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JapanRon
04-12-2007, 03:25 PM
Hey guys,

Yahooooo It Was Sand Bass City Tuesday!!


Rode Pierpoint Landing’s Southern Cal Tuesday. Back on this newly refurbished boat for a day. Collin ran the boat, Ryan (a.k.a. hot sauce) was on deck working his tail off doing his usual quality job, and Myron did galley duty.

Our 65’ moo-moo accommodates 75 anglers (see new numbering elsewhere)so we 10 eager anglers had some fishing space !! I was again relieved to see we had enough anglers Tuesday morning as I called to check for reservations and only three were on the books!! As time neared to the boarding time more and more anglers appeared. Guys ….. what’s wrong with making reservations!!??

Note: Countdown: Should be just a little more than a month, tentatively the middle of May according to the landing owner, till the Summer season starts and the boat ½-day boat leaves at 6 am!!


Target Fish Lingcod and Rockfish


Short Report- Tuesday 04/10

Tuesday: 10 anglers caught limits of Sand Bass, Calico Bass (included), 3 Sculpin, and 3 Rockfish (one was a nice Barberpole I think) !! Couldn’t ask for a much nicer day in every aspect! Shame none of those sneaky gar wanted to bite!!

Wednesday: SoCal got the numbers again on Wednesday with 30 anglers catching 141 Sand Bass and 7 Sculpin. If the fish were like the ones on Tuesday, there weren’t a lot of shorts but nice 14~15-inch fish.

(Please widen your view to fit monitor if word-wrap looks off)


Tuesday 04/10 Jackpot

Weigh-Off …………Winner!
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Nice Calico Takes It

A Calico Bass was the winner today. The 2 ½ ~ 3 ½ lb fish was caught in a little less than 100 feet of water, using a whole frozen Squid on a leadhead. There were a few of the Sand Bass that were minor contenders for the Jackpot.


Long Report

Past the Forest
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Nice Start

Due to the fact I’m going out two days in a row (½ -day in this report and a ¾-day boat in the next) this report might be a little short due to time limitations. That’s down and dirty just to get it out in a half-way timely fashion! Report on yesterday’s trip I might have more time.

The morning (½-day boat leaves at 10am) started out with a little overcast which quickly burned off. While cruising out of Rainbow Harbor one is greeted by the usual forest of diaper-hang …… er ….. sailboat masts. Got the usual full safety spiel from Collin and then the low-down on the days fishing plan and suggested setups.


Here and There

First Destination!
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Travel Time

We headed straight out for about a 40-minute ride. Little wind-waves but there were these very large swells (mountains) which easily broke over the breakwater wall. The inside of the breakwall looked like a mess as the wash in the kelp and the sand caused the water to roil a nasty color!


The Days Fishing

Focused ……………………………................. ........................Buoy oh Buoy!
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It's Swell!
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Finding Fish

Today, we again pretty much went straight out and stopped, went out a little further, and then just a little further to pretty much take care of the morning’s fishing with little catching of Rockfish. Not to worry …. Isn’t that the way many mornings are presently. Started to head back around 1pm …. stopping at a number of key spots, to fish for bass and other species found in shallower water, with ever-increasing success. Last two stops ….. we left fish biting. Why ….. Because Collin is conservation minded and didn’t want to hit a single spot too hard !! Class act !!

Check out the positioning of buoys. These might be good landmarks for the newbie PBer!!
Swell direction and size have been just awesome the last few days. Swell/wave action reached 7 sometimes 8 feet at 12~18 seconds with intact swell segments maybe half a mile long.


Out to Pasture


Saw Two Moo-moos

Famliar Boat ………………………………… Mystery Boat!!
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Nice PB’s

First …………………………..................Se cond
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The Fishin'

Looking Back
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Round Up

Round 1 Short and sweet. Most anglers used dropper-loop setups and frozen Squid with about 6ozs of weight for a bite that was scratchy at best and didn’t keep us on any one spot for too long. Skipper fished hard trying to locate the fish. Fished around 120 feet of water for Reds and other Rockfish. Gotta realize that a ½ -day boat doesn’t have the luxury of the time to ‘develop’ a spot as the ¾-day boats can afford. We were a little outside at the end of the first round and we started to head further inside about 1:30 or so.

Round 2 ) Heading a little inside and going a bit shallower (80~100 feet), we hoped to find a few of the usual suspects …. Sheephead, Reds, and especially Bass. We were able to locate two separate spots where we were able to pull the majority of fish decked. The crew had personally made up some fresh frozen Squid for us to use and I think this was the key …. That is ……..we were able to use whole frozen Squid on a leadhead to catch the majority of the fish. Collin saw that the first spot didn’t need hit too hard so we moved …. with fish biting. Excellent call. Lastly, we hit another spot that held good numbers of good grade fish and ended the day their with boat-limits.


Conditions Skies cleared, it got bright and hot. Little wind but huge, rolling swells. It was great to see 60º water again! Current was strong from the get-go then continued to get stronger while later the wind added a little swing up until we pulled the hook for the last time.

Air temp stayed in the 60º~70ºs during the fishing day. Jackets felt good on the way back.


Gallery


Beauty of the Day

Rattler
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The Fish– Keepers

Lots Of Fish!
Bass ……….......................... Nice Fish ………............ Cool
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Perch Too ……….. Nice Sculpin …………................. Tasty Bass …………..More Fish
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Yet More ……………………............. Lots of Room ……………....... Bumpers
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Let Them Know

The photos above are just a sample of the fish and things of interest, at least to me, on this week’s trip.Note: If you see a friend in the pictures, let them know they can copy the photo off the report, save, edit, and print it at their leisure.


Plastics

Kitchen Sink
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Caught A Couple of Fish!

I threw the kitchen sink today and finally got the chartreuse tube lure to work for me. Yes I had to resort to the ol’ Squid strip! (Yech!) Truth is ….. I was fishing Kalin and Blam swimbaits for the Barracuda I saw breezing the area constantly but alas got only a single hit! Ever notice that certain cuda grab where one feels a little slack, it is suddenly snatched, have a very short 3-foot run, and finally head-shake where you are cleanly bit off!? Especially fun when you know what’s coming and have a 12lb-test leader.


Tuesday Out There

Lunar …………………………………………†¦...Wind Direction and Speed!
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Tides …………………………………………†¦.....................................Water Temps!
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Tuesday’s Conditions

Fishing Grounds: Sunny, warm with little wind. Water clarity was maybe 6 feet at the most but water was a nice 59 or 60 degrees. Swells really big in the morning but later on …… due to the intervals being over 15 seconds, it wasn’t a hindrance to fishing.

Wild Creatures: Almost no birds until we headed in and began cleaning fish.


Asides:

Aside: Are the Sand Bass starting to come alive?? I think it’s still early but it’s nice to fish for something that likes to bite light tackle stuff in 2-digit depths.

Another Aside: Lots of great guys on the boat today. Good humor and they knew how to enjoy a fishing trip…. catching fish right away or not! Gee ….. they had a hold of the concept that it’s early for deeper water and then …. mid or a little later afternoon when much of the bite at the ‘Shoe’ occurs in the Winter and early Spring! What a concept!!

Yet Another Aside: Haven’t squawked about this much before. Now’s a good time! Well ….. maybe a little late but ……… If you have intentions on going on a moo-moo please make the effort to call in a reservation! With light loads still prevalent (Became noticeable in December) it is to ones own good to put some numbers on the landings reservation books for the day you plan to fish!

For the Angler:
1) You’ve increased the possibility the boat will go out if a minimum of anglers for the boat to go out can been met. The earlier the better. (landings and owners/operators have varied policies on that number)
2) Sometimes first-come-first-serve is predicated on those with reservations getting first shot at the rail spots.
3) It shows respect to the guys working on the boat. If one is not willing to be on call 24/7, don’t expect the crews working the boats to be either. Does everybody get that?! Not!

For the Crew:
1) The crew may need to do some preparation so that the boat may be ready when it was otherwise thought to be an ‘off-line’ day. Simply because everybody showed up an hour before departure!

2) By knowing approximately how many will be on the boat, the skipper will better make decisions on what’s needed to best serve his or her anglers. Little things like stocking the boat …… bait considerations ….. target species ….. fishing area ….. all the teeny-tiny stuff like that.

3) With low, low numbers (like 2 or 3 anglers) on the books, 1 hour before departure, the decision to cancel for maintenance or other boat related activities may be hastened.


Useful Information


Stern Shots!

No time to do the graphics today. Newly painted, the SoCal now has a numbering scheme where there are 3 sections, 1~25 spots. Clockwise from starboard: Green, stern is Black with the corners being 9 and 17, and the Port side is Red.
]
The SoCal (before refurbishing)

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Collin file photo......... Deck-Ryan …………... Cook-Myron
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Heading Home!
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Trip’s End!

Collin and crew were all out on deck at-the-ready to help patrons as is their usual custom. My new rail-buddies all had fun and got lots of fixin’s for fish tacos. Met a number of regulars I hadn’t fished with in a while. Couple of guys made this their first …. nice way to start their first trip of the season. Every angler that wanted them got off the boat with a nice bag of filets for fish tacos. We were off the boat by 4:00. I was home by 4:30pm. Thanks guys.

JapanRon

dschmaltz
04-12-2007, 03:33 PM
Another, great report. Your reports always make me want to hit the water.

I like your barracuda bite description; isn't it funny how sly and shy they are on the bite and how crazy they go once the hook is set.

Unfortunately, my litter PB will not launch until next week. Just too nasty for the next few days for a small boat.

ahhvtec
04-12-2007, 03:37 PM
Great report. This may be a dumb question but did you ever write articles for the paper or anything like that? Sorry if it is a repeated question.

Duc

SanDimasLMB
04-12-2007, 04:49 PM
nice bass! i went on the Victory on a wednesday hoping to see you but i guess you changed your boat now :(

JapanRon
04-12-2007, 05:28 PM
Hi dschmaltz,

In some ways I hate those plastic chewing gars. Even worse are deckhands that don't know how to extract a plastic to lessen the damage to it ...... the plastic I mean ...... not the cuda! :lol: :lol:

Looks like the cuda might be hanging down in LJ too!

Smart man ..... you will fish another day!! I got out yesterday too. I'm done for this week with the wind and all.

thanks,

JapanRon

JapanRon
04-12-2007, 05:39 PM
Hi ahhvtec,

Yes, I've written for the last 35+ years. Edited magazines, translated technical material juggling English-Japanese-Chinese, written columns in Japanese mainstream publications in Japan in Japanese. Authored a couple of ...... enough already!

Retired now, don't have anything to prove, and just writing to keep the ol' brain cranking out the wordage!! :lol: :wink:

Great way to make fishin' buddies too!

JapanRon

one_leg
04-12-2007, 06:15 PM
As alway Ron, great report.
Deckies don't have to buy or fish with your plastics, so they can't be expected to take care of them as if they were their own. Sad but true.

Too bad the barries weren't on the chew.

sonarbp
04-13-2007, 08:52 AM
Great report JapanRon.....

One of these days I have to get out and fish a moo-moo.....you make them sound like fun!!!!

sonarbp

cappo
04-13-2007, 09:15 AM
nice write up Ron. Looks like you guys had alot of comfy space.

ahhvtec
04-13-2007, 01:17 PM
Hi ahhvtec,

Yes, I've written for the last 35+ years. Edited magazines, translated technical material juggling English-Japanese-Chinese, written columns in Japanese mainstream publications in Japan in Japanese. Authored a couple of ...... enough already!

Retired now, don't have anything to prove, and just writing to keep the ol' brain cranking out the wordage!! :lol: :wink:

Great way to make fishin' buddies too!

JapanRon

Just what I thought since grammar and vocabulary is flawless. Keep em coming boss!

Duc

shioda
04-13-2007, 04:49 PM
I used to always make reservations, but I could never get a better spot at the rail by making a reservation than not making one. Also, most of the landing were telling me they were going out even though they weren't sure because they wanted to get me to confirm my reservation. And then they would ask for my phone number when I made a reservation, but not call me when they decided to cancel. I learned just to show up early to get a good spot. Making a reservation is a waste of time. Unless you can point me to a landing that will give me a spot at the rail in accordance with my reservation and will go out when they say they will go out.

JapanRon
04-13-2007, 08:22 PM
Hi Shioda,

If you don't call the landing and don't make a reservation but go to a landing regularly on weekdays during Winter, you must go home without fishing quite often. With few exceptions there's not a boat at any landing on the coast that doesn't have off-line days during the period and days mentioned above. And week-ends for that matter on many boats. If you fish moo-moos mostly when the season is hot and on weekends, then the importance of a reservation may be deminished but still.....

Example: One boat I know commonly goes out with 90 people .... 90+ !! If 30 made reservations and 60 showed up at 5 minutes before shoving off, the landing is apt to put everyone on that boat .... they deserve it !!

If everyone had made reservations ........ there are landings that would go with that but there are also others that might .... I say might actually have another boat on standby to take some of the overflow. Maybe being jammed on a single boat may not be a problem yourself but that would be a problem to me! :D

There are some landings that DO intially ask for those that have made reservation to step to the front of the lne before selling to the FCFS guys. I know, I've experienced it in both pairs of shoes.

There is no sure-thing in life and a boat going out no matter what...... is no exception. So I agree there's nothing written in stone with a reservation or not!

As you well know, there is no reservations for a spot on the rail but a position in line that will enable you to get a choice spot predicated on your FCFS position. First in line with reservation should get you first spot on the boat.

Getting out on a boat is a two-way street. Kind readers should understand that a minimum of anglers is needed to make it worth making even a charity run. The landing has the obligation to provide the angler with correct information and the angler owes it to themselves to cover themselves in the following ways.

1) Patronize a landing regularly, get to know the office guys, learn the different boats, their schedules, and details that will help you judge for yourself if the boat has a good chance to get out, how many fellow-anglers to expect, etc.

2) Making a reservation is not the end of the process. I make a reservation early the day before my planned trip after confirming that the boat should be on-line. At the same time, I inquire as to how many reservations are on the books. Below a minimum, the fewer the reservations, the less confidence I have that the boat will have enough to leave the dock!! Or ..... make me think I might not want to be on a packed boat. :wink:

I also call the landing in the late afternoon of the day before the trip to check on if the boat's still on line, how many reservations, and just as important, if you know the landing guys, how many walk-ins, that's you Shioda :) , I can reasonably expect on showing up.

3) With this information in hand, I can plan my trip, what to take, whether I need to call some buddies to go, and ............. how early I have to get to the landing to have a good shot at the rail spot I like ..... or if there is rotation ..... what starting spot I want to get to fish a position when I feel it is the best time.

Written just as much for those new to moo-moos as otherwise.

I suspect we're thinking of the same thing just at a different time of the year/ fishing season. Sorry to sound preachy !!

JapanRon

shioda
04-14-2007, 07:11 PM
JapanRon

I usually fish at one of the 3 Long Beach marinas. I almost always call to see if they are going out the next day but not always. I just don't make a reservation because I might not be sure which marina I will go out of. I have never seen any advantage of making a reservation, because I get the same spot at the rail as I would if I had no reservation. Also, I have never been denied boarding because of the boat being too crowded. Of course, I always try to get to the marina about an hour before departure.

Have you ever seen anyone denied a spot because they did not have a reservation? Have you ever made a reservation and been told they are going, only to get to the marina and have the trip cancelled because there are not enough people? One time I made a reservation at 7 am for a half day trip out of Pierpoint and got to the marina about 10 minutes before departure only to be told that the water was too rough and the trip was cancelled. They had my cell number but didn't call me. That night I read the landing reports and saw that LB Sportfishing did go out. Had they called me, I would have gone to LB Sportfishing instead. When I have made a reservation, I give them my cell number. I have never received a call saying that the trip is canceled.

If the reservation system actually worked, I would use it. I just don't see any benefit.

JapanRon
04-15-2007, 09:04 AM
Hi again Shioda

You wrote:

I usually fish at one of the 3 Long Beach marinas. I almost always call to see if they are going out the next day but not always. I just don't make a reservation because I might not be sure which marina I will go out of. I have never seen any advantage of making a reservation, because I get the same spot at the rail as I would if I had no reservation. Also, I have never been denied boarding because of the boat being too crowded. Of course, I always try to get to the marina about an hour before departure.

I think I got it. Your system works but......... it you went out 100~125 times a year you would not be on a boat 100% by a long shot. I assume you don't really go out during periods when the difference between going out and staying tied at the dock is 2 or 3 anglers.

Have you ever seen anyone denied a spot because they did not have a reservation?

Yes, I have heard of .... on this board ... of such cases ...... outside the 3 local marinas we both patronize. Boat was max'ed with reservations.

Have you ever made a reservation and been told they are going, only to get to the marina and have the trip cancelled because there are not enough people?

Yes, but I have been fore-warned by learning of the landings low reservation number and made contingency plans in case of cancellation. Example: If the 3/4-day boat didn't go out after-all, I'd make sure during my call that my reservation was good for the 1/2-day too ... just in case.

You wrote:
One time I made a reservation at 7 am for a half day trip out of Pierpoint and got to the marina about 10 minutes before departure only to be told that the water was too rough and the trip was cancelled. They had my cell number but didn't call me. That night I read the landing reports and saw that LB Sportfishing did go out. Had they called me, I would have gone to LB Sportfishing instead. When I have made a reservation, I give them my cell number. I have never received a call saying that the trip is canceled.

Valid point ! I would be steaming too!!!

Being a Monday morning quarterback is easy still ........ if I gave them a cell phone number (don't have a cell-phone myself) I'd make sure (as you probably did) that they KNEW it was a cell-phone number.

Also, although I won't mention any landings, I know the the boat's departure schedule and times and if one boat didn't go out, there is a chance one could scoot over to the other landing in time to get a ride !!

I've seen guys do this more than once!

Another option, some landings have more than just one 3/4 and or 1/2-day (mostly) boat going out! Granted, this is usually during the busy season.

Going when you do .... nothin' is broke so it's all good. For me being retired and wanting to go when there are fewer anglers, and get exactly what I want, I just about have to do what I do.

I hope your experiences and some of my suggestions made here makes newer moo-moo patrons a bit more savvy.

Hope to have you as a rail-mate sometime,

JapanRon