Black Pearl Mothership Report - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Trout · 01-19-2009, 11:25 AM

Made it back safe and sound. Conditions were ridiculous... sheet glass like a mirror 85% of the time. There were huge swells but nothing bothered us... just big rollers on the outside. If there had been wind it would've been a different story. I saw a potential big wave spot that looked rideable, but only tow-in... looked like outside Phantoms or the likes. Faces were solid 30ft. Anyway, I'll post later with a real report but basically we slayed 'em. Nothing fancy like YT or halibut, but the volume was certainly there. Our group of 7 caught close to 200 fish. I had the jackpot with a big sheepshead that went close to 20#... very big for that specie. Lots of big lingcod, beautiful calico bass and assorted rockish to diversify the catch. There were gray whales everywhere throwing tail and blowing spouts right next to us... plus dolphin, seals, pelicans and tons of wildlife in general. The skipper, Rick Craddick, is the man - totally dedicated to putting kayak anglers on big fish in places that can't be reached by any motorized craft. His spots are places he has logged over 30 years, but has never been able to get close enough due to thick kelp and structure. I am waiting for everyone to send 'em over to me, including Allen (polepole) who charged it all the way from the Bay Area (8 hour drive!). The guys that went are friends for life and that's common after sharing a trip like this with others. The crew worked their butts off and they proved that they are the $hit in regard to this type of outfit. More to follow... -- Trout

Iceman · 01-19-2009, 12:04 PM

Cool Adam, I'll bet it was a blast! Can't wait for pix and more.

landwhale · 01-19-2009, 05:51 PM

Rick Craddick sure made our trip to the Channel Islands the very best, his knowledge and info helped us make the most of our time on the water.

Thanks for the report looking forward to the follow up.

Edwaters · 01-20-2009, 02:16 PM

Yes Capt-Rick is for the fisherman. Kayak or boat fishing. He's in the top of the class. Also the crew is just as good as they come.

This is my 2nd mother ship trip with them. I'll recomend them to anybody.
That said the kayakers on this trip were awesome. Great bunch of fishermen. Made more life long friends that I will gladly fish with again. Hopefully sooner than later.

Ok fish magnet (trout) where are the pics. Don't make me whip out the moose horns. Ha ha

See yous on the water real soon

Edwaters

forefrazier · 01-20-2009, 02:49 PM

PICS, PICS, PICS!!!!...

Trout · 01-21-2009, 11:37 AM

Ok... still waiting for more from the boys, but here are a few:

I had no gaff or net on me (always forget something the first round). I had to tackle bare-handed and this thing almost gut my nutz!

Finally got my fish clip on it and it was game over.

Total solitude....

There were some 5# reds in the mix... love that ceviche!

... lings to boot!

More details to follow. Sorry so short, but with 3 kids, I'm playing catch-up after being away for a whole weeked

-- Trout

Iceman · 01-21-2009, 11:39 AM

Rocas Soledad in the background?..........PST?

Zed · 01-21-2009, 11:43 AM

Sweet!

MalibuJohnny · 01-21-2009, 02:10 PM

Very cool! and the Ling too!

yakrider · 01-21-2009, 02:44 PM

cool pics...
share some more...

how deep were you guys fishing for the rock fish etc...?

joyjiggin' · 01-21-2009, 05:25 PM

Beeutiful, Sheephead!! More pics, pls!

Trout · 01-21-2009, 06:02 PM

Ok... here are a coupla more.

The assassins... (key word - ass)

Gray whales were EVERYWHERE and you could not only see them but HEAR them all day...

Me with a nice ling (as you can see... don't forget your shades)

Sunset

The real jackpot...

Details to follow... gotta get these rug rats in the bath!

MalibuJohnny · 01-22-2009, 08:18 AM

Amazing pictures! I think I may join you guys next trip!

MKNOTT · 01-23-2009, 12:42 PM

Nice Goat.... When we went out of Oxnard on the Peal the resteraunt down from the landing had a bunch of live ones in tanks for sale. They had a 21 pounder and wanted 300.00 for it!!!

Trout · 01-23-2009, 02:22 PM

... so you are saying that I gave my friend's mother-in-law $263.48??? I'll be sure to remind him of that next time I see him!

01-19-2009, 11:25 AM	#1
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	Black Pearl Mothership Report Made it back safe and sound. Conditions were ridiculous... sheet glass like a mirror 85% of the time. There were huge swells but nothing bothered us... just big rollers on the outside. If there had been wind it would've been a different story. I saw a potential big wave spot that looked rideable, but only tow-in... looked like outside Phantoms or the likes. Faces were solid 30ft. Anyway, I'll post later with a real report but basically we slayed 'em. Nothing fancy like YT or halibut, but the volume was certainly there. Our group of 7 caught close to 200 fish. I had the jackpot with a big sheepshead that went close to 20#... very big for that specie. Lots of big lingcod, beautiful calico bass and assorted rockish to diversify the catch. There were gray whales everywhere throwing tail and blowing spouts right next to us... plus dolphin, seals, pelicans and tons of wildlife in general. The skipper, Rick Craddick, is the man - totally dedicated to putting kayak anglers on big fish in places that can't be reached by any motorized craft. His spots are places he has logged over 30 years, but has never been able to get close enough due to thick kelp and structure. I am waiting for everyone to send 'em over to me, including Allen (polepole) who charged it all the way from the Bay Area (8 hour drive!). The guys that went are friends for life and that's common after sharing a trip like this with others. The crew worked their butts off and they proved that they are the $hit in regard to this type of outfit. More to follow... -- Trout __________________ Trout

01-19-2009, 12:04 PM	#2
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	Cool Adam, I'll bet it was a blast! Can't wait for pix and more. __________________

01-19-2009, 05:51 PM	#3
landwhale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach Posts: 506	Rick Craddick sure made our trip to the Channel Islands the very best, his knowledge and info helped us make the most of our time on the water. Thanks for the report looking forward to the follow up. __________________

01-21-2009, 11:37 AM	#6
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	Ok... still waiting for more from the boys, but here are a few: I had no gaff or net on me (always forget something the first round). I had to tackle bare-handed and this thing almost gut my nutz! Finally got my fish clip on it and it was game over. Total solitude.... There were some 5# reds in the mix... love that ceviche! ... lings to boot! More details to follow. Sorry so short, but with 3 kids, I'm playing catch-up after being away for a whole weeked -- Trout __________________ Trout

01-21-2009, 11:39 AM	#7
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	Rocas Soledad in the background?..........PST? __________________

01-20-2009, 02:16 PM	#4
Edwaters Junior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chula Vista, Ca. Posts: 12	Yes Capt-Rick is for the fisherman. Kayak or boat fishing. He's in the top of the class. Also the crew is just as good as they come. This is my 2nd mother ship trip with them. I'll recomend them to anybody. That said the kayakers on this trip were awesome. Great bunch of fishermen. Made more life long friends that I will gladly fish with again. Hopefully sooner than later. Ok fish magnet (trout) where are the pics. Don't make me whip out the moose horns. Ha ha See yous on the water real soon Edwaters

01-20-2009, 02:49 PM	#5
forefrazier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: OC Posts: 397	PICS, PICS, PICS!!!!...

01-21-2009, 11:43 AM	#8
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Sweet! __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

01-21-2009, 02:10 PM	#9
MalibuJohnny Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lahina (I Wish) Posts: 272	Sheephead Very cool! and the Ling too! __________________ Malibu Johnny must catch fish

01-21-2009, 02:44 PM	#10
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	cool pics... share some more... how deep were you guys fishing for the rock fish etc...?

01-21-2009, 05:25 PM	#11
joyjiggin' Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 109	Beeutiful, Sheephead!! More pics, pls!

01-21-2009, 06:02 PM	#12
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	Ok... here are a coupla more. The assassins... (key word - ass) Gray whales were EVERYWHERE and you could not only see them but HEAR them all day... Me with a nice ling (as you can see... don't forget your shades) Sunset The real jackpot... Details to follow... gotta get these rug rats in the bath! __________________ Trout

01-22-2009, 08:18 AM	#13
MalibuJohnny Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lahina (I Wish) Posts: 272	PIX Amazing pictures! I think I may join you guys next trip! __________________ Malibu Johnny must catch fish

01-23-2009, 12:42 PM	#14
MKNOTT Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Persian Gulf Posts: 263	Nice Goat.... When we went out of Oxnard on the Peal the resteraunt down from the landing had a bunch of live ones in tanks for sale. They had a 21 pounder and wanted 300.00 for it!!! __________________ When I grow up I want to be, One of the harvesters of the sea, <O I think before my days are done, I want to be a fisherman.

01-23-2009, 02:22 PM	#15
Trout Looks are everything Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cardiff by the Sea, CA Posts: 64	... so you are saying that I gave my friend's mother-in-law $263.48??? I'll be sure to remind him of that next time I see him! __________________ Trout