Tunaslam
12-24-2010, 09:25 PM
Fishing Friday, 12-24-10, with Lal on his 18’ boat “Rubber Ducky”. We launched out of Davies in Long Beach at 5:00 am, with our starting destination being the Izor’s Reef and then areas further south. The 10-12 knot winds were unexpected , and out of the North East, with a bit of a bump. The weather reports called for light winds in the morning and only 7 to 9 knots in the afternoon?
We arrived at Izor’s Reef in the Dark, running at a slower pace than normal because of the anticipated debris left over from the recent storms. We didn’t experience any problems on our way out, and began a few drifts over the Reef in a very strong current running uphill with the wind. It took a 2 oz lead head to hold the bottom and even then it was extremely scoped out. We picked away at the Sand Bass for about an hour in difficult conditions.
Lal caught this three pounder in the dark.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1208.jpg
At daylight, with a disappointing sunrise, snow capped mountains on the horizon, and hazy skies, we could see the water was quite dirty, and the water temp was only 55.6 degrees. Both of us were just thrilled to release a few early fish, given the conditions, and the length of the recent storms. Our expectations were not high for this trip, and we were both happy to be fishing after a couple of weeks of non co-operating weather. Lal decided to move a bit further south, to fish a few stones on the way to the Newport Pipe, if we could get there. JD’s Big Game website had indicated a lot of debris in the water, and extremely off colored water.
The winds died down and became nearly grease calm. The current was still ripping, as our drift was very swift. The 2 oz Lead heads were getting down. The meter lit up with lots of fish marks, and the Bass went on the chew. It was a good mix of 70% Sand Bass and 30% Calico Bass. What a pleasant surprise!
Lal caught another Dandy Sandy at three pounds.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1209.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1210.jpg
I finally landed a picture fish, with this nice Calico Bass.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1211.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1212.jpg
We continued to work an area just north of the Pipe, and found a consistent bite on some small structure in water now reaching 58 degrees. We had several doubles going at a time, and my duel plastic rig twice came up loaded, once with twin Sandies, and then twin Calico Bass. Excellent Bass fishing for a couple of hours.
My biggest Sand Bass of the day at 4.25 pounds.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1213.jpg
Some of the bigger Bass finally decided to play.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1214.jpg
The high tide at 10:30 am was reached, and the slack tide shut down the bite almost instantly. Lal caught a few more Bass. I couldn’t catch a cold in the last hour, however, we both ended up with 18 mixed Bass, a total of 36 Bass, with about ten of them being Calico Bass, a very pleasant surprise, of which 35 were released, with one bleeder going to Lal’s neighbor.
It was just great to get out, as we found a nice weather window. Headed for the barn at 11:30am, with both of us receiving strict orders from our better half the night before to be home and ready for Christmas Eve family festivities by 3pm. Mission accomplished!
Thanks again Lal, another fun fishing adventure on the Rubber Ducky!
Hook up! Cory
We arrived at Izor’s Reef in the Dark, running at a slower pace than normal because of the anticipated debris left over from the recent storms. We didn’t experience any problems on our way out, and began a few drifts over the Reef in a very strong current running uphill with the wind. It took a 2 oz lead head to hold the bottom and even then it was extremely scoped out. We picked away at the Sand Bass for about an hour in difficult conditions.
Lal caught this three pounder in the dark.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1208.jpg
At daylight, with a disappointing sunrise, snow capped mountains on the horizon, and hazy skies, we could see the water was quite dirty, and the water temp was only 55.6 degrees. Both of us were just thrilled to release a few early fish, given the conditions, and the length of the recent storms. Our expectations were not high for this trip, and we were both happy to be fishing after a couple of weeks of non co-operating weather. Lal decided to move a bit further south, to fish a few stones on the way to the Newport Pipe, if we could get there. JD’s Big Game website had indicated a lot of debris in the water, and extremely off colored water.
The winds died down and became nearly grease calm. The current was still ripping, as our drift was very swift. The 2 oz Lead heads were getting down. The meter lit up with lots of fish marks, and the Bass went on the chew. It was a good mix of 70% Sand Bass and 30% Calico Bass. What a pleasant surprise!
Lal caught another Dandy Sandy at three pounds.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1209.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1210.jpg
I finally landed a picture fish, with this nice Calico Bass.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1211.jpg
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1212.jpg
We continued to work an area just north of the Pipe, and found a consistent bite on some small structure in water now reaching 58 degrees. We had several doubles going at a time, and my duel plastic rig twice came up loaded, once with twin Sandies, and then twin Calico Bass. Excellent Bass fishing for a couple of hours.
My biggest Sand Bass of the day at 4.25 pounds.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1213.jpg
Some of the bigger Bass finally decided to play.
http://www.senortuna.com/pics/data/503/100_1214.jpg
The high tide at 10:30 am was reached, and the slack tide shut down the bite almost instantly. Lal caught a few more Bass. I couldn’t catch a cold in the last hour, however, we both ended up with 18 mixed Bass, a total of 36 Bass, with about ten of them being Calico Bass, a very pleasant surprise, of which 35 were released, with one bleeder going to Lal’s neighbor.
It was just great to get out, as we found a nice weather window. Headed for the barn at 11:30am, with both of us receiving strict orders from our better half the night before to be home and ready for Christmas Eve family festivities by 3pm. Mission accomplished!
Thanks again Lal, another fun fishing adventure on the Rubber Ducky!
Hook up! Cory