North to South.......So Much FUN!!!

[bones]

Well.....This week has been a rough one since my outing on the "Spotted Fever" with Arthur and Steve. No more relaxing while there are fish to be caught. So I decided to dedicate a few mornings to recon some new areas since the MLPA is going to take some prime fishing areas from us. The bite has been very rough at times and no real patterns have settled in. The ratio of short halibut to legals for me has been about 50/1 this season. Sooooooo many shorts it's incrediable. Now I'm not complaining but damn...........If it was all high spirited shorts at 21" it would be one thing but it's been pancake heaven all along our coast.I think I went on a long run with over 60 shorties before I finally stuck a 24" halibut and a 22 1/2" the other day. A few here a few there ....... high tide......low tide.........morning bite......evening bite........no real pattern. Water temps and clarity have been good but there has not been much bait this year all along our coast. What has been very noteworthy is that if there is a hot spot today.....It will be gone tomorrow. If there was bait in an area today.....It's not there tomorrow. They havn't been really stacked up ANYWHERE along our coast. Nobody has ever said it is easy to hunt flatties but this season has overall been a rough one to say the least. I'm very fortunate to have a job that I don't have to get really involved in before 9am every day so I made a decision to hit up the greylight all of this week and fish for only a few hours every morning. Besides...........It is always nice to enjoy the sunrise at the beach to start off your day. I only live 30 minutes from the beach but some of the areas I've been scouting are up to 1 1/2 hours away so it meens that I have to be on the road anywhere from 4 to 5am to really be on the beach when the sun is just peeking it's head out. A couple of times I headed far north but for the most part I focused my efforts on Santa Monica bay. SM bay has had the most reliable conditions as far as clarity and the small swell. This time of year most of our swell comes in at a steep angle from the northern pacific so I'm constantly looking for protected areas where the bait and the flatties can get a break from the swells.
I know I've been driving Wingnut CRAZY everyday with ANOTHER fish report but hey.........Somebody has to do the midweek SWAT recon !!
Keep in mind that these pics are NOT all from the same day of fishing or the same spot but rather a compilation over the last week. Primarily I have been tossing my lucky craft hardbaits just because it's more fun and I can cover more area in a shorter amount of time. I've only dropshotted certain areas after I covered it completely with a hardbait attack.
I really dislike fishing boring flatwater like places in longbeach so the mission has been to look for boilers and kelp fields .......Structure baby that's what I'm talking about !!!!
The rugged snaggy areas are the only places that have been consistantly holding a variety of fish that are willing to chew.

First of all........ Greylight in SB county and the reason I love the dawn of a new day at the beach.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9020004.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040013.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040022.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040021.jpg



Low tide provides some really cool sights......

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040023.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040024.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB050005.jpg

Hey Troutonly!!!
I found a spot where the Natives are SO BIG that they fly through the trees !!!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9050031.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9050030.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9050032.jpg

Allright Time to FISH !!!

Shorties.....And more shorties.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040029.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9040028.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9030009.jpg

MMMM......Getting kinda hungry and found this little hidden Cafe' so it's time for a quick bite to eat.Boy this place is deserted during the morning hours.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9050036.jpg

Tri Tip Beef Dip w/AuJus,Fries and a water and I'm good to go!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9050035.jpg

Oh CRAP.....Time to work!

The next day I decided to keep it a little more local.
Santa Monica bay has alot of structure if you are willing to look for it and scramble a bit. Some of these spots are quite a walk.

Sunrise.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB020028.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB020029.jpg


http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB020030.jpg

Boilers Baby!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB090001.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB090003.jpg

Shorties,barely legals and a few decent small Calicos thrown in.......

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA120013.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB050006.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB020027.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA290022.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA260020.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB050001.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA260017.jpg

Some Kinda Bass!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA100012.jpg

Finally a decent legal and Yeah.......This is the SECOND legal I've kept this year but released many others. She went 24" and provided me with about four meals.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB030036.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB030037.jpg

As I waded back out into the water with my "Keeper" on a dive clip that was hanging on my side........... My thoughts turned to the Leos that were within 5 ft of me as the halibut thrashed about and bled into the water. MMMMMMM......Time to back up......LOL

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB030039.jpg

A 24" short WSB made for a nice little bonus....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/P9020007.jpg

Apparently there are some really big bugs in this area as well.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB100022.jpg

Don't ya hate it when you hear one of these fly through your guides on a spinning setup...........

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB100014.jpg

Make sure you pin on those dropshot baits straight so that they don't spin on the retrieve or you will get that screwed up line twist that will waste line.It's that last few feet of your retrieve when you reel in your bait and it's not straight that causes the line twist from hell so watch it!


A few more shorties.......an unlucky kelp fish.......a few jack smelt aka "Torpedos" and finally a few nice checkers to finish up the week!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA260018.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA260019.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA270021.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB060012.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/P9270004.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA290026.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PA290025.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB100010.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB100019.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB100024.jpg

I believe this is my PB Calico from the surf.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB100023.jpg



Parting shot.........One TOTALLY worn out LC baby. I'm working on a way to repaint these babies right now....LOL

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/1142009/PB120033.jpg

You would think that $20 hardbaits would be designed to be a little more durable in the surf enviroment especially when they are sold as a "saltwater series". The flashy finish is always totally destroyed by the hooks. The front and middle hooks get fouled on each other all of the time and sometimes you have to swap out the hooks to stronger ones. Definately something that the LC designers have to work on for sure. But hey..........The fish really love them and they cast like missles.

I was just chilling by the water in a tidal area when I saw some action along the shoreline. At first I thought it was bait being pushed up to the rocks but it was actually a small octopus hunting sidewinder crabs......Kinda cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYHC6mNFXtg


If any FNN members recognize some of these spots PLEASE don't mention them on the board. Feel free to PM me for any details but let's NOT help the lurkers who only take and never contribute to this forum.

Hope you all enjoyed the pics and report.........Tight Lines to everyone and let's make it a Happy Holiday Season!!

[ztugs]

awesome report. i love seeing calicos in the surf. good job out there.

[bsp]

Dang Mike... I'm jealous. While I've been stuck at home with the swine flu, you've been racking up an impressive total on the halibut and other surf fish! You did some good recon too since very few of those spots look familiar. Thanks for the report, and let's hit the surf again before the winter puts the fish down.

[troutman27]

Very cool report....i haven't had much luck out in the surf....I think I need to try harder.

[Wingnut]

Nice report Mike... the format looks so familar. :Wink:

Damn right you're killing me! There I am at work, in a meeting or whatever and get a call from you "out in the field." :Envious:
I wish that my schedule is flexible enough to allow me to join you on a weekday excursion once in awhile. But you know my boss, he's a jerk... I hope he's not reading this. :LOL:

Very nice weekday solo recon buddy, you got some quality fish there. Where's the pic of your monster surf Mackerel? Yeah, the short Flatties count is high this year, but at least we're catching. :Cool: The Fall bite seems to be picking up so hopefully that will continue for a bit until the weather really deteriorate.

Let's firm up plans for this weekend's assault... in itching to get back out there on the front lines again. :Twisted:

[whate]

Awesome report. Nice variety. Hope that I'll find a honey spot like that... someday ::Secret:
Thanks for taking the time to post.

[victor101]

...............WOW.............is about all I can say.

[SHAD MAN 09]

Talk about a nice day of catching. Its awsome what you can get out of the surf. Really great post and those LCs really do the job. very nice.....

[Fire Ball]

I really want to go surf fishing again! Someone needs to take me surf fishing and teach me how to catch a few halibut. :Cool:

The hunting octopus is pretty awesome.

[murrieta angler]

Very nice report and pictures. I am looking forward to getting alot more surf fishing in real soon here. I really enjoyed the octopus and was waiting for him to get some food, but alas, nothing...:Sad:
Look forward to your next report.

[ldsaylor]

This was a fantastic report! Great work out there in the surf. Love that video of that octopus. Very cool. I have never really surf fished. I gotta get out there and try to find some spots..

[bones]

awesome report. i love seeing calicos in the surf. good job out there.
Yeah.....If I had my choice to either catch short halibut or calicos I would have to choose the checkers. Pound for pound they fight like hell and they are smart. Always trying to run into the kelp or rocks. Alot of fun for sure!


Dang Mike... I'm jealous. While I've been stuck at home with the swine flu, you've been racking up an impressive total on the halibut and other surf fish! You did some good recon too since very few of those spots look familiar. Thanks for the report, and let's hit the surf again before the winter puts the fish down.

Damn Marc.......Sick again? You don't even know dude........I had one day when I actually hit it up in the AM and then went to work......Then.......I went back out for the evening bite very local and it was pancake heaven again. The day total was 25 shorties.....I was so "Over it" so to speak.....LOL


Very cool report....i haven't had much luck out in the surf....I think I need to try harder.

It's all about time on the water and being dedicated to keep moving in order to find them. They are there.........You just gotta work for them!


Nice report Mike... the format looks so familar. :Wink:

Damn right you're killing me! There I am at work, in a meeting or whatever and get a call from you "out in the field." :Envious:
I wish that my schedule is flexible enough to allow me to join you on a weekday excursion once in awhile. But you know my boss, he's a jerk... I hope he's not reading this. :LOL:

Very nice weekday solo recon buddy, you got some quality fish there. Where's the pic of your monster surf Mackerel? Yeah, the short Flatties count is high this year, but at least we're catching. :Cool: The Fall bite seems to be picking up so hopefully that will continue for a bit until the weather really deteriorate.

Let's firm up plans for this weekend's assault... in itching to get back out there on the front lines again. :Twisted:

Yeah....I know I was killing you with all of the calls dude. When You answered the other day and your first words were " Don't tell me you are fishing again " I felt guilty but we both know who works ALOT harder Arthur. This past week I just felt a sense of urgency to do some recon so we can finish up the flattie season before mother nature shuts down our coastal fishery. Can't wait for Sunday.......Catching flatties while Steve is up to his neck in mud.....LOL


Awesome report. Nice variety. Hope that I'll find a honey spot like that... someday ::Secret:
Thanks for taking the time to post.

No REAL honey holes out there this season.....Like I said.....I covered over 100 miles of coastline to rack up some numbers. Same spots changed completely a day or two later.


...............WOW.............is about all I can say.

Now I'm happy..........I've seen your reports dude and you have the bug for sure.When I ALMOST made you speachless it really made me smile Victor.....LOL


Talk about a nice day of catching. Its awsome what you can get out of the surf. Really great post and those LCs really do the job. very nice.....

If I caught all of these fish in one day I probably would open some kind of " Coastal Guide Service" .....LOL
All fish were caught over 3 1/2 days of some serious driving and hiking but thanks for the props. Gotta love those LC's for sure!


I really want to go surf fishing again! Someone needs to take me surf fishing and teach me how to catch a few halibut. :Cool: The hunting octopus is pretty awesome.

This year has been a tough one for sure. No " Free handouts " so to speak. It's all about keeping a close look on the changing conditions,putting the time in and even a little bit of good luck!



Very nice report and pictures. I am looking forward to getting alot more surf fishing in real soon here. I really enjoyed the octopus and was waiting for him to get some food, but alas, nothing...:Sad:
Look forward to your next report.

Thanks.......Better make it REAL SOON. Winter is almost upon us! I thought the octopus was cool too! Usually they are pretty shy but this one was hungry so it didn't even care that I was 5ft from it.


This was a fantastic report! Great work out there in the surf. Love that video of that octopus. Very cool. I have never really surf fished. I gotta get out there and try to find some spots..

Thanks alot. If you do try it be prepared to get addicted real fast.

[BIGRED KILLA]

Nice job out on the surf line Mike very cool photos and report. Next time put that octo on a hook i know the calicos eat them in the rocks... See you soon,,




Bigred

[flyngby]

Yea, Yea, Yea!!!!!! Tough Week my you know what!

The hardest part was probably the stress off finding time to type the report!!!!!!

Wish I could get that kind of freedom to exercise before and after work!

I have to take the week off from fishing as there is plenty of mud to keep me busy at work for weeks!!!!!!!

Good luck out there Buddy on this weeks adventure!!!!

Steve

[Bradakas]

great report. Those octopi are pretty smart. I remember I saw a vid of one opening a jar.

[hamneggs]

Thank's for the fish porn. It's nice to see that the flatties are still all around the coast. I'm sure you'll hook-up with that fatty and forget all about the smallie to legal ratio. I can't even imagine how many pms you already got about that spot. Hope I get the chance to bump into you and Art someday!

If you have any luck repainting that LC, let me know. :Big Grin:

[TroutOnly]

GREAT REPORT BONES,,,,,LOTS OF ACTION,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,t/o

[Jaysuuun]

Thanks for the detailed and very informative report. I'm trying to get some surf gear together so I can fish some of those boiler rocks. I wanna hookup with one of those nice calicos! Nice going as always out there.

[JSAUCE818]

Good Job out there brotha.

[PONTOON]

Bones, I've accepted the fact that time on the water and a lot of persistence will pay big dividends in due time and with all the hard work you've been putting in I see the results are paying off for you.
I've been sneeking peek at the SWAT Team reports and I'm convinced that I need to give the surf another shot.
Thanks for your reports, keep 'em coming and I'm sure the personal best of all personal best is coming your way very soon!:Thumbs Up::Thumbs Up:

[bones]

Nice job out on the surf line Mike very cool photos and report. Next time put that octo on a hook i know the calicos eat them in the rocks... See you soon,,




Bigred

Thanks Lucas...........I'm glad we are going to do a "Pirate attack" today buddy. It's been too long since we have fished together!


Yea, Yea, Yea!!!!!! Tough Week my you know what!

The hardest part was probably the stress off finding time to type the report!!!!!!

Wish I could get that kind of freedom to exercise before and after work!

I have to take the week off from fishing as there is plenty of mud to keep me busy at work for weeks!!!!!!!

Good luck out there Buddy on this weeks adventure!!!!

Steve

Thanks alot Steve. Alot of people get up early to go to the gym or to go jogging before work. I just choose to watch the sunrise and do a few hours of fishing instead. Pretty soon the wet weather will shut all of this "Free Time" down though.


Thank's for the fish porn. It's nice to see that the flatties are still all around the coast. I'm sure you'll hook-up with that fatty and forget all about the smallie to legal ratio. I can't even imagine how many pms you already got about that spot. Hope I get the chance to bump into you and Art someday!

If you have any luck repainting that LC, let me know. :Big Grin:

Thanks.......The flatties are still around....you just have to work for them that's for sure. You got it right about all of the PM's. Amazing how many people want a free hand out these days.


GREAT REPORT BONES,,,,,LOTS OF ACTION,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,t/o

Thanks Bob. A big thumbs up from you ALWAYS makes my day....LOL


Thanks for the detailed and very informative report. I'm trying to get some surf gear together so I can fish some of those boiler rocks. I wanna hookup with one of those nice calicos! Nice going as always out there.

Thanks Jaysuuun........Pretty soon you and your girl will be fishing all of the kelp and boilers. Those checkers sure do pull hard. Pound for pound.....much harder than flatties!


Good Job out there brotha.

Whoa......Jess arises from the dead. When are ya going to hit it up with us brotha? It's been too long dude!


Bones, I've accepted the fact that time on the water and a lot of persistence will pay big dividends in due time and with all the hard work you've been putting in I see the results are paying off for you.
I've been sneeking peek at the SWAT Team reports and I'm convinced that I need to give the surf another shot.
Thanks for your reports, keep 'em coming and I'm sure the personal best of all personal best is coming your way very soon!:Thumbs Up::Thumbs Up:

Thanks Terry. No "Give Me's" for sure and it has been alot of hard work to find the spots that produce. Apparently you are going to have a good shot at the surf this sunday. Even though I wasn't invited you might even bump into me somewhere on the sand. Good luck out there and stick a BIG GIRL for me!

[yacker]

wow, great report and pictures! thanks for sharing and continued good luck out there...

[lngbchfnhnter]

ABSOLUTE GREAT REPORT!! Very informative! That long day really paid off with an awesome variety fish.. Looking forward to your future reports.:Thumbs Up::Thumbs Up:

[farmacist]

Nice one bonesey! Great report & great pics. I wish I remebered how to fish, I would love to get in on some of that action w/ you.

[Santa Fe Eric]

Mike,
Just got the Net back up an am playing catch up on posts! This is one fantastic report! That Sandwich looked just as good as the Halibut!

Congrats!
E