What a way to wrap up the year.

Last weekend, the Ranger 85 and 30 passengers set out on a two day trip, a trip that was to be our final fishing trip of the season. With high winds scheduled to subside, we departed Channel Islands Harbor and headed west. After making full tanks of squid, we set a course for San Miguel Island.

Day light found us some 65 miles from home, and the reds wanted to bite. The winds had subsided, and the ocean could not have been any more calm. We fished places we normally cannot fish while at Miguel, due to the unusually calm conditions. With limits of quality rockfish and limits of lingcod, we headed into the shallows for some gamefish. Target species -- Halibut.

On our first drift, we bagged three keepers and continued to look around. The drift died for us, so we decided to drop back to Santa Rosa and try for some lunker sheephead before the sun dipped below the horizon. We ended day one with incredible fishing and spectacular weather. We decided to change zip codes for our second day and traveled down to San Nicolas.

We anchored in the dark, and the bite was on before the sun came up. With live squid onboard and picture perfect conditions, it was nothing but a recipe for success. Somebody left the coral open and the sheep wanted to bite.

We ended the trip with 190 sheephead, trip limits of rockfish, 110 lingcod, 98 white fish and 3 halibut.

Over 1000 fish for 30 anglers onboard. The trip was sponsored by both Canyon Reels and Wavespin Reels. There were plenty of giveaway's and some incredible jackpot prizes. Barbara McIntyre took first and overall with her catch of both jumbo lingcod as well as her halibut. Second place went out to Chris Jefferson with his catch of a jackpot ling as well.

Both our winners took home nice cash prizes as well as Barb a 2 Speed Canyon Reel as featured on "Wicked Tuna" and Chris a custom Wavespin spinning reel.

Thank you to our trip sponsors for providing such great prizes and swag to all onboard. Hats off to both Gordon Byrne as well as his brother Dennis & west coast distributors for both Canyon and Wavespin. You guys put on a nice show.

We want to thank all who fished with us this season and look forward to fishing with you in 2014.
Currently the Ranger 85 is high and dry in the shipyard prepping for the upcoming season. The Coral Sea will be wrapping up the year with an Ultra Limited Load 2 Day Trip departing Friday December 27. This trip will be limited to 16 passengers and will include all meals and snacks.

Please call 805 382 1612 to reserve your spot today. We look forward to seeing you onboard.

Happy Holidays,
Capt. Frank