Monday, January 24, 2011

Accurate American Angler Trip (Jan 6-17, 2011)


The annual Accurate sponsored 10.5 day American Angler trip left for the southern off-shore fishing area (typically 14 to 16 day area) on January 6, 2011. This trip was designed for fishing “the beach” (lower Baja coast above Cabo San Lucas). Credit must be given to the American Angler for burning the extra fuel and actually making it a 11 day trip, with no additional charge to the passengers. The American Angler really does what it takes to give all of us a chance to catch a big fish and have a great time. We left the bait receiver with the best bait that I have ever seen. Having 9 inch sardines allowed us to use larger hooks which results in very few pulled or broken hooks.

This trip on the American Angler is like an annual family reunion. You look forward to seeing friends that you met the year before. Check out all the smiles in the group photo with Joe’s 247#.





We had the additional pleasure of having a great group of guys from Washington and Oregon. These guys are really hardcore fishermen and we traded great stories with them. We are looking forward to seeing these guys again next year (at the family reunion).


Four lucky anglers were able to land cows on this trip. Jackpot fish were landed by Mark Johnson 287#, Joe Machado 247# and Jeff Norwood 210#. The other cow was landed by John Yarbrough 206#. The rest of us all landed YFT from 125# to 180#. What a great trip, everyone landed at least one big fish.



Joe hooked his fish at dark and his brand new ATD-30T had to go for a swim. At lease it was supported by a great back up outfit (ATD-80). Check out Joe’s style of fishing the back up (I missed the photo with both a beer and a cigarette while sitting down). The paparazzi (passengers with cameras) were running back and forth following Joe when the 247# was at color.







Accurate provided 40 reels and rods for the passengers to test drive for the entire trip. In addition, Calstar provided 6 of their newest rail rods for the passengers to try out. Izorline provided fluorocarbon and spectra for rigging these outfits. Check out these photos of the passengers having fun. Most were using an Accurate reel or Calstar railrod, or both. The hot set up was a ATD-30, 100# Izorline fluorocarbon and a 770XXH. I was trying out a ATD-12 (with ATD-30 gear set, lower gear ratios) with 520 yds of 100# hollow and 135# Izorline spectra and 100# Izorline flurocarbon on a 770XXH. Really easy and comfortable to fish all day with. It did a great job on a180# and a 140# YFT.


I would like to thank Accurate Fishing Products for providing 40 loaner reels and rods along with a give-away Boss reel and other apparel, Izorline for fluorocarbon and spectra for making my “nub” connection, Calstar for loaning us their newest rail rods and providing a 770XXH blank for give-away, Baja Fish Gear for gift cards to all passengers, Bill Roecker’s FishingVideos for calendars, and a copy of his latest book “At the Rail”, FishworksProducts for beanies, Salas Lures for PL-68 glow jigs, and Mario Sportsman’s Seafood for tuna jerky and discounts on fish processing. If you are interested in joining us next year, contact the American Angler office as this trip is scheduled for Jan 6-17, 2012.

Thanks for reading my blog,

Gary Teraoka

7 comments:

Jim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jim said...

Gary,

How do you gain a few extra pounds of drag at the end game?

I love fishing the 12 but need some advice ;)

BTW- Love the nub for the "Ham Sandwich"

Gary Teraoka said...

Hi Jim,
Well, lets see. It is a very simple but subtle technique. You probably started learning it in high school and perfected in by college. One similarity is that the reel starts to get hot, one difference is that the reel doesn't get mad.

It was great meeting you and fishing with you. We have to work on using some of your baseball strategies on the tuna. Did you see Taro giving the high sign? Looking forward to doing it again next year.

Gary

Unknown said...

Gary

This was my first long range trip and what a trip. Accurate loaner reels and calstar rods to use i had my ATD 30 set with gary's nub knot and izorline flourocarbon and caught my personal best at 180 lb tuna. gary was very patient to teach and instruct me on how to tie the nub knot and how to fish the rail. this was a crash course in 3 days. however i did prevail and enjoyed every minute of fishing. also like to thank the crew of the American Angler with A plus experience i will see you guys on next year trip thanks again Gary and Accurate Reels and all the sponsors on the trip

Tom

Unknown said...

Gary,
Thanks for showing me your nub connection method at the Feb 26th Baja Fish Gear sale. You may not remember but I had to leave early and I missed where you place the nail knots. On the hollow to fluoro connection I remember one knot at the end of the hollow finishing it off, and another over the hollow about a inch from the end of the hollow. Is there a third one that goes somewhere?

On the hollow over solid braid end I remember one at the end of the hollow, a second over the solid braid but under the hollow about one inch from the end, and then a third one again over the hollow even further from the end of the hollow.

Is my memory right? Do you have some diagrams that show the right way to place the knots? I have a copy of the instructions on how to tie the knots but it doesn't say where to place them.

Thanks,
--Roger

Gary Teraoka said...

Hi Roger,
Thanks for attending the seminar at Baja Fish Gear. One of my earlier posting on this blog has photos of the three nail knots. You will have to click on older posts to see this earlier blog. The red nail knot is the "nub" and is on the mono (under the hollow spectra), the dark green nail knot is the primary clamp and the yellow nail knot is to hold down the hollow spectra and make a clean connection. This is the full nub connection which I developed for big line and big tuna.

Your comment also asked about solid braid. connected to hollow braid. On this connection, I only use two nail knots. They are the yellow nail knot (to hold down the end of the hollow spectra for a clean connection) and the dark green nail knot (the primary clamp). I do not need a nub for solid spectra inserted inside hollow spectra.

Let me know if I missed addressing any of your questions. Thanks for your interest in the nub connection.

Gary

Paul Oster said...

Hi Gary,

I'm getting ready to leave on a 15-day and want to know what's new with the nub/nail knot connection....should I keep putting the nail knot on the wrong side of the nub?? LOL!

Wild Bill, Capt. Peach, (and others), and I are looking for the latest tech support.

Very long winter, Ski Patrol has us at 649 inches. Hopefully all that shoveling will have me in shape for cows and supercows!!

Paul