Topics

16

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Just Like Old Times 9/7/2021

« on: September 07, 2021, 11:18:05 PM »

 Had a chance to get back on the sand with Tom. It was good to see him on the beach.

 That would have been good enough, but we had a great night with 4 bites and one fish landed in the first half hour. Our hook up to landing ratio was terrible. Little rusty don’t you know.

 I’ll add some pics tomorrow, at least of my fish. True to form, Tom outfished me, had more bites than me, and in a strange twist of fate lost more fish than me.

 All in all it was a successful night on the sand.

17

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Better Report Than Last Time 5/11-12/21

« on: May 12, 2021, 08:24:08 AM »

 Got out Tuesday morning and this morning. Tried a new beach hoping for some better bait. Thought I might find it in a zone I do well in and I did.



Good bait didn't help me much Tuesday as I went north for just a stingray, then tried south a little where I got one perch before my wife texted to make sure I was at the hospital with my son. "I'm fishing but I'm on my way now" Got there and he was sleeping so no harm no foul.

Spent the day waiting for him to get sprung and brought him home around noon. He's been sleeping ever since. Good he can use the recovery time.

This morning I went straight south and after getting the lay of the land I got into about a dozen perch. Toss into the pothole and instant bite. When that one slowed move to the next one.

Super fun even if the fish were only a little bigger than last time. Well, it was fun until I started to see this tanker corbina now and then. Then it became frustrating getting bit by those same perch that were fun just a minute ago.



Anyway, I'm home now to hang with my son, get him some food, fill up his water and keep his meds on track. Hopefully that will mitigate Mom's anxiety and let her get into work for awhile.

If you are curious, he had a brain surgery to help with his seizures, It went well and he should be back to his self once he gets some rest and a California burrito.

18

Food & Recipe / For Tom

« on: May 11, 2021, 06:21:02 PM »

Just in case you decide to try one.

Recipe at the end.

The knives always impress me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fd8u_N8NfQ&feature=emb_rel_end

19

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Killer Surf Report 5/9/21

« on: May 09, 2021, 10:02:54 AM »

 Got out this morning. Didn't have any Mother's Day plans, so why not?

 You would think by the time the kids are 21-31 years old they would figure something out among themselves.

 Didn't happen. Guess it will be breakfast shots and huevos rancheros at the Pub. Works for me.

 Anyway, on to the hot and heavy action of this morning's light tackle surf extravaganza.

 Hit the beach around 645 after a coffee stop at 711.

 Onshore wind and smallish surf and a rising tide. Saw a couple likely holes from the road.

 No crabs to be seen, but I found an area of bird pecks and tracks so I dug around for some small crabs.

 I mean small.



 That's a #4 mosquito hook.

 Got tired of spending 5 minutes to find enough crabs to put on the hook so I switched it up to the gulp worm.

 

 For my trouble I was rewarded with a half dozen perch.

 

 Got a little chilled since I was wearing shorts, not waders, so I split after 45 minutes.

 Good to get out and feel the sand on my feet.

20

Fishing Talk / OB Pier might be history.

« on: April 16, 2021, 07:12:42 PM »

 It’s falling apart and big bucks to fix or replace.

It would make me sad.

21

Fishing Talk / Soup Fin Migration Research

« on: March 03, 2021, 01:02:33 PM »

Since I don’t have any interesting fish reports to contribute, I’ll post this article I found.

https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/new-research-unlocks-mysteries-of-soupfin-shark-migration-and-reproduction

Andrew Nosal is the researcher that tagged the leopards I caught.

Be cool to catch a tagged soupie.

22

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Wednesday Night Fishing 2/10/21

« on: February 11, 2021, 10:31:47 AM »

Well, it was so nice Tuesday I decided to give it another shot.

Conditions were beautiful again, and I caught 3 this time.

Only problem is they were 2 18” Leopard’s and a stingaree.

Still good to be out.

I took a pic of one leopard but am embarrassed to include it.

23

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Tuesday Night Fishing. Finally. 2/9/21

« on: February 09, 2021, 08:58:15 PM »

 Tom finally called off his curse he put on me back in December and the surf laid down nicely. I was stoked to get out and take a shot.

 Had the plan in place, and a back up, just in case.

 Then the calls started.

 Wife's car lit up every warning light there is so she stopped and called to let me know, and set up a rescue if needed. And pick up my son's dog from our friends. Dog had a play date with their's and they had to leave at 430. Damn. I had to leave at 430.

 Things worked out, our friend dropped off the dog, my daughter picked up mom and her brother, and I was out the door by 5. Little late, but not bad.

 Things worked out for me, but the wife's tranny could be shot. We'll know more tomorrow. Extended warranty might still be good. Fingers crossed.

 Anyway, I hit the beach at my secret spot I like to fish solo.

 Apparently it isn't so secret since there were 2 diver in the water when I got there, two more arrived as I was setting up, and 2 more about 30 minutes later. And a guy putting out a line of hoop nets about 500 yards offshore.

 Whatever, it was just a quick trip to knock the rust off so I didn't worry too much about it.

 Conditions were nice as could be. Rising tide, small surf and not as cold as it has been lately.

 I put out a chunk of tackle shop mackerel and waited. One slight bounce and that was it. Reeled in a bare hook and some salad.

 Put out a chunk of sport caught bonito that had thawed enough to cut by now and sent Tom a text to let him know I was out.

 Just as I finished reading his text to keep him posted, my rod starts bouncing. Not a huge bendo, but bouncing like it had a bass on.

 I grabbed the rod and it was no bass. Tail slaps on the surface and peeling drag told me what I needed to know.

 Ten minutes later I landed my first shark in ages.



 Took a few pics and got a crappy measurement of 85" give or take a few for the solo tape job on an uncooperative fish.

 Soaked bait for another hour for no action and packed up early. No point being greedy and I was happy to have gotten one.

 Thanks for lifting the big surf curse, Tom.

 For the list, rising tide, 1-2 surf, male, bonito, waning crescent moon.

24

Fishing Talk / How Does That Go Again?

« on: February 09, 2021, 06:55:48 PM »

Oh yeah.

P L I N K

😀

25

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Broke in the New License 1/9/21

« on: January 09, 2021, 10:50:51 AM »

 Finally got out for the first time this year. It was a tossup last night between stay late drinking on the porch and get my ass up and go fish. Managed a huge victory and did both.

 Hit MB to get me some spotties just before light. Had no idea where to go so I just ran through some old EDC spots in my head and made a decision.

 Started with some illegal dock fishing and hooked up on my first cast.

 

 

 

 Nothing big, but it was fun. Managed to get 4 before things died off and I made a move.

 Ended up being a good choice on my of spots. I got 8 here for a cool dozen. Couple nicer grade fish in the mix.

 

 

 

 Bite died off and I tried switching colors, and threw the underspin at some bait balls, but nothing to show for it.

 Going to dig up some more brown swimbaits and try somewhere else tomorrow.

26

Fishing Talk / A Desperate Plea

« on: December 17, 2020, 10:34:13 AM »

As you may know, Tom is going in for shoulder surgery. Recovery time 4-6 months according to him.  This leaves me without a fishing partner for at least the 4-5 weeks he will actually take it easy.  Anyone want to fish? Hit me up.

27

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Sixth From Squatch 11/17/2020

« on: November 18, 2020, 05:02:56 AM »

 Like Tom said, I'm on a roll.

 Started off the day thinking I wouldn't be fishing, but got some good news and was able to make it.

 Got to the beach while there were still a number of people but just after sunset so it usually clears out pretty quick. This time the last person on the beach as it got dark was a surfer directly in my zone. Ugh.

 Meanwhile Tom is stuck in traffic and can't even get to the beach.

 My first cast comes back with a bunch of weeds, so I make a small move only to coe back with a bigger bunch on my second. I wasn't thinking it was going to be a good night, but things worked out okay.

 Pretty slow overall. I got a couple bass, then a nice clicker run. Thinking big thoughts, I commenced to drag whatever it was straight in.



 Not a bad leopard, but not what I was thinking from that run.

 Things were quiet after that. Tom, once again is stinking up the place. Not sure whats up with that lately.

 He did get a pretty solid bite that got wrapped in kelp and came off, but for him, that was about it for the night.

 I was reading my phone, not really paying attention when I hear Tom shout. Can't hear what he said but I check my rod, Straight up, then a bounce, then straight again, then another bounce. I take my time thinking I've picked up some weeds and reel up to check my bait.

 The line comes tight and tghe surface of the water just explodes. Thrashing, splashing, running, it's on.

 It's a nice fish, definitely a seven. Got it close to shore and battle it out in the nearshore trench. Back and forth multiple times.

 Tom finally gets close enough to get the rope on its tail, tightens the loop and I hear "Oops, it came off" Great. Well second time is a charm as they say and he got the rope on and pulled the fish to the edge of the water. No farther. When I got close, I saw why.

 

106.5" of power. Very misty so the release pic is the best pic. Not bad, we work hard to get a good release. This time she curled up on the way out and pulled me toward the shore. Lots of power.

 After that I was taking a break when the fog rolled in like a freight train. We packed it up and left soon after.

 Guess this one is a new personal best. Hurray.

Rising tide on skipjack waning crescent moon 2-3 surf.

28

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Number 5. Just Can't Stop Me 11/11/2020

« on: November 12, 2020, 05:00:33 AM »

 Tuesday the beach looked like crap after the storm so we gave it a day to clear up. That and a completely different beach seemed to do the trick.

 Got set up just after sunset and waited for Tom to show. He was running late due to a lackadaisical kitchen staff, but he made it before too long.

 Not a whole lot of action from the bait stealers. I did get a little round ray on a big chunk of skipjack though.

 Drank a couple beers, perused the internet on my phone.

 I noticed a small bend and release in the rod so I focused my attention where it should have been to begin with.

 Good thing I did because the small bend was followed by a hard take down and run.

 The fish took off straight away ripping line, then turned and came back in classic leo style. It also thrashed about on the surface. Not sure what is going on here.

 Finally got it close enough for Tom to grab and lay eyes on a nice soupfin.



 The rest of the night was a complete cluster. Just as we were ready to leave, Tom gets a subtle bite. His fish gets all in my line before I can clear it. Turned out to be a nice fish. Hopefully he can add a pic here or maybe his own report.

Edit to add it was 71 1/2” at the top of the tide on mackerel in 2 foot surf on a waning moon.

29

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Oh Damn! Number Four. 10/31/2020

« on: November 01, 2020, 06:36:36 AM »

 Last weekend I was supposed to take my daughter and her friend surf fishing. She asked, I’m not saying no. So I swung by the tackle shop on Thursday to pick up some blood worms to guarantee success.
 
 Turned out her friend had to work late. Like got home at 6am late. She was house sitting for a friend and didn’t want to leave his 47 year old Jack Russel alone. Canceled. No big deal except for buying the worms.

 Took the bait and headed out last Saturday. Couldn’t buy a bite. Used 3 worms in two hours and caught one fish. No big deal. Sunday I hit the lagoon and soaked the same whole worm for 2 1/2 hours.

 So much for blood worms being candy bait.

 I kept them in the fridge and pulled them out this morning not expecting much more than slime, but they were in great shape.

 Headed down to the beach and absolutely smacked the corbina. Nothing big, but I got about 20 before the bite died. Got a single yellow fin croaker as well.

 No pics, nothing worth a picture. Just a fun morning on the sand.

30

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / The Apparently Late Third In A Row 10/27/2020

« on: October 28, 2020, 04:56:52 PM »

 One last Tuesday night before the time change.

 As usual lately I checked a few spots. This time they all looked good, so I picked my favorite of the night.

 Got a couple casts in before Tom showed. Couple bounces, but not really any action to speak of. I let Tom get set up and bait out before greeting him. Business first you know.

 Its getting chilly out there. I busted out the waders for the first tie this year. Water wasn't bad, but the air dropped quick so dry legs was nice.

 Weed situation on the nearly peaked high tide was pretty good. Couple bits and pieces here and there for me. Tom on the other hand kept landing in a weed patch and couldn't hold bottom too well. Like I said the situation was pretty good.

 Things were pretty slow, I was checking out my phone and caught a quick bounce, bend, clicker run. Grabbed it and had a good fight all the way in. Waves were mostly pretty calm until Tom had to go down and grab my fish. The trough jacking the set waves up to shoulder height didn't help him much either. Thankfully I was in a good position on dry land.

 

 Another nice leopard.

 Changed out a few more baits, and Tom's weed patch started to move into my zone. It was getting tedious. Then I got a slamming bent rod hit. No clicker, no fish.  Seemed like a good hit but my bait looked untouched.

 Shortly after that I get another ripping clicker run. Get it to shore and once again Tom goes in for the grab. Tide has dropped some by now but it hasn't slowed down the set waves. Fortunately he lands another fish for me without incident.



 Its been nice catching fish lately. Be nicer to get some target species and close the gap on Tom a little. Still, I'm happy to get some fish on the beach.