Safe off shore fishing.

[Don & Liz]

What would be considered a safe weight and a proper number of passengers for ocean fishing aboard my CD-25 cruiser? The manual states the "maximum gross weight" is 4500lbs. This must be a mistake since it's powered with a Honda 150 and a 9.9 kicker ( -700lbs with batteries, cables, etc ), full fuel tank ( -600lbs ), water (-200lbs ), hull weight ( -3600 ) and we're already at 5100lbs, without passengers. I spoke to the factory in Bellingham. They can't find the "specs" since they moved everything from the Auburn plant. The dealer says "don't worry". He's seen six fishermen aboard a CD-25 charter boat. What fun that must have been, with hooks flying everywhere!
Halibut season opens May 1st and all of my friends, and my son's friends want out of Newport. We're chomping at the bit.
Don

[Sea Wolf]

Don-

As I remember off the top of my head, CD-25 owners have said variously that the boat weighs somewhere between 7500 and 8500 pounds loaded up for cruising without crew.

Joe.

[rogerbum]

Don, there's safe and there's comfortable/fun. On my CD-22, for salmon I think 3 is the ideal number - 3 rods out the back, one on each corner and one out the center. One guy drives, one guy reels and one guy nets. I can and have fished with 4, but it's a bit tight. Especially on the way out as there's really only seating for 3 inside the cabin. For bottom fishing on a CD-22, it would depend on the weather and what we're going for. Calm weather and rock fish, we'd be at a dead drift and then 3 is again the ideal number as that's the number of rods that can comfortably fish out the back. If I were to fish for halibut, we'd typically be backing into the wind/current to keep the lines on the bottom and then we could take 4. One to drive and 3 to fish at any one time.

On the CD-25 the cockpit is a good bit larger but I think you'd be hard pressed to comfortably fish any more than 4 out of the back when bottom fishing and 5 when trolling. Remember, when you're halibut fishing, you're usually in deep water (200-400') so you have a lot of line out. Also, the weather/seas are invariably pretty crappy during the short halibut season we get around here. So you will typically be backing into current/wind. That can bring water over the transom on occasion so you want one or more LARGE bilge pumps for this kind of fishing. Also, if you put a bunch of heavy guys at the aft end of the cockpit, the problem is compounded (in some cases the scuppers can even be below the water line if the guys are really heavy). So if you're planning your first halibut trip in the 25, I'd start out with you + 3 others. That way you can see how the boat handles under the typical halibut fishing conditions without being anywhere close to being overloaded.

Finally, be careful out there. Halibut fishing in small boats is one of the most dangerous activities that boaters take part in out here in the NW. Unfortunately, the halibut season in the ocean is typically in April/May and maybe a few days in June. The weather is usually pretty nasty during that time with seas of 6-12' being common. Rarely do you have swells of less than 4' and rarely do you have winds less than 15kts. Of all the available days for halibut fishing in WA, I would say that about 15-20% of them are nice in the ocean. A portion of what's driving the setting of the season is driven by fish biology (there are more halibut in the Strait of Juan de fuca in early spring than later in the year, especially in the east end). However, another driver is to try to spread fishing effort out during the year to provide more economic benefit to cities on the coast. That's why we in WA see seasons with odd things like a Thurs and Saturday opening - e.g. so you have to stay 3 days to fish 2. Given the short and spotty season, people often go out even when the weather and seas are awful. If you're backing into waves, things can go bad in a hurry so wear those PFD's and make sure you have good bilge pumps (pumps - plural). Most of all, if the weather is too bad, stay in port. It's really not that much fun to fish in nasty weather anyway and you can always buy halibut if you really want some.

Just my two cents worth.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Don and Liz,

I agree with Roger that on a CD 22, three is an ideal number.

I have fished four people before, but it can be a bit of a fire drill when you get a take down. With three, you have one person to run the boat, one on the fish, and one for the net. As an aside, It can be a lot of fun to watch folks try to move around in a heavy sea. Kinda like pin-ball.

My guess is that a CD 25 would probably be OK for four.

We fish out of Garibaldi.

Steve

[thataway]

I agree that 4 fishermen would be comfortable max in a C Dory 25. Sure you could get more aboard--but not for good fishing. The boat would carry the weight fine.

[stevej]

Don, I have been doing deep water halibut fishing out of Newport for 8 years on Shearwater. A crew of 3 and fishing 2 rods is perfect in my mind. Unless its dead calm running 3 rods off the back when fishing 500 to 700 feet deep is a pain . 3 people aboard lets 2 fish while the third baits, nets, cleans and runs the kicker in reverse to control the drift.
Three is also better from a balance/trim perspective if its a long ride to the fishing grounds plus everyone has their own seat.

I do run with 4 aboard regularly and it will work although a bit cramped.

stevej

[T.R. Bauer]

Man I'm spoiled....I have not fished for halibut in anything more than 150-200 feet of water in forever....nor do I go out in 6-12 foot seas to chase them....

[Don & Liz]

To all,
Thanks for the advice. There's nothing like the voices of experience. I'm glad this website exists to contact such knowledgeable folks like yourselves. Joe, it was an honor to see your Sea Wolf icons directed to me.
Roger, your two cents is worth a lot more than that! We'll be cruising the San Juans this Sept. and hope you're available for more info.
Steve, we've a place in Manzanita and often thought of putting in at Tillamook Bay.
Bob, although a long haul, Liz and I have dreamed of the Gulf waters and the ICW.
And SteveJ: you must be my neighbor! We're at the Embarcadero, C dock.
Look forward to meeting you. We're down most every weekend.
Thanks again guys.
Don

[matt_unique]

Hi Don,
Ha ha - the numbers in the manual don't quite add up do they! Pretty much all the capacities listed in the owners manuals are wrong (at least for the C25 and Tomcat). I was able to get the actual Tomcat capacities from a C-Dory engineer when I bought Napoleon in 08 but it took some effort.

I would also suggest packing light to maximize space and reduce weight. I like the rule of thirds for fuel (if possible). 1/3 out, 1/3 back, and 1/3 for the unexpected. As I'm sure you know fuel weighs 6lbs a gallon and water 8lbs. On the Tomcat that means 900lbs of fuel and 240 lbs of water if topped off I prefer not to push around more weight than absolutely necessary.

Have fun!

PS Watch out for flying hooks - I once took a hook in the face mid cast - ouch.

[stevej]

Good deal Don, going to be pulling the boat to Newport hopefully around the 10th. South Beach slip E5 if you are in the neighbor hood.

T.R. 150' of water must be nice. Deep water fishing can be a real (reel) workout but you have lots of time to get the net ready when you catch one.
I try to stay out of the 700' plus water these days. Caught a big skate (40lb plus) at 700' one year was like reeling up a 4x8 sheet of plywood for 30 minutes.

stevej