HIkayakguy
05-02-2014, 08:13 AM
I haven't been surf fishing much recently, and with all the hot weather and clear water I was itching to get out. Went down to my local beach here in SB about an hour before sunset yesterday (5/1). Water was still a bit chilly, air was warm. Wind was side/onshore and variable with a few decent gusts. There was a bit of long period swell about 2ft @ 12s. I was throwing a 5" Big Hammer (I forget the name of the color…look like the glow shad) on a 1/2 oz lead head tied straight to green 30lb PowerPro braid. About 10 minutes in, I hooked something good sized that was pulling a bit of line off. Short fight, took 2-3 minutes to get this shovel nose in.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_191232_zpse09e371b.jpg
It's always fun trying to explain these to tourists haha. Let the shovel nose go on his way, and kept tossing. Moved my way down the beach to the edge of a kelp patch with some good rocks near it. Got a really nice hit. Fish was a scrappy so I was curious as to what it was. Ended up being a personal best grass rockfish, complete toad.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_193041_zps48af5f52.jpg
Sun started to go down, it was a beautiful evening and still warm.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_194815_zps950bf62a.jpg
Decided to make a few last cast back near where I got the big grass rockfish. Managed to hook into one more. Fish definitely felt smaller, and I yanked him in pretty quick. Still a nice sized rockfish, would have made for a few good tacos but I was in a good mood and all fish were released.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_200029_zps0cee6666.jpg
All in all an awesome evening of fishing, topped off with a beer with a few friends who just so happened to be down at the restaurant there at the beach.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_191232_zpse09e371b.jpg
It's always fun trying to explain these to tourists haha. Let the shovel nose go on his way, and kept tossing. Moved my way down the beach to the edge of a kelp patch with some good rocks near it. Got a really nice hit. Fish was a scrappy so I was curious as to what it was. Ended up being a personal best grass rockfish, complete toad.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_193041_zps48af5f52.jpg
Sun started to go down, it was a beautiful evening and still warm.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_194815_zps950bf62a.jpg
Decided to make a few last cast back near where I got the big grass rockfish. Managed to hook into one more. Fish definitely felt smaller, and I yanked him in pretty quick. Still a nice sized rockfish, would have made for a few good tacos but I was in a good mood and all fish were released.
http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r796/maverickcarey/IMG_20140501_200029_zps0cee6666.jpg
All in all an awesome evening of fishing, topped off with a beer with a few friends who just so happened to be down at the restaurant there at the beach.