The Independence has some spots available on upcoming 5 day trips. Trip 22 has 1 spot. Trip 23 has 8 spots available. Trip 24 has 1 spot. And trip 26 has 4 spots. Trip 26 includes mexican permits and fuel surcharge. Call Judy at (619) 226-6006 or check out our schedule.

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

The fishing today was quite slow, we did manage to pull in some yellowtail. we are headed offshore for tomorrow. We hope that everyone had a safe Labor Day Weekend. the indy crew

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

Well, here is the final report of the trip. Today was spent offshore in search of tuna, and dorado. We were happy with the outcome of our efforts, as we had some action on both species. We will arrive back to port at 0700 tomorrow, good night from the Indy crew

The Sav-On Tackle five-day trip with 31 anglers was skippered by Jeff DeBuys, and returned to Pt. Loma Sportfishing September 3. Sav-On owner Bob Salamon was aboard and said he'd had some good fishing.

Skipper DeBuys said he spent two days at Guadalupe Island, a day fishing yellowtail at an island, and also fished offshore on the way back, where he said he found some good yellowfin tuna.

Perry Gillotti of El Segundo won first place for a 95-pound tuna. He used a sardine bait, a 3/0 Super Mutu hook, 40-pound Izorline XXX, a Penn 555 reel and an eight-foot graphite rod.

"He's my best fish ever," said Perry. "He was boiling around way outside, so I grabbed the long rod to help me get a bait out farther. I paid the price for that. He took me around the boat twice and beat me up for an hour and a half."

Tom Thompson of Los Alamitos won second place for an 84.6-pound tuna he fished up with a sardine on a ringed Gorilla hook and 45-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon.

"He bit way out there," said Tom, "and then he took a couple hundred more yards. My drags started chirping, and I had to use my thumb. He fought me for an hour and a half."

Sean Dowsing of San Diego won third place. He's 19, and an econ student at UC Irvine. Sean's tuna weighed 81 pounds, and came on a sardine and 50-pound line.

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

Good evening everyone here is what we have done so far on the Freelance trip. The first day we were off shore and had a little action on dorado on the way down the coast. Today we had some hot and heavy action on 12 to 20 lb yellow tail it was fun fishing. Cody Kelleher our youngest Angler of 8 years old had some phenomenal fishing on yellowtail the first day. Not sure if this is really what he had in mind when he left the dock. He's dad Gary said this was Cody's first trip ever on a 5 day, just wanted them to have quality time together as father and son. Cody fished hard and long the first day. His arms hurt when he went to bed. Way to GO Cody!!!! Tomorrow we are going to try for some tuna so wish us luck Cap Kyle, John, Tommy, Ben, Justin and Ed & Rollo

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

The Indy will arrive at approximately 6:45am on Sunday 9/8. Anyone going on tomorrows trip sign in will begin shortly after 7, depending on the Indys arrival. another report will be on the web later today. Thanks for checking in. Judy

"We had some chop," said Kyle "Rooster" Karcher, Independence skipper for a five-day trip that returned September 8, "but the yellowtail fishing on the beach at San Pablo was great. There's some yellowtail showing offshore north of there. Guadalupe is up and down but there's decent sign of tuna there. It's good fishing right now."

Karcher docked the boat at Pt. Loma Sportfishing and offloaded his 23 anglers and their fish.

Jeff Granse of Chino Hills had the best

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

Hello again from the independence. Arrived at Point Loma at approximately 7am with Captain Rooster at the helm. Did his final weigh-in with Jeff Granse bringing home a 47.2 Yellowtail, 2nd place was Steve Dulay with a 38.6 yellowtail and rounding off 3rd place was Al Hahn with a 36.0 yellow. Nice catch guys. Made a quick turn-a-round and currently out on a 5 day with Dick Shaffer of Purfields Pro Tackle, that left yesterday 1030. After some traveling we arrived at the choice destination and got really, really busy for the day. We put together a spectacular, awesome day on our favorite fish to do battle with. Everyone is tired and beat up from the non-stop pulling. We are going to hang out here and see what tomorrow has in store for us. Please wish us luck, Jeff, Paul and the Indy crew.

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

Good evening everyone, we had ample chances at fish today, but for every reason we could not land the majority of what we hooked. We still had a good day. The weather continues to be on our side. We will continue our quest for fish again tomorrow, hopefully with a better catch to land ratio. Thanks for checking in on Jeff, Paul, the Indy crew and us

Independence Sportfishing Fish Report

Hello folks, here is a basic rundown for today's activities. We started the day off catching trophy yellowtail, and graduated to steady, hectic, full speed tuna fishing. When the smoke cleared everyone was beat to a pulp. The weather is great as well. There are still 2 trips left for our summer season that has availability #26 & #27. Get in on the action while you still can. Office hours 7am-9pm daily we will be glad to assist you. We will report tomorrow on the final day of our trip. Good night, the Indy crew

The Independence has a 4 day trip departing on Tuesday, September 23rd and returning on Saturday, September 27th. Call Judy at the office to book now at (619) 226-6006.

Independence returned from a five-day trip to Guadalupe Island with skipper Jeff DeBuys and 30 anglers on September 18.

"Guadalupe is showing huge promise right now," said Jeff, "as well as some other areas offshore. We had classic gall fishing."

Dean Dinelli of San Francisco won first place in the jackpot for a 94-pound yellowfin. He said he took it with a sardine on a 4/0 hook, 40-pound line, an Avet LX reel and an unknown rod.

"I'm not a fisherman," he said, "I was just there to have fun. The fish was very tough. He fought for 45 minutes, and he's my best fish ever."

Bob Casler of El Cajon won second place for a 91.4-pounder, and Jeff Garrison of Desert Hot Springs won third place for a 90-pounder. Mac McLeod was the chartermaster for the Young's Tackle trip.

Guadalupe Big Boy Wouldn

"It was nasty offshore," said Kyle "Rooster" Karcher after he docked the Independence at Pt. Loma Sportfishing September 23, but there's very good sign of good tuna at Guadalupe Island. Out best fishing was on 40 and 50-pound outfits with fluorocarbon leaders and a 2/0 hook. The kite with double trouble sardines was also good."

Karcher's group of 22 anglers included chartermaster Mike McFarlane of La Canada, and the trip lasted five days.

Jim Lobato of San Diego won first place in the jackpot for a 92-pound yellowfin that ate his sardine on a 2/0 ringed Mutu hook tied to 40-pound blue Izorline on a Saltiga 50 reel and a Seeker Black Steel 6465 H rod.

"He had me pinned to the rail up on the bow forever," said Lobato. "He wouldn't leave. It took 45 minutes."

Chartermaster McFarlane tied for second with Brandon Stevens of San Diego. Both men had 89.6-pound yellowfin. Steve Chambless of Long Beach had a non-eligible 93-pounder, and stepped into the lineup shot with the winners.

Big Island, Little Reels (by Bruce Smith, Shogun Skipper)

The last couple of trips to Guadalupe Island have opened my eyes to some new, effective techniques and the tackle that is used to compliment them. To say things or the way we fish is changing is an understatement, west coast anglers have always been at the forefront of tackle technology and innovation. I believe live bait has a major role in what pushes us to find smaller tackle, clearer monofilament and fluorocarbon, composite rods and a "mad scientist" outlook of trying different approaches to present the most lively sardine or anchovy as far away from the boat as fast as possible.

In past articles I have named names and this will be no different. There are products that I see that work and many that don't. Fishermen enjoy hearing specifics, although many times it doesn't matter what color of jig you use, we want to hear what color is the hottest, newest out there, that "magic bullet." I am here to put out some new things that I have seen work, on the water, day after day. Many times it will take years for a lot of us to come around to new techniques or materials, but you have to understand also that captains and crews don't like to endorse hot, new, magic bullets until they see for themselves that they works, under pressure.

Smaller, smaller, smaller reels; when is it going to stop? Not very soon, I hope. Accurate and Avet are leading the way to the small reel revolution. If you haven't picked up a small Accurate 870 or 665, two speed or Avet JX or LX, now is the time to do it. Hands down, these reels are awesome fishing killing tools. Ten years ago I was not too fond of Accurate reels, there were some problems. Today this opinion of mine has done a 180-degree flip, and I fully endorse these little powerful two speed reels. And no, I am not getting paid to say this, nor have I received compensation in any way, Jack Nilsen and sons have come a long way and they have always pushed the two speed envelope with their innovative products and I really can't say enough good things about their new reels today.

Why should you go out and spend your pretty pennies on small reels? Two words, bait presentation. Of course reels won't help you select that hottest sardine in the tray, but they do allow that sardine to pull the spectra off your spool with a minimum of inertia and continued free spool. This matters. How much drag that is created between the spool and line in the water will determine how many bites you get. What do we do? We decrease the size or diameter of our lines (spectra) and the size and diameter of the reels or spools.

The hard part of doing all of this is to do it without sacrificing line strength or pulling power. Secondly, it's a lot easier to tote around a smaller reel all day than it is a two speed 4/0, plain and simple. And yes, these diminutive monsters will do just that, take the place of much of your bigger older tackle. Third, the two-speed aspect of small reels was a big question mark when they came out. Why would you need a two speed for 40 or 50-pound line, much less for 30? Well, for one thing, not everyone and his uncle gets to fish off of Mag bay or Hurricane for a few weeks every winter. Us working Joes spend our time at places like said Guadalupe island and Alijos rocks, where the fishing can be less than wide open and we actually have to fish our baits away from the boat.

In situations like offshore bluefin fishing, you have to use smaller diameter lines like thirty and forty to get a bite. One thing in common with these locals is the size of the fish. Guadalupe especially this year, gives the five-day angler a serious chance at getting that Holy Grail of a 100-pound yellowfin tuna. Not that everyone is getting them, in fact only a very small percentage are over 100 pounds right now, but almost all of them are over 50! Now trying to get in a 70-pound yellowfin tuna with a single speed reel is a chore to say the least. Do yourself a favor, drop it in low and get that fish to the boat.

Next item of the day: short top-shots and Blackwater fluorocarbon. Here is a slightly different take on things. I am on the Blackwater pro-staff, but this is because I went to them and asked to work with their product, since it's so good. As in previous articles, I can say enough about the abrasion resistance of the Blackwater material, but today I want to mention the elongation factor or simply put how much it stretches. Yes, Blackwater fluorocarbon stretches, so put away your belief of pulled hooks because of short top-shots of fluorocarbon.

No more feeling like you are fishing with a piece of wire attached to your spectra, fluoro has come along way since its inception to be used for a fishing line. Again I would like to state on how clear the BW material is. Just hold up to the light of the tackle shop next to any other brand and you will be a believer. For me personally, clear lines help in getting bites, whether its due to the fish actually have trouble seeing the color or the line or its just because I have more confidence in clear line, the more clear the better.

Short top shots: here I make a stand. Many people will disagree. Short top shots kick butt. I love 'em. What it comes down to is that I am as much of a gear head as the next guy and you have to be if you want to do these things right. Seizing or crimping, when used in conjunction with cyanoacrylate glue (Zap-a-Gap, Mega-stick, and no, they are not all the same and there is room for improvement in this area), both work well. Hollow spectra for seamless connections that pass through your guides on the cast, has helped immensely.

These are a couple things that are happening out here this late summer. If you are not scheduled on a boat right now, you may want to find an opening. Guadalupe has been a lot of fun for the last two weeks, and the Rocks are just that, they're rockin' right now. Fishing is good, come out and enjoy it on any one of the fine long range boats that run out of San Diego.

Big Fish Happen,
Bruce A. Smith

Note: Bruce and Shelly have announced their upcoming marriage:
September 24, 2008.

The Independence has a 4 day trip departing on Tuesday, September 23rd and returning on Saturday, September 27th. Call Judy at the office to book now at (619) 226-6006.

Independence On The High Seas

"Good evening from us out here on the high seas," read the report from Independence September 25. "Today we had great action on yellowfin tuna, and some Mahi Mahi to thrill everyone on board. Everyone had their fill today. The weather has become a bit windy, and choppy, but when you are catching fish you do not mind it much at all."

Skipper Jeff DeBuys unloaded his catch at Pt. Loma Sportfishing September 27.

"We spent one day at Guadalupe," he said, "and we found some hot offshore action. We crammed a five-day trip into four days."

Chris Bello of Philly produced the jackpot winner, a 31.8-pound yellowfin. He said he took it with a sardine on a 2/0 ringed Mutu hook on 30-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader and 20-pound Izorline. He used an Avet JX reel and an eight-foot Loomis rod.

Burr Northrop of Chino Hills won second place for a 31.2-pound yellowtail and Chris Pohl of Santa Clarita was right behind with a 30.4-pound yellowtail.