new to the salt

Hi everyone. I just recently purchased my first float tube and started fishing los alamitos bay because its hard for me to drive out to the lakes since I ride a motorcycle. I make quick trips to LAB on weekends when my wife is off so I can use the car. So I grew up fishing freshwater and have only recently started fishing salt water. My question is, are you guys ever concerned about sharks? I'm deathly afraid of sharks and seals haha.. do sharks come into the bay area? A seal snuck up on me last weekend and it scared the crap out of me. I have to admit, I headed for the shore in a quickness and now when I go out, I'm fairly close to shore just incase. I want to be able to venture out further but like I said, all I've ever known is freshwater and sharks terrifies me.

My first trip in the salt a good friend help me with this. He said "don't worry about seeing any sharks...... they have already seen you"
Sharks are the lest of your worries, seal on the other hand maybe the bigger concern, keep you eyes open for them and just know where they are. I have not had any problems with them yet but I have heard of others having issues.
As for sharks if I every see one come up on me will fishing I will not be worried about being bit. I will be more concerned about the chest pain and eventual cardiac arrest from the fear I fill. Good luck remember to count your toe's before and after each trip.

So far I have zero issues with sharks and only a few scares with seals. They have never gotten within arms reach but they have popped up right in front of me to check me out. They have always left me alone. It's people that you have to worry about more than anything. There is someone on here that got hit by a row boat and I've had my fare share of encounters with those electric boats while fishing at night. You can not hear those things coming and people like to drink on those at night so you need to keep your head on a swivel!

Thanks. I don't plan on fishing at night from my float tube. Too much of a chicken to do so But I do try to steer away from people on boats. So far, only encountered one seal. Scared me but left me alone after checking me out. My main concern were sharks (thanks hollywood) good to know that they'll leave me alone.

I've tubed the LAB many times, even ventured out in the open ocean at 72nd St. a few times. Never worried about sharks, or seals. After surfing for 35 yrs and never saw a shark, I just never was concerned about them.

Plus, I doubt that any of our tubes resemble anything a shark would eat...

Just watch out for the paddle boarders, and the idiots that row around there. If your concerned about sharks, ect, you could always carry a small gaf.. ..

Hammer 4 wrote:I've tubed the LAB many times, even ventured out in the open ocean at 72nd St. a few times. Never worried about sharks, or seals. After surfing for 35 yrs and never saw a shark, I just never was concerned about them.

Plus, I doubt that any of our tubes resemble anything a shark would eat...

Just watch out for the paddle boarders, and the idiots that row around there. If your concerned about sharks, ect, you could always carry a small gaf.. ..

Thanks! I'm going tomorrow around 5am to maybe 10am so I'm pretty excited. I do always carry my knife with me though

Same here. First trip out on salt had me nervous as heck!!! Them damn seals seem to be the bigger threat under the water. I had one seal creep up on me and bark. That was pretty scary. Had to check my waders after that. Went out on a late night fishing session (2am-10am) the bite was off the hook. Did not encounter any issues. The major concern is rowers and those electrical skiffs. They make no noise and can creep up on you real fast. Maintain a look out at all times. If you ever wanna tube my buddy @socalfishkilla and myself are always heading out. We would be more than pleased to paddle with you bro. Tight lines.

fatboy531 wrote:Same here. First trip out on salt had me nervous as heck!!! Them damn seals seem to be the bigger threat under the water. I had one seal creep up on me and bark. That was pretty scary. Had to check my waders after that. Went out on a late night fishing session (2am-10am) the bite was off the hook. Did not encounter any issues. The major concern is rowers and those electrical skiffs. They make no noise and can creep up on you real fast. Maintain a look out at all times. If you ever wanna tube my buddy @socalfishkilla and myself are always heading out. We would be more than pleased to paddle with you bro. Tight lines.

That would be awesome! Only problem is that I can only get out early on the weekends because I ride a motorcycle and it's my main transportation. My wife has the car and she works evenings so thats why I only fish during the weekends due to work and early morning. But I am down if you guys can make it around that time. I usually go 5am til 10am or so

mightyminnow25 wrote:

fatboy531 wrote:Same here. First trip out on salt had me nervous as heck!!! Them damn seals seem to be the bigger threat under the water. I had one seal creep up on me and bark. That was pretty scary. Had to check my waders after that. Went out on a late night fishing session (2am-10am) the bite was off the hook. Did not encounter any issues. The major concern is rowers and those electrical skiffs. They make no noise and can creep up on you real fast. Maintain a look out at all times. If you ever wanna tube my buddy @socalfishkilla and myself are always heading out. We would be more than pleased to paddle with you bro. Tight lines.

That would be awesome! Only problem is that I can only get out early on the weekends because I ride a motorcycle and it's my main transportation. My wife has the car and she works evenings so thats why I only fish during the weekends due to work and early morning. But I am down if you guys can make it around that time. I usually go 5am til 10am or so

Have you ever fished Newport Harbor? My bud and I hop between the LAB and Newport. The bite at both spots are great. We plan on hitting Newport tomorrow am between 5am and 11am or so. If you are interested let us know.

No I've never been to newport harbor. I've been wanting to try it though since I started tubing LAB couple weeks ago. Been researching other places to go too. I'm actually meeting someone tomorrow at 5am at los alamitos bay. He's coming down from Azusa. But I'll definitely go next time! I don't have much experience fishing salt water since I grew up fishing freshwater so there are much to learn! Right now, Im just fishing for bass and halibuts let me know next time you guys fish LAB or newport!

@#&* THOSE SEALS!!! BRING A LITTLE WOODEN BAT OR SOMETHING!!!!! had a close call last trip out!

420_tuber wrote:@#&* THOSE SEALS!!! BRING A LITTLE WOODEN BAT OR SOMETHING!!!!! had a close call last trip out!

Lol!! they're like dogs! What happened on your last trip? Probably about two trips ago, I encountered one. He popped up next to me and scared the crap out of me. Think he was just curious, then he took off. Good thing he wasn't territorial or anything.

Last trip to the LAB for me i had a seal come closs enough to make me feel like i needed to get out of the water. Never had an issue but he really got me worried for a bit. Just part of fishing guys we have to take the good with the bad we just hope more good rather then bad.

I saw this youtube video of a kayak group fishing in the ocean. I was curious to see if anyone had ever been attacked but in this video, a seal came up to one of the kayaks and he hopped on top of the kayak and started eating the guy's catch which was in a basket. He didn't attack the angler, just sorta harrased him and ate his catch.

I think I saw that same video. The problem in the video is that the kayaker thought it was cool and let him get on in the first place. That could've been prevented.

You guys worry too much. With this worried about this and that how you guys gonna enjoy your selfs or do any type if fishing?

There is nothing in our waters that you need to worry about. I ninja 60% of the time solo and I have never had any close calls and I tube where I can.
I'm willing to take a trip to the islands if I had way there with my tube.

I suppose you're right. I just got back from tubing los alamitos bay and for the first time, I ventured out further than my previous trips. Caught a couple spotted bay bass. Not so big though, biggest bass was approximately 10"

Caught my very first halibut so it was the first time handling one and I got bit he bit my finger and I started to bleed haha lesson learned! caught him off a little crappie jig can't wait to go out again.

Congrats on your outting today. Yeah you can't lip a Hali like you do a bass lol.
Go as much as you and each outting your feel more and more at home on the water. It just takes time.
Pretty soon you'll be ready for a ninja session and then the whole new ball game begains lol

Lol yeah.. I forgot my pliers so tried to get the hook off and he bit me. Gotta remember these fish have

Teeths!

Invest in a lip gripper,even the cutest little hali have sharp teeth!

bassfishing24/7 wrote:Invest in a lip gripper,even the cutest little hali have sharp teeth!

I sure will! Thanks!

Do not worry about the Sharks , they generally cruise in small packs and you will have been bit before you know it .

TED

Chaffee island is across from the lab I want to go out there