Fishing 2007

It was a nice cool morning with a slight breeze plus some overcast. The overcast remained with us for close to half of the fishing trip, keeping the temperature to an enjoyable level. The galley was busy preparing breakfast burritos on the short trip out of the harbor and south to just off the coast of San Clemente. During the trip out those that were interested contributed $5.00 for a big fish jackpot in anticipation of what was to come. Once the anchor dropped the fishing started in earnest with some choosing to use sardines as live bait while others chose pieces of chopped squid. Paul Herman caught the first fish but he was soon in good company as it seamed that everyone was catching fish, except me that is. I did get two barracudas alongside before they bit the line off. Once I changed to a steel leader my catching fish was over. Even so, we kept the Captain and mates busy freeing up tangled lines, restoring reels with birds nests in them to working order, taking fish off our hooks, putting bait on our hooks, chumming, using the gaffs to haul the big fish aboard. Oh yes! Our great crew of fisher people brought in some large fish, and the winner of the big fish pot was none other than our off-duty driver Tony McMahon. Throughout the trip Bill Palmer, Al Kelly, Marci Pou and Paul Herman were busy recording this great event in pictorial form for posterity. Thanks folks, we appreciate your good work. It is interesting that with all of the great fishing boats in San Diego we would travel to Dana Point to do our fishing. We did that because the Reel Fun out of Dana Point is the only party boat we could find where our wheelers could board without being carried. Their floating dock is level with the main deck so we can wheel right onto the boat. Thanks Dana Point. We do appreciate that. We also need to thank Bill Palmer for his yeoman duties before the trip and for acting as purser following the trip. Thanks Bill. So, mark your calendars for next June when we have our third Annual One Day Salt Water Fishing Trip. We hope to see you there.