Beautiful Early Winter Day on the Spitfire – Sunday, December 2, 2007 - Fishing Forum | Fishing Tackle | Fishing Gear

Sea Hag · 12-04-2007, 04:10 PM

After a whole month off the water I was dying to get out. Busy with the holidays already, I found this last weekend completely clear on my calendar, and booked a spot on Saturday.

But by Friday the forecast for Saturday looked pretty bad. After discussing with several friends who were going with, a few of us moved our booking to Sunday.

What a wonderful choice that turned out to be!

I dragged myself out of bed bright and early, and headed for the landing in Redondo for a 6:00 AM departure. When I met up with KennyMac at the landing, I informed him my car thermometer read 46 degrees. But we weren’t the only one ready to go… Lining up to get on the boat with us were 21 more faithful Spitfire regulars, ready for whatever the day may bring!

We boarded by 6:00, greeted boarding by our crew: Captain Craig at the helm, Morgan, Bobby and Johnny on deck, and Derrick in the galley. After a quick stop at the bate boat for some anchovies, we headed off to the north. First stop: Sculpin!

On the way to the fishing grounds, I enjoyed one of Derrick’s fabulous breakfast burritos!

It was a pretty quick trip to the sculpin spot, and a pretty short time to load up and call it near limits. We pulled up anchor for a longer run up to the BKR!

A couple of nice sculpin from our first stop...

The weather was just beautiful, with flat calm seas, and mostly clear skies. We had almost no wind, and no swell, and by 10:00 the heavy jackets we had all boarded with were piling up in the galley!!

Dolphins playing in our bow wake for a few minutes... hundreds, of them!!

We had a stop here, stop there, with a decent and pretty steady pick at the rock fish for the rest of the day, and nearly every kind of bottom fish you could imagine, including a few big sheephead… and one really nice ling, that of course had to go back. The 23 of us ended up with 15 sand bass, 14 sheehead, 19 whitefish, 70 rockfish, and 100 sculpin!

Whatever this guy was doing, it was great for getting crabs. (Ok, be nice...!)

JP Sheephead, 6#...

A few more shots.... you can count on Captain Craig to put you on some quality fish!

Check out the water in the background... it was just freakin' gorgeous out there!!!
The Spitfire is a great fishing platform, there was really lots of room for everyone. As always, the boat was spotlessly clean when we got on, and the crew was very knowledgeable and helpful. Derrick fixes up some great breakfasts and burgers, and had a nice hot pot of chili on for the ride home. Boy was that good when the sun started to set and the temperature cooled! And Captain Craig really knows how to find those fish!

I would like to thank the Spitfire crew for another great trip!

The Spitfire runs ¾ day trips most weekdays and weekends, but call ahead as they do frequently run charters. Call Redondo Sportfishing for reservations or details at (310) 372-2111. I’ve fished the Spitfire a lot, and always had a great time! It’s a nice riding boat, and a great option for getting the kids out on the water!!

FishingLTJ · 12-05-2007, 01:20 AM

Wow, look at those crab, very tasty I assume. Those are some nice looking fish also. Looks like you had a good time all in all. Any day on the water is a good one, right?

Sea Hag · 12-05-2007, 01:12 PM

Yup, it's supposed to rain here all weekend this weekend, so I'm glad I made it out while the weather was nice.

Granny Fish · 12-19-2007, 06:08 PM

Great that you were able to find some time in your schedule and the weather seemed to cooperate. Looks like a great day to be on the Spitfire. I'll have to get out there one of these days. One_Leg really wants me to go.

Sea Hag · 12-19-2007, 07:03 PM

It was wonderful, you should really come out and try out the Spitfire one of these days. "One-leg" (Alan?) was on this trip with us, he's on the edge of the second to the last picture...?

I'll be heading out with them again on Saturday night, 12/22 at 6PM, we're fishing all night at the "Deep Hole", which I understand is up around the Malibu area...

And of course, will be reporting back on how it went!!

PADavid · 12-20-2007, 04:51 AM

Nice report - and they are some crazy looking fish.

I am heading out January 13, 2008 for some offshore winter wreck fishing, if we get 41* temps i will fish neeked

We usually get temps in the upper teens and the salt spay forms a nice layer of ice on the boat - but still better then sitting at home.

Thanks for sharing your report

Granny Fish · 12-20-2007, 12:39 PM

Night fishing! That sounds fun. What do you target after dark?

Yes - I seen One_Leg in one of your pictures. But I know that he and the NBU team frequent the spit fire. One of these days I'll get out there with you all.

Sea Hag · 12-20-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PADavid

Nice report - and they are some crazy looking fish.

I am heading out January 13, 2008 for some offshore winter wreck fishing, if we get 41* temps i will fish neeked

We usually get temps in the upper teens and the salt spay forms a nice layer of ice on the boat - but still better then sitting at home.

Thanks for sharing your report

Brrrrr.... I did my share of Ice Fishing in Minnesota... I'm done with THAT kind of cold!!! Saturday night we expect lows in the low to mid 40's and there is very little wind in the forecast, so it shouldn't be TOO bad. (I'll just keep telling myself that...!)

Granny, at night we're targeting big bass in the "deep hole" which I believe is up around the Malibu area. We're very near a full moon, so it would not be unheard of to hook into some nice white seabass either. My luck: Bat rays and black seabass (the latter are protected and must be released, for those you you not familiar with them... and they'll easily go 200+ pounds... heart breaking to fight that and then have to let it go...!)

12-04-2007, 04:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 218 Rep Power: 27	Beautiful Early Winter Day on the Spitfire – Sunday, December 2, 2007 After a whole month off the water I was dying to get out. Busy with the holidays already, I found this last weekend completely clear on my calendar, and booked a spot on Saturday. But by Friday the forecast for Saturday looked pretty bad. After discussing with several friends who were going with, a few of us moved our booking to Sunday. What a wonderful choice that turned out to be! I dragged myself out of bed bright and early, and headed for the landing in Redondo for a 6:00 AM departure. When I met up with KennyMac at the landing, I informed him my car thermometer read 46 degrees. But we weren’t the only one ready to go… Lining up to get on the boat with us were 21 more faithful Spitfire regulars, ready for whatever the day may bring! We boarded by 6:00, greeted boarding by our crew: Captain Craig at the helm, Morgan, Bobby and Johnny on deck, and Derrick in the galley. After a quick stop at the bate boat for some anchovies, we headed off to the north. First stop: Sculpin! On the way to the fishing grounds, I enjoyed one of Derrick’s fabulous breakfast burritos! It was a pretty quick trip to the sculpin spot, and a pretty short time to load up and call it near limits. We pulled up anchor for a longer run up to the BKR! A couple of nice sculpin from our first stop... The weather was just beautiful, with flat calm seas, and mostly clear skies. We had almost no wind, and no swell, and by 10:00 the heavy jackets we had all boarded with were piling up in the galley!! Dolphins playing in our bow wake for a few minutes... hundreds, of them!! We had a stop here, stop there, with a decent and pretty steady pick at the rock fish for the rest of the day, and nearly every kind of bottom fish you could imagine, including a few big sheephead… and one really nice ling, that of course had to go back. The 23 of us ended up with 15 sand bass, 14 sheehead, 19 whitefish, 70 rockfish, and 100 sculpin! Whatever this guy was doing, it was great for getting crabs. (Ok, be nice...!) JP Sheephead, 6#... A few more shots.... you can count on Captain Craig to put you on some quality fish! Check out the water in the background... it was just freakin' gorgeous out there!!! The Spitfire is a great fishing platform, there was really lots of room for everyone. As always, the boat was spotlessly clean when we got on, and the crew was very knowledgeable and helpful. Derrick fixes up some great breakfasts and burgers, and had a nice hot pot of chili on for the ride home. Boy was that good when the sun started to set and the temperature cooled! And Captain Craig really knows how to find those fish! I would like to thank the Spitfire crew for another great trip! The Spitfire runs ¾ day trips most weekdays and weekends, but call ahead as they do frequently run charters. Call Redondo Sportfishing for reservations or details at (310) 372-2111. I’ve fished the Spitfire a lot, and always had a great time! It’s a nice riding boat, and a great option for getting the kids out on the water!! __________________ }<((((((O)><(O)))))>{

12-05-2007, 01:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
FishingLTJ Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 365 Rep Power: 1	Wow, look at those crab, very tasty I assume. Those are some nice looking fish also. Looks like you had a good time all in all. Any day on the water is a good one, right? __________________ Fishing is a lifestyle.....Don't ever forget that!

12-05-2007, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 218 Rep Power: 27	Yup, it's supposed to rain here all weekend this weekend, so I'm glad I made it out while the weather was nice. __________________ }<((((((O)><(O)))))>{

12-19-2007, 07:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 218 Rep Power: 27	It was wonderful, you should really come out and try out the Spitfire one of these days. "One-leg" (Alan?) was on this trip with us, he's on the edge of the second to the last picture...? I'll be heading out with them again on Saturday night, 12/22 at 6PM, we're fishing all night at the "Deep Hole", which I understand is up around the Malibu area... And of course, will be reporting back on how it went!! __________________ }<((((((O)><(O)))))>{

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12-19-2007, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Granny Fish Fishmaster Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 87 Rep Power: 13	Great that you were able to find some time in your schedule and the weather seemed to cooperate. Looks like a great day to be on the Spitfire. I'll have to get out there one of these days. One_Leg really wants me to go.

12-20-2007, 04:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
PADavid Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bucks, Co. PA Posts: 467 Rep Power: 45	Nice report - and they are some crazy looking fish. I am heading out January 13, 2008 for some offshore winter wreck fishing, if we get 41* temps i will fish neeked We usually get temps in the upper teens and the salt spay forms a nice layer of ice on the boat - but still better then sitting at home. Thanks for sharing your report

12-20-2007, 12:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Granny Fish Fishmaster Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 87 Rep Power: 13	Night fishing! That sounds fun. What do you target after dark? Yes - I seen One_Leg in one of your pictures. But I know that he and the NBU team frequent the spit fire. One of these days I'll get out there with you all.

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