SFR INDEPENDENCE 2-DAY TRIP: SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND

The SFR 2 day charter aboard the Independence on
May 2-3 was a big success.Thirty-two anglers jumped at the chance to fish aboard the impressive Independence Sportfisher, with San Clemente Island the backdrop for a 2 day Island freelance trip. With the weather up and the outer islands blown out, Captains Mark Pisano, Paul Strasser and Jeff BeBuys determined that San Clemente Island held the most potential for a successful catch. Day 1 saw us start out on some of the deeper water structures around the island in search of some tasty rockfish. Numerous big lingcod, red snapper and other assorted rockfish were hauled up and sacked up by the anglers aboard. We moved in tight to the kelp for some shallow water surface fishing that saw a few calicos caught as well as a nice 13 1/2 lb. flatty by yours truly that took day 1 jackpot honors. Ed Lacombe cooked up an awesome NY steak dinner that sent everyone to bed happy and full, anticipating the next days action. Day 2 had us fishing in tight along the kelp beds in hopes of some surface action. We had several good pops on the calico bass including a number of those famous San Clemente toads that we all love to catch so much. SFRs John Thompson pulled a nice flatty out of the kelp to take day 2 jackpot honors. We finished the day off in a little deeper water, filling up the sacks with a few more tasty rockfish before calling it a trip and heading for the landing. I can't say enough about the Independence Crew and the lengths they go to insure a good time by all. Truly a top notch professional operation all the way around. Check the Independence website at independencesportfing.com for their full schedule and don't forget about the upcoming 5 day SFR trip in July. Thanks again to the entire Independece Crew for another memorable experience aboard the Independence. Email me at donpadick@hotmail.com for any pics.

The Independence has an incredible schedule for this Summer. The SFR 5 day trip departs on July 5th. The fare is $1,895 and includes your meals. Call Judy at (619) 226-6006 to get in on the action.

The Independence has an incredible schedule for this Summer. The SFR 5 day trip departs on July 5th. The fare is $1,895 and includes your meals. Call Judy at (619) 226-6006 to get in on the action.

The Independence has an incredible schedule for this Summer. The SFR 5 day trip departs on July 5th. The fare is $1,895 and includes your meals. Call Judy at (619) 226-6006 to get in on the action.

The Independence has an incredible schedule for this Summer. The SFR 5 day trip departs on July 5th. The fare is $1,895 and includes your meals. Call Judy at (619) 226-6006 to get in on the action.

Our recent special 2 day trip on the Independence was a great time. Thanks to Mark, Paul, Jeff and the rest of the gang. We had quality rockfishing at San Clemente Island. Pictured here is Chartermaster Don Padick with his first halibut in a decade. Click here for the pictures and story. Also call Judy at (619) 226-6006 to get on the SFR 5 day trip departing on July 5th.

Independence - Current Conditions 5/25/09

Good morning, Jeff called in late last night when the dust settled and the fishing was absolutely epic on the first day. Both yellowfin tuna in the 25 to 50 pound range and yellowtail in the 15 to 40 pound range bit with reckless abandon, taking all offering cast into the water. At days end,the boat had their limits of both species along with many fish released back into the wild. With a self imposed 20 pound size limit for the rest of the trip, things could not have started better for the 2009 season. Stay tuned for more reports from the indy. Thanks for checking in, Jeff and the Indy crew.

Independence Banging Alijos

"Fishing is still very good on the Independence although a bit more on the manageable side," noted skipper Jeff DeBuys May 26. "Today the bite was classic spring eight-day fishing with three to five fish hooked at one time most of the day. The tuna are 40 to 50 pounds and the yellowtail being kept are 20 to 40 pounds for the most part.

"Standout yellowtail were caught. Chris Wise got a 50 plus and Mary Hollifield took a 40 plus. The group also released many smaller yellowtail (under 20 pounds) throughout the day. The weather remains good as well. The plan is to spend another 1/2 to 3/4 of a day here, then start to work north looking for something different."

The Independence has an incredible schedule for this Summer. The SFR 5 day trip departs on July 5th. The fare is $1,895 and includes your meals. Call Judy at (619) 226-6006 to get in on the action.

Long Range Door Bangs Open

"They acted like they were glad to see us," said Independence skipper Jeff DeBuys after tying his boat to the dock at Pt. Loma Sportfishing May 31. He was just back from an eight-day trip with 33 anglers, who had limits of yellowfin tuna from Alijos Rocks and yellowtail from Alijos and Benitos. They also had great bassing at Benitos, said the skipper.

"The tuna and the yellows both bit extremely well," continued the Captain. "We had outstanding conditions, with the water at the Rocks about 66 to 67 degrees. The first day was fantastic, and we didn't get to the Rocks until 11 in the morning. The corner was wide open!

"The next day was very good, maybe not quite as hot. We fished there one more day,, and made a lot of releases. We kept no yellows under 20 pounds. Then we checked out the islands, where we got the bass and a few trophy yellowtail.

"The next day we saw sign of albacore at 230 miles. We got a three or four from 15 to 27 pounds, after a blind jig strike on a black and purple feather. At 160 miles we picked up a couple of bluefin, 17-pounders. We got stopped by a blind strike on a cedar plug, and one fish bit on bait.

"Water conditions look good everywhere," noted DeBuys. "When we got up the coast, we had a stop for 21 halibut! I'd have to rate this trip a ten-plus."

Chartermaster Dick Shaffer (owner of Purfield's Tackle, the trip's organizer) said, "The skip jig bite was incredible! That first afternoon all you had to do was hold the rod high and wind fast.

"I got tuna on the Salas 7X and the Tady 45," he added. "I kept changing jigs because the hooks kept getting destroyed!"

The trip's best fish was ineligible, a handoff, caught by Adan Bonelli of CT, a 64.7-pounder.

Bob Hunt of Oceanside won first place for a 56.8-pound tuna that took his sardine on a 4/0 ringed Super Mutu hook. He said he fished with 40-pound Ande line on a Pro Gear 545 reel and a Calstar 700 H rod.

Dave Hensley of Ontario won second place for a 56.2-pounder. Ken Morris of San Diego won third place for a 55-pound tuna.

Chris Wyse, who will go to work on the Apollo soon, got a lifetime-best 50.8-pound yellowtail on a huge flylined scad mackerel. All the big yellows came on giant scad, said DeBuys. Tony Rezzato of Culver City joined the jackpot lineup with a stout 32-pound halibut.