PDA

View Full Version : The "Afternoon Blues Bite" in NPH



flyngby
03-02-2010, 11:19 PM
Usually there is a scrappy sfternoon bite in the harbor but not today! Left the house at noon and made a quick stop at "Save on Tackle" in Santa Fe Springs on the way to pick up some swim baits. I found a new color that caught my eye.

Arrived at about 1:30 pm and was just prepared to spend some time sizing up the conditions and get in some precision casting practice before the sun set and it was game time.

Started throwing the new color for me and after a few casts I get a solid hit and some drag pulling and slack! And the swimmy comes back looking like this!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020242.jpg
Good sign so I throw to the same spot and repeat of the last cast!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020239.jpg
I guess they like the new pattern! I make another 50 or so casts for not even a nudge and am now ready to pull a switch to the go to spottie special but decided to try 1 more cast that produces the first fish of the day.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020231.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020232.jpg
Always fun fighting and taking pics of the fight when you are by yourself. A nice 13" chubby to start of the afternoon.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020233.jpg
Released her and then bellyed up to a dock in naval deep water and the next battle was on!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020235.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020234.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020236.jpg
Release her and next cast to the same dock produces another just slightly bigger!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020240.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020241.jpg
Next action was a miss on a nice spotty that came racing out from under a nearly beached sail boat just as I was lifting the swimmy out of the water at my feet! I think she was as surprised as I was and she made an abrupt u-turn and sent water splashing into my face!

Spent a few trying to entice it to come out and play again but it was not to be! Proceeded to cast to the nest dock for this little guy!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020243.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020245.jpg
Next to play was another Harbor Pancake!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020246.jpg
And a smaller spot.
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020248.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020249.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020251.jpg
As the sun set and after a short move these guys came to play!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020252.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020255.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020256.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/P3020258.jpg

Not a bad afternoon in the harbor vs. sitting at home with the forecast of rain!

8 Spotties and 1 Pancake

Until next time.

Steve

Fishbones
03-02-2010, 11:44 PM
gotta love nph.....great job sticking with the color steve and thanks for the report......fishbones

fish_sauce
03-03-2010, 01:01 AM
Good to see you're fallin' back into the groove again Steve, those pics turned out great! Thankyou for the report. :Cool:

DockRat
03-03-2010, 06:24 AM
WTG Steve. I can see why you guys always go to NPH vs more challenging (less fishy) waters.
DR

fisherman from long beach
03-03-2010, 07:41 AM
every time i see a nph thread i got to go.maybe see you out there.nice pics and report.

BrandonFish
03-03-2010, 11:46 AM
~~~Sweet Spotties!!! great report damn rite beats watching the forecast anyday

Jaysuuun
03-03-2010, 05:09 PM
Hey Steve I've got that new color in my tackle box. Bought a few of them as my "murky" water swimbaits, but haven't used them yet. It's nice to see the new color produce some quality spotties for you. I'm starting to get the spottie itch reading this report. :Cool:

murrieta angler
03-03-2010, 05:31 PM
Great job out there Steve,
I have yet to hit NPH, but my time is coming soon.
I will make sure to buy a few of those colored softies before I head there.
Thanks again for the report and pics,
Robert

p.s. I've been skunked last 3 times, so I havent' posted in a while.

CAPT'N
03-03-2010, 07:07 PM
Nice fish Steve, glad to see you back on the water............

Capt'n

bones
03-03-2010, 07:40 PM
Great job in the harbor Steve!
Looks like a solid day of dock pounding.

Yeah....I'm going nuts but I just don't want to have to drive all of the way to NPH to get on some SW action. Normally I would have already hit up Ventura but did you see what the Tsunami did to my old honey hole?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imfd2tTpxv4

Grunion runs in a few weeks my friend.........

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunionschedule.asp#runs

Can't wait until the flatties follow them in!

btw......We are going to need some shin guards for some of our spots from last season my friend......Ugggh.....More SWAT gear!

Tesserz
03-03-2010, 09:59 PM
Ooo nice ones out there Steve!
Looks like the spotties are lovin the new color. We'll keep that in mind. :Wink:
It's been a couple weeks since we've been out and Jason's getting a lil ansy. hahah.
I saw on Jason's old bday post that we may be having a sequel??? Yipeee!!!!!! :Fishing Catch:

Btw I just realized that we haven't seen you since that day! Definitely need to meet up again soon.

Native Gal
03-03-2010, 10:00 PM
Cpt. Flyngby,
Glad to see you back out on the water. Nice lil session, thanks for the pixs and post. Love those lil chubby spotties.

NG
:Big Grin:

Wingnut
03-04-2010, 06:55 PM
S.W.A.T. Captain, I see you are keeping yourself sharp in our little hiatus. :Wink:
You haven't loss your touch my friend.
Fresh or salt... I WILL fish this Sunday! :Twisted:

jerryG
03-05-2010, 01:15 AM
Steve,

On foot or on boat you really have the harbor dialed. Glad to see you made it out and got in to the fish. Well done my Friend. Looking forward to fishing with you soon.


Jerryg

klocked
03-05-2010, 12:44 PM
Afternoon blues? I was nearly expecting to read about a 1-2 fish trip. Looks like good numbers imo.:LOL:
Nice work out there Steve.



WTG Steve. I can see why you guys always go to NPH vs more challenging (less fishy) waters.
DR

Not sure what you mean by that comment but it's either ignorance or an insult coming from you. To give you the benefit of the doubt, I'll go with ignorance, since I doubt that you even fish. When targeting Spotties, there are 3 different bays or harbors in the Southern California area that hold Spotties that are worthwhile to bother fishing for them. NPH is the least productive of them all. Fish the hotspots in SD bay or Mission and compare the #'s and you'll see the difference.

bones
03-05-2010, 06:59 PM
Afternoon blues? I was nearly expecting to read about a 1-2 fish trip. Looks like good numbers imo.:LOL:
Nice work out there Steve.




Not sure what you mean by that comment but it's either ignorance or an insult coming from you. To give you the benefit of the doubt, I'll go with ignorance, since I doubt that you even fish. When targeting Spotties, there are 3 different bays or harbors in the Southern California area that hold Spotties that are worthwhile to bother fishing for them. NPH is the least productive of them all. Fish the hotspots in SD bay or Mission and compare the #'s and you'll see the difference.

I second that comment. I've yet to see that slay day from DR in NPH. That harbor is anything but a free handout. The spotties in NPH get a tremendous amount of pressure. Alot more than huntington or the bays and estuaries in SD county.

flyngby
03-05-2010, 11:22 PM
gotta love nph.....great job sticking with the color steve and thanks for the report......fishbones

Finding a new pattern is always nice vs. getting lintel of what they were chewing on yesterday! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!


Good to see you're fallin' back into the groove again Steve, those pics turned out great! Thankyou for the report. :Cool:

Just a short a way to pass time and relax until it is time to get into some "SWAT" action when it again heats up out there courtesy of Mother Nature.


WTG Steve. I can see why you guys always go to NPH vs more challenging (less fishy) waters.
DR

I don't always fish NPH if you were to look at all of my past posts! I do have a love for the harbor but also have other talents and locations.

I have experienced more challenging locations if you were to explore some of my posts. I will leave it in your hands to explore! Can't wait for Mother Nature to allow the "SWAT" to return to action!!!!!!
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/IMG_1912.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z286/flyngby/IMG_1913.jpg


every time i see a nph thread i got to go.maybe see you out there.nice pics and report.

See you there!


~~~Sweet Spotties!!! great report damn rite beats watching the forecast anyday

Thanks,

You must be able to interpret all of the weather info or you sometime end up in conditions like the pics above!


Hey Steve I've got that new color in my tackle box. Bought a few of them as my "murky" water swimbaits, but haven't used them yet. It's nice to see the new color produce some quality spotties for you. I'm starting to get the spottie itch reading this report. :Cool:

Jaysuuun,

Glad to see you followed my day with an excellent report yourself! Congrats on a nice day and the "Legal" you have been hunting for so long and the substandard spotties!!!!! Ha Ha



Great job out there Steve,
I have yet to hit NPH, but my time is coming soon.
I will make sure to buy a few of those colored softies before I head there.
Thanks again for the report and pics,
Robert

There is no daily pattern to what the Spotties are looking for! That will be your biggest challenge there!!!!! What worked today might not work tomorrow.

[QUOTE=CAPT'N;436181]Nice fish Steve, glad to see you back on the water............

Capt'n

Thanks Scott,

Pm me with any Intel of your events for this year with the LARRC as I had a great time helping the kids!


Great job in the harbor Steve!
Looks like a solid day of dock pounding.

Yeah....I'm going nuts but I just don't want to have to drive all of the way to NPH to get on some SW action. Normally I would have already hit up Ventura but did you see what the Tsunami did to my old honey hole?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imfd2tTpxv4

Grunion runs in a few weeks my friend.........

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunionschedule.asp#runs

Can't wait until the flatties follow them in!

btw......We are going to need some shin guards for some of our spots from last season my friend......Ugggh.....More SWAT gear!

I seem to think you are getting soft if you need the shin guards buddy!!!!!

So glad I looked at weather and decided on NPH not knowing of the disturbances that the other harbor I was going to target for my first Legal Flatster Of the new year. Awesome vid!

See you soon!


Ooo nice ones out there Steve!
Looks like the spotties are lovin the new color. We'll keep that in mind. :Wink:
It's been a couple weeks since we've been out and Jason's getting a lil ansy. hahah.
I saw on Jason's old bday post that we may be having a sequel??? Yipeee!!!!!! :Fishing Catch:

Btw I just realized that we haven't seen you since that day! Definitely need to meet up again soon.

Glad you emphasized (we) have not seen you since that day other wise my lovely wife of 18 years might have thought I had yet another Harbor Mermaid with your statement "Definitely need to meet up again soon".[/!!!!

Thanks NG,

You always respond to the Spotted Fever Reports! I hope not to disappoint in the future when I have to report for SWAT duties per my commander!


S.W.A.T. Captain, I see you are keeping yourself sharp in our little hiatus. :Wink:
You haven't loss your touch my friend.
Fresh or salt... I WILL fish this Sunday! :Twisted:

Hooks are sharp and waiting for a call Sir!!!!!!!!!!
[QUOTE=jerryG;436551]Steve,

On foot or on boat you really have the harbor dialed. Glad to see you made it out and got in to the fish. Well done my Friend. Looking forward to fishing with you soon.

Just one of my comfort zones Jerry! And I love sharing it with my new freinds that have respect for the future!

See ya soon!

[QUOTE=klocked;436625]Afternoon blues? I was nearly expecting to read about a 1-2 fish trip. Looks like good numbers imo.:LOL:
Nice work out there Steve.

Blues it was, Skies and Water! And a nice BITE!!!

Steve

blackwater
03-07-2010, 11:47 PM
Sweet Spotties Steve. On foot or on your vessel, you kick major butt in NPH. One of these days, maybe I can hop on the Spotted Fever with Arthur when you take her back out there again. Hopefully, I'll see you at the SWAT reunion tour next weekend. :Wink:

J12
03-15-2010, 03:24 PM
amazing afternoon! been there for the midday blues multiple times with no success good to see people have fun out there.