The next bluefin to show up on Fisherman’s Landing dock was a 26-pounder caught by Dennis McDougall of Idyllwilld, one of only three taken from a good school on The Ridge found by Art Taylor and his Searcher.
“I got him after a long soak with a sardine,” said McDougall. “I had half my spectra out.”
He told dock reporter Bill Roecker the trip was seven days with 14 anglers, and that he used a 2/0 Owner Flyliner hook on 30-pound Blackwater fluorocarbon, 30-pound P-Line and 60-pound Line One spectra on an Avet MXL reel and a Calstar 700 M rod.
It appeared at first that McDougall’s bluefin would win the jackpot, but it was sandwiched by a pair of yellowtail caught by Bruce Gothar of Menifee, who got his 27-pound yellow along with a 24-pounder, good for first and third place. Bruce said he got the better yellow on a mackerel bait and a 4/0 Mustad hook on 20-pound Izorline and 30-pound Power Pro spectra. He fished with a classic 220 Newell Blackie reel and an eight-foot Seeker Deckhand Special rod.
“Excellent fishing,” pronounced skipper Taylor, “with good variety on The Ridge.”
