SWAT'n The Dust off old BONES ! Ventura County.

[bones]

Well folks it's been a while since I've put up a report primarily because the fishing has been so slow at my local haunts that I decided to focus on family and work and keep an eye on conditions. The water in Samo Bay has been so warm that all of the bait moved off shore and the sand crab beds are in full swing. More or less the fish in the surf zone are pretty much stuffed with crabs and eat at their leisure. Knowing that the bite wont improve without some cooler outer water I decided to head on up north of Samo Bay and check out some old stomping grounds.

Target Area....... Ventura county.

Upon arrival to Ventura harbor I decided to hop around inside of the harbor itself because the tide was low and the outside structure needed to fill in a bit. With the low water levels I decided to take a different approach other than my typical dropshot routine and give the good old Lucky Craft Flash Minnow a shot by running it deep. As I carefully decended down to the waters edge I was instantly reminded of how sketchy it can get in tennis shoes trying to negotiate the silt covered rocks and started the day with doing the splits and taking a little spill. Hello Bonsey!.........Wake the heck up and pay attention! Rocks are VERY unforgiving to say the least. So I stabilize my footing and began to fan cast. As soon as I started running my bait through the area I realized that there was some SERIOUS bait stacked up in the harbor.
This is a good sign. On about my third cast I feel that ever so tell tale ...nibble....nibble..GRAB!
After a quick little fight my first short halibut of the day comes to color.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270156.jpg

Well...Now I know that they are aggressive enough to hit the hardbait inside of the harbor. Then a few casts later I get another grab and when this fish comes to color I notice that it is in trouble. A serious case of tail rot has set in.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270150.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270151.jpg

Tail rot sets in on halibut very fast inside of harbors where they lay on the bottom in all of the sediment that contains alot of heavy metals and other nasty elements. Any severe trauma to the tail of a halibut that causes an open wound almost always condems the fish to a certain death. Nets commonly known as tail splitters can be the cause or for example what happened to the next halibut I caught in the same spot.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270157.jpg

It only takes a second for a thrashing flattie to injure its VERY FRAGILE tail on the sharp edges of the rocks. I tried to place my hand on her quickly but she just went nuts and wound up tearing up her tail in just a blink of an eye. The upside was that she was a legal....The down side is that she probably wont survive.
Ok...Enough for the inside of the harbor and to be honest..... harbor fishing just isn't my thing any more....I need the surf in my face and some sand under my feet. So I decide to venture to the outside of the harbor and give the trenches a shot. They were filled in nicely now but to my amazement.....The whole trenchy area that looked so good was void of anything hungry. I was using my micro-lite rod and a 1000 series sedona spooled up with 6lb test and tossing a Lucky Craft pointer 65. Then right by a jetty I get a grab in the skinny. At first I thought it was a nice sized perch but to my delight and panic....It was a good sized flattie which took me for a ride on my UL setup.Six nice little drag burning runs to be exact! As a matter of fact this was a first for me. Who would have thought? A legal flattie in one foot of water on ultralight gear !
Very nice!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270160.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270161.jpg

After that little rush I decided to fan cast the area for nothing at all but I was standing there proud and re-energized with hope. I gazed at the jetty and thought to myself.....mmmmm..... What is to be discovered on the other side. With a quick hop to the top I looked south and quickly saw a worthy deep trench. My feet hit the sand and I switched over to my Crucial crankbait rod with my hardbait. I saw my target and fired a quick cast perfectly to the sweet spot. Three cranks and I get hammered with authority. The fish immediately jumped which doesn't happen very often with halibut but hey...... Who's complaining!
There was alot of surge and this fish was very high spirited to say the least. A few moments later the surge brought her to my feet where she promptly measured out at 24".

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270162.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270163.jpg

I spent the next 30 minutes or so working the area as I noted a group of perch hunters a few hundred yards away. I was watching them and they weren't doing very well but the most important thing was that they didn't see me land a nice flattie. I decided to call it quits in that spot and began to walk back to my car with a big grin!
Not a bad day at all when I had no expectations!

When the weekend arrived I had a meeting with our SWAT leader Wingnut to go over final plans for our annual surf event Hunting Giants IV. We decided to meet up at the harbor and I spent the morning watching the "Wingnut Show". Seems that recently whenever I get together with Arthur he puts the spell on the fish and I spend the time watching him and taking pics. I made just as many casts as he did but he has always had that special relationship with Poseidon. It was great to see him smile and I knew that it has been a while since he has slid a flattie up to his toes. He made pretty good work of it but no legals for the General today. He did slay quite a few flatties though here are a few pics.....Nothing but smiles!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1008-6.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1010-7.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1003-10.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1005-12.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1006-10.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1007-12.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1011-8.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1009-9.jpg

That's it folks for the fishing report and now I will leave you all with a few pics I have taken along the way with my new camera that I think you will enjoy. Take care and god bless everyone.
When the tide goes out sometimes there is a whole new world exposed to the eye.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P7070222.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P7070219.jpg

Channel Islands harbor and a MAJOR sandcrab die off at the end of their lifecycle. The smell was overwhelming.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8280182.jpg

One sunset at Topanga State beach with the cloud cover from southern tropical moisture.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P7180226.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P7180229.jpg

A dead dolphin on a beach in Oxnard...

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8180132.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8180131.jpg

My favorite place in the area to attack with hunger after a day on the water....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270175.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270177.jpg


The fisherman's memorial in Ventura Harbor.....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270178.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270167.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8270168.jpg


A good example of how the flatties will hit a hardbait like a flashminnow when they are actually feeding on baby perch. This little perch was still alive when the flattie coughed it up!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8070127.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8070129.jpg

Never Forget what this man was all about.....FAMILY,FUN,FRIENDS AND FISHING !!

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp185/lukesdad2008/ventura%2008282012/P8130130.jpg

I hope you folks find this report inspiring and get out this weekend. The swell is backing down and the up welling started a cooling trend in the coastal waters..... Fall is almost here and the fishing should start to pick up.

SWAT Lt. Bones........ Debriefing complete.


-----<><

[skunked4life]

The report read like a novel! It was so beautiful, i nearly forgot about the fish caught and instead fund myself focusing on the narrative journey! What a nice write up!

Nice to have veteran fishermen leading the charge on this forum!

One day i will get there (fishing and writing)!

[murrieta angler]

Hey Mike,
I see all is well on the fishing front, I hope it is the same on the home front as well.
It's good to see someone getting out and getting multiple legals in the process.
Thanks for the report and look forward to seeing you and everyone else at HG4.
Robert
<><

[TaperSteve]

Great report! Never realized Dana and my Wife share the same birthday 25 years apart. Awesome photos.... thanx for posti ng!

TS

[fishincrave]

Nice report mike , like you i haven't been out work and family gets in the way LOL .
For some reason i have always liked fishing the northern waters better then the southern waters , specially this time of year .
It's good to know my old stumping sands are looking good ..
Maybe it's time to get out and get some salt air and sand between the toes LOL


sean

[TroutOnly]

THAT WAS A VERY NICE REPORT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,t/o,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[bachiboy]

I've been 'patiently' waiting for this report! :whistle: :Wink: Nice job out there Mike! Glad you were able to get out there and that Arthur was able to get some time on the water as well. Great report and pictures as usual sir!

Congrats on the legals!
Don

[Wingnut]

Hey, I think one of those shorts I caught may have been a legal without the tail rot... :LOL:
Too many damn short Flatties in the harbor. :Neutral: Too bad the high surf kept us in the harbor or we would have done better I think. :Wink:
It was nice hanging out with you Sunday morning bro. Lunch was great, funny we resorted to bribing the waitress for extra goodies, lol :Big Smile:
The HG4 event is coming together nicely... I already have 68 registered participants as of this morning. :Thumbs Up: We're going to have a blast celebrating Dana's legacy. :Big Grin:

Here's a few more pics from last Sunday.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1001-15.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1002-13.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1013-8.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1014-10.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/Wingnut32566/Wingnut%208/Wingnut%2010/Wingnut%2011/SWAT1012-11.jpg

[efishent]

Thanks for the great read about the productive morning at our oceanic hood. That camera worked as great as the photographer. I have a hard time convincing myself to do harbor/city fishing, it just seems so urban. I can see how those areas can be a good fit during stormy days..or may I should learn to wake up early and beat the crowds...
I had a chance to take a friend out for a couple hours that day to my fav perch spot and we got a loaded with medium size models, - his excitement about DD catches really made my day and I we didn't even attempt anything else.

[Lucky Lager]

Nice Job Sir!

Wulfman & I weren't far from you sunday. we started off at Loon Point & worked our way south to end the day off 5th street in oxnard.

........nowhere near as successful though, lol. we ended up with a couple flat fish (of the wrong kind) & a few nice perch (all 10"-12").

we fought the high surf all day. took a drive around ventura harbor, but didn't fish it at all.....looks like that was a bad choice.

congrats again on the great outings!

Jim

[frankjz]

Sounds like great fun was had by all. Thanks for the charming report.

[Which Way Out]

Mr Mike you haven't lost your touch one bit.

The water always makes things better.
See ya soon

WWO

[russ88]

Cool report Bonesy! Lots of great useful info. I fished the same area monday. Catching wise... it was no bueno for me my brotha!! I have alot to learn. I'll have to give the LC another shot. lol Any dead seals around that dolphin? Have a good one Paparazzi....Some nice pics right there.

[SP Dan]

Mike, Mike, Mike.....

As always brotha.........a great read! :Thumbs Up:

It was heart warming to see you (Lt Bones) and the Commander (Arthur) back together on the salt!
I'm glad you guys were able to hook up and that you had a great day together!

I can only imagine that it was not all fun....I'll bet the two of you were pounding out the finishing details for the up and coming HG-4 Event!

Thanx for the fine read brotha! I'll be seeing ya soon.....HG-4! :Cool:

SP Dan <"))><

[blackwater]

Good to see the SWAT top brass on the hunt again. :Big Grin:
Nice job on racking up your legal flatty count Mike, who's in the lead this year for the most legal flatties? :Wink:
Looking forward to partying with everybody at HGIV. :Thumbs Up:

[gletemfeelsteelgary]

congrats on some well earned fish...saweet..

nice work out there guys...


Nice report...


well done sirs : )


Gary

[PONTOON]

Mike, it's always good to take a break for a little while and taking care of Family is always top of the list.:Cool:

As always, great report and pictures. I'm looking forward to seeing you again at HG-4 it's going to be a great time getting back out in the field with SWAT and some more old friends.:Thumbs Up:

[Native Gal]

Da' boys in the fish'n hood! Always love the S.W.A.T. read. Good to see ya workin at the dusty bones : )
Miss ya guys smiling faces and will miss HG4 but will be there in spirit. Looking forward to all the pixs of the awesome event.
You guys are always in my heart.

NG
:Cool:

[saltman]

Bones

That was an awesome report bro. Glad to see you and Artur out fishing old grounds.

Saltman.

[bones]

Sorry for the late response to everyones kind words. I've been running around like crazy with life and also planning the HG IV event so I just wanted to say thank you very much!

[Mr_Dunev]

Nice report Mike.

As always it has great pictures, and is an even better read. I apologize to all my SWAT brothers for being MIA, but as you know life has been tough....for many of us, but I plan on hitting the surf as soon as I can. Despite the tough conditions you landed some nice fish, and for that I take my hat off to you. Your there when I need you and for that I am eternally great full.

Send my love to your family, and I hope we can hit the sand soon.

Lucas