first time going out to the surf, what do you think?

[eyedea]

so i ravaged my local k-mart for what i could( not much). i have been really itching to try surf fishing so i finally went to get all the stuff and not surprisingly k-mart didnt have much. this is what i have so far.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00011-20100424-2028.jpg
i got the small box like the surf perch 101 article said and i wasnt able to get any grubs and the bottom one are camo worms like the guide said, but they werent the gulp 2" ones so i was going to cut them. i got the smaller swim baits to try out. this is pretty much all my other saltwater tackle
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00010-20100424-2028.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00008-20100424-2027.jpg
so i have a few questions before i go out. will this work, or am i doomed to failure? if there is anything u absolutely need let me know; i am going to try to hit virg's landing in morro bay before i go out if they are open. also i was thinking of trying cayucos beach unless the pier would be better. my other question is the two reels on the rods are exactly the same, and kinda old, not sure what brand, but re-lined with new line. the third is a abu garcia cardinal 104, which looking around is a freshwater reel but would it work better than these other ones?
this is my plan thur far: go to the beach fish that using a basic carolina rig mentioned in fisherman 57's post, and if that doesnt work i am going to try using my swimbaits that i bought and possibly this blue silver kastmaster mentioned in 57's post( unfortunately mine's 1/4 oz. not the 1/8 like he mentioned) and hope to try sand crabs if all else fails(if my hooks will work for them)
that being said PLEASE any and all suggestions feel free to tell me.

[eyedea]

here's a tide chart.
http://www.saltwatertides.com/cgi-local/california.cgi
i was thinking of showing up hopefully around 7:30 and fishing the low tide

[Fishbones]

it looks like your on the right track....but i dont see and hard baits....especially the halibut killer the world famous L.C....
they dont carry them at k-mart so your gonna have to bust a mission.....also the hooks pictured look like big ol octopus hooks....
you will need smaller hooks for the sandcrabs.

[eyedea]

ok thanks!
this might sound like a dumb question, but what does LC stand for? i am going to try virg's tomorrow if they are open at 7am( i have looked online, but no luck finding their hours). what would be some good suggestions for hardbait? i am going for perch first because i REALLY dont want to get skunked and not catch anything, but if i would LOVE to try catching some halibut. also i have some premade hook to line sets that i could just get the hook from( i thought i would need a bigger hook for sand crabs!) it says "size 1/0" if that helps. no major brand name so ya. here is a pic:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00012-20100424-2205.jpg

[cjmedina]

lc is luckycraft http://www.luckycraft.com/luckycrafthome/products/jerkbait/humpbackminnow50sp.htm

[Fishbones]

[QUOTE=eyedea;451679]ok thanks!
this might sound like a dumb question, but what does LC stand for? i am going to try virg's tomorrow if they are open at 7am( i have looked online, but no luck finding their hours). what would be some good suggestions for hardbait? i am going for perch first because i REALLY dont want to get skunked and not catch anything, but if i would LOVE to try catching some halibut. also i have some premade hook to line sets that i could just get the hook from( i thought i would need a bigger hook for sand crabs!) it says "size 1/0" if that helps. no major brand name so ya. here is a pic:


use a #8 or #6 hook, depending on the size of the crab.

[eyedea]

ok cool!
thanks for the pictures! i will pick up one or two at the tackle store tomorrow before i go out as well as some hooks for those SC's. (just a carolina rig for them?) thanks for all the last minute help. i will post up how we did tomorrow

[Fishbones]

ok cool!
thanks for the pictures! i will pick up one or two at the tackle store tomorrow before i go out as well as some hooks for those SC's. (just a carolina rig for them?) thanks for all the last minute help. i will post up how we did tomorrow

no worries bro i just want you to catch some fish,good luck and remember lots of pics...lol

[bsp]

http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/showthread.php?41562-Intro-So-you-want-to-catch-halibut-from-the-surf...&p=451145#post451145

When you want to try for halibut. Perch are a much better bet since there are a lot of them and they'll eat almost any artificials. Plus, there are a lot of huge surf perch in your area.

I don't know too much about halibut fishing in the surf that far North though. Morro bay seems to be a lot better for rock cod. I'm sure there are halibut, but haven't seen much reports at all about them from shore.

Maybe take some of the swimbaits and try around jetties with heavier line for rock cod instead of halibut?

[eyedea]

ok, so i went to virg's and picked up some mogf(i messed up and got the gold flake. they also did not have any LC's so i will have to order some). went up to north cayucos, i took a snapshot of where i fished.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00023-20100425-0844.jpg
what you dont see in the picture is to the left there is a freshwater stream that filters in. like this other one i was looking at maybe fishing. i actually got there right at the end of high tide because my friend bailed after waiting for like 30 min for him


no worries bro i just want you to catch some fish,good luck and remember lots of pics...lol
this was my biggest and only catch.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00027-20100425-0919.jpg
i proceeded to hook it onto there and try that. i think i did it wrong though lol. i will check out that site for using SC. all in all i needed to check that my gear worked, and it does. i think i am going to try that same area i first tried but closer to the stream and farther from the rocks(lost 2 hooks within a couple minutes)
on important thing is how do i know the difference between the wave and a bite? i kept thinking i was getting a bite, but im pretty sure it was the wave. i mean i am using a 1/2oz weight and a short leader, so should i step up the weight?



http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/showthread.php?41562-Intro-So-you-want-to-catch-halibut-from-the-surf...&p=451145#post451145

When you want to try for halibut. Perch are a much better bet since there are a lot of them and they'll eat almost any artificials. Plus, there are a lot of huge surf perch in your area.

I don't know too much about halibut fishing in the surf that far North though. Morro bay seems to be a lot better for rock cod. I'm sure there are halibut, but haven't seen much reports at all about them from shore.

Maybe take some of the swimbaits and try around jetties with heavier line for rock cod instead of halibut?

i read that one too! very informative and i bought 2 premade rigs to try it out, but i think youre right. hablibut arent very plentiful i hear and the guy i talked to suggested swim baits with like a 1 oz head( i thought that would be too big?). i actually am going to fish for rock cod out of my kayak once the season opens, but i wanted to try surf fishing because catching rock cod in my experience like off a boat wasnt very "thrilling" and wanted to try this to see if i would have some more fun.

sorry for the long winded reply. just trying to explain as best as possible. that being said i am going out again this friday to try again; probably at the same place and i am actually going to head out early this time so i can do everything right


also i figured i would google the area so you can give me your opinion
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cayucos,+CA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.092115,93.076172&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cayucos,+San+Luis+Obispo,+California&ll=35.448197,-120.908068&spn=0.001455,0.00284&t=h&z=19

[victor101]

Those hooks you are using are too big. Try size 6 or 4 mosquito hooks. when you hook the grub, thread it on the hook sort of like a swimbait. I usually do the same with the Gulp Camo Sandworms. When you hook the sandcrabs, penetrate in the body and come out the shell.

The hooks on those leadheads look like they might be too big as well. Next time head down to a tackle shop and if u have any questions on matching up hook size to swimbait size they should be able to help you out.

The halibut rig u have there works if you're fishing live finbait...usually on a boat but can also be used in the surf if u have live bait i suppose.

Try those Gulp Camo Sandworms to start with...

[eyedea]

first off before i say anything i just want to say thank you for all the information everyone!
ok, victor mosquito is the brand name, and 6 are the smaller ones right? i keep posting and getting told smaller, LOL. i just want to make sure im doing thins right. and i am going to try the sandworms because everyone says they are the best( sidenote, keep them in the baggie or is it ok to put in my mini tacklebox?)
ok lig a swimbait being like this?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00040-20100426-2318.jpg
or like this?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j97/disposablehero13/IMG00041-20100426-2319.jpg
i know the presentation looks horrible on both, but i just did it quick to see which one you meant

[Swank909]

Keep them in a baggie or they'll dry up on you, doesnt have to be the orginal bag but any sealing type (ziplock) bag will do, then you can put that in your mini tackle box. A swimbait would be rigged like you have it in the top pic.

(Mosquito is the type of hook not the brand name just like octopus / dropshot)

And that google maps image you linked shows alot of nice structure to fish :P

[eyedea]

thanks, ya thats what i figured on keeping them in the bag, but hey i have to make sure. also thanks for the answer on the swimbait question, i thought that was the way to rig it but i just wanted to make sure. this is all so new to me! my only experience is lake fishing in MN with spoons and spinners

[Which Way Out]

I like to be optimistic so be sure to get a tape measure when you get your LC's
Halibut need to be at least 22" measured NOT across the top but the flat surface of the white underside.
Like Victor101 said the Gulp Camo sand worms work great. Heck in 1 hour a caught 1 short halibut, 1 Herring and lots of surf perch. GOOD LUCK

[smokehound]

Every once in a while, I like to hook a fattie sandcrab and toss it out there with a very light rubbercore sinker.

less fish will attack it, but at least only the big ones can inhale the whole thing.

[Which Way Out]

Do read and follow the MASTER,( Wingnut ) reports before you buy anything else. His comments will speed you along better than anything else.
Good luck