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View Full Version : Rpt-Sat-04-13-13 Local Bass and Critter Fishing!



Tunaslam
04-13-2013, 05:39 PM
Fishing Sat. 4-13-13, with John on his comfortable 25’Parker, the “Horndog” with friend Chris. We launched out of Cabrillo’s in San Pedro at 5:45 am, our beginning destination being the Palos Verdes Coast. There was a deep Marine layer, with misty spray all around us.

We ran uphill into a decent swell, stopping in an area known to contain a small wreck. The fish were nowhere to be seen and we continued on up the coast. Water Temperatures were at 56.7 degrees, still very cold for this time of year. We checked out our normal area and could not find any meter marks to get excited about. In the past even when the fish didn’t bite, we almost always marked a lot of fish and bait? Lately the Bass have vacated the area; however, the Rockfish have been very prevalent?

We started a drift after 15 to 20 minutes of searching for a good place to start, and found none. So we stopped on some structure with a small mark, just to see how we would drift.
The drift was not to our liking, uphill and mostly in towards land. The current was somewhat strong, with a good scope out, usually rendering a decent bite on the fish that inhabited the area. So John gets us started with a Gopher Cod, I follow shortly thereafter with another Gopher Cod, both small. Chris gets a good bite on a bigger fish; it does some serious thumping and provides a few strong head shakes. It’s a legal Lingcod, however, just legal and was released.

We drift into the Kelp and make a move outside to deeper water. We still see few marks on the meter and begin another drift. I get bit and this is a bigger fish, some violent head shakes and I gain a little line, the fish takes a dive down deep, I lift the rod and gain a bit more line, then the fish goes down and pow, the line snaps. I reel up and I have 12 inches of frayed line. I don’t think it made it to the rocks, since I had reeled up at least 5 to 10 cranks off the bottom, maybe more? Could have been a bigger Lingcod, and the teeth did a number on it? Oh well that’s fishing and I was only using 12 pound test line.

As we had no other bites on this drift, we again moved out to deeper water over structure. Stopped on a small mark and John catches a small Tree fish. I work my plastic off the bottom and get a nice strike. The rod indicates a decent fish; however it is only about a 2 pound Sand Bass:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2505680x510_zps7813b477.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/tunaslam/media/100_2505680x510_zps7813b477.jpg.html)

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2506680x510_zps76c14b5b.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/tunaslam/media/100_2506680x510_zps76c14b5b.jpg.html)

Another hour passes and no one gets bit. We decide to explore some deeper water spots off the Horseshoe Bank. It was a waste of time, as we searched spot after spot with few marks. It was now nearly noon and with few options left we decided to return to the scene of our morning crime. The drift turns out to be very favorable, uphill yet parallel to the coast, instead of in. It turns out to be a good decision, as all of us on our initial drift catch fish.

Here is John with a good sized Sculpin:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2508680x510_zps3c008e02.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/tunaslam/media/100_2508680x510_zps3c008e02.jpg.html)

I get hammered on the wind in and land about a three pound Calico Bass. Unfortunately while lifting it aboard the line breaks again, only 12 pound test, should of used the net? Chris gets in on the action and lands a feisty Calico Bass:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2510680x510_zpsf4380be1.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/tunaslam/media/100_2510680x510_zpsf4380be1.jpg.html)

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2511680x510_zps484a7c05.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/tunaslam/media/100_2511680x510_zps484a7c05.jpg.html)

John is hooked up again and catches a decent Sand Bass:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/100_2509680x510_zps2a74bb72.jpg (http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/tunaslam/media/100_2509680x510_zps2a74bb72.jpg.html)

John was high stick today catching more Sculpin and Copper Rockfish. Chris and I added a few small Sand Bass to our count, and I caught a small Lingcod. We kept two Sculpin and one bleeding Sand Bass for fish tacos. All others were released to fight another day. We ended the day with 8 Bass and over 15 Rockfish. Not anything to write home about, yet a fun day on the water together. Although we never saw Father Sun, Mother wind never made an appearance, with grease calm seas even as late as 2:30 pm.

We trailered the boat at 3:00pm. Thanks so much for the invite John, can’t wait for our next adventure together.

Hook up! Cory

DockRat
04-16-2013, 05:32 AM
Love those conditions. No wind, no sun. 57 Brrrrr still.