Hooked up the boat, tossed a couple of rods in, grabbed some sandwiches and back to the same area I go.  Picked up some ‘Dines and headed down the line. Water was the same, but not as much life there today. No sun there today, completely overcast. Put the first rig in the water about 7am , didn’t even get the bait on the next one and I was bit. Landed the little guy with some trouble, the reel’s anti-reverse was not engaging so I had to become creative to get it up on the deck for the photo.

After that fish I stayed in the area till 12 noon without even so much as a slapper. I even tried drifting with a chum bucket for the last hour only to get 10,000 mackerel under the boat. Hey Spark, how do you secure your balloon to the line, I saw it popped off clean the day before. Or was that just an escapee. The difference of one day. Maybe they are back up in the Harbor…..or down in Dana….maybe

Good job Berzerker.....
Looks like maybe they have moved..
I will check Newport area asap ...

As for the balloon tie its simple.
Inflate the balloon and tie it leaving as much stem as possible.
Next put a 6 to 8 inch loop in the line at your desired depth
 and simply tie the stem around the line with only half a knot...

as soon as you put tension on the line the balloon will pop off free and clear.

Tie the knot tighter and you can slow troll with it and as soon as you get hooked up
the balloon will simply pop off..

Next level is basically the same but use helium...
and a soon as the balloon takes to the sky you will know your hooked up.

Thats it I cant take it anymore I need to just say ta hell with it all and go fishing!! Nice solo job.

Nice run at them solo.