Independence Sportfishing - San Diego, CA


December 2020

Fish Report & Photo Archive

trip 20-27 WHEN YOUR SMILING,

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Matt Kaullen, 12-01-2020


We have had a taste of this wahoo down here and enough to keep us interested. We are gonna give it another day before we bust a move and target other species. We have had some action on school grade tuna down here as well and the guys are having a blast tuggin on them. The weather is phenomenal and the gang is in high spirits. Wish us luck!


12-5-2020 big fish zone

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Indy Crew, 12-05-2020


We have covered some ground the past couple days and ended up in the big fish zone. We managed to catch 5 yellowfin in the 200 pound class and watched a whole bunch more. Not as much cooperation on the fishes part but the guys gave it a good try. They were sure hesitant to bite a bait with a hook in it. Nonetheless we scraped a couple handfuls and had some beautiful yellowtail to go with it in the 40-50 pound class for the effort. We are working up all the time know in nice weather and gonna be in the hunt for more yellowfin. Wish us luck


Photos for 12-05-2020

12-05-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
12-05-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen

trip 20-27 Bob's Yellowtail

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Matt Kaullen, 12-06-2020



TRIP 20-27 JP

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Matt Kaullen, 12-08-2020


Left to right Andy 221 Rocky 237 Bob 49#yt Ronnie and Jimmy 204 Digger 196 Marty and Mike wish a pair of Wahoo


Thanks again guys !


TRIP 20-28 DEPARTS

by Brian Pifer, 12-08-2020








We left on our 11 day lower banks/ ridge trip. Awesome group of guys that are hungry to catch some fish. Beautiful calm weather as we travel south. Wish us luck!! Brian & the Indy crew








 


HEADING SOUTH

by Brian Pifer, 12-10-2020


Another beautiful day on the water. Smooth sailing on our 2nd day traveling south. Did our tackle seminar today and got everyone rigged up for a great trip. We'll be targeting Wahoo tomorrow and hoping their ready for us. Brian & Indy crew


TOUGH START

by Brian Pifer, 12-11-2020


Had a tough day to start. The weather wasn't on our side in the morning. Had a little bit of action on good grade Yellowtail (18-25lbs). Before the sun went downer we had a wide open bite of Yellowfin Tuna to get us warmed up for the trip. The guys had a blast pulling on fish. We'll be in the big fish zone tomorrow and hoping for nice weather. Brian & Indy crew


trip 20-28 nice Yellowtail for today

by Brian Pifer, 12-12-2020


Checked out a different area in the morning hoping for the jackpot but didn't payoff. Got to the big fish zone around noon and didn't see much. Got our anchor down and had a few giant yellowtail bit right away. Incredible size yellowtail (40-48lbs). Weather is choppy again today and hoping for a better day tomorrow. Stay tone


BIG ONES AROUND

by Brian Pifer, 12-13-2020


These big Yellowfin Tuna are hard to catch but what an incredible sign off fish all day. From sun rise to sunset their were 150-300 pound tuna boiling right next to the boat keeping us all excited. Had a few heart breaks on big ones that got away but were able to land one at 203 pounds. Try one more day for a fish of a life time. Brian & Indy crew


GOOD SIGN

by Brian Pifer, 12-14-2020


Beautiful weather for the guys today. Their are no shortage of big fish down here but getting a bite is a whole other story. We put in a lot of effort for no rewards. We're gonna go try a find some biting fish tomorrow. Brian & Indy crew


GOOD DAY

by Brian Pifer, 12-15-2020


The guys had an awesome day pulling on Yellowfin Tuna and Yellowtail. All smiles and fun today with steady action. We're gonna try out a new area and hope for another great day tomorrow. Brian & Indy crew


GOOD ACTION

by Brian Pifer, 12-16-2020


Another good day of fishing for the guys. It was slow in the morning but we went looking and it paid off. Had great action of Yellowfin Tuna and some Yellowtail again. We'll be heading up the coast hunting for Yellowtail tomorrow. Brian & Indy crew


ON THE HUNT

by Brian Pifer, 12-17-2020


We were on the hunt for Yellowtail today but never able to connect. We covered a lot of water for a handful of fish. We're not giving up on Yellowtail, Tomorrow is a new day. Wish us luck, Brian & Indy crew


SCRATCHING AWAY

by Brian Pifer, 12-18-2020


Searched for Yellowtail again today to find non biters. Good action on bass, barracuda, and bonito for our efforts. We'll be traveling up to be home on Sunday. Nice weather for our travels. Brian & Indy crew


ETA

by Brian Pifer, 12-19-2020


The Independence will dock at Point Loma Sportfishing 6:30 AM Sunday December 20.


TRIP 20-28 JACKPOT WINNERS

Photo Credit: Brian Pifer Captain
by Brian Pifer, 12-20-2020


Congratulations to the winners of the lower banks/ridge trip
1st- David Rouse 52lb Yellowfin Tuna
2nd- Robert Campbell 49lb Yellowtail 
3rd   Stephen Zuniga 47.5lb Wahoo 
 

 


trip 20-29 Susan with nice big bluefin

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Indy Crew, 12-28-2020


Susan on Honeymoon


BIG BLUEFIN

by Matt Kaullen, 12-28-2020


We are slugging away with spectacular fishing on Bluefin Tuna 80-200+ popunds. The weather is much better than expected as well as the fishing. We are giving it another go again today with hopes of catching some more big Bluefin. Matt and crew


trip 20-29 More Bluefin on the horizen today

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Indy Crew, 12-28-2020





Photos for 12-28-2020

12-28-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
12-28-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
12-28-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
12-28-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
12-28-2020
Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen

trip 20-29 Ralph John and Christopher with their trio of 180's

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Matt Kaullen, 12-29-2020



GREAT TRIP & ETA

by Matt Kaullen, 12-30-2020


We had another amazing day of Bluefin fishing yesterday and we have about 40 fish now over the 100 pound mark! Blessed to have this good fishing in December to say the least. We ended or trip up with some action on Red Rock Cod and we are headed up the line for the weigh in tomorrow morning. Its been a blast and a special thanks to our anglers who made it happen.


The Independence will dock at 5:30 tomorrow morning.


Happy New Year and stay safe. Matt and Independence crew


Trip 20-29 Final report for 2020

Photo Credit: Matt Kaullen
by Matt Kaullen, 12-31-2020


We arrived back to Point Loma this morning with a great catch of bluefin. What a fun trip with a great group of anglers. It was a very special trip to run into the grade of fish we did and they bit! We had 44 fish over the 100 pound mark with lots of personal bests. Thanks to everyone happy new year.

Jackpot winners
1 Christopher Olsen 217.8
2 Jeff Clemens 201.2
3 Nate Gunkel 178.9
Matthew R Kaullen
 


HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021

by Mark Pisano, 12-31-2020


Hello Independence Friends,
As we come to a close on 2020 thankfully, we start anew in 2021. If you asked me at the start of 2020 what are the 10 things that could be the biggest challenges to our fishing season, a pandemic would not have been on my long list of challenges that could have disrupted the  2020 Sportfishing season! With all the challenges we have gone through in the past, recessions, huge fuel price increases, poor oceanic conditions, bad weather, lack of live bait, poor fish migrations... I could go on and on what challenges we have faced and overcome in the past. This has been an unprecedented event in our lifetimes and hopefully we are headed for the backside of it. The fishing season again produced some epic Bluefin tuna fishing for sure but was also inconsistent with non biting fish all the while seeing huge schools with lock jaw. The longer range trips also were more inconsistent this year with water conditions less than perfect. For those of you that fished with us this year we want to send a heartfelt thanks for helping us survive the year. When we were shut down for three months, it was the first time in the 40 plus years in the sportfishing business that I became unsure of the future of our business. Thankfully, we got going as a fleet and made a season of it. We are praying for our fellow businessmen who are still unable to open and maintain their businesses during California’s extended lockdowns. The ocean gives us the escape, the solitude, the adventure, the therapy, the release of tension, and the pure enjoyment of getting away from everyday life!!! Personally for me 2020 saw the passing of my father just short of his 92nd birthday! He lived a long heathy life. The man who started my love for the ocean, taking me fishing at the age of 9 on a commercial trip to fish for giant bluefin tuna is one of my fondest memories as a child. I spent three days sea sick as hell, puking in a box while 15 tons of 100 to 200 pound Bluefin went into the hatch before the boat retuned to San Diego to drop me off so they could return to finish the trip. We finish the 2020 season on a high note in the fishing department, the after Christmas 5 day special we run yearly returned with an Epic catch of Bluefin tuna with over 60 tuna landed of which 40 were over a 100 pounds and many 150-180 pound fish. As we grind through the winter surge of COVID please stay Healthy, stay safe and God willing 2021 will be a great new year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR,
Mark Pisano and the entire staff of Independence Sportfishing.