Toronado at Pierpoint Landing
Under New Onership
Crew convinces Vern Sweeney of Sweeney's Custom Muffler to step in.
BY MERIT MCCREA WON Staff Writer
LONG BEACH - The boat Toronado, overnight boat out of Pierpoint Landing has sold to Vern Sweeney, and in interview it sounded like the captains and crew of the vessel are his strongest supporters in the venture. As a team, Captain's Ramond Lagmay and Mike Bollard along with crewmen Tom, Hank and Brownie will all be staying on in support of the new venture, An avid angler and San Pedro -Long Beach regular, Sweeney is no stranger to business management. He's had Sweeney's Custom Muffler at Sepulveda and Western for 40 years, and also owns JJK Roll-Off and Disposal as well as figuring large in the Sprint Car scene, California Racing Association.
He's had the boat just a couple of weeks now, but already the news has gotten out and he's got a lot of support from the people he's fished with. Notably the boat's schedule has come to life already, with both sponsored and chartered trips featuring overnight to 2-day offerings.
Vern said "We just got into the Orange County Fishing Show, we got a booth so we can promote the boat...This is how far I want to go with it, I want to go like every boat should go."
At this point he wants to keep the boat busy through the end of the season, but expects to put alot of TLC back into the boat this winter, and notes there's a lot of opportunity to do so. For one thing he's planning on putting in a high-end new sonar over winter and to ultimately style out the wheelhouse as well as the rest of the boat.
An interesting aspect is he wanted to get into the business decades ago as a 24-year-old when the opportunity arose to buy into one of the Santa Monica Bay operations. It didn't end up working out and he was pulled into the family business instead. So today, with years of business experience and success under his belt he's back in sportfishing in a big way.
Personable and clearly a quick study, he already has a solid understanding of the industry and boats and the gear that keeps our fleet fishing. It's not just fishing gear, its props and machinery, and electronics and marine paints, chains and anchors, plumbing and woodwork and glasswork.
Most of all it's a knowledgeable crew that works well together with a minimum of drama and a maximum understanding of working well with customers, smiling positive attitudes in all situations — customers of all experience levels, helping all succeed.
Toronado 2.0: WON-Charter withdraws bluefin from Cortes Bank and more
CORTEZ BANK WITHDRAWAL for Michael Serguiff fishing recent WON-Toronado charter. The 22-pound BFT took top honors for the angler.
BY BOB SEMERAU
LONG BEACH — Legendary boats have a way of building on their legacy.
A recent change of ownership for the 75-foot sportfisher is breathing new life into the operation.
The WON-Toronado offshore run had awesome weather despite storms down south in weeks prior. The storms worked to disperse schools being fished off the banks making it tough to get on top of action at the big bluefin tuna grounds.
Toronado, docked at Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach, was ready to roll for an early, 7:00 p.m. departure. Everyone boarded as they arrived, selecting bunks and rigging up, while the crew stowed the remaining provisions.
Captain Ray Lagmay, piloting Toronado for more than 30-years, announced that the boat now had Captain Mike Bullard, as second skipper. Bullard has been a fixture in the SoCal fishing fleet and returns as an integral part of the Toronado Sportfishing operation.
The change of ownership came about when Verne Sweeney purchased the vessel, built in the 1970’s, planning to continue operation out of Pierpoint Landing
Captain Bullard brought along his long-time cook, Brian “Brownie” Gutierez, whose meals are creative and delicious.
Owner Verne Sweeney says there are great plans in the works.
“This year we do haul out and will work on any issues we find then. But we are doing new sonar to make our fishing even better. We’ll be updating the wheelhouse and soon, redo the heads,” says the proud owner.
Valuable goodies provided by trip sponsors were passed out. Each angler picked up a Daiwa gear bag holding Gamakatsu hooks, Izorline, Costa gear, and a Cancun Vacation Gift Card.
TORONADO SKIPPER RAY LAGMAY, center, presents Berkley ProSpec Mono and Penn Carnage Rod to Michael Serguiff, left, for his jackpot winning fish. Angler Joe Jones, right, took second day prize with a nifty yellowtail.
Checked-in and rigged up for the coming day, anglers grabbed some hot wings and took to their bunks, surprised to find blankets and pillows had been supplied for each.
Nearing the Cortes bank around 7:00 a.m., three troll rods went off, getting the day underway. Three football-sized bluefin hit the deck and Captain Lagmay began a pattern search of the area for others in the area. Toronado then ran to the Cortes, anchoring-up there.
JOE JONES’ FORKIE took second day prize for the seasoned angler.
With all 20-anglers working the rail, the group picked at fish till noon. Several schoolie bluefin were landed including the jackpot winning fish of the trip, a 22-pound bluefin for Michael Serguiff. The tuna earned Serguiff a spool of 50-pound Berkley ProSpec Mono, the one day boat cash jackpot, and the top prize of a brand new Penn Carnage rod. Frequent WON charter member, Pat Carillo found his tuna as well at the Cortes Bank.
On the move for the rest of day one the anglers tangled with some huge bonito on one troll stop, finally ending the day with a run to San Clemente Island in search of yellowtail.
DONOVAN BURROLA FISHED OKUMA sample set-ups sent along by the trip sponsor for angler try-outs.
On arrival at midnight the crew made squid at Pyramid Cove along with a dozen other boats, filling the tanks.
Around 4:00 a.m. angler began soaking squid on dropper look rigs with marginal results. Over the next few hours squid and ‘dines were sent out with only one yellowtail landed. Moves along the eastern shore of SCI gave up several calico bass and a pair of yellowtail to 15-pounds.
FIRST-RATE FOOD served up by Brian “Brownie” Gutierez, recently joining the team along with Captain Mike Bullard, part of the revitalization of Toronado 2.0.
Seasoned angler and flower shop owner, Joe Jones, won second day jackpot and a spool of Berkley ProSpec Mono for his 15.6-pound forkie.
Contact: Toronado Sportfishing, Pierpoint Landing, www.PierPoint.net 562-983-9300 Toronado Sportfishing Inc www.toronadosportfishing.com 951-660-4130
TORONADO CREW HOLIDAY GIFT, painted by deckhand Tom, shown here by WON staffer, Bob Semerau.