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View Full Version : NPH with the the "Spottie King from Shore"



flyngby
01-12-2010, 07:50 PM
Eddie "Hesbros" has been pestering me for a trip to NPH since the New Year. I had a busy week and could not get the time to prep the "Spotted Fever" for a trip! So I called Eddie on short notice on Monday at noon and told him I was on my way for a foot trip and was stopping by to pick up the Shore Master! It was our first trip together on foot.

We arrived about 1500 and suited up! Yes "Suited Up" I brought the waders after seeing his past few posts and wanted to use it to my advantage to fish structure that is not accessible from the shore.

Eddie chose a spot on the Peninsula and I was first to hit the water. Missed a good hit on the first cast. Eddie then came right up with his newest secret rigging weapon and pulled in a Tourney fish within a few casts at the same spot. The fish took him into a snag in the open water and he patiently worked it out for a nice start.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110031.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110033.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110037.jpg
He quickly flipped to a dock piling and was on #2.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110039.jpg
I was already being put to the coals so I decided to get aggressive and move right in and cast right into his spots to distract him and the tactic worked!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110041.jpg
I pulled my first fish although it would have taken a limit of these guys to measure up to his first fish.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110046.jpg
Followed by another a little bigger.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110035.jpg
Then Eddie got a little guy!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110042.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110043.jpg
I quickly followed with a nice kicker! Eddie has the pic!

We worked our way down to a spot and Eddie mentioned he wanted a Flattie!
We worked the area for a while and I noticed the sun was setting and really wanted to work the area we just worked on the way back to our starting spot. I went back around the corner to work it again.
I guess he did not hear me tell him I was going back up stream as it was the last I saw of him for about an hour! He looked around the corner and did not see me on the bite and took the streets back to the truck, looked around again and left a note on the truck as to his new location.

I managed 5 smaller spotties and a 16" Flattie on my return trip.
My last 2 pics before the camera battery took a dump.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110044.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P1110045.jpg
Eddie had worked his way to the north of the truck and in a few minutes that he had to fish before I called to find out where he was managed 2 very nice Spotties! He has the pics!
We met at the truck and made a move to a spot in the Back Bay for another 1/2 hour session at a spot that we found on our last boating trip and I wanted to try on foot.

Eddie of course pulled out another nice Quality Spottie at that location! We then called it a night!

NPH did not dissapoint once again!

Thanks Eddie forthe lessons from the shore and also on your ever changing tactics to get them!

Steve

fishnFF
01-12-2010, 08:00 PM
Nice work Gents!

old pudd fisher
01-12-2010, 08:00 PM
Very injoyable post with great pictuers thanks.

Rakie
01-12-2010, 08:19 PM
Yeah, great pictures.. Inspiring, for sure!

I'm pretty ready to give NPH a try. Sadly it's going to rain tonight, supposedly.

Hopefully friday i'll be able to head out.

ghetto dad
01-12-2010, 09:09 PM
nice job man....great report and pics!!!

one day, when i can get my license...ima start hitting NPH again.....

GD

Wingnut
01-12-2010, 10:13 PM
Not Spottie King Steve... Spottie Kings! :Envious: You & Eddie got the Spottie ground assault down to a science. Nice job gentlemen! :Big Grin:

bergie berg
01-12-2010, 10:21 PM
great job on the spots!!! cant wait to get out there later this week

lngbchfnhnter
01-12-2010, 10:25 PM
Man!! All that spottie action makes me was to take a drive across town!:Envious:
Great work out there guys:Thumbs Up:!

Native Gal
01-12-2010, 10:39 PM
The epidemic is back, Spotted Fever, yeah!!!!
Congrats on the outing Gents! :Thumbs Up:.

NG
:Big Grin:

Rakie
01-13-2010, 08:19 AM
Too bad it rained today, I was going to head out to the surf around Huntington and try some things out.

murrieta angler
01-13-2010, 07:24 PM
Nice report and pics Steve...:Smile:
You most always seem to do well on your adventures out. Hesbros is a machine, does he ever get skunked at anything involving the water and it's inhabitants...:Razz:
Thanks Again,
Robert

ldsaylor
01-13-2010, 07:55 PM
Great job gentlemen! You nailed those spotties from shore! A couple real nice fish in there.. Love the pic of you jumping in on Eddie's spot! haha. Thanks for the post and the pics! Always enjoy the reports..

HESBROS
01-14-2010, 06:24 AM
Like Steve siad, this was our first trip together from shore in NPH and it was fun as always. It seemed we fished the same tactic from shore as boat which is hammer the same spots one after the other. Not one ot two casts in one spot, but more like 10+.

Here are the pics I took.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1953.jpg

After Steve released this guy he swam up out of the water 3 times before he got him heading in the right direction.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1954.jpg

A nice fish coming to color.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1955.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1956.jpg

It was dark now and I was wondering around looking for Steve, actually walking by him 3 times and not seeing him. So during my search I made a few casts.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1957.jpg

"Ten Forty Two" for you NPH locals that have fished with me!
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1960.jpg

He was in no hurry to go hide after the release.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm172/ehesbol/IMG_1961.jpg


My new to me and NPH technique?????? Carolina rigging with 1/16 slider and a Berkley Gulp Jerk Shad!
Slow to drop and slow retrieve!

Another great day of fishing! Thanks Steve, it was great fishing with you. Seems like we dont get out together as often as we used to.
Take care and keep an eye on the rising river in your backyard.

Eddie

BIGRED KILLA
01-14-2010, 12:29 PM
Thanks for the report Steve looks like it was a nice day on the shore for some nice spottie action i need to go back out there esp since the surf is up.




Bigred

LunkerLover
01-14-2010, 12:47 PM
My new to me and NPH technique?????? Carolina rigging with 1/16 slider and a Berkley Gulp Jerk Shad!
Slow to drop and slow retrieve!



Eddie

Oh, WHAT !?!?! :Shocked: Never even thought of that in the bay ... I'm usually 100% drop shot and jig head ... Can't wait to try it!:Fishing Catch:

Rakie
01-14-2010, 04:12 PM
Oh, WHAT !?!?! :Shocked: Never even thought of that in the bay ... I'm usually 100% drop shot and jig head ... Can't wait to try it!:Fishing Catch:

Most people seem to use the Jerk Shads, I really think I need to pick a few more colors of them up.

HESBROS
01-14-2010, 06:28 PM
Most people seem to use the Jerk Shads, I really think I need to pick a few more colors of them up.

Camo seems to be the right color right now. Anything with green should do well too.

Rakie
01-14-2010, 06:38 PM
Camo seems to be the right color right now. Anything with green should do well too.

I noticed that in pictures ~ I have no green Jerk Shads, picked up a 3" Emerald Shiner minnow today, id probably have picked up a 5" watermelon type color if they had it.

I did notice one possible problem ~ I'm using the Minnows, not the *actual* salt water "jerk baits". I just got it based off looks, totally disregarding the scent. Not sure how much of a negative effect that could have.

flyngby
01-14-2010, 09:14 PM
I noticed that in pictures ~ I have no green Jerk Shads, picked up a 3" Emerald Shiner minnow today, id probably have picked up a 5" watermelon type color if they had it.

I did notice one possible problem ~ I'm using the Minnows, not the *actual* salt water "jerk baits". I just got it based off looks, totally disregarding the scent. Not sure how much of a negative effect that could have.

Rakie,

My last trip of "09" I Drop Shotted 3" Gulp Alive in various colors and they jumped all over it! I tried the 3" Big Hammer Spottie Special and they wanted nothing to do with it!

This trip I tried the same under the same tide conditions, same time of day, and they wanted nothing to do with it! I went to the Spottie Special and it was the ticket for me!

I have a nickname for Eddie "Special ED" He could catch fish on "Cow Pew"

Stick with it and success will come your way!!!!!!

Steve

Rakie
01-14-2010, 09:26 PM
Rakie,

My last trip of "09" I Drop Shotted 3" Gulp Alive in various colors and they jumped all over it! I tried the 3" Big Hammer Spottie Special and they wanted nothing to do with it!

This trip I tried the same under the same tide conditions, same time of day, and they wanted nothing to do with it! I went to the Spottie Special and it was the ticket for me!

I have a nickname for Eddie "Special ED" He could catch fish on "Cow Pew"

Stick with it and success will come your way!!!!!!

Steve


Hah, well thanks very much. I just went through the trouble of messaging you Flyngby, if only I had read this first! You inadvertently nailed a good number of my nooby questions without reading my PM :)

I'll have to stick with it and see what works for me and try and get adjusted to this harbor stuff!

You all make it look so easy.

Tight lines
~Rakie.

Alexi
01-14-2010, 09:41 PM
great pics and report!!! going to hit it up down there next week!

HESBROS
01-14-2010, 10:11 PM
I noticed that in pictures ~ I have no green Jerk Shads, picked up a 3" Emerald Shiner minnow today, id probably have picked up a 5" watermelon type color if they had it.

I did notice one possible problem ~ I'm using the Minnows, not the *actual* salt water "jerk baits". I just got it based off looks, totally disregarding the scent. Not sure how much of a negative effect that could have.

Here is what I have to say. Some kind of green Jerk Shads! Though I have caught them on many colors. I also use the Emerald Shiner, on the D/S, one of my favorites actually. Fresh or Salt flavors dont really matter if you ask me, it is all about some sort of scent.

If you are using swimbaits, and you are not using "calico cocktail" get some and try it.

Location: fish the docks, during the day, fish the shadowed side, tough during the middle of the day.

When retrieving, dont give up, I mean, slow retrieve all the way to your feet, they will hang in a foot of water or sometimes less, especially under the docks!

Dont be fooled by the lack of structure, a big opening between two docks will old fish. Look for steep drop offs!

Good luck

Alexi
01-14-2010, 10:31 PM
If you are using swimbaits, and you are not using "calico cocktail" get some and try it.


Good luck

no to go off topic, but i have heard RAVE reviews on this stuff, i bought some, and have caught zero fish while using it. using the big hammer 3-5' size and a different variety of colors. any suggestions as to why?

great tips by the way for fishing the docks :Wink:

HESBROS
01-14-2010, 10:40 PM
no to go off topic, but i have heard RAVE reviews on this stuff, i bought some, and have caught zero fish while using it. using the big hammer 3-5' size and a different variety of colors. any suggestions as to why?

great tips by the way for fishing the docks :Wink:

With out knowing what you are fishing for and where, it is hard to make any suggestions....

Here is a fact I can tell you......About two years ago, when I first started fishing spotties with my buddy Steve we were out his boat in NPH. I had never used Calico Cocktail, and Steve was using it....it was about a 1-5 ratio on hook ups with Calico Cocktail on the upside. So, I dont think you have to have it, but it certainly helps, and I think they hit harder and hold on longer with the scent.....

JMO

Eddie

MikeAce00
01-14-2010, 11:47 PM
no to go off topic, but i have heard RAVE reviews on this stuff, i bought some, and have caught zero fish while using it. using the big hammer 3-5' size and a different variety of colors. any suggestions as to why?

great tips by the way for fishing the docks :Wink:

Be sure to use the super gel formula. Its a huge improvement over the original sauce.

Jaysuuun
01-14-2010, 11:55 PM
Damn, the both of you guys make a deadly combination out there. Those Spotties have no where to hide when you guys are out in the harbor. :Twisted:

Steve, I'm sorry to say, but you will never get Eddie back out into the surf if this spottie slayage continues. :LOL:

Eddie, carolina rig!? What will be your next latest and greatest technique? Flylining a bare hook? :ROFL:

Awesome job as always! You guys make it look so easy. :Cool:

Rakie
01-15-2010, 07:30 AM
Here is what I have to say. Some kind of green Jerk Shads! Though I have caught them on many colors. I also use the Emerald Shiner, on the D/S, one of my favorites actually. Fresh or Salt flavors dont really matter if you ask me, it is all about some sort of scent.

If you are using swimbaits, and you are not using "calico cocktail" get some and try it.

Location: fish the docks, during the day, fish the shadowed side, tough during the middle of the day.

When retrieving, dont give up, I mean, slow retrieve all the way to your feet, they will hang in a foot of water or sometimes less, especially under the docks!

Dont be fooled by the lack of structure, a big opening between two docks will old fish. Look for steep drop offs!

Good luck

Thanks much for the response!

Yeah I'm not using a scent at the moment, I'll have to pick some up next time I go pickup a few more big hammer colors.

fisherman from long beach
01-15-2010, 07:42 AM
Here is what I have to say. Some kind of green Jerk Shads! Though I have caught them on many colors. I also use the Emerald Shiner, on the D/S, one of my favorites actually. Fresh or Salt flavors dont really matter if you ask me, it is all about some sort of scent.

If you are using swimbaits, and you are not using "calico cocktail" get some and try it.

Location: fish the docks, during the day, fish the shadowed side, tough during the middle of the day.

When retrieving, dont give up, I mean, slow retrieve all the way to your feet, they will hang in a foot of water or sometimes less, especially under the docks!

Dont be fooled by the lack of structure, a big opening between two docks will old fish. Look for steep drop offs!

Good luckhesbros i really noticed that about wide opning between two docks ,it really good when tide is moving, cast opposite of current and retrieve slowly and lure works its way toward other dock ,i have nailed them.that way.you give great advice for us noobs to go out and try.maybe on the float:Big Grin:

HESBROS
01-15-2010, 07:59 AM
hesbros i really noticed that about wide opning between two docks ,it really good when tide is moving, cast opposite of current and retrieve slowly and lure works its way toward other dock ,i have nailed them.that way.you give great advice for us noobs to go out and try.maybe on the float:Big Grin:

As you know, Steve and I put in alot of time in NPH working those spotties. Steve has seen some things and I too have seen some things and have put them all together for what we believe are some habits of those little rascals.

One thing we believe is that they dont always just sit under the docks or near the structure waiting for something to swim by. They cruise around along the banks looking or hunting, sometimes in packs. We catch them on beaches where the docks are a long ways away.

Good luck out there......The one thing I do know for sure is that once you get into the spotties the habit is hard to break. I think I spend more time fishing spotties from shore than I do taking our boat out for the inshore/offshore fishing.

HESBROS
01-15-2010, 08:01 AM
Heck, now that I am thinking about it, if you can do it, a weightless set up with a jerk shad might be the ticket right now.

fisherman from long beach
01-15-2010, 08:24 AM
ive tried ,maybe 1/8 ounce on alive gulp shad,and i have hittem up.i also like the same get up with 3in white grub.maily ive been on the d/s.

Rakie
01-15-2010, 12:53 PM
ive tried ,maybe 1/8 ounce on alive gulp shad,and i have hittem up.i also like the same get up with 3in white grub.maily ive been on the d/s.

Yeah I've been drop shotting for years for large mouth bass, sounds like it's a newer technique for a lot of you harbor / surf fishing guys. (At least finesse style) but I know it's been used off the piers for many years with those huge pyramid 2oz weights !