By Pete Gray

As we travel back to Ensenada from Guadalupe Island aboard the Shogun, I reflect on the fun and challenges we faced on this 6 day long range adventure.  The island has faced challenging fishing the past few weeks, but Captain Renee put us on the right spots at the right time to make it a successful trip.

After clearing the Mexican customs in Ensenada on Saturday October 26, we departed for the 20 hour run to the island. We arrived at this remote offshore island about noon Sunday.  Captain Renee put us on the spot and we immediately started catching yellowtail.  Guadalupe yellowtail are know to be the toughest around, and they proved that to be true.  Many hookups on fly line and dropper loop proved to be short lived.  Just when you think you have the fishes head turned, they turn back to the bottom and rock you.  I went 2 for 7 on these brutes on 50 pound line and buttoned down drag.  We landed 30 yellows and just 6 tuna, but signs were good enough to stay and fish there the next morning.

We awoke to beautiful weather on Monday and biting fish.  Tuna boiling all over the boat and biting.  Key was 40 to 50 pound

test and a very small #4 circle hook.  I hooked several tuna changing my bait often.  Virtually all my bites were within 30 seconds of dropping in.  Fish were 25 to 50 pounds

, with a few 70 to 90 pound fish caught.  The Shimano Talica 12 and 16 were the perfect tools to get these fish on light line.  When fishing the small hooks, there were may hooks pulled, but when the day ended we had 42 tuna and 5 yellowtail, an excellent start to our first full day.

Day 3 brought a cool breeze and a bit more lump on the ocean.  Tuna were around all day but very reluctant to bite, along with a bit of a shark problem.  Still, we managed to land 21 tuna and 8 yellowtail.

Our last fishing  day was a big change- beautiful flat water and warm conditions.  Captain Renee re positioned the boat to get a better shot at both tuna and big yellowtail.  Tuna fishing was tough but we did manage to catch a few.  The “ tax man” (aka great white shark) showed up and took his share of both yellowtail and tuna.  The real star this last morning were the big yellowtail.  Determined to land one of these big brutes, Captain Renee re rigged my Talica 20 with 130 pound mono dropper loop.  My rod, a Cal Star 765 M had plenty of power and the reel had plenty of drag.  Watching guys hooking up and getting totally trashed by these brutes became good entertainment, and everyone was rooting on the angler as they pulled on the fish.  Deckhand Dave proved to be a huge asset to help get these fish turned and headed to the boat. We managed 14 yellowtail and 8 tuna for a very entertaining morning. I got 3 yellows and a tuna, 2  of the yellows were absolute brutes- one pushing 40 pounds.  I have caught a lot of big fish, but I have never experienced the power these big Guadalupe yellowtail have.  Absolutely amazing! Our landing ratio between being rocked and the sharks were about 30 percent, but still

a fun day!

The Shogun has it dialed.

Captain Renee is a very fishy guy, and I really enjoy fishing with him.  The top of the line crew, Karl, Dave, Tyler and Joe are a huge asset for the anglers.  This trip had such a great group of people and I really enjoyed the

comradery.  The chef was amazing, Roland and Al in the galley absolutely killed it.  Roland is a very creative chef, and put out meals that were total 5 star quality.

We will be hosting our 6 day Let’s Talk Hookup/Shogun trip next XXXXX.  The trip is limited to 24 and always sells out early, so if you want to go call Jen at LoPreste Sportfishing at 619-226-8030 or book on line at www.shogunsportfishing.com