Perchin' Dave
09-08-2012, 11:23 PM
SWAT - Perchin' Dave and Brad Bayley did some recon for the day, and we started at grey light. We explored and fished three new beaches that we hadn't previously fished, north of Los Angeles for the first four hours of light. Brad was targeting halibut and corbina with no bites whatsoever and I was fishing my name (perch), that is, unless Brad saw some success and I would change out my rig. After a few hours we decided the water was too murky and the waves too big to be in the zone long enough to produce and determined we were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
But not taking -no- for an answer we kept exploring. What started as a very bad day was about to change in a big way. At the fourth beach our persistence paid off. This particular area had a lot of smeg (kelp) in the water and for that reason I stayed with the carolina rig, it kept kelp off the hook, longer. First cast at beach for, a bunch of kelp. I saw some good structure, cast and hit and boom, first fish, 12" Barred Perch. Second cast, the same, third cast the same. And what started out as a very bad day was about to turn completely around. The bite was good enough that I didn't move for 45 minutes. 32 fish landed by perchin' dave. I watched Brad as he left and started working down the beach until he finally stayed put at a favorite hole. Well, we were supposed to be fishing together so I moved down beach to just before his spot. I was fishing the structure next to Brad and three consecutive casts yieled three BSP 9-12". I felt like I could do nothing wrong and Brad felt the same. By this time we had both caught over 40 fish each, mostly BSP. In about an hour. My next cast, boom, something big and off I went, trying to stay ahead of the fish to my advantage. Fishing my 6' stick with 8 pound has its disadvantages, it is great for perch but not for the larger variety. Off I went. I appreciated the coaching I received from Mikey (swat) on previous trips and pulled out all the stops. Off I went to the right to the rocks 1/4 mile. Once there the fish turned around and off I went to the left. The fish was almost effortlessly tiring -me- out, not the other way around. It was strong. I wasn't sure I would see the fish but was grateful I had changed out my 8 pound this morning so I could trust my gear without fearing losing the fish. Off I went to the left for almost a mile and the fish was about to find a tactical advantage and I knew I would have to force him in before it hit the spot. Working the waves I was able to beach the Leo (Leopard shark). 54", and 32 pounds. After the photograph and release session. I was spent and ready to call it a day, but not Brad. He was having too much fun.
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4551.jpg
54" Leo
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4549.jpg
We started fishing side by side, the same hole and did a double hook up, boom. Next cast, the same, a double. Next cast the same, a double, next cast another double but one got off. This fishing was flat out amazing. Brad did not want to leave. He caught a 42" guitar fish, and I caught a couple, we both hooked up on another Leo but broke off twice.
Here's where we fished together .... Surf conditions
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4552.jpg
As we fished, we averaged a fish pulled out on every other cast for a couple of hours, total of 3.5 hours at this beach. We each caught 260 total in under four hours, 130 fish a new personal best for both of us. The 54" Leo tied my personal best off the beach, and the quantity and quality of the fish are excellent for this time of year (though smaller than the spring). Today was EPIC. It is gonna be tough the next time we go out .... but .... that's why they call it fishing, and not catching. Although I kinda felt like today was a 'catching' day, and not fishing. Sorry for so few photos, I could either take photos or catch a bunch of fish. Hey, what would you do?
Perchin' Dave (report)
and Brad Bayley
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4562.jpg
Here's a larger variety perch.
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4559.jpg
Brad Bailey, yet another fish?!!! Yeah. Fun fun FUN!
But not taking -no- for an answer we kept exploring. What started as a very bad day was about to change in a big way. At the fourth beach our persistence paid off. This particular area had a lot of smeg (kelp) in the water and for that reason I stayed with the carolina rig, it kept kelp off the hook, longer. First cast at beach for, a bunch of kelp. I saw some good structure, cast and hit and boom, first fish, 12" Barred Perch. Second cast, the same, third cast the same. And what started out as a very bad day was about to turn completely around. The bite was good enough that I didn't move for 45 minutes. 32 fish landed by perchin' dave. I watched Brad as he left and started working down the beach until he finally stayed put at a favorite hole. Well, we were supposed to be fishing together so I moved down beach to just before his spot. I was fishing the structure next to Brad and three consecutive casts yieled three BSP 9-12". I felt like I could do nothing wrong and Brad felt the same. By this time we had both caught over 40 fish each, mostly BSP. In about an hour. My next cast, boom, something big and off I went, trying to stay ahead of the fish to my advantage. Fishing my 6' stick with 8 pound has its disadvantages, it is great for perch but not for the larger variety. Off I went. I appreciated the coaching I received from Mikey (swat) on previous trips and pulled out all the stops. Off I went to the right to the rocks 1/4 mile. Once there the fish turned around and off I went to the left. The fish was almost effortlessly tiring -me- out, not the other way around. It was strong. I wasn't sure I would see the fish but was grateful I had changed out my 8 pound this morning so I could trust my gear without fearing losing the fish. Off I went to the left for almost a mile and the fish was about to find a tactical advantage and I knew I would have to force him in before it hit the spot. Working the waves I was able to beach the Leo (Leopard shark). 54", and 32 pounds. After the photograph and release session. I was spent and ready to call it a day, but not Brad. He was having too much fun.
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4551.jpg
54" Leo
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4549.jpg
We started fishing side by side, the same hole and did a double hook up, boom. Next cast, the same, a double. Next cast the same, a double, next cast another double but one got off. This fishing was flat out amazing. Brad did not want to leave. He caught a 42" guitar fish, and I caught a couple, we both hooked up on another Leo but broke off twice.
Here's where we fished together .... Surf conditions
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4552.jpg
As we fished, we averaged a fish pulled out on every other cast for a couple of hours, total of 3.5 hours at this beach. We each caught 260 total in under four hours, 130 fish a new personal best for both of us. The 54" Leo tied my personal best off the beach, and the quantity and quality of the fish are excellent for this time of year (though smaller than the spring). Today was EPIC. It is gonna be tough the next time we go out .... but .... that's why they call it fishing, and not catching. Although I kinda felt like today was a 'catching' day, and not fishing. Sorry for so few photos, I could either take photos or catch a bunch of fish. Hey, what would you do?
Perchin' Dave (report)
and Brad Bayley
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4562.jpg
Here's a larger variety perch.
http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa363/davesomm/IMG_4559.jpg
Brad Bailey, yet another fish?!!! Yeah. Fun fun FUN!