Future GCLA Members!!!!

While Mommy was at the GCLA Knot tying Seminar, Fred took the Wonder-twins out for a fishing adventure on the docks of Marina Beach. Armed with frozen mussels, small hooks and bobbers they went to battle with the mighty "greenback" mackerel.....

And the reward for their victory??? The Ice Cream man!!!

What an awesome way to spend the day!!

Watch out world, here come two more Gold Coast Lady Anglers!!!!

2 Days on the Ranger 85

Jacob- enjoying the calm seas and great fishing

I had reserved 6 spots on the Ranger 2-day Ling Cod opener back in December after our Xmas Party. As time went on our number dwindled to 4 - OK Then! Our trip got cancelled due to high wind and surf and moved to the following weekend. I had not Signed up for the Sea Biscuit thinking 2 major trips in 2 weeks might be a bit much.
Good thing - cause we were leaving the same night as you. So fun to see everyone on the docks and visiting back and forth between the charters.
Anyway- the weather, as Erika said in her blog, was better than predicted going out and fishing on Saturday was as nice as I have ever seen it at Nicholas smooth seas and it got calmer as the day wore on.

This was my Big Fish for Saturday

We caught lots of Boccacio at first then made some moves to get out to that and got into White Fish and Sheephead land, lots of wonderful rock fish - biggest johnny bass I ever saw. I really thought I had the JP for Saturday with my big goat but when they dumped the bags and started cleaning fish the found 2 Ocean Whitefish that outweighed my monster Sheephead. WE caught so much on Saturday they had to put out second bags for most everyone and took the early ones and put them into the cold hold. Then they processed that days catch on Saturday night - they crew was up till 2am processing our catch.

We were not sure what Sunday would hold we stayed out at Nick and anchored up for the night. Chef Paul made a fabulous dinner- Tri tip, mashed potatoes, corn & rolls. (Lunch was Teriyaki chicken sticky rice & steamed veggies) I made blackberry/peach cobbler (4- 9x12's) for the boat dessert- holding up the Lady Angler tradition of treating the Crew and fellow anglers.

Sunday morning was cooler and a little breeze but not bad by Nicholas standards so we moved off in search of lings, white & sheep. The lings didn't really show up much for us but mid morning we did a drift over a spot were the Sheeps were coming over the side BIG and lots of them - WOW 20 lbs at the top end.

Another larger Goat was brought on board by a heck of a nice guy but he did not get into the Pot, so Biff's was the next largest and he won JP on Sunday - keeping it in the family.

The counts for the boat were 2 days totals

640 Rockfish

464 Ocean White Fish

77 Sheephead

6 Ling Cod

It took three carts to get all the fillets and fish up to the dock.

Yes - Mom Erika - I took care to slip Tanner, a little something extra - he's a very hard worker!

Women Who Stare At Goats!!!

Hey All!!!! Had the pleasure of being Chartermaster for the April Gold Coast Lady Anglers trip... I selected the Sea Biscuit because we fish the Sea Biscuit quite often personally, but we have never been on it as the GCLA group and I wanted them to try a new boat. (Pics with the Get Bent/Avet logo are for a contest)

We had heard the weather may be a bit bumpy on the way out...15-25 with gusts to 30, but Saturday was supposed to be 10-15 and beautiful! So I took my usual precautionary Scopace and we jammed to the boat.

The landing was hopping!!!! All boats running, Mirage, Coral Sea, Ranger 85, and of course the Sea Biscuit. I always get a kick out of all the guys reactions as 20+ women hit the dock and load a boat....

We got on the boat and grabbed bunks, etc.... We hit the bait receiver and I watched my son hard at work on the Ranger loading bait! He makes momma proud!!

Bobby brought his Lab, Daisy on the boat and the ladies loved her!!!

We hung out on deck and had a few laughs....especially when we discoved you could see who was in the heads...

Smile......You're on candid camera!!! That made for an hour of comedy...

I laughed so hard I cried.

HANDERPANTS!!!!!



Anyhow...Weather forecast could not have been more INCORRECT! When I went down to my bunk you could not even tell we were out of the harbor...
Glassy ride and near perfect conditions for fishing once we got there.

As soon as the sun showed itself the Goats were on thick!!!! I have never seen so may consecutive, large sheephead caught at once....The cries for the gaff could be heard for miles as the ladies roped the goats, many getting their firsts...One gal, yes, actually teared up she was so thrilled!

It just kept going...Mary rolls out of bed and her first two casts are back to back big boys.....





I was running around with the camera and finally put a line in to discover that there are actually some rockfish that live in GoatLand!



As the grey light faded the sheephead bite slowed down, if you could call it that, and giant Whitefish moved in....It is such a blast when the whitefish are large enough to pull serious drag, they don't call them poor man yellows for nothing.

Fred continues to kill goats and catches this beast...



And then this one!



So with near limits of quality whitefish and sheephead by 10am, we decided to head to deeper water and target reds and lings. Bobby puts us on a stone that produced for nearly an hour....

Everyone is catching fish...lots of fish. Fred actually requires a second sac as no more will fit in his first one....



Spirits were high and laughs were numerous, especially when a whitefish would hit the deck and Daisy would rush to the rescue, barking and swatting away at the mysterious creature flopping around the deck.

We get close to limits on the rockfish around 1pm and decide to do one more drift and head for the barn.... We all got together on the stern for a group shot and then weighed in for JP....Fred has the fattest goat, but only women count in the JP on our trips so Mary takes it with one of her numerous goats.

Final count... 73 sheephead, 110 whitefish, 210 rockfish, 2 ling cod....

Pretty EPIC fishing, comfy boat, awesome crew...Big thanks to Bobby, Matt, Sean, Mike, Ted, and Jonathan.

GCLA ROCKS!!!!!