Hooks For Healing



Hooks for Healing Trip for 2024 was incredible.

Tuesday August 6th - We met at Fisherman's Landing in San Diego, CA to depart for 2 days on the Pacific Queen Sportfishing Boat. 26 total participants on the boat included our Team, Sponsors and 20 Veterans/Active Duty Service Members.
The excitement and fun started at the dock with everyone getting to know each-other and talking about the adventure we were about to embark on.

About 8:30pm, we were all loaded onto the boat and shoved off for our first stop to get bait. There was so much anticipation and energy from everyone on board. We would not fish today, but spend about 8 hours motoring to the fishing grounds about 20 miles west of San Clemente Island.

Wednesday August 7th - We started the morning with a stop with 3 decent size Bluefin Tuna, then a second stop with another 3. The third stop was about 11am and we pulled in another 14 or so BFT in that good size range.

About 12pm we hit on a huge school and it was on. We fished for a few hours and at about 3:45 the Captain called out for anyone not already fighting a fish to reel in as we were at our limit. By the time the last fish were on the deck it was about 4pm, a slight 30 minutes faster then last year's limit out time.

That night was even more electric, the fishing kicked everyone's ass, but what a great time out there fishing with everyone talking and laughing and most importantly working together on the rail. There was some extra beers thrown down that night for sure and maybe even some tequila and Jack.

The crew and a few participants stayed up past my bedtime and did some shark fishing and brought in 2 Makos. There was a 300 lb Blue Shark and a bunch of smaller Blues that were not brought on.

Thursday August 8th - After chugging a bit further south toward San Diego we hit a few kelp patties and a buoy. A lot of stop and go with a few yellowtail coming over the rail until about noon and then boom, we started going nuts and it seemed that at one point everyone with a line in the water was hooked up and flipping yellowtail over the rail.

We finished out with 106 Bluefin Tuna from 25 - 65 lbs, 61 Yellowtail. and 2 Mako Sharks.

At about 2pm we started the ride back to the dock and saw a few pods of whales and dolphins. Everyone was a bit exhausted, but all smiles and fun.


The crew on the Pacific Queen is top notch, Captains Gavin and Billy killed getting us onto fish, the deckhands were incredible help to everyone and always provide some great laughs. Last but not least, Chef Lance did a great job and kept us full on some great meals the whole trip, including a poke spread on the way bac to port with a fresh caught BFT. Lance is also a Veteran and a we are grateful he was able to see this group in action.



We also want to give a special thank you to our friends at Mission FISH and Turner's Outdoorsman














TOP