Skiffing NPH 7/25

[Puropuro]

Hi all,

Based on all the great reports I've seen from you guys, I had to take my daughter back to NPH for another go. Last time, end of May, we fished all day in crappy overcast conditions and caught 2 dinkie bass and 2 halibut (1 dink, 1 almost legal). This time, I was determined to help my girl catch some fish.

We rented a skiff from Daveys, and hit the water a bit after 6am. Per the tide charts (still learning how to read them) it was an incoming low tide. The fishing during the first 3 hours was really pretty good, with many hits on the 3" Big Hammers. My girls first fish was a good sized spottie (15"). During the next 3 hours we caught various spotted bass and sand bass. I was hoping we'd get a few larger models, but they never appeared after that first 15" guy. I was also hoping we'd hit a butt or two, but they were a no-show.

All told, we got 7 bass, and one "How the heck did that happen?" moment. On one bite, I set the hook and reeled in. I could feel that the fish spit the hook, but when I got the lure back in there was a teeny leetle baitfish trying to eat my lure (see pic)...the little guy had some high aspirations :)

Also, another fun moment was surfing the skiff on a huge swell that came all the way down the breakwater. My daughter was cheering and I was crapping my pants :)

After about 10am, the bite went away and nothing else came out of the water for us through about 2pm when we left. Was a bit disappointed with that, especially since the day started pretty well. I was hoping to mirror the previous report from one of you guys on the 50-fish day :(

At the dock, a nice gentleman from Fish and Game took a "survey" from me....is that they way they check you these days?

I'm wondering if all that high surf killed the bite. Any tips for NPH on where they hide? I'm actually having more luck around the channels and moorings than I am around the docks....didn't used to be that way for me.

Now, the pics:
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8248_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8249_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8250_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8255_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8256_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8258_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8260_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8262_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8266_Small.JPG
http://www.randyq.addr.com/fish/IMG_8265_Small.JPG

[steelhead]

Nice report and I like the lineup shot, sort of like going through mugshots for bay bass! The colors on the bay bass look lighter than what i'm used to seeing. Did you guys make it out to the harbor channel because you mentioned the waves cresting the jetty

[BIGRED KILLA]

Thanks for the pics and report looks like you had a good day out there with you and your daughter keep it up.

Thanks for the laugh in your report. lol

Also, another fun moment was surfing the skiff on a huge swell that came all the way down the breakwater. My daughter was cheering and I was crapping my pants :)




Bigred

[DCCTrouserTrout]

Nice work on the bass... Looks like you got a few legals there...

[Puropuro]

Nice report and I like the lineup shot, sort of like going through mugshots for bay bass! The colors on the bay bass look lighter than what i'm used to seeing. Did you guys make it out to the harbor channel because you mentioned the waves cresting the jetty

We got out to just about the bait barge.....later in the day, that woulda been suicide, right about when we turn around and "surfed" in.

[Jimmy310]

Good job, one question what the heck was that last guy thinking. :EyePop:
The lure is bigger than he is :ROFL:

[troutdog]

Couple of nice looking spots you got out there on the plastics, well done! Those swells that came through the harbor entrace were pretty wild, I woulda been sweatin it too! Just curious was the guy that checked you the gentleman pictured below? He was taking info from fisherman leaving the wedge around 9:30am or so....I was listening to the questions he was asking and he seemed like a really cool dude, good to see them out there!
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj285/troutdog_photobucket/July25th2009TheWedge001.jpg

Thanks for the report and good job on the bass/incredible baitfish catch! :Wink:


TD

[Puropuro]

... Just curious was the guy that checked you the gentleman pictured below? He was taking info from fisherman leaving the wedge around 9:30am or so....I was listening to the questions he was asking and he seemed like a really cool dude, good to see them out there!

Thanks for the report and good job on the bass/incredible baitfish catch! :Wink:


TD

Yup, that's the guy. Yeah, he was really cool about things. I was more than happy to answer his questions, and it was a good thing to show my daughter that they do check your catch (to answer her postulating on all the fish we released) I was glad he was there too....hope he caught any poachers.

[xjdesertfox]

when we go to MDR the warden who takes the surveys is a cute 20ish year old female.

we have absolutely no problem answering her questions lol