By Paul Lebowitz

Outer Channel Islands Reward Ranger 85 Anglers With Bonus-Sized Rockfish

The roiling waters off San Miguel Island are a happy place during a hot bite. A chill wind might cut to the bone, redden cheeks and water eyes, but as long as anglers are reeling in chunky reds, big coppers, toothy sheephead and sharp-fanged lingcod, they pay no mind to the sometimes inhospitable conditions.

And so it was for Ranger 85 on a late November freelance two-day trip to the outer Channel Islands. The 20 to 25 knot winds and lumpy, confused seas made for a rollicking ride. Owner/operator Capt. Frank Ursitti, his crew and a boatload of fish-hungry anglers took it all in stride.

"We always hope for flat calm seas and sunny skies, but seldom are the days we find them at San Miguel," Ursitti said.

On this particular weekend, Ranger had Miguel all to herself. The other boats in the Channel Islands Sportfishing fleet kept to the more easterly, sheltered waters off Santa Cruz Island.

"Rough conditions that keep the average boat away have preserved the fishery at San Miguel," Ursitti said, explaining why he'd motored 60 miles out of port to the far-flung island. "Everything here is bigger and more abundant.

"The rockfishing here is some of the best on the coast. There are other spots that are as good, like Colonet in Baja, or Morro Bay, but conditions there can be brutal. There's no island to hide behind."

The spectacular results proved the captain right. More often than not, a glance down the rail revealed bent rods from stem to stern. Not only was the fishing easy-limit style, the caliber of rockfish was exceptional. Red rock cod averaging 3 to 4 lbs. was the predominant catch, with plenty of 5s and 6s in the mix. Copper rockfish, olives and blues, salmon grouper, whitefish, sheephead and lingcod rounded out the bag.

"The Ranger has always been known as the boat that fishes San Miguel, even when I worked the boat as a kid," Ursitti said. "We fish here because we can."

Ranger has more than her 85-foot length going for her. Ursitti said the boat began her career as a military aviation rescue craft built heavy to withstand rough seas.

"I think the boat rides best when it's big out," Ursitti said.

Ursitti's regulars are savvy to the situation. They know they could be in for a bumpy ride but consider it a fair trade-off for excellent fishing.

Magnum Rockfish at the Channel Islands - Kristine Ferguson and Ranger 85 deckhand A.J. Mejia show off a fine San Miguel Island salmon grouper.

Last-Second Lingcod - Jen Deane takes delight in her late November lingcod caught aboard Ranger 85 off San Miguel Island. The recreational season for lingcod closed Dec. 1.

Big Goat - Daron Castoro hoists a big sheephead caught during a two-day trip aboard Ranger 85. The boat fished at remote San Miguel Island, where Capt. Frank Ursitti claims the fish are bigger and more abundant

"Capt. Ursitti has that fish-finding mojo," said passenger Jen Deane, echoing a sentiment heard time and again during the trip. That's not to say Ursitti beat up his customers. The Captain found calmer water to fish between Crook Point and the San Miguel whistle buoy, and overnighted in the shallows of Tyler Bight, although he couldn't do much about the wind.

The constant chilly gusts cut right to the core, but cook Sierra Walkins kept the anglers' inner fires going with her hearty dishes.

This writer caught up with angler Butch Sanders over a lunch of overstuffed chicken soft tacos. Sanders said he'd brought a group of eight friends on the trip, some who've only been fishing for a few months, because he knew the fishing would be great. Sanders and his bunch found success on just about every bait they tried, and they tried a lot: live sardines and mackerel, mackerel strips, whole and chunked squid, and iron jigs.

"I love this boat," Sanders said. "I'm on board just about every weekend."

The trip was Ranger 85's 2006 open party season finale. In just a few weeks, Ursitti's sportfisher will be in the boatyard for annual maintenance. Ursitti said he and his crew have completed a major upgrade each year since he bought the boat. This time Ursitti plans to enhance passenger comfort by remodeling and modernizing the galley, and adding air conditioning to the berthing spaces.

The boat will be back in business by March 1, 2007. Big rock cod will be on the menu again, but only as a side dish if the main course - white seabass - doesn't show.

"We'll run a two-day trip every Friday from March through May, targeting white seabass, halibut and rockfish at San Miguel, San Nicolas or wherever the bite is best," Ursitti said.

For more information on future Ranger 85 trips, visit www.ranger85.com.