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Random Quote: If you cant take the sea's get into a cat.
I just flew in the morning from a four day conference in San Diego, but instead of returning to DC on Wednesday morning like the rest of our team, I boarded a boat that left San Diego Harbor at 10 PM on Tuesday night to return between 6-8 PM on Wednesday in time to make the 10:20 PM red-eye. Ambitious, but doable.
As I arrived at H&M Landing and went to the check in area, the Producer's captain happened to be there and immediately began berating me (in a joking fashion) for wearing khakis and loafers. We went back and fourth with the jibes, this was going to be a fun trip!
Once I boarded the boat it continued as the mates looked at me with mild amusement as I boarded carrying my back pack, travel tackle box and travel rod.
They saw the tube and thought I had a fly rod. I pulled it out and showed them the Penn International IGFA 30 three piece travel rod. One look at the rod and they all said, you can't use that... you can borrow one of ours... first fish will snap that thing to pieces... no way it will hold up... etc. etc. I told them I wasn't worried, it would be fine.
I went below, stowed my stuff and the boat was soon on it's way with a light passenger load of 14. Had a nice evening drinking a few beers and chatting with my fellow passengers. The fact that the young Texas cop and former fireman thought the Twin Towers was in DC is another story, UNBELIEVABLE!
Well, early to rise we had lines in trolling around 5:30 AM. We would troll until we found kelp where we would live line sardines.
As they day went on, and we drifted kelp patty after kelp patty, fish were slim pickings. We began with a few bonita taken on the troll, then we got into some yellowtail. One of their regular guys, who brought the monster tackle box and six different rods, dropped a live sardine over and hooked into the nicest fish of the day. He fought it for about 20 minutes on a beefy rod, I'd guess 50-lb. class with Newel reel, not sure what kind, I'd guess 30-lb class spooled with mono. Fish landed.
I was feeling a little frustrated when late in the day I still had no strikes. The mates and captain kept ribbing me saying that they couldn't wait to see my rod get torn up! Finally I dropped a sardine over, about 10 yards from a kelp patty, when I could feel the bait get REALLY nervous. I let him free line when suddenly it took off, I knew this was more than just the bait. I let it run for a good 5 seconds before pushing the lever drag on the new AVET MX-L leftie into strike position. BAM, fish on!
The fish took off and suddenly we were doing the "head boat shuffle" as the angry yellowtail headed from the stern up to the bow. Then it went straight out and I managed to turn her just before she got back into the kelp. The Penn Travel rod and the AVET reel were holding their own.
This fish was lively. It ran across the bow about 30 yards from the boat and we could see another yellowtail following it. The captain threw a sardine at it and he was instantly hooked up. My fish turned and headed along the downwind side of the boat, as did his. I was sure I would get cut off on his line, but we managed.
My fish turned again toward the bow and we finished off the fight there. Give a little, take a little. I resisted the urge to goose the drag up a little as I knew this was a big fish, and I was spooled with 20 lb. Ande mono. Finally, the fish surfaced close enough for the mate to gaff it with a long gaff. He got him aboard and said, "Great job, where did you say you got that rod?"
All the mates were suddenly fascinated with my set up and swore they were going to go out and buy one of these rods for their personal use. We took pictures and they wanted to make sure I sent them a copy for the boat, but also insisted I send a copy to PENN and AVET, which I will.
Shortly thereafter it was lines in and we cranked up for the five hour run in. The mates weighed the fish, as it turns out, my fish at 26 lbs. was the largest fish of the day, besting Mr. "Six Rods" by 1 1/2 lbs. to win the $70 jackpot!
The crew cleaned my fish as we headed in and were very accommodating in getting me off the boat (didn't get back until 8:30 PM), radioing for a cab so I could rush to the airport for my red eye flight back to DC. No time for a shower, so I apologize here publicly to the packed flight that had to endure my fishy smell!
All in all a great time, with a great crew aboard the PRODUCER of H&M Landing.
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1998 Albemarle 247
Fairfax, Virginia
I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for this type of trip, the crew worked very hard, were patient and were just enjoyable to be around.
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1998 Albemarle 247
Fairfax, Virginia
The travel rod really is a neat rod, wouldn't use it for daily fishing, but traveling on business when you will be near the water and you don't want to bring a big rod tube, it's the way to go!
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1998 Albemarle 247
Fairfax, Virginia
I lived in Imperial beach for 15 years, used to go ot on the producer or champ at least twice a month, both are fish killin machines, sept october best months for fishing in sandiego. used to drive down baja almost everyweekend to castro's fish camp, san quetin, san felipe, or bajia del losAngeles all outstanding fishing spots.
I used to work on the Producer during college- good boat, the owner, Ray, was a heavy handed sort- but he worked hard and found fish first. He recently sold the boat and retired. Good boat, low center of gravity and stable- there are a few in that fleet at H&M that are too top heavy and are pukers.
Talking about pukers, there was a punk kid on the boat, the type wit hthe basketball shorts pulled down below his but, sideways baseball hat, chains, etc. He started puking before we were a mil;e out of the harbor, this wen on all night and all day. The kid even puked when we were cruising back into the harbor. How he didn't die of dehydration I'll never know!!
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1998 Albemarle 247
Fairfax, Virginia
Fishing San Diego style aboard the Producer 
Sounds like fun. The puking jerk kid would have been the most fun. 
