Topics

31

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Still Got It!!! 06/20

« on: June 21, 2015, 10:07:35 AM »

So after about two months of not being able to get out, high stress all the time, I made it a point to fish yesterday. You all have been killing me with the soupie reports down south and it made me wonder if maybe we might see similar up here. Was a shortish session which ended up putting a few perch and two Sevens on the sand! Forgot the tape but mine was probably about high 70"s and my buddy Pat's was probably around high 40"s. He's had it rough too being diagnosed with Leukemia so it looks like the Sevens were doing favors  . Bait was Macs and these two hit middle of the incoming. Beautiful day out there!




So nice to have a triumphant return!!! 

32

Saltwater Boat Fishing Reports / You wont see this very often 04/01/15

« on: April 01, 2015, 09:02:32 PM »

A boat trip reported by me that is. My Dad suprised my little brother and I by purchasing us tickets to go aboard the Island Spirit out of Ventura. Obviously it was not the off the chain action that you guys down south are experiencing, but it would prove to be a fish filled day that brought back very good memories of years past. Had probably been around 10 years or more since I have gone out on a party boat, but immediately I could tell this crew was top notch. Very friendly, very prompt, and very courteous, even though it was hard for me to watch my rig be created for me, but hey took him 30 seconds to do what would take me easily 1 1/2 minutes to 2 so the first one I gave in. Rockfish was on the menu today and I was hoping to score a ling.

Bad moon a'setting, turns to a beautiful sunrise.

Seas were a bit choppy on the way out but not too terrible. Got to our first spot at 7:45am. Perchin really helped in knowing the bites of the 300ft deep rockfish, limited by 11:30am. Nice mix of moderate sized reds, starrys, and chuckleheads. My dad brought up a few sandabs that he didn't want so I thought "Great, got my ling bait!" Fished the rest of the day with two sandabs for many hours trying to nail a ling. Both my dad and brother limited pretty quickly after me and continued hammering them filling a few more bags of those less lucky. The guy behind me then gets a good hook up, something actually fighting him, and up comes a decent ling. Ok dabs, time to get me something good. We make a move to another spot, drop down, and right as I'm tightening off the the bottom WHAM, headshakes, start gaining line, then ROCKED. Immediately after he stopped coming up I tried a steady pull to hopefully roust him from his hole, and snap. Right after that another gentleman behind me with a sandab jig nails one, DAMMIT, now I know it was the right kind. Ended the day with nothing spectacular fish wise, but a good assortment of delicious tacos, and a great family outing. The first ling took the jackpot, here are the pics of the biggest fish of the day.
Me doing my best Ray face.

My brothers, he was stoked.

My dad, pretty much as stoked as my brother.

And the jackpotter.

On the way back we went right by my sharkin spot, man it looks different from this angle.

Also on the way back was talking to some of the old salts and younger members about fishing sevengills from shore, I could see a slight amount of disbelief in some of the older guys, but my pics didn't lie. Found myself almost playing deckhand as I was swarmed by people asking how to rig and what bait to use. Brought out my sputniks and wire and showed them my typical rig, also informed many of them of this site and encouraged them if they went out and got one to post it here, or to just post here anyway. It was a great day out on the water, and everyone on board, customers and crew, were some top notch folks. So until the next decade, hopefully we go after pelagics then  .

33

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Not Much 03/28/15

« on: March 29, 2015, 10:52:47 AM »

So I knew there was a high surf warning over the weekend but surfline said our spot would only have 2-3ft breakers. Got out there and saw definitely more like 5-6ft breakers with the occasional 7-8fter rolling through. A great day for surfing, if you're into that thing. Decided to try to give it a whirl but chopped salad accumulated quick into 45lb balls around your weight and bait. Gave it around 2 hours or so and decided to do the harbor thing. Met FishJerk on the way out and he accompanied us to the harbor. Not much action there but I did manage 2 white croaker, and a 12" mini bat. My buddy caught one croaker and missed a good screamer. FishJerk was in it to win it with nothing but his heavy rod, but none of us were blessed with something big to tug on. It was good meeting you man, too bad the surf was Fed and the harbor fish didn't want to play. Next time.

34

Fishing Talk / Hopefully Triumphant Return

« on: March 26, 2015, 10:36:03 PM »

I'll be fishing on Saturday, hopefully. If anyone in the know up here wants to join, the more the merrier. It's been over two months, the itch has become a burn.

35

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Freshwater 7s 1/31

« on: February 01, 2015, 01:28:32 AM »

So  before the surf I hit up my sewer. The cats ranged from 3 to 7lbs,  I even hooked up to one on perch crack. None of these fish fought, they just rolled, like they're reminding me of something I didn't get.


The real sevens will be back soon!

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Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Skunk 1/31

« on: January 31, 2015, 09:19:55 PM »

Skunk, Skunk, Skunk, Skunk. Second skunk of 2015. No love, only a snap off before a fight, here is a pic of the skunk.

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Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / They didn't want to play 1/29

« on: January 30, 2015, 09:44:59 AM »

Got to the water at around 4PM a nice fill was taking place, and salad was a non issue. Surf was... unpredictable, mostly small waves but a few huge swells were sent through. It was slow, really slow, we had a few takers that didn't stick on the longs and finally at 8PM I get my small skunkbuster.

That was the last fish seen all night. On Tuesday I did a bait run to Redondo, but our fresh macks didn't help us tonight. While at King Harbor I managed some beautiful blue perch.

This week is dry, hopefully next week is mo better. Tom hope your back gets better soon, I need some soupies to make me jelly.

38

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Solo Sesh 1/25

« on: January 26, 2015, 12:47:39 AM »

So since I went solo tonight I bought an appropriate camera, man I can't imagine someone to put down a free fishing trip. Well that's my buddy. Arrived to great conditions,  minus the outgoing tide.

Tossed a squid head out on the light rod in hopes for the now non-existant surf tractor, didn't take long for one to respond. About 36" hard to tell with the slack tape.


Then I had the slow pull on the long. Set the hook, no fight again, until the skinny, with the rolls and the thrashes, again with a heatbreak. It wasn't big, but a 7 none the less. Well around 7:15pm I get my shot again, make sure to lay the hook again, and again, and again. Not a biggie, but a grinner, solo, none the less. My 15' rod, girls going surf fishing!

She was hit by bigger models on the way in, pictures don't show but that was not the leader.

Shark Hunter's old stompin ground put out, beats a skunk I expected .

39

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Grinnnners, Come OUT TO PLAAAYYAYYYYY! 1/22

« on: January 23, 2015, 01:02:58 AM »

So hit the beach around 4:30PM again. A 5:05PM -1.39 low switching to a 4.9ft high at 11:00 PM, Surf predicted to be 1-2 ft, so last part of the equation, will there be grass. No, not enough grass to mention. My buddy forgot his snubber in the car and around 5:20PM, and after catching a smelt on the Kroc, he went to retrieve his snub. As he was gone my rod goes off, set the hook, no fight, get into the skinny and I see surface thrashes, a nice 7. Go for the solo tailgrab and with one shake of the head she was gone, heartbreak . I noticed some people in my usual spot, decided to think nothing of it till I saw flashes of pictures. I go over there and it's Ray! Good to see him again and his beautiful girlfriend was hooked to something fierce. He asked if I had a tape, and I had a 96" tape I had found wrapped around a random pool chair. Ran over to retrieve it and as I approached my buddy's and I's camp I see my rod go wayyyyy bendo. Perfect timing for redemption, lay the hook in and feel the rolls, yep another 7, let's not lose her this time shall we. Get her in shallow and make the grab, stopped paying any attention to Ray's camp at this point. My girl had fresh hanky-panky marks on her pectoral, making them tiny sevens. My hook was right in her esophagus, I tried to pull it out, but my hand was uncomfortably deep in her mouth, decided to cut the wire and hope for the best for her.

Took a lot of coaxing in the surf to get her the right way, she was very tired. Didn't tape her but would guess about 80" or so. Then I ran over to Ray, he had a big, brute of a male, taped him out to 94", I wonder if him and my girl were making sweet sevengill love. Great, two sevens and one missed on the beach tonight will be good! Well, that was the last of the action for tonight, for all of us. No weeds, Little Surf, Very Warm, a great night, with some grinners to boot! Good fishing with you again Ray! It's heating up guys, Pics tomorrow! Ray will throw in his as well with his own story hopefully! I need to check my PMs more  . Verne if you want some info on this spot PM me, I believe you qualify as a trustworthy shark caretaker!

40

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Story of the Bastard Grinner 1/19/15

« on: January 19, 2015, 11:26:03 PM »

Hit the beach around 4:30PM. As I approached to set up I see RayChavez there, was happy to see he made it. He informed me the eel grass situation was grave, instant regret. Nah, I knew it'd probably be kinda gnarly seeing as it has been the past few weeks. High tide at 9:30PM, a nice negative low to + 5 ft swing. Conditions were rather rough along with a lot of  salad. Hours go by without a bite, I run some extra mackeral the bait shop gave me to Ray to see if he was having any luck since I saw lights flickering,  so I thought. Another hour rolls by and Ray stops by to shoot the sh*t for a moment. He noticed his buddy, Eric.H from another forum, tangoing with something, we soon parted ways. This time I saw the distinct flicker of camera light and ran over to check it out. A sevengill was on the beach, hooray! However it was Ray's cast, on his setup, hooked and landed while talking to me by Eric. No body wanted credit for the grinner, he was a bastard. Stoked to see one, we taped her out, about 58" give or take, wasn't really cooperative. I wore the stripe for the first time in 2015 but at least I got my hands on one. Ray may have some pictures, I know he didn't want the credit but perhaps he'll post him. Good fishing with you again man! Next target date is on Thursday, hopefully we can get some bruisers!

41

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Another tough night 1/15/15

« on: January 17, 2015, 08:31:58 AM »

Following seeing Tom's massive soupie I decided to go for our big critters even though reported conditions seemed less than ideal. We changed up spots, and moved a little farther south than our usual AO. The surf was pretty angry and the eel grass angrier, fished the incoming swing from 4:30PM to 8:30PM. Another night where the only way you know you're getting hit is once you get a  screamer. So as we waited for our next haul up of 15lbs of eel grass, my buddy says I think you just got hit. I was looking towards the water, which had just sent a 6ft bruiser of a breaker through, and I responded it was just eel grass pulling the line, and that if the rod went off now that it had passed then *ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*. I grabbed the rod layed the hook into it, immediate  explosion of energy. Massive thrashing headshakes, accompanied with rolls, and lots of thrashes on the surface. I had soupfin in my head and was getting excited, my buddy goes for the tail grab and I hear " It's a leopard!" Was the first time I was disappointed with a leopard, still stoked, but boy did she have me fooled. She seemed gravid, lots of weight to her belly, but my hook really got her good. After trying to remove it for a minute or two we just sacrificed the hook with the bolt cutters to get her underway.
This picture is funny as hell, in the moment of trying to keep her in control while taking her back to the sand.

Taped her and then snapped a quick pic.

This beach is deep, has a sheer 2ft depth right at the waters edge, with no sandbar. Stood in knee deep water holding her dorsal till she went on her way. Taped out to 56" and was a very heavy and healthy girl. I can't ever find bonito at my local fish markets but yesterday I found one that had Skipjack, so I got 4 frozen skipjack ready to go back to this spot when the surf is being a little nicer.

42

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Strike Out Again 1/9/15

« on: January 10, 2015, 11:04:12 AM »

Although conditions were not ideal yesterday we decided to head to the grounds. 3-4ft surf with the occasional 5-6ft pounder rolling through, hellish eel grass, and a ripping southwestern current, Peak high was at 12:30AM, we arrived at 6:30 PM. Eel Grass, Eel Grass, and more eel grass, I did manage a baby kitty on the light rod but other than that it was dead as dead can be. Decided to relocate and do some harbor mud marlining at about 12:00AM. It was also dead in the harbor, but at 1:30AM my buddy gets the screamer that would lead to buoy heartbreak, and it looked like a quality Bat too. Fished the deadness till about 3:00AM. A long day with not very many fish, still a nice night to be out.

43

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Sewer Cats 1/6/15

« on: January 06, 2015, 05:48:41 PM »

Every Tuesday I am ran out of my place for 3 hours for street sweeping, so I decided to check on my drainage cats. I put catfish in the local wash as a kid and now 10 years later they have reproduced and are in good numbers. My secret urban spot. Spent much of the day trying for carp at the local park, then we went to the wash. Me and my girlfriend both hooked up instantly.


Mine went 3lbs her's 3.6lbs. Now it was time I could return home and take a nap from last nights long night and fright. These fish are great fighters but riddled with parasites, so while I do like catfish these bad boys are all CNR.

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Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / I think I'm too deep 1/5/15

« on: January 06, 2015, 09:31:00 AM »

Finally was able to make it out for the first time in the new year. Still sporting my stylish 2014 bat ray wound but it is finally closing up, we hit up the Seven spot. Clear water, no salad, sub 1ft surf with a negative low going to a 3.9 high at 10:34 PM. Moon was bright as day and there was lots of bird and dolphin activity right outside the breakers. My buddy gets a pick up around 8:00 but manages to farm it hard. I wanted to check my bait since it had been tapped a few times but nothing committed. Reel in, turn my headlamp on, since it was the last cast on the long I was going to make for the night I decided to go for broke. Waded out to waist deep water and posted up, by this point the area had filled substantially. I cast and then look to my left. I saw a body lazily cruising the bottom and I thought it was a trophy leopard shark which are always cool to see cruising. Then one of the bigger swells came and I see it catch the wave B lining it right to me. By this point my headlamp had the whole head and body illuminated and it was a decent sized 7 gill. I was hoping I was seeing things, but to be safe I shrieked like a little girl, jumped back and threw a kick in front of me. I felt the sandpaper give as I kicked it in it's gut right behind the pectoral fin and he gave me a goodbye slap of it's tail on my shin. Had me hyperventilating and everything, it truly caught me off guard and was quite terrifying since I could tell he was coming to inspect what I was. The usual pig perch and smelt made their appearance in good numbers but not even a bat ray was stuck on the long rods. Well, at least I know the sevens are active, and glad they showed me that they are not very far at all. Sorry no fish or scenery porn, just a story. Next week we're gonna get one on the sand!

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Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / The not so epic return.

« on: December 19, 2014, 07:28:54 PM »

So with the leg feeling much better, but the hole still healing, I decided to waterproof bandage it and see what the surf looked like after all this high surf activity. First spot was in Carpinteria and was a total bust, just lots of debris and kelp. Then we moved to our sevengill spot but didn't wade out much and was not really putting in the time for them. Very slow, with just one spiny molecrab to show for it. Cast out some squid on my light rod while we're packing up and just ghost set it before I reeled it in and was greeted by a small thornback. Better than a skunk. Look forward to going after the general quarry after this weather and surf dies a bit. Looks like you all down there are getting some decent bat action!