Rpt-10-09-11 A Variety Pack.
Fishing Sunday morning, Oct. 09, 11, on Lal’s 18’ boat, the “Rubber Ducky”. We launched out of Davie’s in Los Alamitos at 5:30 am, our beginning destination being the Newport Pipe. It was grease calm, and the ride out to the pipe was extremely pleasant.
Before arriving at the Pipe, we had to make a stop on ***** slap rock, known for it’s radical pinnacles, caves, and big Bass, amongst the slappers, most likely Black Sea Bass? It’s a few miles north of the pipe, very small and often cost you gear. After a few drops, both Lal and I got slammed, and both of us had fish take drag, and unbutton. Darn, however, as I recovered from the shock and took a few cranks on the reel, it was bit again, no drag pulling this time, yet a very healthy fish, with intense head shakes:
Myself with a 3.5-pound Sand Bass, notice how beautiful the Sunrise was.
A few more passes on the “Rock” and no action, so on to the Pipe.
It was a slow pick, working various depths, metering fish here and there, however, few biters. Caught about eight Sand Bass, and one Calico Bass in two plus hours. We also caught a half dozen Sculpin, several Cabazon’s, a Tree fish, and a Chocolate Rockfish, There was a great high tide of 5.2 feet at 8:30am. However, there was almost no current, and with no wind, we did not cover much ground. Yet, who’s complaining, it was drop dead gorgeous weather out on the water, with outrageously clear conditions, Catalina behind us, and Baldy in the mountains in front of us. Anyone taking a harbor cruise was going to enjoy the moment. This is California at it’s best in the Fall.
Lal moved us over to the Newport Reef area. The marks were quite good, yet the fish didn’t seem to notice our lures. I’m guessing they were just taking in the beauty of the day? Look out, Lal has a bite, he hollers, its taking drag on my 20-pound outfit. We mostly fish 15 and 12-pound line, except for ***** Slap Rock. I watch as Lal works the fish to the surface, oh yeah it’s a Big’n all right. A five-pound beast, on the Boga Grip. Go to take a picture, and the big Sand Bass hops off the grip into the water, darn, no picture.
Give up on the reef after only one more Sand Bass for the next hour. Work our way north, stop on a few other small rocks and structure for three more Sand Bass. We end the day at noon, with 13 Sand Bass, one Calico Bass, and ten other species of fish. The winds were barely over 5 to 8 knots at their worse. We could of fished much longer, yet Pro Football was waiting, and a fantastic top 20 Zinfandel I had purchased the night before, wow, it lived up to its billing.
All fish released. What an enjoyable day on the water.
Thanks Lal, another fun day on the Ducky!
Hook up! Cory
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Originally Posted by Tunaslam
