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Subject: First trip Santa Monica Bay

Author:
Jim Day

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Date Posted: 947541825PST

Ther are first trips: then first trips. We took the New MAX out this week and had one hell of a fist trip fishing Halibut.

Woke up at four: headed for the valley to meet Mike. Since it was the first trip on the new boat I figured I wanted to ride along as he trailered it from his house. Everything was cool untill we stopped for gas, then I smelled brakes. Walked around checking the wheels then burnt my fingers on the left front trailer wheel. Looks like the left brake wasn't releaseing. Ok: Not good but we can live with it. I figured we could fish, then come back early. I'd pull the wheel and check it before the trip home. Got to the launch put the boat in no problem. She looked good in the water. Met a freind from the net Bellybuster as he put in. Nice guy with a sweet Parker 18. He correctly guessed we were waiting for freinds, and wait we did, for over an hour. One had problems with his kid (excusable) the other got really drunk and slept in.(not so good) Both should of called the cell phone, and saved us the wait. Gave up: picked up bait, and cleared the harbor. Here's were it starts to get good. The boat planed up a little slow but once there just flew. The ride is very stable evan at high speeds, and best of all dry. I've never fished a boat as dry as this one, absolutely amazing. While our Hydra Sport kind of smoothely cruised through and over the waves, this one kind slips over the top, really nice ride. We planned to stop at Big Rock take a few drifts, then work some holes up to Dume. The boat ran so good we just could'nt stop, decided to run up north around Pt. Dume. I heard from a few people that Flo Mar (another web buddy) had picked up a few good fish about halfway to PT Magu. When we got to the bridge there were a few boats but no wind, decide to take a few power drifts. First bait: I notice the bait tank was low, did some checks and saw that the bait pump a new "Rule" was down. I spent the next thirty minutes changing it. From then on everything went pretty smooth: Mike picked up a few shorts then a legal 23 inches. I got a short, then Mike picked up a few Sandies. We broke out the champaign and drank to first blood, the new boat, and to the good fishing we've had with more to come. The New Yamaha purred along. Sweet: every once in a while we'd pop it in gear for the drift, nice motor. Has a different sound than our old Johnsons but I like it! We headed back down the coast for a few drifts at Zuma beach, more shorts, then went to Dume. While rounding the point: I got that "lets fish here" feeling. We stopped in about sixty feet of water. I dropped down a Sardine on one rod and tossed a large Scampi jig with a whole squid for taste on the other. Now right here I guess I should say: some days Mike seems to catch all the fish, and some days I do. I don't know what the deal is but my attitude is as long as one of us catches something it's alright by me. I tend to fish for larger fish he goes for consistancy. I'm the dreamer and always fish for the big ones. Up to now the day had gone Mikes way, I'm talking ten fish to my one here. So I guess I was due. I got a good bite on my dine but missed him. While I was meesing with it the Scampi rod doubled over. I like to fish those big Scampi's on 20 spectra with about twenty feet of mono at the end. With it's small dia the spectra keeps them on the bottom evan in a good drift. About ten years ago I caught some good flatfish on the Happyman with these things, I've tossed them ever since. I don't catch a lot on them, but when I do it's a good fish. After all the bait a scampi togeter are about twelve inches long, so as they say it's got to be good. So I'm sitting there holding the wrong rod and this fish just comes and hangs himself: doubling the rod and burning drag. Didn't have to set the hook so I just picked up the rod and worked him up. Swoooosh Mike gaffs and flops a ten pound flattie on the deck. AQs my freind skip says: "it's better to be lucky then good" I'm thinking: Yea, fishy boat, alright. Too bad we had already drank the champagn. We pick up a few more shorts, get bored and head towards Malibu. Now about halfway there I get that fishy feeling again. I'm not psychic but something just looked right. I told Mike: "Lets try here somethings goin on." As soon as I get a bait down and wham hookup on the dine. This fish instantly takes about ten feet of drag, then starts that I'm going to shake my head off routine. Good fish...Ten minutes later quality flattie at color swooosh Mike gaffs and flops a fourteen pound flatfish at My feet. Now I'm thinking HOT DAMN FISHY BOAT. Baits down again: Mike hooks-up, my turn at the Gaff and a nice Legal Halibut about seven pounds thrashing on the deck. Lot's of smiles all around. Back upwind for another drift: baits down and Wham! I'm nailed again on the dine. Same MO: takes some drag shakes it's head, another quality flattie. A few minutes later another fourteen pounder on the deck. Now I'm stoked: New boat, nice day, and lots of fish to boot. Looks like the start of something good. After that the bite just shut down, but it diidn't much matter to us. Some guys we know picked up a few more quality fish towards Malibu. Flo Mar (another web buddy) dropped by for a chat in his 23 Parker (sweet boat). Lot of boat eyeing went on. I think he picked up a few up near point Magu. Then we packed it in. Hauled our butts(no pun intended) back to MDR running about 30 knots downswell. Dry all the way, just one hell of a day. Only dark cloud was I couldn't get that brake to work right. It actually locked up about two blocks from home. Had to back up to release it. Looks like the trailers going back to the dealer for repairs. Other than that you could'nt of been a nicer first date. The boats great: running all day and we did'nt evan burn a quarter tank. Now: thats my kind of rig. Can't wait for summer: then again, I can't wait for next weekend.
Final count five decent legals...

As Mike said (champagn bottle in hand): " Heres to ten years of Hardcore fishing on the new MAX"
I hear that!!

Tight lines Jim

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Re: First trip Santa Monica Bay	Glenn	947634376PST