PDA

View Full Version : Malibu Surf on 11-1-2009



gavin310
11-01-2009, 10:46 PM
Me, Shawn, and his girlfriend Julie decided to hit up the Malibu surf to try for sharks, halibut, and whatever else decides to bite. The surf and weather report was awesome... small waves and very little to no wind.

We arrived at about 5:30am, a little while before high tide. We got situated in the dark, but the sun was just beginning to show itself. Shawn set up his heavyweight rig and pinned on some squid. I decided to start off throwing a lure, so I tied on my new Metallic Sardine LuckyCraft Flash Minnow. I haven't been able to find this model of Flash Minnow in any stores until Friday when I randomly stopped at Sport Chalet in Huntington Beach on my way home from a funeral. The treble hooks on it were the real cheap kind. I was surprised. I bought a pack of size 6 Owner Stinger treble hooks and swapped them when I got home. Much better.

The water clarity was like I've never seen. Crystal clear. No seaweed at first, but towards the end of the day some started showing up. The surf was awesome. Very mild and easy to fish. Perfect for Shawn to get used to it since it was his first time out there.

I start working the lure and walking down the beach. A few casts in and I start to see baitfish scattering on the surface. Cast into the boil and BAM got a hookup but he comes off. Cast a few more times and get another short bite. About 10 minutes later I cast out and start reeling slowly... I feel a hit, set the hook, and.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ this thing is taking drag like it's nothing. The only thing going through my mind besides adrenaline was the word "spooled" but it finally slowed down and I started getting line back. It takes off again with no effort... I get it coming back towards me aaaaaand.... it's gone. DAMMIT. What the hell?! These Owner treble hooks just aren't doing it! I'm guessing it was 30 inches or more from how it fought.

I cast a few more times and hear Shawn calling my name so I walk back. He hooked a big jacksmelt on his squid... like 16 inches. Which now means we have more cut bait.

I continue working the lure and hook up on something. It's fighting good, but it's a smaller fish. Turns out it's another jacksmelt. I release him and get back to work. I look back over at Shawn and Julie and see them waving their arms, so I jog back. Shawn got a nice sized shovelnose guitarfish. Took a few photos and got it released safely.

I see baitfish again but they disappear quickly and I didn't manage any bites. A few minutes later down the beach I get hit. I set the hook hard... then again... and again. LOL. No way this one is getting off. He's pulling a bit of drag but nothing like the one before. He has about 4 drag pulling runs before I get him up to the shore. Grab his tail and take him back to show Shawn. He's at the legal halibut mark on my rod. Sweet. Got him released safely.

I threw the lure for a little bit longer then decided to try for sharks. Hooked on a squid, cast out far, and watched the squid fly off the hook. Hmm k. Try again. Hooked it on a little better this time, cast out far, and watched the squid fly off the hook. This squid must have been old since it doesn't usually do that. I decided to cut the squid into pieces and put them individually on the hook. That worked. Got it cast out, tightened up the line, turned on the clicker and put it in freespool. About 5 minutes later... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Real nice run. I turn off the clicker, engage the reel, and let the circle hook do it's job. Nice fighting fish. I fight it for a bit and then the line goes slack. I think... DAMMIT. But after I reel in the slack and fmy rod starts bending again. Whew... he just swam towards me. I fight him up to the shore and it's a nice leopard shark. Get him unhooked, photographed, and let go.

I decided to try for some barred surf perch, so set up a c-rig and pinned on a gulp camo sandworm. No bites. Dug up a sandcrab and tried it for a bit. Nothing. Where are the perch?! I know there's nice sized perch out right now, but my last few surf fishing outings have resulted in minimal perch success. There were sandcrabs beds where we were fishing and perch fishing is usually good near the beds.

Those were the highlights of the day. Shawn got another small shovelnose and I got another small halibut. We both got a couple more jacksmelts. It was a great day out there. We both got rid of the skunk early on, which made for a great rest of the day.

I was using:
Shimano Sedona 2500 / Ugly Stick Light 6'6" / 10 lb. Big Game
Abu Garcia 6600 / Cabela's King Kat 9' / 65 lb. Spectra w/ 50 lb. steel leader / 4/0 Circle Hook / 4 oz. no-roll sinker

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs110.snc3/15754_163305167295_505782295_2585825_4130519_n.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs110.snc3/15754_163305172295_505782295_2585826_6815864_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs110.snc3/15754_163305177295_505782295_2585827_2244563_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs090.snc3/15754_163305187295_505782295_2585829_380712_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs090.snc3/15754_163305182295_505782295_2585828_5734587_n.jpg

bigd87
11-01-2009, 11:11 PM
nice sharks.

Wingnut
11-01-2009, 11:30 PM
Nice surf session Gavin... good times and congrats on all the nice catch. :Cool:

lngbchfnhnter
11-02-2009, 08:22 AM
Nice sharks you guys got there!! and that hali looks beefy!!..
But on the fourth picture,that leo looked wild!! it looked like he was going for the jewels!!:Bug Eyes:LOL!
GREAT REPORT!

ldsaylor
11-02-2009, 09:42 AM
Great report! Those Leos look like fun and that is a really nice Butt..

Jaysuuun
11-02-2009, 11:15 AM
Nice multi-species day. Those leos put up a great fight.

flyngby
11-02-2009, 05:01 PM
Those are 3 quality fish for 1 Surf Session!!!

Thanks for the report. Look forward to the report that tops this one!!!!!:Wink:

Steve

gavin310
11-02-2009, 05:49 PM
Those are 3 quality fish for 1 Surf Session!!!

Thanks for the report. Look forward to the report that tops this one!!!!!:Wink:

Steve

Thanks Steve! I'm going out next weekend. Hopefully one of these days I'll run into the S.W.A.T. crew :Cool:

Katnip
11-08-2009, 09:26 PM
halibut from the surf nice.

2jackedLUNGS
11-27-2009, 07:35 PM
thats a nice leopard! looks like you had an awesome day.