Canyon Kickoff Report - Blackjack

[snowranger]

Had a crew of 5 for the tournament and had two good days of fishing. Circle hooks in islander type baits was a bit of a change but all in all the rigs performed well.

Friday we fished between 45 and 500 fathoms around the west wall of the Baltimore. Went 6 for 11 on dophin bites. No tuna bites and not much going on in the canyon. There was a bunch of birds, bait and rips up and down the 50 line though and most of our bites came from there. 5 of the dolphin came on wide gap circles rigged on pin rigs just like a j-hook (with a double crimp on big baits to account for the short hook shank). The hooks were rigged shallow in the bait to maximize the amount of gap exposed and were located between the mid point and just behind the gills. Of the 5 bites we missed, one jumped off at the boat and 4 were either short strikes or just didn't come tight. We fished all of the circles on minimal drag and dropped back after most of the bites (although most of the fish we caught came tight on the strike).

Saturday fished inshore (Hotdog) and caught our two keeper bluefin on horse ballyhoo behind islanders, rigged as described above. The fish ate wwwwb baits on an 80 with light drag. Never freespooled them, but let them run for a few seconds before pushing up the drag a bit.
I was unsure how the circle rigs would work but overall was impressed.

Here are a few pictures...

[AJGMD]

Nice Work!

[C-Duck]

Eric:

Good work again. Better luck to you and Franky this weekend!!! We'll be at the Fishing Center waiting for you to hang a winner or ten on a stringer.

See you friday nite for a cocktail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I highly recommend that you fish the Prok Chop....

[jtocean]

So the real trick is lighter drag....little extra time before applying the heat?

Still learning here, so pardon the questions.

[frankypettolina]

Eric, I am noticing something in the pics- do you think that the Pirate and my dad might be related? Just curious.

I too fished circles on the way backs, with no problems. Just fished them normally, like a J, I think the slack in the water allows for the bait to get swallowed and the hook to turn.

Up close I am fishing them head rigged, guac style, whatever you want to call it, twisted up almost freespool, clicker on, and feeding everything.

weighed 72 and 90 bluefins for the tourney. Had a dfin that did not make it, and some other assorted tunas and bluefish.

Curtis, the pork chop should not be talked about in public This spot has been kept so secret all this time, even from people who have fished OC their whole lives. Putting it out on the internet is an irresponisble thing to do. I am disappointed in you

Now if Eric wants to give us his numbers for the meat whistle, thats a whole other animal

[LONGFIN2]

Nice job Eric, especially with the circles for the first time. Franky, I actually thought that was your dad till I looked at the second pic. Good luck to everyone this coming weekend.

[snowranger]

Thanks Curtis. I owe you one for the call to come back to the lump. Too bad your fish took a dump just before you caught it. Could have made the difference. Good to see Real Estate in the running.

Franky,
Apparently the first time the Pirate went to the marlin club more than one person called him Frank! I definitely see the resemblance.

As far as the pork chop goes, I fish all meat related lumps along the 20 line indiscriminately. Franky, don't be so upset that I know a spot you don't! I'll give up the secret numbers this weekend...

JT,
I fished light drags on the circles and only dropped back to a couple of our dolphin bites. One missed the bait entirely and I fed it. We may have had a better ratio if we fed more of them. Take advice from the ones who do this for a living (certainly not me). Feeding bites on short baits is probably a good idea.

Good luck to you too Lance. Hope to see your rig at the scales again this year. As for me, I think I'll sleep on the way out this weekend...

[#1Gaffman]

Man, the first time i saw the pics i coulda swore that was Franky Sr....

Anyway great job with the tourney and the circle hooks....

[PurpleCedarPlug]

Eric,

Nice Job on the fish.

Good to see you taking Franky's Dad fishing