2012 Delta/Bay Extravaganza and Catalina Offshore Adventure

Dear All:

This posting is an update on the 11th Annual, Catalina Off-Shore Adventure, from Sunday, August 5, 2012 to Saturday, August 11, 2012.
This event is now just two months away!

Below is a list of those Brats (Dogs) currently signed up for this C-Dory gathering:

1. Jim and Kath, Pounder
2. Keith, C-Pup
3. Steve et. al., Dora-Jean
4. Kent and Marcia, Marcia Jane
5. David and Donald, Blue Eagle
6. Mike, Sealife
7. Ron, Islander
8. Dr. Bob and Marie, Thataway
9. John and Robbin, Dinner Belle II
10. Joel and Susan, SEA3PO.

This is a great turnout with ten (10) potential vessels so far. This event, unlike the Delta and Bay Extravaganza, is not size limited. If any other folks, new comers, or old comers, want to join in, please sign up now. Also, if you are listed above, and if you are not now coming, please let us know.

More information will be forthcoming on this event. Also, once this attendance list is more solidified, there will be some pot luck dinner assignments.

Sincerely,
Jim
 
Marie has been cooking a big pot of spagetti for the Pot Luck today (and the new freezer arrived today--looks to be much better built, larger and more efficient than the Norcold it replaced).

Our gang is going to have a camp site for 4 days, and then 2 nights will all of us on the boat--unless something opens up. (We had friends volunteer their 46 foot sailboat, but that is a bit much!)....
 
Back to the Delta gathering;

I posted some photos, due to large file size, I over compressed the photos. If anyone wants a full file size, I will mail it, or can send by e-mail a moderate size file suitable for printing.
 
Dear C-Brats:

Welcome to the 11th Annual, Catalina Off-shore Adventure, scheduled for August 5 to August 11, 2012. Because some boats have dropped in, and some boats have dropped out, of this function, at this moment we currently think we still have ten (10) vessels, signed up for this Jimmy Buffett style event, as follows:

1. Jim and Kath, Pounder
2. Keith, C-Pup
3. Steve et. al., Dora-Jean
4. Kent and Marcia, Marcia Jane
5. David and Donald, Blue Eagle
6. Mike, Sealife
7. Dr. Bob and Marie, Thataway
8. John and Robbin, Dinner Belle II
9. Joel and Susan, SEA3PO
10. Scott, Lil' Rascal.

We hope several others will consider coming this year. If you plan to go, please place your name on the signup sheet as soon as possible. This is a great event in a unique exotic setting.

We plan to meet at Marina Del Ray (MDR) on Sunday, late afternoon, August 5th. We will stay at MDR on Sunday evening at the guest docks and we will leave our trailers and trucks in the MDR parking lot. Those in the group, who want to, usually go out to dinner together on Sunday night and we sometimes take the MDR ferry to a restaurant nearby.

We will proceed to Two Harbors on Monday morning, August 6th, leaving MDR at approximately 7:00 AM, and we will go as a group the 26 off-shore miles to Two Harbors, Catalina Island. When we get to Two Harbors we will obtain “string line” reservations close to shore, and together. We will coordinate this reservation on the way over via communication on VHF Channel 69.

Most of us will return from Two Harbors on early Saturday morning, August 11th. Again, we will leave Two Harbors at approximately 7:00 AM on that Saturday.

On Monday night we will have group pot luck on the beach. Each boat should plan on bringing a dish to share with the group. . Everyone is to bring their own drinks to the beach party Monday. At our next posting we will talk more about pot luck sign ups and specifics, after we get a firmer idea of who is actually still coming.

During the week for some of our activities we may have a fishing trip over to Santa Barbara Island (and an associated victory fish fry), a day sightseeing trip to Avalon, a scuba diving trip, a kayak excursion along the shore, and a bicycle trip around Two Harbors. On our last Friday night at the Island, for those that want to, we usually have a group dinner together at the Harbor Reef Restaurant. For many C-Dory folks, it will just be sufficient to relax on their boat and watch the sun rise, and set, and enjoy the perfect 75 degree weather in their flip-flops, shorts, and t-shirts.

Many folks eat hearty breakfasts over at the Galley Grill in the morning, and most eat light lunches and dinners on their own boats. Often times there will be mid-afternoon drinks over at the Harbor Saloon or the Banning House Lodge. Some folks often host a happy hour during the week on their boats. There is a good grocery store at Two Harbors where one can buy most anything needed and replenish your ice.

Be sure to bring a good functioning tender to this event, as a big part of this venue is getting to, and from, the dingy dock, and cruising around to all the other boats and visiting. A functioning small outboard on the tender really helps. Also, bring quarters for the pay showers, another key to happy Island life!
More later,

Jim and Kath
“Wishing to Be Wasting Away in Two Harbors Ville”
 
It is likely that we will be going over on Sunday, rather than Monday and probably leaving from Long Beach or San Pedro. (We may even up the boat in the water as early as Friday and stay at one of the local marinas).

We will have been on an RV trip to Yosemite Valley the weeks prior, and then do the transition to "C Dorying". Our grandchildren and daughter will be with us, and staying at least 4 nights in the campground. (The other alternative was $250 a night at the Banning Lodge.)...

Marie has already made and frozen her famous Spaghetti for Monday night gathering.

It looks as if a lot of those wonderful folks form the Delta trip will be along on this one too! What a treat!
 
I put our name on the signup list today. It's been a couple of years since we made the trip to Catalina. It will be good to see the California Brats again.
 
That's great Brent and Dixie. Do you plan to do any diving while at Catalina? I do.

Actually, how many of the people coming plan to dive on this trip? Might as well get organized...

I'm having a bit of a glitch in my work schedule for that Thursday. If worse comes to worse, I may have to choose to come the first or second half, but haven't made that decision yet, or another plan.
 
It was looking like we would ba able to make the second half this year-- with new twin 50s, but I will be on a project up near Lee Vining in August.
Ya'll have fun.
 
Steve, No diving for us this trip. The last issue of Sport Fishing Magazine had an article on White Sea Bass fishing near Catalina. Mostly a night fishing trip near the Squid fishing boats. Do you know anything about this fishery? Want to learn? Sounds like something we should try. Anxious to get back to Catalina and some saltwater fishing.

Brent
 
I don't know squat about White Sea Bass, guess maybe I should learn. In the past 6 weeks or so, up until last week, they were spawning close into shore, like around Malibu and other places up and down the coast. Fishing boats and private were routinely catching 35-60 pounders -- most rigs people had weren't set up for that size and healthy of a fish, just snapped the line (30-40 lb test). They were mainly using live squid -- in abundance also at this time.

I take it they move around a lot, very hit and miss.
 
Hi Steve and Brent:

Good to hear some activity enthusiasm.

Steve, I am willing to bring my dive equipment down if you want to go for a dive with me.

Brent, I am all game for saltwater fishing experiences in the area.

Count me in for any and all of these events!

Jim

PS

Sounds like Roger finally got his 90 hp engine problem fixed with two new 50's! That is fantastic!
 
White sea bass-- AKA "ghost fish" are very transitory. They tend to bite best a first gray light, then they are gone. I've caught them at the edge of the kelp and I've caught them in deep water off Arch Point.
Around the kelp I just let the squid swim with an open reel with the clicker on.

YES- back to twins. Ran the boat this morning--- much better than the 90 with consistant power and speed!!

Wishin' we could join ya'll at Catalina.

Roger
 
Never caught a keeper WSB. Saw a guy weig in a 54 pound one at the MdR Derby on June 9th. They often move in schools which often follow large squid balls. Their large air bladder makes them light up like a giant sausage on the fish finder (bright colored archs) so they're easy to spot. Night fishing is popular using a live squid in about 120 ft where the squid boats are working. Other than that, they are sometimes caught while fishing for halibut near structure or casting jigs or plastics into for calicos. When they're eating squid, the while scampi lead head or white flow in the dark heavy jigs are popular.

You also have a shot at yellowtail at Catalina. I've caught a couple during past August gatherings drifting around 9 AM near Eagle Reef within sight of the Isthmus. They were attracted to pink Storm plastic fine bait lures, just drifting with the wind, I'm guessing around 80 to 100 ft depth.
 
Dear C-Brats:

We are now just three weeks from the11th Annual, Catalina Off-shore Adventure, scheduled for August 5 to August 11, 2012. Get your trucks and boats ready for another great outing!

We think we have the following vessels still signed up for this Jimmy Buffett style event, as follows:

1. Jim and Kath, Pounder
2. Keith, C-Pup
3. Kent and Marcia, Marcia Jane
4. David and Donald, Blue Eagle
5. Dr. Bob and Marie (with Daughter and two grandchildren), Thataway
6. John and Robbin, Dinner Belle II
7. Brent and Dixie, Discovery
8. Steve et. al., Dora-Jean (number of soles estimated?)

9. Scott, Lil' Rascal (not sure what days will be there?)

10. Joel and Susan, SEA3PO (not sure if still going this year?)
11. Mike, Sealife (not sure if still going this year?).

I think we have at least eight boats for sure going this year. I am not sure about Lil’ Rascal, SEA3PO, and Sealife, which would bring it to 11 vessels in total, if they all showed up.

Scott, Joel, and Mike, please check in on this site and let us know if you think you are still coming, or not. Also, Steve, how many folks are coming with you?

We want to make some food assignments for our Monday night pot luck BBQ on the beach. We need volunteers for the following types of dishes:

A. Meat – Jim and Kath
B. Spaghetti – Bob and Marie
C. Cheese, Chips, Dip, etc. for pre-dinner snacks – need volunteer
D. Potato or Macaroni salad – need volunteer
E. Garlic Bread and Aluminum Foil- need volunteer
F. Green Salad and Dressing – need volunteer
G. Fresh Corn on Cob and Aluminum Foil – need volunteer
H. Dessert (such as ice cream from the store (2 gallons) – need volunteer.

For head count we will have approximately 20 + folks. Everyone is to bring their own drinks and tableware to the beach party Monday.

Please volunteer for a potluck dish if you have not already done so. Pick one of the above needed dishes or substitute one that you would like.

On Sunday night around 6:00 PM we will likely take the MDR water taxi to one of the nearby restaurants. Keith, figure out which restaurant we want to go to this year.

Jim and Kath
“Wishing to Be Wasting Away in Two Harbors Ville”
 
Back
Top