to what can happen out on the water.
Now realizing that I had been chasing birds on crill with whales below I figured it was time for a drift bouncing a dine off the bottom. So 234 ft later my weight hits the bottom and with in 2 min ZINNNNNGGGG. I gave it a pull and it felt like a box of rocks or a old lobster trap so i reeled and reeled with little hope. About 75 feet off the bottom the box of rocks decides to make a run to the north and almost spooled me. With so much line out to start with it made for a great fight and about 25 min later i looked over and saw the right color.
My first MX yellow tail was on board and around 18#. Unfortunately it was the only one of the day but not for lack of trying. (and not to bad for me as it took the jackpot)
After the morning session we loaded up the kayaks and made the 3 mile move to punta ?? In the mean time the sun came out the wind calmed down for a bit and we all headed out. The spot was very rugged and beautiful...almost everyone had a chance to hook up with bass, ling cods,1 halibut and some other species as well. All in all I had a blast and it was nice meeting some new faces.
First of the day
TS South Island
My first MX yellow
sun came out and I found these two on a boiler rock
location two
pile of fish
