Catalina Mole 4/27/2017. Looong w/ pic. How else?

[Mahigeer]

Well after getting skunked again in Baja during a recent kayak fishing trip, I had to go to my paradise—Catalina Mole for some good times. It was a windy outing, but I managed to kill the metaphorical skunk and get rid of his foul smell. So pour yourself a drink and come with me on my trip.
I know you want to see the pictures first, so go ahead, the text will wait for you.



Thursday, April 27, 2017


The weather prediction was for a week of windy conditions. I had already changed plans twice, so finally I said to myself—you are going no matter what. Thus, Thursday and Friday it was. This way I will not have to put up with the weekend crowed. Whether poachers who keep too many fish or rowdy drunk visitors, that sometimes over do it.

1-I met my goal of being the first one in line, by getting there around 4:30 AM.



2-If you have been to the Catalina Express terminal in Long Beach; you may remember the large sloped planter that was here.
It will be seating area for the office building tenants.



3-I put on the relifband and although it was rougher crossing than the previous two times, I did not get seasick. I did not have to set it higher than level (3) either.
It got a bit warm in the cabin, so I went upstairs and the cooler air helped. Later when I returned to my seat in the front of the boat, I noticed that they had opened a window slightly. There must have been a problem with the A/C system in the cabin. So far so good with the new gadget.




The weather during the stay was varied from very windy to absolute calm. Wind direction at times would help casting, but for the most part it was (90) degrees to the railing. It was not cold, yet the wind required wearing “windbreaker” for comfort. I am used to verity of the atmospheric conditions at the Mole and prepare for it.
However, this time the windy durations were for long periods.


4-Man and his best friend crossing the channel.



5-They had cut down the other trees by the flag pole planter.

Wind was not too bad at this time, but frequently would change direction or intensity.


6-Comparison photo from past trips.





Once on the island and my “camp” setup at my usual corner by the flag poles, I prepared several rods.
A Twelve footer Okuma (Cedros) rod with a Penn spinning reel. The rig was the cast-a-bubble full of water, a turbo rattler behind it and homemade fly 6-7 foot behind that.
Second rod was a ten foot St. Croix surf rod, again with a Penn spinning reel and my homemade sliding rattler and lead combo sinker. It too had a homemade bonito fly 6-7 feet behind it.
The third rod was a single hook dropper loop for bait fishing. Bait would be squid.
Finally the forth was a 15’ rod with low profile reel and float rig for opaleye. Bait would be artificial salmon eggs and real peas.


7-On the rod with float rig, I used this artificial bait that looks like peas.
Two to hide the hook and one real pea on the tip of the hook for ease of penetration of the hook tip.



8-A short sheephead was the first fish of the outing caught with peas and Gulp green Salmon eggs.



9-Some additional fish species that took the new bait combo.




10-I used to buy bread and spend time and use electricity to grind it so I can use it as opaleye chum. Then I discover these and now I just add water.
I can even buy them at Vons at the island, so I don’t have to pack them.



11-Adding water turns the powder to a clump that can be cast to a target area in front of the pier and not get blown away by the wind.
Addition of peas makes the chum more effective.




I would rotate between making casts for bonito and bait fishing with peas.
I caught many short bass ranging from 6-12.5” along with other fish. Like bonito, garibaldi, halfmoon and even sheephead.

Once as I was reeling the cast-a-bubble, I got a solid hit and hookup. It felt like a big bonito. As it came in close enough, I saw it was a barracuda.
My first one at the Mole. Due to low percentages, I don’t target them.

Anyhow; I asked an angler who was with me all day, to help with the net. However, before he could drop the net, my line was tangled with another line that I had in the water and the wind had brought it toward me.
The fish shook its head and got off. The rig was not damaged.

Next time I will target them with steel leader. I have caught enough bonito at the Mole already.


While at the Mole, I see things that look interesting to me. This time it was the visit by the bird of prey.

12-The “hawk man” showed up to scare the seagulls and other birds with his bird of prey. No pelicans sighting this trip.




13-At times wind was not so bad.




Around 3:30 PM, and after a day of casting for bonito, I finally started to hookup. Once it was back to back hookups.


14-First bonito of the trip.

I ended up with five bonito of moderate size for a pier, before it got too dark to cast, and bonito would not be hitting anyways in the dark.


15-Beautiful sunset at Avalon.

“Red sky at night, sailors delight”



After the last boat left the dock, it got lonely and eventually dark. I was all by myself all night, in the dark (I had headlamp), in the wind just sitting and waiting for the time to pass.

When I am fishing during the day, the time goes very fast. However, at night it is a different story. I did try fishing for a while, but without any action, I decided to just take naps. If at all possible in the wind.

I did manage to collect some winks which were helpful and even necessary during the next day.

Side note: Well something did happen that kept me occupied for a while.

16-Notice the distance from the bench to the red tie-down posts.


I normally keep my cart to the right of the bench. I block the rear wheels since more often the wind blows the cart backwards. This time, I even had a bucket full of water in the front of the cart. Thinking it was secure, I paid no more attention to it.

During the evening, a gust of strung wind pushed the cart so hard that the front casters turned sideways. This in turn made the cart roll fast and hit the red anchor points on the pier.
The collision caused the tray on the cart to tip toward the water and the contents drop in the water and on the floor. I picked up the sinkers and some items from the floor, but the braid scissors went in to the drink. Also my hook remover and REI cup as well as some bottled water.
I was able to recover the floating items like the cup, hook remover and the bottles with my telescopic net.

I moved the cart back and put the stuff on the top tray again and secured it with bucket of water and wheel blocks. So I thought.

About half an hour later, the same scenario happened. What are the odds? I guess not much, since it was in the same manner as before.
This time the REI cup with separated cap and bottled water were in the drink. By now the tied had dropped some and the items were somewhat far from the railing.

I was bored and now I had a challenge to think about.

17-I managed to come up with this idea of using the net and with use of zip-ties and rope to have a “cast a net” rig.


I am sort of proud that the idea worked. On the first and third casts, I recovered the cup and the cap. The bottled water had gone too far with the tide movement.




18-While patrolling the Mole for trash and other items left by visitors and anglers during the late hours of the evening, I ran across of this dead fish. Must have flown out of the water while being chased by sea lion.

I noticed as I shined my light on the surface of the water at times, there would be fish scurrying around.
I wonder if they were flying fish as well.




Friday, April 28, 2017


19-Sunrise is always welcomed after a windy, somewhat cold and lonely night at the Mole.


As the Golden Hour appeared, I was casting for bonito. Water was calm, and conditions well suited for catching bonito. It did not happen.


20-When the wind sock looks like it has taken Viagra, you know it is windy. Rumors of boat crossing cancellation was going around, but it did not happen.

The small craft warning flag was up both days.


21-Whitecaps as far as eye can see.



22-This will be an expensive repair or cost to replace it.



23-Any object with surface that was not secure got knocked down during the night.



There was only one sea lion for a short period of time during the outing and it was minding its own business.
Pelicans were no show too. Only a lonely cormorant was hanging in the water below where I was fishing. Bonito were too big for it, so it was not bothering me either.


24-First catch of the day with squid as bait.



25-A short sheephead.



26-This was the biggest Garibaldi that I have caught at the Mole if memory serves. I have caught one bigger, but in Baja.



Learning from yesterday’s action, I did some casting for bonito in the mid-morning, but waited for the afternoon bite. I was contemplating to leave earlier than planned 7:30 PM departure, so I was packing some items.
Around 4:30 PM, I once again started to cast for bonito. After only a few casts, I saw a big splash behind the cast-a-bubble and then a rod bend and drag noise.
I landed the fish and decided to stay for my regular departure time.


27-Not a bad way to finish the trip.



28-This is a homemade fly with barbless hook that the bonito fell for it.


The action was incredible. I had the Andrea Bocelli on the IPod blasting, the wind was from my back and the swells had calmed down. Perfect conditions to catch bonito if there ever was one. I could have caught many more, but I had to pack.

Oh well.
The skunk was dead.

I quickly landed five bonito and then had to start packing again. It is a bit of nervous time while I pack. There was a 10:00 PM boat if I missed the 7:30 one, but that would have been too long of a wait and late of arrival at home.

I got done packing early enough to be the first in line once more. I had taken a pill to be sure, and used the releifband as well. I tried to sleep on a bench seat and got some naps. The crossing was not too bad compare to earlier report. Catching fish and not getting seasick made outing very pleasurable. Windy conditions put a damper on it somewhat, but still worth it.

By 10:00 PM I was asleep and too tired to even dream.

Next time to the Mole will be after my fly fishing trip in Canada.


The End.

[toby]

Thanks for the adventure, great story and pictures.

Tim

[Mahigeer]

Glad my reports are liked.

[vanduzerwilliam]

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

Glad my reports are liked.

NICE! Love the gold fish :P

[MrPukaShell]

Always an enjoyable read, thank you

[PapaDave]

Sounds like you had a good trip. Bonito are fun..

[Mahigeer]

Thank you gent.

Your positive comments makes the long hours spent on these reports, worth while.

[Scoot]

Awesome

[FISH11]

Great report with much detail and great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[Hunters Pa]

Thank you for the mini vacation

[IN2DEEP]

Thanks for sharing your adventure.
That takes some ambition to spend 2 days and a night there.

Try this, instead of using a wire leader when barracuda are around.

Create a double line on the end of your main line by creating a 12-24" loop, using a spider hitch knot or a 3-4 turn surgeons knot. 15-25lb test. I'm really liking Seaguar Invizx
If using braid, tie a 24-30" fluoro leader (tie it in the middle of a 48-60" piece) using a John Collins knot.
Tie the hook to both strands of the formed leader. Double the line thru the eye and use both strands to create the knot (I use a uni knot but a San Diego Jam knot will also work good)
The trickiest part would be to end up with two equal length strands going to the hook.
The beauty of this set-up is it still has the stealth of the lighter line and with two strands instead of one, they will have a much harder time biting you off.
Keep the interest up, you will always keep learning

[Mahigeer]

Thanks for the nice comments and tip.