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Subject: Avila Albacore

Author:
Jim Day

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Date Posted: 969994287PDT

I wasn�t planning to fish this weekend I�m behind on my work and broke to boot. Thursday I received a call from Norm �Bellybuster�. He got about four words out and I knew �You want to go to Morro" I said. "No the sling at Avila" "Ok: fine I'll go".. It was about the only thing that could of gotten me out of the studio.
The plan was he�d get off work and we�d head up early. Turned out it rained and I didn�t make it to his house until after ten.
The drive up the 405 was miserable. Three wrecks and bumper to bumper. The rain just slowed when I got to Norms. He said we were still going. So we loaded up the gear and hit the road.

After about an hour it cleared. I was too excited to sleep so we talked all the way up. Norm is quite but the guy has no problem expressing himself. We discussed everything from fishing, religion to women and back again. My conclusion Norm is a gentleman and a scholar or at least extremely open minded. Hey what can I say he put up with me

We made it to the sling about 2:30 in the morning and it was already hopping. 12 boats in front of us and more coming. About every ten minutes a new rig would pull in. By the 5:30 opening time there was almost thirty boats in line. During the night Calico hunter and Seachaser showed up. He promptly told me how to fish "The fish". Well sort of. Larry showed me a few jigs told me to put them �back� then showed me his boat. I was half asleep but do remember he had a real nice prop on the thing.

On schedule the lift opened. It moves fast: within minutes we were up. The thing is big: with a fifteen ton sign on the front. I saw 40 ft Commercial rigs on the lot. I gather they launch them with that sling. I�d say If you can trailer it they can launch it.

They dropped us in and Norm fired up. Immediately he started heading out to God knows where. "Hey I think the bait is back that way" . After turning around a few times we pulled up to a small net boat with the words LIVE BAIT on the side. You just can't miss it.

They kicked us some very nice sardines and we were on
our way.

When we cleared the rocks it was pretty snotty. Norm cut the power back and we beat our way out. No boats around us to speak of. About eight miles out it cleaned up. Norm put on the radio and we heard some guy say he'd hooked up at the weather buoy. A
few minutes later we saw said buoy off our bow.

No life to speak of no birds no jumpers really didn�t look
to fishy. We decided to put out some jigs and troll by on the way out to the real fish. I took out a purple feather let it back pulled it up. Let it a little further back and hooked up as I threw it in gear. Now fishing is full of signs. That my friends was a good sign. We decked the fish, a very nice albie around 35 then started up again. After trolling ten minutes I told Norm that the only way to hookup was hold the rod. I picked up my stick and started jerking it so the jig rode up and started kind of jumping out of the water.

Sure enough up came another 35lb fish and the rod doubled.. Two big fish holding the rod I was stoked. Decked him and another that Norm hooked on the retrieve when he was clearing the rods. Three fish all holding the rigs. Hmmmmmm..... odd but cool.

By now a few boats had gathered maybe two or three. To escape the crowd: we decided to troll out side. Maybe five miles out I hooked up again. This time on a Zucchini multiple teaser rig. While I fought it Norm hooked up on bait. It turned into Gaff your own mode. I gaffed mine spiked it and threw it in the box then hooked up on bait. Normed gaffed his then hooked another. This proceeded for a while. I think we had four on bait when we called Calico Hunter. By the time they got there we were tired and our chests were full. They proceeded to take 10 more of our fish before the fleet arrived on their tail.

We almost just went in at 10:00 but I convinced Norm to do a little more trolling. On the way back we stooped by the Buoy again. I think we hooked about four more fish there but each lost a fish to a pulled hook. This became the infamous second Buoy bite. It was funny to here the comments on the radio. "Are you getting any?" "No but that little parkers hooked up again"

By noon we were on our way in for real.

The Poop:

Our fish were a between 12 to 17 miles out but there�s more than that there. We heard guys 23 miles out on a good bite that had some bluefin as well. I think fish are probably up a down to.

Everyone grouped on the buoy cause it was close and easy to find. You can�t miss it. doesn't meanm thats the spot ry torling around the fleet not in it.

Four of our fish were on jigs but bait was the ticket. We hooked the majority (ten) on bait but lost four to pulled hooks. The fish we lost we just fought way toooooooo long. They�re big and very healthy in the cold water. There tough on thirty lighter gear is just punishment. I lost one fish after 30 or so minutes on twenty five. Never got him to color, broke my back on the long rd too. Lost another at deep color that I couldn�t lift up even on thirty. If I had it to do over again I�d fish thirty or even forty and tighten up the drag a little.

The sling is great but get there early. Norm and I hit both bites first and it did pay off. Most of the boats we saw back at the lot had two or three fish.

The rumors are untrue: people there were very friendly. About half a dozen guys came up to check on Norms little Parker. The guy that runs the sling even lent us a hose for washdown, and some other guys gave us beer. After the workout we had: I'll tell ya. We needed it.

Norm said the fish were 30 to 35 don�t believe him. They were pushing forty. The only one I weighed was 38 several hours later. All fish were pretty much the same size and they were good fish. They�ll definitely beat you up on light gear.

I'd say fifty or better trolling rigs 30 or better bait minimum.

It was rough initially but calmed down outside. There�s a land effect that makes it pretty lumpy the first few miles. A lot like Cats east end.

The fishing was just plain outstanding. I�ve never been on a bite of that quality of fish on such a small boat. We weren't even chumming. I had a great time and IMO this was easily one of the best tuna trips I've ever been on. Thanks again Norm I had a blast, and for those who haven�t been up there: go now. Just great fishing.

Tight lines Jim

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Avila Albacore more info	Jim Day	970172869PDT