So Cal Offshore/Channel Island Mothership Trips and Intro

Hi All,
Dennis Spike here from Kayakfishing.com.  I'm friendly with Allen and a bunch of anglers from this site and was invited to post some new trip info. 

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This has been a long time coming...

Captain Rick Craddick, co-owner and operator of The Black Pearl out of Point Loma, is dedicating his charter sportfishing operation to Offshore and Channel Island BIG GAME KAYAK FISHING ONLY!  This may be the most monumental development to hit the sport.   
                                                                                 
Captain Craddick’s got nearly 30 years of experience as a sportfishing skipper here with supreme knowledge of the Channel Islands (yellowtail and white sea bass) , offshore tuna (albacore, yellowfin, dorado +) and the entire So Cal fishery plus everything north and south.  Longtime locals will recall he ran the Charger, a hugely successful sportfishing operation out of Channel Islands and San Diego for many years.
 
The PEARL is a solid fiberglass 65x19 ft deluxe sportfisher with all of the latest electronics and amenities.  Huge bait capacity, tons of brine storage, chase Zodiac plus an experienced, dedicated crew with a head for big game kayak fishing...I’ve been waiting many years for this kayak fishing opportunity to arise and I’m all fired up about it.
   
The trips are limited to 13 kayaks.  No boat fishermen to fill out the load.  Ever.  Kayak anglers only.  2-2.5 day trips start at $445 and go to $495 including bait and meals.  That’s about the same price as walking onboard with 20+ boat anglers for the same length of trip. Most anglers will have a bunk for sleeping and a bunk for their dry gear ( a few anglers will share a “gear bunk” if needed).  Destinations (fuel) determine the trip price...According to the Skipper, “It’s all about fuel costs”...
 
We’re going offshore to fish the tuna.
When it’s feasible, we’ll fish both Santa Catalina AND San Clemente islands in 2 days. 
Yellowtail and groundfish off the Coronados.
Salmon when they return and the LOG California barracuda that accompany them.
We’ll fish Nicolas and San Miguel islands through the course of the year. 
In season, we’ll fish offshore for TUNAS including albacore and yellowfin since this operation only caters to kayak anglers.  How cool is THAT?

Through the year, the boat will depart from San Diego, Long Beach and Oxnard ports.  Based on experience from their first spec trip out of San Diego, a boarding ladder, 2nd chase inflatable soon (for grub, grog, gaffing and bait) aluminum kayak racks and wetsuit/garment dryers are just some of the improvements being added to “The Pearl” to accommodate the kayaks.

Captain Craddick has opted to outfit the Pearl’s loading area with Shark Shield.  I think it’s a great idea.  Sometimes it gets pretty bloody as the fish are handed up and Shark Shield, by creating an “exclusion zone”, gives us one less thing to have to think about.
 
Offshore Kayak Fishing Mothership Trips on the Black Pearl are being booked as charters only.  While Kayakfishing.com is promoting The Pearl and hosting many Kayakfishing.com trips on an ongoing basis, I want to stress that the boat is available for private party and industry charters...for kayak fishing only.  The Pearl is the perfect vessel for kayak fishing guide groups, paddling families, company/corporate groups, or just a bunch of buddies and their kayaks fishing with Captain Craddick and the crew.   It’s an ideal trip for tackle and/or kayak shops to promote for their kayak fishing customers.  The Pearl” just might be the gateway to the ultimate kayak fishing destination yet.  Charter rates start at $5000 and are all inclusive of fuel, food and bait.  A little less $ on short runs (Long Beach to Catalina), higher on the longest runs.  “It’s all about the fuel."

Kayakfishing.com is providing dates and information and booking reservations for The Black Pearl by phone (or email), invoiced by and payable to The Black Pearl.  We’re going to run as many 2-2.5 day trips as we can through the end of the season.  Captain Craddick has most weekends reserved (from last year) until November.  Next season, all the weekends are ours.  Winter opportunities will present in the west Channel Islands too.

Here are a few “alternative” trips we plan on offering down the road:

“Couples to Catalina”- A great winter weekend trip.  Fishing, run of the Pearl, Avalon, maybe a night in Avalon.  Like a private mini cruise to Catalina.  Mostly fishing for bass and halibut.  2-3 days.

"Thresher Shark Trips" (these are scheduled on short notice as we find the concentrations...get on the list)-Better ratios than deer hunting, just as much meat and 10 times the thrill! 

“5-6 Day Mothership Trips"-I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet but I feel obligated to continue producing the greatest big game kayak fishing experiences ever for “dedicated” kayak anglers   Feel free to contact me directly, or post your interest.  I’ll have more info on pricing, trip outlines and dates for 2009 and `10 published soon.

We have the opportunity to get a weekday trip out anytime.   Our first feasible weekend is Labor Day Weekend, Sunday and Monday August 31- Sept 1 out of Point Loma.

More Black Pearl info at www.blackpearl.choicesportfishing.com
Kayakfishing.com-1-818-970-2392.
Click on the images below to enlarge them.  Whadda ship for kayak fishing!

With little time to read my own web site forums, I rarely get a chance to visit other kayak fishing web sites.  It's nice to see the NWKAers have built a presence of community that's lost in many regional sites.

Occasional Great Deals-Through the course of the year, I sell various pieces of gear from our equipment rotation, new product trade-outs and a handful of new and demo kayaks.  Usually at great prices.  Hawking my offerings on web sites hasn't much been my style though.  The Nor Cal forums have been very generous, and their readers receptive, in letting me post the past year but I just don't like the appearance.  Especially since I don't have time to contribute otherwise.  So.....with the addition of SMF Forums at Kayakfishing.com, I'm going to use the registration list at the Kayakfishing.com Forums to make special offers to anglers through the year.  FYI, registered "members" are annonymous and we don't sell or distribute your info.

Feel free to contact me anytime for anything related to the sport.  If we don't have the answer, we know someone who does and will direct you there.
Thanks for your time and continued good fishing.   

Anyone thinking of possibly going on one of these trips?  I got this voice in my head that keeps telling me to try one out this fall.

-Allen

the thot is appealing, but it's in the "won't happen soon" file in my head.. what i'd really like to do, is be the one to start the mothership trips up here...

Most of the dates we're working on is for next year but with this bite....

I understand this trip's more dough for most folks to sail on without notice, planning and a vacation (fishing) budget.  With the current bite, I'm bustin` to try an early trip so...
Labor Day Weekend- Sunday and Monday August 31st, September 1

Contact me directly for a spot and more info at 1-707-874-9436.

If the NWKA readership (membership) can ever muster 12 or 13 spots, the boat and trip is yours.  Look at dates for next year and contact me anytime.

Unrelated and probably of little need in the NW, I have a few Shark Shield units available for $500 each.
Thanks All!

Anyone thinking of possibly going on one of these trips?  I got this voice in my head that keeps telling me to try one out this fall.

-Allen

Glad to know that the voice in YOUR head I hear!  I was nearly ready to pony up some hard won cash.