Last week I was at the Day At The Docks in San Diego, a large annual event held where San Diego's huge Sportfishing fleet sits (three different landings). Among the boats I noticed was the Mission Belle. It happened to be the second boat I went out on in San Diego during my high school years. At the time the Mission Belle was part of Mission Bay Sportfishing which later became Islandia Sportfishing before going out of business. The trip was a half day trip (all I could afford) on September 22, 1963 and I caught 5 California barracuda and 5 Pacific bonito. Soon after, November 2, I went out again on the boat and caught 13 bonito, 5 barracuda and 4 Pacific mackerel. 51 years later and boat is still in use although at a new landing and I'm almost tempted to take a trip on the boat.
I would make four trips on the Mission Belle but would also add in the landing's other boats—the Seabiscuit, Mission Queen, Scat "1", Crusader and Faith. After the landing closed I would begin fishing on boats out of Seaforth Sportfishing but for some reason I never had the same success on their boats.
I would make four trips on the Mission Belle but would also add in the landing's other boats—the Seabiscuit, Mission Queen, Scat "1", Crusader and Faith. After the landing closed I would begin fishing on boats out of Seaforth Sportfishing but for some reason I never had the same success on their boats.
