34 Inch Hali in Bolsa. Rough conditions today

[hoosierfisher]

Alex here...

Wanting more than Eurasia Trout in Sub-zero temperature (see my previous post), I waited for the right moment to get away to local waters.

Sam and I decided upon Bolsa and we headed out that way at about 1 PM.

We arrived at Bolsa at about 2 PM. It was perfect timing since high tide was moving in. Current was still moving out, but the waves were pushing back on the currents. I noticed alots of water activity where it created more pockets and dropoff than usual.

Here were the conditions...

Times Fished: 2 PM to 4 PM
Tides: High Tide
Water Condition: Clear
Current: Movingout
Areas Focused: Dropoff and Near Shadows of Massive Moving Kelps

I tried about 5 different lures with bites on LC Flash Minnow and 3 Inch Anchovy Salt Water Gulp (DS).

Weapons of Choice.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1909/11432334/21958138/362829022.jpg

Gears Used Today
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1909/11432334/21958138/362828719.jpg

The first bite happened at about 2:30 PM on LC Flash Minnow. It was a small hali (7 inches). I ended up with 2 more, but all small.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1909/11432334/21958138/362828960.jpg

The current and massive kelps moving around made it difficult to used LC so I moved onto Gulp Anchovy (3 inch & blue) with Drop Shot
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1909/11432334/21958138/362828427.jpg

Moved around alot for about 30 minutes and my date for the day showed up. About 5 yards out from where I was standing, I was watching the Gulp Anchovy. I was tapping the line real lite to get small jerk reactions to see how to best present with rod actions.

A shadow ran up from a small drop pocket near by and Ms. Hali took the DS about 5 yards from where I was standing. I saw it open its mouth and sucked in the 3 inch Anchovy and ran off about 3 yards.

I didn't set the hook right away, I wait for slack to tighten up for few more seconds and I let it set the hook. It took about 20 minutes to land because I did not want to use the net (for catch and release).

The hali made about 7 runs and she worked the 10 lb line and the drag on my Daiwa. In the end, we landed her with extra caution. Took few pictures.

Ms 34 Inch Hali in her full splandor
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1909/11432334/21958138/362828457.jpg

After few photos, we release this beauty for another day of fight for someone. Perhaps she'll be on the dinner table someday (lol), but she may have few more babies before all is done.

Being Released.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1909/11432334/21958138/362828792.jpg

By the time we were done releasing, it was about 4 PM. We packed up and headed on back to work.

It is my understanding that nice size halibuts are starting to move in. I am actually surprised with this crazy weather we've been having.

Good luck out there guys... Tight Lines

[Liteliner]

Beautiful Fish and a great report. Congrats. 34 inches from the surf is awesome.

[victor101]

AWESOME! I was there this morning chasing the halis with no bites LOL. Looks like I should of stuck around til peak high tide. Oh well...ill get my legal next time. Good job on the 34"!

[BIGRED KILLA]

Hey man i give you major props on the Cpr and not wanting to land it in the tail spliter net for the cpr i would have done the same too good job, Keep it up out there so you can land her again next time. Thank You very much for the pics and report now i hope the weather will be nice i want to fish the surf tomm.





Bigred

[Wingnut]

Awesome fish! Great job on landing the beauty and much props to you for the release. She will spawn many legals for all of us someday. :Cool:

[ghetto dad]

NICE fish man!!! Its great that you released it....maybe Vic wont leave again so early, and catch it...:ROFL:
Thanks for the report....

GD

[cappo]

major karma points for you. Good job on the hali.

[bsp]

Great job on the trophy halibut CPR, and also on the detailed report! Are you looking for the 40in + next?

[GeordyBass]

nice job on the flattie!:Shocked::Cool:

[ToadsToadsOnly]

That's a toad great job my preference is the last 2 hours of the incoming high tide also. Seem like that is when the big boys come out.

[Jaysuuun]

Whoa! MONSTER Hali! :EyePop: WTG

[bergie berg]

way to go!!! Releasing that Hali was a class act.

[j-DuBb]

nice fish!!!!

-j-

[fishon714]

I was there the last 4 days and all I caught were 12inch hali's. I'm using corn as bait. Looks like I have the wrong tools. Nice catch.


fishon714

[hoosierfisher]

Great job on the trophy halibut CPR, and also on the detailed report! Are you looking for the 40in + next?

that would be nice. It all depends on the Poseidon and his moods... LOL

[hoosierfisher]

I was there the last 4 days and all I caught were 12inch hali's. I'm using corn as bait. Looks like I have the wrong tools. Nice catch.


fishon714

dude, good seeing you agian. You didn't tell me that you would post out VERY VERY secrete sauce. Now everyone knows about "corn'.

[cheeseguy]

Nice fish!!

[hoosierfisher]

Awesome fish! Great job on landing the beauty and much props to you for the release. She will spawn many legals for all of us someday. :Cool:

I agree. I hope the she will spawn off thousands of legals. I feel that too many legal (& under limits) halies are being taken. It's their rights,but eventually we will all pay in the future. It's scary sometimes to see half dozen of "bucket brigades" marching in and taking everything that they catch - both legal and under sized fish.

So, I must ask Hali Master. When do you think Halibuts will start to move in?

[Wingnut]

I agree. I hope the she will spawn off thousands of legals. I feel that too many legal (& under limits) halies are being taken. It's their rights,but eventually we will all pay in the future. It's scary sometimes to see half dozen of "bucket brigades" marching in and taking everything that they catch - both legal and under sized fish.

So, I must ask Hali Master. When do you think Halibuts will start to move in?

Master?!? :ROFL: Sorry, but that honor has already been claimed by a few "others". I'm far from being a master of any kind. Many are far more knowlegeable than I will ever be when it comes to fishing. I don't pretend to know everything or claim to be more skillful than the guy standing next to me in the surf. :Cool:

It would seem that the spawn is running a little late this year. No doubt that some big Flatties have started to move in already, as proven with your fish. I've been seeing a gradual improvement with every outing within the last few weeks, especially with my last weekend trip. :Secret: At this time last year, we were already killing it in the surf. I keep a detailed log every time I go fishing, fresh or salt. I'll give you an example; in early April 2008, the average water temperature in the Santa Barbara area was 60-62 degrees. This year, it's been anywhere between 52-56 degrees. It hit the 58 degrees mark only a few times that I know of and haven't touched the 60 degrees magic mark yet. All we need is a week or two of great weather and steady warm water conditions and all hell will break loose... it's coming, you can count on that, or at least I hope so. :Wink:

Good luck out there everybody... and RELEASE all big spawning females! :Cool:

[fisherbabe]

Nice work on the butt. Glad it got to live and fight another day!

[supasportkid]

nice big hali!! wtg

[bones]

Very nice indeed. I actually caught my first flattie ever at the wetlands inlet at BC. Great job on the CPR!

I like the format of your report too! There is nothing like sight fishing flatties. When you see the shadow or just the sand shift a bit it can be nerve wrecking for sure. Great job on the perfect hookset also. I've had a few experiences when I yanked the bait right out of their mouths when I actually watched it all go down but I've calmed myself down and now I rarely miss them because I ALWAYS wait for the chew.

When the weather calms down a bit......It's only going to get better!
Thanks for the BC report.