Tunaslam
06-26-2014, 11:43 AM
Fishing Wed.-06-25-14 with Lal on his boat the “Rubber Ducky”. We launched out of Davies, in Long Beach, and cleared the harbor by 5:15 am, our first stop scheduled for Izor’s Reef. The seas were fairly calm, with a small lump, and the skies were in a deep marine layer. When we arrived, the Reef was all ours for the moment.
Lal pulled up on some big stones and we began a rapid drift with an obviously strong current. High tide wasn’t until 10am, so our opening expectations were not high. On our first couple drifts, we metered tons of bait, even had some breaking off our bow. The predators appeared to be hovering below the clouds of bait. Lal was first to get bit and it was a 1.75 pound Sandy.
The scope out was very severe and while we were both winding in after being out 50 or more yards, we both got bit almost simultaneously in mid water column. Both fish were good sized and fought a good fight all the way to the surface.
Some pictures:
Here is Lal with a 5 pound Sand Bass:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3504_zpsfb272d11.jpg
Here I am with a 4+ pound Sandy:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3506_zps9caf765f.jpg
Lal caught our first Calico Bass and we both caught a few more 3 to 4.5 pound Sand Bass. It looked like all the Bass were getting ready to spawn and all were well fed and/or plump with eggs. Nice quality and all were released:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3505_zps17fbb2cf.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3507_zps97365d87.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3510_zpsf4de1790.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3508_zpsed5cf13a.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3509_zps095270aa.jpg
We covered a lot of ground and fished both the upper and lower ends of the reef, and kept our eyes open for any signs of working birds on the horizon. A few other private boaters joined us, as well as the Freelance and Patriot from Newport. After catching about a dozen Bass, mostly Sandies, the bite died for nearly an hour and we made a move down the coast to some other stones that have produced lately.
The first couple of stones produced nothing and then we found some willing biters, yet these were only 1 to 2 pound fish, several Calico Bass to go with the Sandies. Spent an hour in this area for ten mixed Bass, with our total count up to 22, again all released.
We returned to Izor’s and spent some time talking with Cowboy who had just re-built his engine and been off the water for a while. They were fishing bait and not having much luck, although metering lots of fish. We noticed that the Freelance was getting quite a lot of attention from the birds and then the Captain came on the loud speaker and stated that he was marking some Barracuda. A few scoops of Anchovies were thrown out and we saw some boils and a few anglers hooking Barracuda. We moved a little closer, keeping a fair distance off their bow, and not to disturb their stern chum line. They were anchored and we were drifting.
I got bit on my second cast! A nice 32 inch log. We called our friend Richie on his boat Taxfree to see if they wanted in on the action. In the next hour we hooked ten Barracuda and kept five. Certainly it was not a wide open bite, just a steady bite after many casts and much winding in of the jigs. Fighting off a summer cold and little activity or exercise over the last few months due to surgery on my knee, I was exhausted with all the jigging and pulling on some fish that pulled back. It felt great though?
The Freelance pulled anchor as the fish left the area. Our friend Richie on his boat Taxfree was still fishing the Horseshoe and we called them to see if any action was up? Richie had caught a few Bass and Rockfish, but nothing else was going on and no Sport Boats had found anything exciting in the area.
The wind was picking up with lots of capping beginning to show. Yet it remained very fishable. We fished a few more Izor’s stones for nothing and moved north to other hard bottom spots and more stones. However, all the fish had lockjaw.
With still good weather and the afternoon well in place, as it was 2pm Lal moved in to fish the wall. The wind had back off and conditions looked promising when we arrived. It has been a rare day of late when you could fish the afternoon, let alone find fish that wanted to chew? Well the next 35 minutes we were in a wide open bite on the Sand Bass, with a few small Calico Bass in the mix. Every cast was a fish, and if the first bite fell off the plastic would get bit again and again. A total feeding frenzy! We put a quick 25 fish on the boat, not literally, as all were released.
This guy had just eaten an Octopus, as the tentacles were hanging out of his mouth:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3512_zps6db3ffa4.jpg
Lal called Richie again, however they were content to fish the Shoe? Then the next hour began a slower pick, with a fish nearly every other cast or so it seemed. We released another 20 fish with several approaching four pounds, and we both lost bigger fish to the rocks. I had one up about half way, as I could barely gain any line on him, and then just like that he got his head and swam straight down and unbuttoned. I pulled up four feet of frayed line, as he had made it back to the rocks!
Another time I was winding up my plastic and just as it reached the boat a dark shadow appeared and my gosh I watched as what looked like about a 10 pound Sand Bass slowly turned and swam away, yikes! I won’t forget the look of that huge head ready to pounce on my 4 inch clear red flake plastic. I might have had a chance on that big boy, being he was so far away from his safe haven in the Rocks?
My wrist hurt, my shoulders ached, my arms felt like they weighed a ton and my legs were wobbly. Lal you plain just wore me out today! Fine job! We headed to the dock at 4pm, a very late day for us and a warm fuzzy feeling to go with it.
Some pictures of the Barracuda at Lal’s place:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3514_zpsd37613ae.jpg
Thanks Lal, another outstanding day on the Ducky, thanks for the fix, I’m good for a few more days now. Bite my tongue! Whew!
Hook up! Cory
Lal pulled up on some big stones and we began a rapid drift with an obviously strong current. High tide wasn’t until 10am, so our opening expectations were not high. On our first couple drifts, we metered tons of bait, even had some breaking off our bow. The predators appeared to be hovering below the clouds of bait. Lal was first to get bit and it was a 1.75 pound Sandy.
The scope out was very severe and while we were both winding in after being out 50 or more yards, we both got bit almost simultaneously in mid water column. Both fish were good sized and fought a good fight all the way to the surface.
Some pictures:
Here is Lal with a 5 pound Sand Bass:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3504_zpsfb272d11.jpg
Here I am with a 4+ pound Sandy:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3506_zps9caf765f.jpg
Lal caught our first Calico Bass and we both caught a few more 3 to 4.5 pound Sand Bass. It looked like all the Bass were getting ready to spawn and all were well fed and/or plump with eggs. Nice quality and all were released:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3505_zps17fbb2cf.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3507_zps97365d87.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3510_zpsf4de1790.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3508_zpsed5cf13a.jpg
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3509_zps095270aa.jpg
We covered a lot of ground and fished both the upper and lower ends of the reef, and kept our eyes open for any signs of working birds on the horizon. A few other private boaters joined us, as well as the Freelance and Patriot from Newport. After catching about a dozen Bass, mostly Sandies, the bite died for nearly an hour and we made a move down the coast to some other stones that have produced lately.
The first couple of stones produced nothing and then we found some willing biters, yet these were only 1 to 2 pound fish, several Calico Bass to go with the Sandies. Spent an hour in this area for ten mixed Bass, with our total count up to 22, again all released.
We returned to Izor’s and spent some time talking with Cowboy who had just re-built his engine and been off the water for a while. They were fishing bait and not having much luck, although metering lots of fish. We noticed that the Freelance was getting quite a lot of attention from the birds and then the Captain came on the loud speaker and stated that he was marking some Barracuda. A few scoops of Anchovies were thrown out and we saw some boils and a few anglers hooking Barracuda. We moved a little closer, keeping a fair distance off their bow, and not to disturb their stern chum line. They were anchored and we were drifting.
I got bit on my second cast! A nice 32 inch log. We called our friend Richie on his boat Taxfree to see if they wanted in on the action. In the next hour we hooked ten Barracuda and kept five. Certainly it was not a wide open bite, just a steady bite after many casts and much winding in of the jigs. Fighting off a summer cold and little activity or exercise over the last few months due to surgery on my knee, I was exhausted with all the jigging and pulling on some fish that pulled back. It felt great though?
The Freelance pulled anchor as the fish left the area. Our friend Richie on his boat Taxfree was still fishing the Horseshoe and we called them to see if any action was up? Richie had caught a few Bass and Rockfish, but nothing else was going on and no Sport Boats had found anything exciting in the area.
The wind was picking up with lots of capping beginning to show. Yet it remained very fishable. We fished a few more Izor’s stones for nothing and moved north to other hard bottom spots and more stones. However, all the fish had lockjaw.
With still good weather and the afternoon well in place, as it was 2pm Lal moved in to fish the wall. The wind had back off and conditions looked promising when we arrived. It has been a rare day of late when you could fish the afternoon, let alone find fish that wanted to chew? Well the next 35 minutes we were in a wide open bite on the Sand Bass, with a few small Calico Bass in the mix. Every cast was a fish, and if the first bite fell off the plastic would get bit again and again. A total feeding frenzy! We put a quick 25 fish on the boat, not literally, as all were released.
This guy had just eaten an Octopus, as the tentacles were hanging out of his mouth:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3512_zps6db3ffa4.jpg
Lal called Richie again, however they were content to fish the Shoe? Then the next hour began a slower pick, with a fish nearly every other cast or so it seemed. We released another 20 fish with several approaching four pounds, and we both lost bigger fish to the rocks. I had one up about half way, as I could barely gain any line on him, and then just like that he got his head and swam straight down and unbuttoned. I pulled up four feet of frayed line, as he had made it back to the rocks!
Another time I was winding up my plastic and just as it reached the boat a dark shadow appeared and my gosh I watched as what looked like about a 10 pound Sand Bass slowly turned and swam away, yikes! I won’t forget the look of that huge head ready to pounce on my 4 inch clear red flake plastic. I might have had a chance on that big boy, being he was so far away from his safe haven in the Rocks?
My wrist hurt, my shoulders ached, my arms felt like they weighed a ton and my legs were wobbly. Lal you plain just wore me out today! Fine job! We headed to the dock at 4pm, a very late day for us and a warm fuzzy feeling to go with it.
Some pictures of the Barracuda at Lal’s place:
http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i394/tunaslam/Lal-Barracuda%20and%20Bass-05-12-11/100_3514_zpsd37613ae.jpg
Thanks Lal, another outstanding day on the Ducky, thanks for the fix, I’m good for a few more days now. Bite my tongue! Whew!
Hook up! Cory