Spitfire - "The Deep Hole" - Saturday 12-22-07 - Fishing Forum | Fishing Tackle | Fishing Gear

Sea Hag · 01-02-2008, 07:31 PM

I’m not a “night person”, but I had to try this. I booked a spot on the trip scheduled to depart Saturday night, December 22.

I arrived at the landing in Redondo at about 5:00, for a 6:00 PM departure. At the office I met up with Kenny and Matt. We picked up our tickets and got in line at the boat, and met up there with “Hoss” John Graber! It was already shaping up to be a group that was determined to have a LOT of fun!

Lining up to get on the boat with us were 10 or so more anglers, include several faithful Spitfire regulars, ready for whatever the night might bring!
The moon, to be nearly full that night, had not shown up, as we boarded under clear and crisp December evening. Temperatures were in the low 50’s already, but there was not a whisper of a breeze, and it looked like everyone had prepared for the cool weather.

We headed out already loaded with live squid, and lots of it! I set up my gear, grabbed a burger in the galley, and a nap! The run to the Deep Hole is about 3 hours!

Hoss warming up with a nice bowl of soup!

The first stop produced mostly rock fish and sculpin. Enough of a breeze kicked up to make that location unsuitable, and we made a move. The next stop was much better, and we stayed for a quite while, for more rock fish. We hooked into a few bat rays, a couple of them gave me a serious run around the deck. You never know what they are, and the crew stands ready, just in case. At least it was something to warm you up!
We also caught and release a LOT of really Nice Ling Cod… unfortunately closed for the season, but still fun to catch, and something to keep your blood moving!!

We picked up some nice rock fish, which the season closed on January 1.

Kenny and a pair of nice sized sculpin

Another move when the current slacked off put us on a spot where we were doing really good on some nice big sand bass and some calico bass (most of the calicos were released). No measuring here… the sand bass were all really good sized, with a lot of them around 3 pounds and a few up to 5 pounds!

Matt with a nice sand bass.

The wind was up and down, but mostly down… temperatures stayed about 50, probably until after we’d called it quiets, so really pretty pleasant. Current was completely gone by a little after midnight made the fishing tough. Most of the night we were fishing in around 60 feet of water. Lead heads, 1 ½ to 2 ounce seemed to work the best for the rock fish and sculpin, with a live squid. The bigger bass seemed to be picked up on a sliding sinker, about the same weight, larger 3/0 to 4/0 hooks, and heavier line. The big bass knew where the structure was and used it on us very effectively! Heavier line was definitely the way to go, 25# and up, unless you were really up for a challenge!The 15 of us ended up with 28 sand bass, 35 sculpin, 4 calico bass, 38 rockfish. (With many lings and a lot more of all the others released! That’s the nice thing about fishing in such shallow water… the little ones can survive the ordeal!) I was lucky enough on this trip to take the jackpot with a nice 5 pound sand bass!

JackPot!

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. And Captain Matt worked really hard to put us on those fish!

All of us sleeping on the trip back in, we got back to the dock at 5:00 AM

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

The Spitfire will be scheduling more Deep Hole trips as weather conditions permit. (One is in the works for Saturday night, January 5.) Call the landing for more dates. They also run 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!!

Sea Hag · 01-10-2008, 01:38 PM

The Spitfire is scheduled to make another one of these runs on Saturday night. The weather looks great...

Limited to 26 anglers, at $55 each. Call Redondo Sportfishing for reservations and information!

mcfadden fishers · 01-22-2008, 04:41 PM

thanx for the report have u guys beeen out 2 catalina

Sea Hag · 01-22-2008, 05:41 PM

Yes, I've fished there quite a bit.

The Spitfire goes out there, too, for 3/4 day trips in the warmer months, when the yellowtail and white seabass are biting.

Granny Fish · 01-25-2008, 12:34 PM

Way to brave it out in the dark and the cold! Congrats on the jackpot too. I can hardly wait till the yellow tail show up.

Sea Hag · 01-25-2008, 02:53 PM

Yah, me too. With the rockfish closed, there's not much to do but play with the sand bass. And they're pretty sluggish right now, too...

01-02-2008, 07:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 199 Rep Power: 24	Spitfire - "The Deep Hole" - Saturday 12-22-07 I’m not a “night person”, but I had to try this. I booked a spot on the trip scheduled to depart Saturday night, December 22. I arrived at the landing in Redondo at about 5:00, for a 6:00 PM departure. At the office I met up with Kenny and Matt. We picked up our tickets and got in line at the boat, and met up there with “Hoss” John Graber! It was already shaping up to be a group that was determined to have a LOT of fun! Lining up to get on the boat with us were 10 or so more anglers, include several faithful Spitfire regulars, ready for whatever the night might bring! The moon, to be nearly full that night, had not shown up, as we boarded under clear and crisp December evening. Temperatures were in the low 50’s already, but there was not a whisper of a breeze, and it looked like everyone had prepared for the cool weather. We headed out already loaded with live squid, and lots of it! I set up my gear, grabbed a burger in the galley, and a nap! The run to the Deep Hole is about 3 hours! Hoss warming up with a nice bowl of soup! The first stop produced mostly rock fish and sculpin. Enough of a breeze kicked up to make that location unsuitable, and we made a move. The next stop was much better, and we stayed for a quite while, for more rock fish. We hooked into a few bat rays, a couple of them gave me a serious run around the deck. You never know what they are, and the crew stands ready, just in case. At least it was something to warm you up! We also caught and release a LOT of really Nice Ling Cod… unfortunately closed for the season, but still fun to catch, and something to keep your blood moving!! We picked up some nice rock fish, which the season closed on January 1. Kenny and a pair of nice sized sculpin Another move when the current slacked off put us on a spot where we were doing really good on some nice big sand bass and some calico bass (most of the calicos were released). No measuring here… the sand bass were all really good sized, with a lot of them around 3 pounds and a few up to 5 pounds! Matt with a nice sand bass. The wind was up and down, but mostly down… temperatures stayed about 50, probably until after we’d called it quiets, so really pretty pleasant. Current was completely gone by a little after midnight made the fishing tough. Most of the night we were fishing in around 60 feet of water. Lead heads, 1 ½ to 2 ounce seemed to work the best for the rock fish and sculpin, with a live squid. The bigger bass seemed to be picked up on a sliding sinker, about the same weight, larger 3/0 to 4/0 hooks, and heavier line. The big bass knew where the structure was and used it on us very effectively! Heavier line was definitely the way to go, 25# and up, unless you were really up for a challenge!The 15 of us ended up with 28 sand bass, 35 sculpin, 4 calico bass, 38 rockfish. (With many lings and a lot more of all the others released! That’s the nice thing about fishing in such shallow water… the little ones can survive the ordeal!) I was lucky enough on this trip to take the jackpot with a nice 5 pound sand bass! JackPot! 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. And Captain Matt worked really hard to put us on those fish! All of us sleeping on the trip back in, we got back to the dock at 5:00 AM I would like to thank the Spitfire crew for another great trip! The Spitfire will be scheduling more Deep Hole trips as weather conditions permit. (One is in the works for Saturday night, January 5.) Call the landing for more dates. They also run 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)))))>{

01-10-2008, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 199 Rep Power: 24	The Spitfire is scheduled to make another one of these runs on Saturday night. The weather looks great... Limited to 26 anglers, at $55 each. Call Redondo Sportfishing for reservations and information! __________________ }<((((((O)><(O)))))>{

01-22-2008, 05:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 199 Rep Power: 24	Yes, I've fished there quite a bit. The Spitfire goes out there, too, for 3/4 day trips in the warmer months, when the yellowtail and white seabass are biting. __________________ }<((((((O)><(O)))))>{

01-25-2008, 02:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sea Hag Super Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 199 Rep Power: 24	Yah, me too. With the rockfish closed, there's not much to do but play with the sand bass. And they're pretty sluggish right now, too... __________________ }<((((((O)><(O)))))>{

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01-22-2008, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
mcfadden fishers Junior Fisherman Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	thanx for the report have u guys beeen out 2 catalina

01-25-2008, 12:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Granny Fish Fishmaster Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 87 Rep Power: 13	Way to brave it out in the dark and the cold! Congrats on the jackpot too. I can hardly wait till the yellow tail show up.

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