Discussion Board
2nd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 2009
 |
 11/05/2009 09:43 AM
|
|
 |
rusty_038
Joined: 12/11/2004
Posts: 401
|
2nd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 2009
Thank you to the Qualifier 105 for another successful trip. We had 3 sponsors this time and they did not disappoint. The Rusty Hook donated over $4000.00 in t-shirts, DVD's, tackle, rods, and reels. Bryan Porter from Seeker gave away $4000.00 in tackle including 6 Super Seeker blanks, Seeker hats, visors, and t-shirts along with discount certificates for Seeker products. He also gave away an Avet JX 6/3, tackle boxes, and a host of Berkley tools. Accurate Pro-Staffer, Bob Michner, gave away a Boss 870 reel and had 30 loaner rods & Accurate reels for everybody to use.
We left San Diego with a good load of sardines. After the saftey meeting, we raffled off the swag. Hurricane Rick was developing into a Catagory 3 hurricane so we were on course for Alijos Rocks. Along the way, we ran accross a kelp paddy and it was loaded with hungry dorado. Free swimmers were everywhere and the battle was on. I shot some good video footage for the trip DVD. After boating limits, we continued out trek to Alijos. Upon arrival, we trolled up some nice wahoo. We dropped the anchor and put up the kite. Jeff Bruner hooked the first tuna that ran about 85#. Jim Beecher hooked up on the kite and landed one close to 100#. We spent the night, checked the Hurricane Center, and trolled up more wahoo before we embarked for the Hurricane Bank.
Hurricane Rick was up to a Catagory 5 storm with 200+ mph winds and 40 ft seas. The storm track was projected to run towards Cabo San Lucas. The weather was up, but the ride was not too bad. Along the way we had our tuna seminar and we spent our time making topshots, Fluorocarbon leaders, wired up some jigs, and got the drags set. We arrived at the Hurricane Bank and started trolling for Wahoo. Water temp was 80 degrees. After some short stops, we dropped anchor and started tuna fishing. The weather at the bank was hot with about 10 kts of breeze and water temp 84-86 degrees. Fishing was hampered by junk (small tuna, rainbow runners, and jacks) and sharks. You had to keep weeding through the junk to get rewarded with a nicer sized tuna. Lots of gear was donated to the sharks. They were eating the sardines. Some guys tried fishing small tuna and skipjack for bait. They only caught sharks. Most of the bigger fish were caught on the kite and with balloon floats with sardines.
I got to try out one of Shimano's new Talica 16 II reels that sales rep Mark Mills loaned to me. I filled it with 65# Power Pro spectra and topped it off with 30 yds of Izorline XXX 80#. I used a Calstar BTG90J-H prototype. A 9 ft rod rated 40-80# I rigged it with a spider hitch tied to a Owner Super Mutu 5/0 circle hook. This was my "go-to" rig for flylining sardines. I was able to cast a bait farther with the Talica and was always bit. I ended up landing 3 tuna from 120-148# and 3 or 4 more in the 50-90# range on this outfit along with several wahoo on surface iron. The 9ft rod worked great using good rail technique. I only lost one fish to a failed knot. I also had my GF100J "Extreme" 8ft 2in rod with an Accurate Boss 665H 2-speed lined with 80# Berkley Hollow Braid and topped with 80# Izorline XXX. I caught 2 tuna in the 120-130# class and some 60-80# tuna with the same flyline set-up. The rod was used on the rail also and performed flawlessly. I also got a chance to try out my new Super Seeker 2x4 hooking a potential cow on the kite. Unfortunately, the fish won it's freedom breaking me off on one of the props towards the end of the battle. The 2x4 is an excellent 7 ft rail rod the was beating the fish pretty good. I also got to try out my new Super Seeker CJBF 70H. I caught a few wahoo and small tuna on that rig with surface iron and Kaku Tuna poppers.
Getting back to the report, Seeker rep, Bryan Porter landed his 1st place jackpot 236# tuna on a SS 2x4, and Avet TRX 50W on a double sardine rig presented on the kite. Veteran long ranger Phil Lisi of Costa Mesa took 2nd place with his 229# cow taken on the kite. Jeff Bruner of Lakewood took third place with his 215# tuna on the kite. Phil Lisi also won the "High Roller" jackpot with his 208# yellowfin caught on a sardine with a balloon. Tony Montez of Moreno Valley landed a 213# tuna on the kite but was not in the High Roller pot. The bigger tuna were not showing well due to the high water temp (last year's banner trip had 76-78 degree water). After 3 days of fighting through the junk and sharks, we made a move for Clarion Island.
After checking in with the Mexican Navy, we cruised the buffer zone catching a couple handfulls of wahoo before the sharks started taking 90% of the fish. The buffer zone was pretty much de-void of life. We hit one bird school for nothing but runt tuna. We continued east to another location and the water was 82 degrees and green. No tuna sign. We moved to the Jaime Bank off of Cabo San Lucas. One tuna was landed by Tony Montez on a baloon rigged sardine that went about 180#. Crewman Jiro Spagnola also landed a nice 30# grouper on the dropper loop rig. We spent the night and the following morning for no action. Out of time, we started our trek home. We had some rough weather stretches going up the line, but the
Qualifier 105 handled it well.
Thanks again to the Q105 crew: Captain Joe Crisci, Tim, Travis, Jiro, Sean, and in the galley, Chris and Cappy. In the office, Vicki and Teta. And lastly, Captain John Klein for getting the trip off the dock.
Good fishing,
rusty_038
The Rail is my friend.
PS: Any of you guys that were on the trip that have photos, send them to me at rusty_03 yahoo.com. I need them for the video. Thanks.
Good Fishing,
rusty_038
This post edited by rusty_038 11/06/2009
|
 |
 |
|
|
11/11/2009 01:27 PM
|
|
|
eddieg
Joined: 06/22/2004
Posts: 305
|
re: 2nd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 2009
Nicely done.
Some guy on the Royal Star caught a 313 on 60# yesterday (or day before).
|
|
|
|
|
11/12/2009 07:12 AM
|
|
|
rusty_038
Joined: 12/11/2004
Posts: 401
|
re: 2nd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 2009
We were a little early this year. The conditions on the lower banks were terrible when we went through (81-82 degrees, no porpise, no birds). The Jaime bank had no life and we landed one fish (a nice one about 190#). We continued north to the Morgan, Potato, and other banks finding the same conditions. Now, a week later, the fleet is starting to find the fish. Hopefully next year there won't be so many hurricanes in succession and the water will be around 75-76 degrees.
Good fishing,
rusty_038
The Rail is my friend.
Good Fishing,
rusty_038
|
|
|
|
|
11/18/2009 09:29 PM
|
|
|
rusty_038
Joined: 12/11/2004
Posts: 401
|
re: 2nd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 2009
Got the final word from the Q105 office. Our 3rd Annual Hurricane Bank Classic 15-day trip will be Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 returning on Sunday, October 17th, 2010. Cost of the trip will remain $3995.00. We will be the first scheduled trip to the Hurricane Bank for the 2010-2011 long range season. Call the Qualifier 105 office at 619-223-2786 for information and reservations. This trip will fill up fast.
Good fishing,
rusty_038
The Rail is my friend.
Good Fishing,
rusty_038
|
|
|
|
|
|
