By Dick Uranga, AKA Capt. Potatohead

Fishing tackle has been bought, reels have been filled, reports have been spread: Memorial Day weekend has actually arrived. All of us have been ready to board our favorite sportfisher to pursue the early season’s gamefish. What will it be this year?

This year started with a real surprise, the first hookup came when Capt. Potatohead arrived to find all passengers and crew members wearing specially adorned Searcher tee shirts celebrating the 10th annual Capt. Potatohead Memorial Day Charter aboard the luxury sportfisher "Searcher." This of course set the mood for kudos and an appropriate roasting of the "Ol’ Captaín Spud!"

Our 3-day hunt started with a galley meeting conducted by owner/operator Art Taylor briefing 26 expectant fishermen about safety, weather conditions and our game plan. Our destination would be 200 miles S.E. from Point Loma; a bit of a stretch for a 3 day, but not untypical for a motivated Art Taylor. He informed us that we could expect catches of Yellowtail and possibly Bluefin Tuna. It was his intent to spend our 1st day fishing the paddies in this area targeting

Yellowtail, with the possibility of encountering Bluefin Tuna. For the 2nd day, his plan was to explore an area to the west, having perfect Terrafin temperature conditions that might hold early arrivals of Albacore. He then turned the meeting over to 2nd Capt. Aaron Remy for informative tackle tips and proper boat etiquette while fishing the decks of the Searcher. To get the fun going, Capt. Potatohead and staff members Terry Onishi and Mike Wicen proceeded to fill reels with fresh Izorline"Blue" to all interested fishermen. Capt. Spud and his team provided tips and techniques on the use of trolling feathers by Zuker, fishing Kicker and Ironman jigs and the use of hi-tech Owner hooks. In order to spice the trip up, Capt Potatohead offered chances to play "at the Dealer" to win tackle generously donated by the above mentioned sponsors. Anglers were also awarded tackle prizes for special catches; i.e. most fish caught in a day, 1st and second fish caught on a stop, etc.

Our first day started at day break to the sound of engines slowing down and Artís voice calling out the first trolling team. Although still enroute to our destination, we stopped on several paddies to yield catches of Yellowtail in the 7# to 10# class. Jig strikes throughout the day added to our action providing catches of Yellowtail and Bonita ranging up to13#. This combination of live paddies and jigs being hit provided hook-ups and high spirits throughout the day.

Our tally for this dayís fishing yielded 66 Yellowtail and 14 Bonita with many fish released less than 28î in length; not to mention pranks on Capt. Potatohead to include the reversal of his reel on his "go- to" rods, and lines being pulled through the head window and attached to the showerhead. Oh yes, let us not forget the timely pulling down of his pants during a hook-up! All in the name of fun, and that it was!

We now have traveled and fished to a point of being 217 miles from Point Loma. Art then informed us that we would head in a Westerly direction during the night to explore an area having ideal temperature indications provided on Terrafin maps. As we all know, it is this type of exploration that yields the first catches of Albacore every year.

Upon arrival, we found conditions to be as predicted. We, as on the previous day, stopped on several paddies and experienced jig strikes to put an additional 2 Yellowtail and 20 Bonita on the decks, but unfortunately, no Tuna. Not as productive as day # 1, but certainly worth the try during this time of transition that can potentially payoff bigtime!

Our crew was outstanding, and the cuisine superb. Our special thanks to Aaron, Joe, Jordan and Galley master Randy and assistant William. Thank you again Art, for a fun filled "Searcher" adventure!

Congratulations to Jack Pot winners:
1st Place Mike Mayes 13.0# Bonita
2nd Place Mike Mayes 10.4# Yellowtail
3rd Place Mark Seals 10.2# Yellowtail