Windy Day on San Clemente pier 3-30-14

[twin22s]

Been itching to get a good days fishing in all week. Finally got out there this morning but the wind was blowing already at 8:30am when I got there. caught a few BSP on the crack, all dinks. then the tide started to drop so I began to fall back toward the end of the pier with a DS rig, 5" glup jerk shad. caught a pancake about halfway out but as the tide continued to fall and the wind got even worse I found myself at the very end of the pier fishing my DS rig with a 1oz torpedo sinker in the only "clean" water I could find. apparently that's just what the doctor ordered. as I was working my bait slowly back to the edge of the pier, not expecting anything to happen and just enjoying the sun and wind on my face, I felt my slack jump and the weight of something on the end of my line.....Swing!! Bingo I'm thinking is a decent fish from the location and lack of vibration. about halfway up the fish shows its true self and starts to head shake before diving for the bottom peeling the 10lb line off my ABU black max until he felt comfortably deep again. I called for my net. my fiancé and fisherwoman is training was right on it and after a few tense moments with the fish struggling on the surface, it was on its way up the side of the pier to meet the crowd of people that had gathered to see what all the excitement was about. I knew it was close to legal seemed like it shrunk as it came over the rail....

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag192/brian_wilson4/jensnet_zpsd147c79d.jpg (http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/brian_wilson4/media/jensnet_zpsd147c79d.jpg.html)

Time to put him to the tape.... 23.5 inches first legal of the year for me.

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag192/brian_wilson4/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps8e008d6e.jpg (http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/brian_wilson4/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps8e008d6e.jpg.html)

Its been 2 years since I last cooked this dish, I think I still got it though...

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag192/brian_wilson4/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbfb5996c.jpg (http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/brian_wilson4/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsbfb5996c.jpg.html)

[skunked4life]

Wow! From the pier? It has been a loooong time since I have seen someone pull up a legal from the pier! Great job out there! You kept moving and following the signs and were well rewarded!

Skunked4life

[twin22s]

I catch lots of halibut out there, I have seen 20lb+ halibut caught. probably had at least one or two on the end of my line but I fish light line and have been spooled and piled a few times. only problem is room, there is only so much rail and once you have fished up and down the pier a couple times there isn't much else you can do. I wish I had a beach like yours near by, I know a couple spots but I have never caught even one pancake from the sand. Slay the perch and corbina though.

[tamddo714]

awesome fish! good job out there

[bachiboy]

Now that's a great lookin fish...freshly caught and freshly cooked. Great job!:Thumbs Up:

Congrats!
Don

[bones]

Good times for sure! Congrats on the first legal sir and yeah.....you still got it!
Now I'm hungry....LOL

[TUNAVIC]

Wow that's really cool,I remember many years ago you would see quite a few butts caught from the pier,not so much lately,nice going,congrats,the finished product looked tasty! Thanks

Cya Tuna Vic

[SP Dan]

Hi ya twin22s,

"Congratulations" on hoisting up that 23.5" legal next to the pier and for it being your first legal of the year! :Big Smile::Applause: WTG!

Thanx for the fish report with pic's! :Cool:

SP Dan <"))><

[Wingnut]

Very nice, congrats on the legal Hali. :Big Grin:
The food pic looks great! :Razz:

[PTN]

Congrats on the hali and from the pier! I haven't seen a legal from the pier in awhile. The fillets look great.

-Peter

[jaque1579]

Awesome dude! I was there that day you caught this beast. How long of a leader did you have between the weight and the plastic? I was the guy on the scooter. I'd like to try my luck this year for a flatty, any advice is appreciated.

Also I've tried the "crack" at the end of the pier but have never been able to hook anything, do you use a c-rig? Or do you D-shot those too?

[twin22s]

I fish a drop-shot rig with 14-20in. leader depending on the water clarity, shorter leader for dirty water. I have caught many halibut from the pier and harbor this was but mostly on regular plastic. I just started using gulp! a few weeks ago at least for this application. slug-go, zoom flukes and my hand poured 6" DS minnows work just as well. I was hopping to see a difference in the bite ratio with the glup but i haven't noticed one yet. but i will use the rest of this pack before deciding to stay with reg plastic for the price and durability. fishing along the edges of the pier by the pilings and the scattered rocks if you know where they are is the best way to catch them as they will use the holes and high spots created by the current wrapping around the structure to hide. I'll have to take some pictures of my home made DS baits. I have caught 3 legals, countless pancakes, bass and rockfish with them. If you see me out there u usually will have a bunch of them with me i'll give you to try or at least show you the type of profile that seems to work the best.