JapanRon
07-20-2007, 04:02 PM
Summer Brings Moo-moo Fishing!
Hi there guys,
1) Tuesday’s Report
Went out on my usual ½-day-trip on the Southern Cal, out of Pierpoint to fish local waters i.e. fished Horseshoe Kelp. I went on the pm run as this trip has become kind of a regular thing along with Wednesdays’ trips. Like the boat as a fishing platform, crew, and the guys with which I often share a rail. Besides …. I need to learn something about fishing a late afternoon bite ... my least favorite part of the fishing day. Collin was the skipper, while Damian decked, Ed did galley duties, and Alex helped out on deck.
NEW: Countdown 1: Be aware that the annual Yo’s Tackle Shop event is going to be held this July, Sunday 22nd. This is one of the coolest informal get-togethers of saltwater anglers (mostly tuna and multi/long-range guys) this side of SD. Raffles …. Raffles ….. Raffles and great deals on all kinds of stuff. Bring cash at your own risk!! Wear your swag (young guys talk for T-shirts, hats and such) so we can recognize fellow-whatevers easily!!
Note: Countdown 2: Sand Bass …… Sand Bass numbers are growing substantially in the counts. Looking at water temps, it seems like we’ve stalled around 69º~70º. It’s about NOW that we should start to consistently have the fish counts including Sand Bass as the dominant species overall and over that of Calicos.
Note: Countdown 3: Remember there’s only 1 more week till school starts so get those kids out on the boats to take advantage of the Kids Fish for FREE deal at Pierpoint Landing.
Target Fish: Sandbass, Calicos, and Baarracuda
Short Report-Tuesday 07/17
35~40 anglers, including yours truly, caught lots of fish on the PM run. We focused on fishing Horseshoe Kelp for a possible Barracuda flurry (just two caught ..one mine) as well as the usual Calicos and Sand Bass.
Although we didn’t have boat limits (many did), I had a excellent day on limits of bass. My catch was Calicos 90% and Sand Bass 10%. I C&Red more that a few ‘option-shorts’ which, although technically legal, are not what I want to harvest. Grade of fish was not anything special with the top bass going maybe 3 pounds. Not many cookie-cutter fish in the mix which is a good sign.
Bass mix for the boat overall was more like 70/30 on Calicos and Sandbass. The Sand Bass just don’t seem to be here in the force we’ve seen in previous years ….. but that may change when we get into August. Excluding last years’ near non-event of course.
We did the usual pattern of most moo-moos at present and fished for a shot at Cuda and then settled in to a spot for the bass. For bait, there was both a mix of pinheads for chum and smaller Anchovies for hook-bait and Sardines … that’s the usual fare of what has been available recently although ……. some decent 2 ½ to 3-inch Anchovies are now being seen in the mix.
The AM run: Coming off the boat, there were 30+ anglers and it looked like they caught both Barracuda and Bass …….. from the sacks of the few who hadn’t elected to have them cleaned. The sooner fish are cleaned …the less strong fishy-smell and better they’re gonna taste.
Twilight: Twilight weekly schedule starts on Wednesdays so I saw no crowd this day.
(Please widen your view to fit monitor if word-wrap looks off)
07/17 Jackpot
Jackpot …………………..... Nice Fish!
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Barracuda Wins
Way to go on catching the jackpot fish! A Barracuda was the winner today. The near 8-lb fish was caught on bait.
Long Report
Lookin’ Back
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The Days Fishing
Out and Back ………………………………………….. ...............Currents!
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Grazing in the Pasture
Moo-moos This Week
Mo …………….……………................... .....Moo …………………….......................... Mooo
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Moooo ………………………..................... Mooooo …………………......................…Mooo ooo!!
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PBer’s This Week
First ………………………....................... . Second ……………………...................... Third
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Fourth …………………………................ Fifth
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Round-Up
Round 1
Nice View
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Round 1. There was no round 2 or 3 for the boat (moved but 2 times or so) or for …….. most of the anglers, as the majority of people pretty much used the exact-same rig as they started……. 4oz torpedo/dropper loop setup and finbait. Besides …. we pretty much stayed in the same area and fished. There’s an old anglers truism … ‘never leave biting fish for a possible better bite elsewhere’ …… well that’s close enough. If you do move, that’s when the hero or zero business comes into effect!
Had my buddies ‘IronMan’ Lil Ceez w/PHOTOG and Jimmy on the boat again. Those guys are so quiet …. ya gotta keep an eye on them to know when the catch a fish! We chummed steadily throughout the trip with pinhead Anchovies and had some decent abiet smaller Anchovies and dines in the mix. More and more guys were using plastic as the afternoon progressed. See Tuesday/Wednesday plastics section.
Conditions: Afternoon was clear and sunny with a comfortable breeze! Water visibility at 10~15 feet. Air temp stayed around 75º during the first part of the fishing day. Check out the graphics for additional weather and water conditions.
Gallery
Beauty of the Week
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Fish & Anglers
Nice ……………….. Rich ………………….......... Saber�s ……………....One of Limit
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Ready to Clean ………….......................... Nice Bunch
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Familys & Buddies
Grandad ……………….Dad & Daughter ……………… Nice Couple
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Fishin’ Buds ………………...... Ceez & Photog
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Other
Ouch ………………….................... Huh! ………………......................... Short Rope!
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Lots of Fish
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Let Them Know
The photos above are just a sample of the fish and things of interest, at least to me, on this trip. Note: If you see a friend in the pictures, let them know they can copy the photo off the report. Directions: Click the right button with the ‘cursor’ on the picture, then click on ‘save picture as’, next choose where they wish to copy the picture, and lastly click ‘save’. Later, they can edit and print the picture at their leisure with a simple photo-editing program.
Tweeking Plastics #35
Problem:
This is an indirect plastics-tweek but a plastics related tweek none-the-less! This hint is ….it’s for our leadheads. If you use painted, enameled, or color coated leadheads, you will find that most of the lazy manufacturers don’t usually or consistently/properly finish their products. That is …. they don’t remove the eye-bugers from the leadhead-hook eyes! What do most guys do out fishing? …. why …. use another leadhead to clean out the eye. What does this do ….. it dulls the hook point ….. that’s right dulls it!
Of particular note, just putting a hole in the plugged eyelet large enough to run a line through is NOT what’s required. If you wish to tie a line securely on an eyelet (other than Palomar knot) and there is paint left on the eyelet ….. the paint or epoxy may crack or wear off after being tied ….. thus loosening the knots wrap and losing fish or a swimbait.
Goal:
1) Open a hole in a leadhead eyelet.
2) Take out the remaining paint left on the inside of the eyelet.
3) Remove all the paint or whatever from the entire hook-eye down to the body of the leadhead.
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Devices:
A number of solutions to this unfortunate reality is to 1) have a pair of fishermans’ clippers with a tool on one end made into an eyelet cleaner, 2) have a pair of the above gadget, or 3) have a cheap pair of larger-sized finger-nail clippers.
Solutions:
The first option is not as easy to use as the edges of the tool are dull and takes too much effort to do a decent job. The second option1, in my opinion, is not viable as the device is practically unusable in doing a proper job. As strange as it sounds, I think the third option is cheaper, replaced easily, and does it all. That is …… 1) use the corners of the jaws to punch a hole in the eyelet and 2) use the flat area of the jaws to crack and or scrape away the remaining material.
Finishing Touch:
If you’re doing the above at home, go ahead and coat the area at the point where the painted body and the hook meet. This should seal the leadhead from intrusion of saltwater due to the removal of the paint or epoxy from the eyelet and hook wire.
*1 I think this version of the device was designed for freshwater leadheads. The punch and receiving aperture is too small for the larger eyelets and heavier gage wire used for most saltwater leadheads. The angle of the punch and receiver is such that a complete clearing of the eyelet of most leadheads is impossible. Nuff said! It does look cool though!
Plastics
Plastics Outperformed ‘Em All
Limits ……………................................... ..........Cuda Killer ……………….............. Calico Killers!
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Sandy Suckers!
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Consistency Counts
I don’t think I’ll be contradicted by my fishing buddies …. the plastics worked to catch more fish consistently throughout the days’ trip than bait or iron! Right guys! Had lots of guys giving up on this and that and going with whatever plastics they had at hand. Grade of fish? The iron usually takes that honor but plastics did pretty well.
Tuesday- The PM trip was typical of the afternoon trips with a little wind, wind-waves, and swell from the get-go. These conditions, proximity to structure, and chumming pretty much dictate ones options as to how to best fish the plastics. I chose to fish far out and the top half of the water column. This got me most of my fish. We chummed steadily throughout the trip.
Tackle:
Fished my usual 9-foot SW bass rod and Ambassaduer 6500C outfit with Izorlines’ super-tough … XXX 15lb-test. Red leadhead and plastic did well but a number of other colors worked great too. For Calicos, the Kalin pearl body and dark-green back and the rainbow trout model in the 4-inch length did well. Blam rainbow trout color was also hot. For Sandies, it seemed like more subdued colors …… especially brown colored swimbaits worked best. For leadheads I used mostly ½-oz, 3/8oz,(dart head) and then ¼-oz triangular red, yellow, and color-coordinated leadhead/swimbaits.
How I Did It! (book title from Young Frankenstien):
Having forced myself to fish the mid and late afternoon, which I have disliked comparatively speaking, I’ve learned a little on using the wind, waves, and current to put action on my swimbaits. What did I notice:
1) If you manipulate your line, with purpose, so it is caught in the wind, your swimbait will stay on top or near the surface longer and …… be more maneuverable. The current will also not have such a strong effect on the lure in a current drift or boat swing.
2) Just the opposite, by keeping your rod tip down and line in the water, the wind will not have such a strong effect on the rate of decent or drift of your swimbait in the current as otherwise.
3) By skillfully using the above conditions, you can lighten the weight of your leadhead …. which … not only allows the swimbait to suspend longer and have a more realistic action but it is easier to tell a hit or strike.
4) Timing of your cast in relation to the boats’ swing is important if you know where the fish are holding in relation to the structure anchored upon. Also …. by casting correctly … you’ll not get tangled with other anglers lines drifting out behind the boat.
5) Retrieve speed is also important. One only need remember that the longer a swimbait is in the ‘zone’, the more chances of a hit. If you can manage to retrieve the plastic slowly or be nearly suspended yet have the swimbait swim like crazy when passing through the crest of a wave or swell …. you’re doing it right a good percentage of the time. Other times …. A straight grind from the second the plastic hits the water is the fish-getter. IMHO
6) One cannot help remember that lighter pound-test line, assuming it’s also smaller in diameter, (either main or leader) will not be carried by wind, waves, or swell as much as heavier test lines.
7) Lastly ….. when bass fishing recently I have divided my strategy into one for Calico and one for Sandies. Correct or not …. I’m using heavier leadheads (1/2, 3/4oz) and allowing myself heavier test lines (15lb-test main and 15lb-test fluorocarbon leader) for fishing deeper for Sandbass. I’m using lighter leadheads (1/4, 3/8, 1/2oz) and lighter pound-test lines (15lb-test main and 8lb-test fluorocarbon leader) for Calicos. Bump that up to 15~20lb-test leader if cuda are in the vicinity. 15 or 20lb-test ? …… depends on how the cuda are biting.
Wednesday- The ¾-day trips give one both a morning and an afternoon shot at the fish. First thing in the morning, as a warm-up, I decided to fish for Barracuda. 20 minutes got 1 fish on board and one bite-off. That’s enough for me!
Tackle:
Fished my newest 9-foot saltwater bass rod and a Shakespeare SKP 4500 reel spooled with Izorlines’ clear … XXX 15lb-test. Used a red 5/8thoz leadhead and 4-inch red metalflake blam on a 20lb-test, 5-foot fluorocarbon leader to get the one Barracuda I wanted to catch.
Techniques were pretty much as we’ve been working the last few weeks.
1) Caught a few bass at the first stop on the ‘Shoe’ but it wasn’t worth staying for the number or grade of fish.
2) We next fished for Sculpin with success further outside on the Sculpin grounds and I got a quick limit plus as well. I used my old Texas style rigged swimbait for a fish every drop. Lots of guys were using 6~8 oz torpedo drop-loop setups when all I needed was a 1 1/2oz leadhead and 1 1/2oz sliding egg sinker rig.
3) Lastly we came back a little inside and fished the rest of the day for Calicos and Sandies. I avoided catching any more cuda. How ….. Danger !! Danger !! If you didn’t want to catch barries with plastics …. you couldn’t retrieve your bait very quickly. Reel too fast through the water-column and ….. you were hooked up!! And often …. Recently there have been lots of Sealions ready to play with the cuda but ……. not eat it! Result is the same … lost fish …. and lost swimbait!! Remember when I lose a rig … I lo$e a special split ring, leadhead, swimbait, 5 feet of fluorocarbon, and a special swivel in the worst case.
I pretty much used what I had learned Tuesday to fish the Calicos and Sandies on Wednesday.
Tuesday Out There
Lunar …………………………………………†¦.... Wind Direction and Speed!
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Tides …………………………………………†¦â€¦................................. Water Temps!
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UV Alert!
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Tuesday’s Conditions
Fishing Grounds: Check pics and stats!!
Wild Creatures: Saw many Sealions say …… 2~4 at a time. Few Cormorants, Pelicans, or but Terns and Seagulls were around especially when it was time to clean fish.
Asides
Aside:
DFG Questions
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Need Help?
Email Address Do you have a question concerning the DFG marine fishing regs? Need help in ID~ing a fishy or have questions on DFG marine related issues? E-mail your questions to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov (mailto:AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov). I haven’t used this feature as yet so I can say how long of a response time one might expect.
Another Aside:
Handi-Fishing
Electric Get-abouts
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Landing Office Accommodations
One landing I patronize has one angler that apparently has an electric get-about which he uses to bring his fishing gear to the boat and then parks the vehicle inside the landings’ tackle shop area. If one thinks about it, one might 1) have an easier time of bringing ones rods and tackle box, etc. to the boat in a single run and 2) it would be safer to have the thing off the carrier device on the vehicle and secure.
From what I’ve seen …. most ….. I say most landings …. utilize a ramp w/rollers connecting the landing to the docks. As the tide raises and lowers the boat docks …. The ramp rolls along a track for a smooth change in the degree of the ramps incline. I don’t imagine that the normal range of incline would cause a problem for one of these electric powered vehicles.
Yet Another Aside:
A Nice Read This is a blatant plug for the little fish paper Fish Rap that could. Don’t know the people running that operation or it writers (comes with the long-standing Log marine boating topics paper) but …… it’s hands-on approach to local fishing modern up-scale, and 4-color design makes it a fun paper to pick up (FREE) the every two weeks it’s published. Articles for everyone at every level. I like the contests for readers to win a variety of stuff ….. especially ….. the kids’ ‘kiss a fish’ photo contest.
If you haven’t come across this publication at your local fishy store or landing …. have a look. If management is reading this …….. your publishing costs may go down, admittedly a very small amount, if you had both ‘Rap’ displayed separately as well as included with the Log. That’s unless you’re publishing for numbers to sustain maximum advertising revenue! ;) Some anglers I know, including myself, at the landings take the …… ahem ….. Rap …. and toss the rest. Too long out of the business to know specifics now! :)
Near Last Aside:
Mooooooo!
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Good Sized Loads
We’ve had mostly ½ to ¾-capacity loads overall this week at most landings ……. fishing the Barracuda, Sandbass, and Calico Bass bite but still awaiting the Sand Bass ‘Rush’ yet to appear. Many landings (doing twilights) are running between 1 and 5 twilight trips a week and are showing respectable numbers. Last weeks’ ‘Pack ‘em On’ award goes AGAIN to A boat that went95 for 99 angler capacity for their 1/2-day, pm trip.
I’ve decided it’s counter-productive to name names as the guys that pack these boats to the gills obviously could care less what people think or how difficult it would be to fish on a boat with 80, 90, or 100 anglers.
Interesting Marketing
There is a reason these boats have the numbers they do so …….. hop aboard these fish-getters while the bite is strong. Good to see our moo-moos getting the business that will help them survive through the lean late-Fall and Winter months. At least one landing is reporting numbers (angler and catch totals) for their half-day trips (2 trips a day) with two figures … that is ….. 1) total anglers and 2) total fish caught. We get a break though …. as at least they break down the ‘caught fish’ totals into species! � If you want to check the AM/PM ’catch trends’ (as I often do to simply fine tune my tackle choices) in their neck of the woods, you’ll have to go to other landings’ counts which often fish the same areas. No biggie Right?! Truth is … those that don’t publish counts will probably give you the count when you make a reservation.
Last Aside:
Automatic Sack-wetting
Not every moo-moo has this characteristic ….. but ….. if the one you’re riding is one that does, utilize it if there’s room or at least remember it on your next trip on that boat! What am I talking about?? Why … the boats’ bait tanks’ automatic sack-wetting feature. Huh! Depending on two conditions, if you play your cards right and place your sack in the right positions along the bait tanks ……. the overflow from the bait wells will spill over and onto the sack(s) below. Usually there is such a spot on both the port and starboard side of the tanks. The sloshing is caused by 1) the degree the boat reacts to swells or waves, or 2) the bait-wells having a high over-flow volume and or both!
Just another way to keep your hard-earned fishys in good condition for cleaning in the ever-increasing heat we’re experiencing on the boats.
The SoCal
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Stern Numbers!
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Collin file photo ….. Deck- Damian …..................... Galley- Ed ……................ 2nd Deck- Alex
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End of An Epic Day
Had a great day on the water with friends and caught lots of fish. A good number of regulars, familiar faces, families, made up a great group so I’m right at home!! There’s some of us that might regularly go on different days but we’re there whatever the case. Chickened out on the AM/PM re-ride trip again this week. Maybe next week. Everybody …… everybody that wanted to take home fish ….. went home with a bag of nice filets!
Thanks again guys,
2) Wednesday’s Trip Report 07/18
For My Next Trip
Went on the Victory, ¾-day-moo-moo, for my regular Wednesday trip. Fished the Horseshoe Kelp for a very productive multi-species trip. Mike ran the boat with George (in the Jackpot picture) on deck and Ron in the Galley.
Short Report- 07/18
44 guys on the boat Wednesday with a lot of families. Count of legal fish included 1 Halibut 121 Calico Bass 91 Sand Bass 18 Barracuda 100 Sculpin 4 Sand Dab. Hey Mike …. you didn’t mention the nice fat Whitefish in the count! Very good ……. No ….. actually excellent fishing and very good catching on a variety of fish. Action was steady with both legal sized as well as the usual number of shorts returned to the water. This skipper moves quickly when the percentage of shorts appears too high! Kudos
07/18 Jackpot
Jackpot!
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Nice One
Great job. The gentleman who caught the Halibut was from back east and really enjoyed the day out in our California sun fishing our waters for the first time!!! No disrespect but .. but .. there’s guys that’ve fished 20 years and not got one that big! Funnnnnnny Oh ya ….the Halibut took the jackpot! Galley Master Ron had it on the scales but I forgot to get the weight from him. It really was bigger than it looks in the picture!! Whadda think? 15lbs maybe?
My Plastics Fish
My Pile
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Sculpin …………...................................... ... Sculpin Rig
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My Sandy …………...................................... ........Sandy Candy!
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My Cali …………………….......................... ....................Cali Candy!
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Great Fishing
We had both pinhead Anchovies for chum as well as nice 2~3-inch Anchovies and some Sardines for bait. Chummed pretty steady. Alternate bait …. Cutting up some of the Mackerel caught, this proved to be an effective fish getting strategy too! Truth is …. there were (at times throughout the day) actually all the Barracuda one wanted it’s just most anglers were targeting the Calicos, Sandies, and Sculpin. Sculpin fishing for the plastics guys was automatic, easy limits. Bass fishing was excellent for Calicos and good for Sandies as shown in the count. We had lots of kids and families on the boat so … good or bad ... it should be taken into account that ¼ to 1/3 of the patrons were new and or inexperienced anglers.
Regular dropper loop rigs worked just fine for all species. It seems at this time of year, me and my plastics slingin’ buddies are ……… in our best form and really do well on the rubber! Be advised … I didn’t say any plastic …. there are colors, models, and a strategy! Fishys were kinda where one might typically expect them …. Sculpin hugging the bottom, Sandies down pretty deep, Calicos all through the water column, and Barracuda up in the top 1/3 of the column. Crank your bait too fast and there was a cuda! Darn slimy things!!
Words from the Deck
Deckhand George commented on guys giving him a little grief when they were asked to show him (actually the ‘boat’ …. not himself but as the rep of the boat) … their licenses. He’s acting in the skippers stead and it’s his job to protect both the boat and the anglers from problems with the DFG. Problems=$$$ The DFG can site BOTH the boat/crew and the angler for not having licenses, ect., etc.
It doesn’t matter if he’s seen you every week for a year …. he still has to see that the license is actually in your possession! Give the poor guy and other decks a break!
Fun Day
Had a good number of people on the boat but with George (declkhand) and also Mike working the deck and on the tank, I’m thinking it was a pretty good day on the water for everybody. As is the norm, nobody that wanted fish left the boat without some nice fresh filets!
JapanRon
Hi there guys,
1) Tuesday’s Report
Went out on my usual ½-day-trip on the Southern Cal, out of Pierpoint to fish local waters i.e. fished Horseshoe Kelp. I went on the pm run as this trip has become kind of a regular thing along with Wednesdays’ trips. Like the boat as a fishing platform, crew, and the guys with which I often share a rail. Besides …. I need to learn something about fishing a late afternoon bite ... my least favorite part of the fishing day. Collin was the skipper, while Damian decked, Ed did galley duties, and Alex helped out on deck.
NEW: Countdown 1: Be aware that the annual Yo’s Tackle Shop event is going to be held this July, Sunday 22nd. This is one of the coolest informal get-togethers of saltwater anglers (mostly tuna and multi/long-range guys) this side of SD. Raffles …. Raffles ….. Raffles and great deals on all kinds of stuff. Bring cash at your own risk!! Wear your swag (young guys talk for T-shirts, hats and such) so we can recognize fellow-whatevers easily!!
Note: Countdown 2: Sand Bass …… Sand Bass numbers are growing substantially in the counts. Looking at water temps, it seems like we’ve stalled around 69º~70º. It’s about NOW that we should start to consistently have the fish counts including Sand Bass as the dominant species overall and over that of Calicos.
Note: Countdown 3: Remember there’s only 1 more week till school starts so get those kids out on the boats to take advantage of the Kids Fish for FREE deal at Pierpoint Landing.
Target Fish: Sandbass, Calicos, and Baarracuda
Short Report-Tuesday 07/17
35~40 anglers, including yours truly, caught lots of fish on the PM run. We focused on fishing Horseshoe Kelp for a possible Barracuda flurry (just two caught ..one mine) as well as the usual Calicos and Sand Bass.
Although we didn’t have boat limits (many did), I had a excellent day on limits of bass. My catch was Calicos 90% and Sand Bass 10%. I C&Red more that a few ‘option-shorts’ which, although technically legal, are not what I want to harvest. Grade of fish was not anything special with the top bass going maybe 3 pounds. Not many cookie-cutter fish in the mix which is a good sign.
Bass mix for the boat overall was more like 70/30 on Calicos and Sandbass. The Sand Bass just don’t seem to be here in the force we’ve seen in previous years ….. but that may change when we get into August. Excluding last years’ near non-event of course.
We did the usual pattern of most moo-moos at present and fished for a shot at Cuda and then settled in to a spot for the bass. For bait, there was both a mix of pinheads for chum and smaller Anchovies for hook-bait and Sardines … that’s the usual fare of what has been available recently although ……. some decent 2 ½ to 3-inch Anchovies are now being seen in the mix.
The AM run: Coming off the boat, there were 30+ anglers and it looked like they caught both Barracuda and Bass …….. from the sacks of the few who hadn’t elected to have them cleaned. The sooner fish are cleaned …the less strong fishy-smell and better they’re gonna taste.
Twilight: Twilight weekly schedule starts on Wednesdays so I saw no crowd this day.
(Please widen your view to fit monitor if word-wrap looks off)
07/17 Jackpot
Jackpot …………………..... Nice Fish!
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Barracuda Wins
Way to go on catching the jackpot fish! A Barracuda was the winner today. The near 8-lb fish was caught on bait.
Long Report
Lookin’ Back
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The Days Fishing
Out and Back ………………………………………….. ...............Currents!
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Grazing in the Pasture
Moo-moos This Week
Mo …………….……………................... .....Moo …………………….......................... Mooo
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Moooo ………………………..................... Mooooo …………………......................…Mooo ooo!!
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PBer’s This Week
First ………………………....................... . Second ……………………...................... Third
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Fourth …………………………................ Fifth
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Round-Up
Round 1
Nice View
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Round 1. There was no round 2 or 3 for the boat (moved but 2 times or so) or for …….. most of the anglers, as the majority of people pretty much used the exact-same rig as they started……. 4oz torpedo/dropper loop setup and finbait. Besides …. we pretty much stayed in the same area and fished. There’s an old anglers truism … ‘never leave biting fish for a possible better bite elsewhere’ …… well that’s close enough. If you do move, that’s when the hero or zero business comes into effect!
Had my buddies ‘IronMan’ Lil Ceez w/PHOTOG and Jimmy on the boat again. Those guys are so quiet …. ya gotta keep an eye on them to know when the catch a fish! We chummed steadily throughout the trip with pinhead Anchovies and had some decent abiet smaller Anchovies and dines in the mix. More and more guys were using plastic as the afternoon progressed. See Tuesday/Wednesday plastics section.
Conditions: Afternoon was clear and sunny with a comfortable breeze! Water visibility at 10~15 feet. Air temp stayed around 75º during the first part of the fishing day. Check out the graphics for additional weather and water conditions.
Gallery
Beauty of the Week
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Fish & Anglers
Nice ……………….. Rich ………………….......... Saber�s ……………....One of Limit
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Ready to Clean ………….......................... Nice Bunch
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Familys & Buddies
Grandad ……………….Dad & Daughter ……………… Nice Couple
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Fishin’ Buds ………………...... Ceez & Photog
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Other
Ouch ………………….................... Huh! ………………......................... Short Rope!
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Lots of Fish
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Let Them Know
The photos above are just a sample of the fish and things of interest, at least to me, on this trip. Note: If you see a friend in the pictures, let them know they can copy the photo off the report. Directions: Click the right button with the ‘cursor’ on the picture, then click on ‘save picture as’, next choose where they wish to copy the picture, and lastly click ‘save’. Later, they can edit and print the picture at their leisure with a simple photo-editing program.
Tweeking Plastics #35
Problem:
This is an indirect plastics-tweek but a plastics related tweek none-the-less! This hint is ….it’s for our leadheads. If you use painted, enameled, or color coated leadheads, you will find that most of the lazy manufacturers don’t usually or consistently/properly finish their products. That is …. they don’t remove the eye-bugers from the leadhead-hook eyes! What do most guys do out fishing? …. why …. use another leadhead to clean out the eye. What does this do ….. it dulls the hook point ….. that’s right dulls it!
Of particular note, just putting a hole in the plugged eyelet large enough to run a line through is NOT what’s required. If you wish to tie a line securely on an eyelet (other than Palomar knot) and there is paint left on the eyelet ….. the paint or epoxy may crack or wear off after being tied ….. thus loosening the knots wrap and losing fish or a swimbait.
Goal:
1) Open a hole in a leadhead eyelet.
2) Take out the remaining paint left on the inside of the eyelet.
3) Remove all the paint or whatever from the entire hook-eye down to the body of the leadhead.
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Devices:
A number of solutions to this unfortunate reality is to 1) have a pair of fishermans’ clippers with a tool on one end made into an eyelet cleaner, 2) have a pair of the above gadget, or 3) have a cheap pair of larger-sized finger-nail clippers.
Solutions:
The first option is not as easy to use as the edges of the tool are dull and takes too much effort to do a decent job. The second option1, in my opinion, is not viable as the device is practically unusable in doing a proper job. As strange as it sounds, I think the third option is cheaper, replaced easily, and does it all. That is …… 1) use the corners of the jaws to punch a hole in the eyelet and 2) use the flat area of the jaws to crack and or scrape away the remaining material.
Finishing Touch:
If you’re doing the above at home, go ahead and coat the area at the point where the painted body and the hook meet. This should seal the leadhead from intrusion of saltwater due to the removal of the paint or epoxy from the eyelet and hook wire.
*1 I think this version of the device was designed for freshwater leadheads. The punch and receiving aperture is too small for the larger eyelets and heavier gage wire used for most saltwater leadheads. The angle of the punch and receiver is such that a complete clearing of the eyelet of most leadheads is impossible. Nuff said! It does look cool though!
Plastics
Plastics Outperformed ‘Em All
Limits ……………................................... ..........Cuda Killer ……………….............. Calico Killers!
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Sandy Suckers!
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Consistency Counts
I don’t think I’ll be contradicted by my fishing buddies …. the plastics worked to catch more fish consistently throughout the days’ trip than bait or iron! Right guys! Had lots of guys giving up on this and that and going with whatever plastics they had at hand. Grade of fish? The iron usually takes that honor but plastics did pretty well.
Tuesday- The PM trip was typical of the afternoon trips with a little wind, wind-waves, and swell from the get-go. These conditions, proximity to structure, and chumming pretty much dictate ones options as to how to best fish the plastics. I chose to fish far out and the top half of the water column. This got me most of my fish. We chummed steadily throughout the trip.
Tackle:
Fished my usual 9-foot SW bass rod and Ambassaduer 6500C outfit with Izorlines’ super-tough … XXX 15lb-test. Red leadhead and plastic did well but a number of other colors worked great too. For Calicos, the Kalin pearl body and dark-green back and the rainbow trout model in the 4-inch length did well. Blam rainbow trout color was also hot. For Sandies, it seemed like more subdued colors …… especially brown colored swimbaits worked best. For leadheads I used mostly ½-oz, 3/8oz,(dart head) and then ¼-oz triangular red, yellow, and color-coordinated leadhead/swimbaits.
How I Did It! (book title from Young Frankenstien):
Having forced myself to fish the mid and late afternoon, which I have disliked comparatively speaking, I’ve learned a little on using the wind, waves, and current to put action on my swimbaits. What did I notice:
1) If you manipulate your line, with purpose, so it is caught in the wind, your swimbait will stay on top or near the surface longer and …… be more maneuverable. The current will also not have such a strong effect on the lure in a current drift or boat swing.
2) Just the opposite, by keeping your rod tip down and line in the water, the wind will not have such a strong effect on the rate of decent or drift of your swimbait in the current as otherwise.
3) By skillfully using the above conditions, you can lighten the weight of your leadhead …. which … not only allows the swimbait to suspend longer and have a more realistic action but it is easier to tell a hit or strike.
4) Timing of your cast in relation to the boats’ swing is important if you know where the fish are holding in relation to the structure anchored upon. Also …. by casting correctly … you’ll not get tangled with other anglers lines drifting out behind the boat.
5) Retrieve speed is also important. One only need remember that the longer a swimbait is in the ‘zone’, the more chances of a hit. If you can manage to retrieve the plastic slowly or be nearly suspended yet have the swimbait swim like crazy when passing through the crest of a wave or swell …. you’re doing it right a good percentage of the time. Other times …. A straight grind from the second the plastic hits the water is the fish-getter. IMHO
6) One cannot help remember that lighter pound-test line, assuming it’s also smaller in diameter, (either main or leader) will not be carried by wind, waves, or swell as much as heavier test lines.
7) Lastly ….. when bass fishing recently I have divided my strategy into one for Calico and one for Sandies. Correct or not …. I’m using heavier leadheads (1/2, 3/4oz) and allowing myself heavier test lines (15lb-test main and 15lb-test fluorocarbon leader) for fishing deeper for Sandbass. I’m using lighter leadheads (1/4, 3/8, 1/2oz) and lighter pound-test lines (15lb-test main and 8lb-test fluorocarbon leader) for Calicos. Bump that up to 15~20lb-test leader if cuda are in the vicinity. 15 or 20lb-test ? …… depends on how the cuda are biting.
Wednesday- The ¾-day trips give one both a morning and an afternoon shot at the fish. First thing in the morning, as a warm-up, I decided to fish for Barracuda. 20 minutes got 1 fish on board and one bite-off. That’s enough for me!
Tackle:
Fished my newest 9-foot saltwater bass rod and a Shakespeare SKP 4500 reel spooled with Izorlines’ clear … XXX 15lb-test. Used a red 5/8thoz leadhead and 4-inch red metalflake blam on a 20lb-test, 5-foot fluorocarbon leader to get the one Barracuda I wanted to catch.
Techniques were pretty much as we’ve been working the last few weeks.
1) Caught a few bass at the first stop on the ‘Shoe’ but it wasn’t worth staying for the number or grade of fish.
2) We next fished for Sculpin with success further outside on the Sculpin grounds and I got a quick limit plus as well. I used my old Texas style rigged swimbait for a fish every drop. Lots of guys were using 6~8 oz torpedo drop-loop setups when all I needed was a 1 1/2oz leadhead and 1 1/2oz sliding egg sinker rig.
3) Lastly we came back a little inside and fished the rest of the day for Calicos and Sandies. I avoided catching any more cuda. How ….. Danger !! Danger !! If you didn’t want to catch barries with plastics …. you couldn’t retrieve your bait very quickly. Reel too fast through the water-column and ….. you were hooked up!! And often …. Recently there have been lots of Sealions ready to play with the cuda but ……. not eat it! Result is the same … lost fish …. and lost swimbait!! Remember when I lose a rig … I lo$e a special split ring, leadhead, swimbait, 5 feet of fluorocarbon, and a special swivel in the worst case.
I pretty much used what I had learned Tuesday to fish the Calicos and Sandies on Wednesday.
Tuesday Out There
Lunar …………………………………………†¦.... Wind Direction and Speed!
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Tides …………………………………………†¦â€¦................................. Water Temps!
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UV Alert!
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Tuesday’s Conditions
Fishing Grounds: Check pics and stats!!
Wild Creatures: Saw many Sealions say …… 2~4 at a time. Few Cormorants, Pelicans, or but Terns and Seagulls were around especially when it was time to clean fish.
Asides
Aside:
DFG Questions
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Need Help?
Email Address Do you have a question concerning the DFG marine fishing regs? Need help in ID~ing a fishy or have questions on DFG marine related issues? E-mail your questions to AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov (mailto:AskMarine@dfg.ca.gov). I haven’t used this feature as yet so I can say how long of a response time one might expect.
Another Aside:
Handi-Fishing
Electric Get-abouts
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Landing Office Accommodations
One landing I patronize has one angler that apparently has an electric get-about which he uses to bring his fishing gear to the boat and then parks the vehicle inside the landings’ tackle shop area. If one thinks about it, one might 1) have an easier time of bringing ones rods and tackle box, etc. to the boat in a single run and 2) it would be safer to have the thing off the carrier device on the vehicle and secure.
From what I’ve seen …. most ….. I say most landings …. utilize a ramp w/rollers connecting the landing to the docks. As the tide raises and lowers the boat docks …. The ramp rolls along a track for a smooth change in the degree of the ramps incline. I don’t imagine that the normal range of incline would cause a problem for one of these electric powered vehicles.
Yet Another Aside:
A Nice Read This is a blatant plug for the little fish paper Fish Rap that could. Don’t know the people running that operation or it writers (comes with the long-standing Log marine boating topics paper) but …… it’s hands-on approach to local fishing modern up-scale, and 4-color design makes it a fun paper to pick up (FREE) the every two weeks it’s published. Articles for everyone at every level. I like the contests for readers to win a variety of stuff ….. especially ….. the kids’ ‘kiss a fish’ photo contest.
If you haven’t come across this publication at your local fishy store or landing …. have a look. If management is reading this …….. your publishing costs may go down, admittedly a very small amount, if you had both ‘Rap’ displayed separately as well as included with the Log. That’s unless you’re publishing for numbers to sustain maximum advertising revenue! ;) Some anglers I know, including myself, at the landings take the …… ahem ….. Rap …. and toss the rest. Too long out of the business to know specifics now! :)
Near Last Aside:
Mooooooo!
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Good Sized Loads
We’ve had mostly ½ to ¾-capacity loads overall this week at most landings ……. fishing the Barracuda, Sandbass, and Calico Bass bite but still awaiting the Sand Bass ‘Rush’ yet to appear. Many landings (doing twilights) are running between 1 and 5 twilight trips a week and are showing respectable numbers. Last weeks’ ‘Pack ‘em On’ award goes AGAIN to A boat that went95 for 99 angler capacity for their 1/2-day, pm trip.
I’ve decided it’s counter-productive to name names as the guys that pack these boats to the gills obviously could care less what people think or how difficult it would be to fish on a boat with 80, 90, or 100 anglers.
Interesting Marketing
There is a reason these boats have the numbers they do so …….. hop aboard these fish-getters while the bite is strong. Good to see our moo-moos getting the business that will help them survive through the lean late-Fall and Winter months. At least one landing is reporting numbers (angler and catch totals) for their half-day trips (2 trips a day) with two figures … that is ….. 1) total anglers and 2) total fish caught. We get a break though …. as at least they break down the ‘caught fish’ totals into species! � If you want to check the AM/PM ’catch trends’ (as I often do to simply fine tune my tackle choices) in their neck of the woods, you’ll have to go to other landings’ counts which often fish the same areas. No biggie Right?! Truth is … those that don’t publish counts will probably give you the count when you make a reservation.
Last Aside:
Automatic Sack-wetting
Not every moo-moo has this characteristic ….. but ….. if the one you’re riding is one that does, utilize it if there’s room or at least remember it on your next trip on that boat! What am I talking about?? Why … the boats’ bait tanks’ automatic sack-wetting feature. Huh! Depending on two conditions, if you play your cards right and place your sack in the right positions along the bait tanks ……. the overflow from the bait wells will spill over and onto the sack(s) below. Usually there is such a spot on both the port and starboard side of the tanks. The sloshing is caused by 1) the degree the boat reacts to swells or waves, or 2) the bait-wells having a high over-flow volume and or both!
Just another way to keep your hard-earned fishys in good condition for cleaning in the ever-increasing heat we’re experiencing on the boats.
The SoCal
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Stern Numbers!
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Collin file photo ….. Deck- Damian …..................... Galley- Ed ……................ 2nd Deck- Alex
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End of An Epic Day
Had a great day on the water with friends and caught lots of fish. A good number of regulars, familiar faces, families, made up a great group so I’m right at home!! There’s some of us that might regularly go on different days but we’re there whatever the case. Chickened out on the AM/PM re-ride trip again this week. Maybe next week. Everybody …… everybody that wanted to take home fish ….. went home with a bag of nice filets!
Thanks again guys,
2) Wednesday’s Trip Report 07/18
For My Next Trip
Went on the Victory, ¾-day-moo-moo, for my regular Wednesday trip. Fished the Horseshoe Kelp for a very productive multi-species trip. Mike ran the boat with George (in the Jackpot picture) on deck and Ron in the Galley.
Short Report- 07/18
44 guys on the boat Wednesday with a lot of families. Count of legal fish included 1 Halibut 121 Calico Bass 91 Sand Bass 18 Barracuda 100 Sculpin 4 Sand Dab. Hey Mike …. you didn’t mention the nice fat Whitefish in the count! Very good ……. No ….. actually excellent fishing and very good catching on a variety of fish. Action was steady with both legal sized as well as the usual number of shorts returned to the water. This skipper moves quickly when the percentage of shorts appears too high! Kudos
07/18 Jackpot
Jackpot!
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Nice One
Great job. The gentleman who caught the Halibut was from back east and really enjoyed the day out in our California sun fishing our waters for the first time!!! No disrespect but .. but .. there’s guys that’ve fished 20 years and not got one that big! Funnnnnnny Oh ya ….the Halibut took the jackpot! Galley Master Ron had it on the scales but I forgot to get the weight from him. It really was bigger than it looks in the picture!! Whadda think? 15lbs maybe?
My Plastics Fish
My Pile
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Sculpin …………...................................... ... Sculpin Rig
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/FROM0422/0718mysculpin.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/FROM0422/0717Sculprig.jpg
My Sandy …………...................................... ........Sandy Candy!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/FROM0422/0718mysandy.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/FROM0422/0717plabrwn.jpg
My Cali …………………….......................... ....................Cali Candy!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/FROM0422/0718mycalireal.jpghttp://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h313/tsurikichi/FROM1229/FROM0422/0717pla2.jpg
Great Fishing
We had both pinhead Anchovies for chum as well as nice 2~3-inch Anchovies and some Sardines for bait. Chummed pretty steady. Alternate bait …. Cutting up some of the Mackerel caught, this proved to be an effective fish getting strategy too! Truth is …. there were (at times throughout the day) actually all the Barracuda one wanted it’s just most anglers were targeting the Calicos, Sandies, and Sculpin. Sculpin fishing for the plastics guys was automatic, easy limits. Bass fishing was excellent for Calicos and good for Sandies as shown in the count. We had lots of kids and families on the boat so … good or bad ... it should be taken into account that ¼ to 1/3 of the patrons were new and or inexperienced anglers.
Regular dropper loop rigs worked just fine for all species. It seems at this time of year, me and my plastics slingin’ buddies are ……… in our best form and really do well on the rubber! Be advised … I didn’t say any plastic …. there are colors, models, and a strategy! Fishys were kinda where one might typically expect them …. Sculpin hugging the bottom, Sandies down pretty deep, Calicos all through the water column, and Barracuda up in the top 1/3 of the column. Crank your bait too fast and there was a cuda! Darn slimy things!!
Words from the Deck
Deckhand George commented on guys giving him a little grief when they were asked to show him (actually the ‘boat’ …. not himself but as the rep of the boat) … their licenses. He’s acting in the skippers stead and it’s his job to protect both the boat and the anglers from problems with the DFG. Problems=$$$ The DFG can site BOTH the boat/crew and the angler for not having licenses, ect., etc.
It doesn’t matter if he’s seen you every week for a year …. he still has to see that the license is actually in your possession! Give the poor guy and other decks a break!
Fun Day
Had a good number of people on the boat but with George (declkhand) and also Mike working the deck and on the tank, I’m thinking it was a pretty good day on the water for everybody. As is the norm, nobody that wanted fish left the boat without some nice fresh filets!
JapanRon