Rick Ferguson "DaGoose"
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It's not over until it's over!
Apr. 13 2009, 9:38 AM
Apr. 13 2009, 9:38 AM
I love to fish for halibut any time, but there’s something special about competing with other skilled fishermen in an organized tournament. Many are good friends, with bragging rights on the line. Such it was Saturday in the annual Oceanside Anglers Open Halibut Tourney. It’s also the biggest halibut tourney of the year here in North County, out of my homeport, by the club I’m a member of. There are excellent cash payouts, too.
Historically, this event is plagued by nasty seas. This year was no different as my partner Ken Wille and I launched the little old glasspar at 4:30, committed to making the 25-mile run north to Dana Point. We turned the corner out of the harbor in the dark, met by a big ground swell with a good lump on it, right on the nose. Ran at eight knots until grey light, putting us just south of San Onofre. Luckily, it layed down a bit, and we had lines in at 6:30.
The sand bass were chewing really well in the morning but no joy on the flat kind. My friend Herbert joined us in the trolling pattern, fishing with his daughter, visiting from out of town. He was out for a fun day trying to get her first halibut before returning home the next day. Nothing was chewing for us so we moved to work an area just to the north. My cell phone battery went dead. Headed back south later around 1:00 and made a pass by Herbert. He excitedly shouted out that his daughter caught two very nice fish. That made my day already.
Fishing sounded very slow with only a handful of legal fish called in to tournament control. It was all good. Kenny and I have fished together for many years and we don’t get out much together anymore. He introduced me to bounce-balling. It was all good as we rehashed old adventures and shared many belly laughs. Made another pass near Herbert around 2:00 as they were releasing a short flattie. He shouted out “they’re biting the orange double glow hoochies.” Quickly, we replaced the purple haze rigs.
Weigh-in ended at 5:00 p.m., and it was not looking very good at 2:45 with no fish for our efforts. Regardless, we were going to fish until the bitter end, hopeful to scratch just one up and make the mad dash back. The gas tank was nearly empty so we dumped in 10 gallons. At 3:10 Kenny gets a good biter and it comes unbuttoned half way up. It’s IGFA rules so we passed a few comments about not having our standard trap rigs. Perhaps that was our one shot for the day. As luck would have it, Kenny got another good bite 15 minutes later and a decent 15-pound-class fish hit the deck.
Called her in to tourney control and hastily prepared for the long ride home by 3:30. One thing I’ve learned in tournaments is you always weigh your fish. It only has to be the biggest that day. Made great time going downhill at 23 knots and turned the corner into the harbor with 20 minutes to spare. Idled up to the dock and nobody was there. This can’t be good. Then Stanley and Ken showed up with the scale. Turns out the next biggest fish was 12 pounds so we were in the lead with 10 minutes to go. It’s not over until it’s over. Luckily she held up for first place!
It was yet another great adventure and day on the water with good friends.
Spoke with Herbert Sunday morning and Kim’s fish weighed 34.2 and 26 pounds. He then advised, “I said the fish aren’t biting the orange double glow, use the purple haze hoochies.” I think Herbert will enter the tourney next year.
Best of Big Game
www.bestofbiggame.com
The sand bass were chewing really well in the morning but no joy on the flat kind. My friend Herbert joined us in the trolling pattern, fishing with his daughter, visiting from out of town. He was out for a fun day trying to get her first halibut before returning home the next day. Nothing was chewing for us so we moved to work an area just to the north. My cell phone battery went dead. Headed back south later around 1:00 and made a pass by Herbert. He excitedly shouted out that his daughter caught two very nice fish. That made my day already.
Fishing sounded very slow with only a handful of legal fish called in to tournament control. It was all good. Kenny and I have fished together for many years and we don’t get out much together anymore. He introduced me to bounce-balling. It was all good as we rehashed old adventures and shared many belly laughs. Made another pass near Herbert around 2:00 as they were releasing a short flattie. He shouted out “they’re biting the orange double glow hoochies.” Quickly, we replaced the purple haze rigs.
Weigh-in ended at 5:00 p.m., and it was not looking very good at 2:45 with no fish for our efforts. Regardless, we were going to fish until the bitter end, hopeful to scratch just one up and make the mad dash back. The gas tank was nearly empty so we dumped in 10 gallons. At 3:10 Kenny gets a good biter and it comes unbuttoned half way up. It’s IGFA rules so we passed a few comments about not having our standard trap rigs. Perhaps that was our one shot for the day. As luck would have it, Kenny got another good bite 15 minutes later and a decent 15-pound-class fish hit the deck.
Called her in to tourney control and hastily prepared for the long ride home by 3:30. One thing I’ve learned in tournaments is you always weigh your fish. It only has to be the biggest that day. Made great time going downhill at 23 knots and turned the corner into the harbor with 20 minutes to spare. Idled up to the dock and nobody was there. This can’t be good. Then Stanley and Ken showed up with the scale. Turns out the next biggest fish was 12 pounds so we were in the lead with 10 minutes to go. It’s not over until it’s over. Luckily she held up for first place!
It was yet another great adventure and day on the water with good friends.
Spoke with Herbert Sunday morning and Kim’s fish weighed 34.2 and 26 pounds. He then advised, “I said the fish aren’t biting the orange double glow, use the purple haze hoochies.” I think Herbert will enter the tourney next year.
Best of Big Game
www.bestofbiggame.com
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