EL_CHIDO
07-26-2010, 08:24 PM
I had the perfect plan for my GF and I to hit Newport Harbor on a skiff during the day and then board a Twilight charter for some Sand Bass. We still had our Rain Check passes from the failed Giant Squid mission some months ago, and they were burning a hole in my tackle box.
We get to Davey’s around 8:30 and get our skiff till 2pm. First stop is for some live bait at the opening of the harbor. We load up and decide to stay in the area close to the southern rocks. We mix it up for a few hours with live bait and 3” Big Hammers.
First catch of the day – a mini Halibut chops the BH, the dark colors worked well (dark green lead head/with #41 chovy).
I keep these color combinations making sure to smear with Unibutter and they prove to be the winners, catching all of my fish on the swim baits; live bait did nothing.
Next, I lock up with two Topsmelts/Jacksmelts? (somebody please confirm – the mouth/teeth looks a little too big as well as the pectoral fin)
Finally, make my way back to the dock and stop near the yachts and hook up a small spottie.
Wonderful experience on the skiff, my GF loved it even though she didn’t catch but got to try out her new camera, and we will be doing this often.
BTW – all were safely released.
We rest up and prepare for the Twilight trip. We load up @ 7pm on the Freelance with about 50 on board and we get a choice spot on the back. As we’re leaving, the Captain comes over the speaker to announce to the plan – we’re headed for Long Beach to join the rest of the fleet cause they’re ain’t nothing cracking in Newport.
It would be a long 2 hour cruise through some VERY chopping waters. We’re getting sprayed left and right and everyone was getting soaked. Quite a funny ride down as everyone is laughing it up with each big spray.
Finally get to the grounds and let ‘um go. We stay in the same spot for most of the trip with only a few bass biting. Nothing going on, and my gf decides to chill out, so I decide to get one of those tasty double cheese burgers. Man, you cannot beat those. She stays in the galley and takes a nap while I try to redeem myself so I head back out.
The clock is ticking and I’m fearing a white stripe on my back just as the captain tells us to bring ‘um up and we move a short distance and IT’S ON!
Everyone starts hooking up as I send some strips of squid down and get nailed hard by a 4 ˝ pounder, which will be my biggest and the boat’s 3rd biggest, so no JP for me. I end up getting 3 more smaller ones sticking to the squid. We could have gone a few more hours but it was getting late and we still had to head back to Newport. The count was 147 sandies for 49 anglers.
The next day and it’s time to cook these bad boys. I will put in the recipe section – “Chipotle Lime Sand Bass”
We get to Davey’s around 8:30 and get our skiff till 2pm. First stop is for some live bait at the opening of the harbor. We load up and decide to stay in the area close to the southern rocks. We mix it up for a few hours with live bait and 3” Big Hammers.
First catch of the day – a mini Halibut chops the BH, the dark colors worked well (dark green lead head/with #41 chovy).
I keep these color combinations making sure to smear with Unibutter and they prove to be the winners, catching all of my fish on the swim baits; live bait did nothing.
Next, I lock up with two Topsmelts/Jacksmelts? (somebody please confirm – the mouth/teeth looks a little too big as well as the pectoral fin)
Finally, make my way back to the dock and stop near the yachts and hook up a small spottie.
Wonderful experience on the skiff, my GF loved it even though she didn’t catch but got to try out her new camera, and we will be doing this often.
BTW – all were safely released.
We rest up and prepare for the Twilight trip. We load up @ 7pm on the Freelance with about 50 on board and we get a choice spot on the back. As we’re leaving, the Captain comes over the speaker to announce to the plan – we’re headed for Long Beach to join the rest of the fleet cause they’re ain’t nothing cracking in Newport.
It would be a long 2 hour cruise through some VERY chopping waters. We’re getting sprayed left and right and everyone was getting soaked. Quite a funny ride down as everyone is laughing it up with each big spray.
Finally get to the grounds and let ‘um go. We stay in the same spot for most of the trip with only a few bass biting. Nothing going on, and my gf decides to chill out, so I decide to get one of those tasty double cheese burgers. Man, you cannot beat those. She stays in the galley and takes a nap while I try to redeem myself so I head back out.
The clock is ticking and I’m fearing a white stripe on my back just as the captain tells us to bring ‘um up and we move a short distance and IT’S ON!
Everyone starts hooking up as I send some strips of squid down and get nailed hard by a 4 ˝ pounder, which will be my biggest and the boat’s 3rd biggest, so no JP for me. I end up getting 3 more smaller ones sticking to the squid. We could have gone a few more hours but it was getting late and we still had to head back to Newport. The count was 147 sandies for 49 anglers.
The next day and it’s time to cook these bad boys. I will put in the recipe section – “Chipotle Lime Sand Bass”