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This morning was Alamitos bay. Very large tide swing filling the bay in the morning, and the slack was timed pretty well. I was excited to get in today.
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I put in at 5:15 AM, and fished until about 10:50 AM. I overstayed, as the last two hours were a total grind with only about 6 fish. But I did meet Fishbones and his son - so I'm really glad I stayed. Hey 'bones - thanks for the baits. That was really sweet of you, man. You're like Bait-o-clause out there. Solid. Thanks!
The fishing was very good the first 2 hours... I had 4 on a couple hundred yards from the launch spot in the first 10 minutes. Very first cast about 3 kicks from the launch brought in a 15" toad
So that made the morning feel like it was going to go well.
I had a few double hookups today and the rare triple (longer video, below.) Brought in a 14", then the 18+", and then something huge grabbed a rod. The water was surging in, and this thing was swimming OUT towards the mouth of the bay to get back to the open ocean. If it was a Halibut, it was about the size of a Volkswagon. It was likely a huge bat ray. I had 30# braid and 15# leader clamped down, and this thing was still pulling drag. I shut off the video, fought it for another 16 minutes (eventually kicking over to and clamping off to the pier so I didn't have to kick against the flow) and I finally decided to break it off so I could get on with the morning.
No wind, never had to change a leader, and I think I lost one or two bait, had probably two or three others just wear out. I like how easy on the gear this place is.
Today was the day of the toad. The water was really moving, I mean just ripping. And I was pulling in bigger fish than the general parade of dinks here. I think the moving water had something to do with the bigger guys being on the prowl.
2 Kayak fishermen out there fishing near me, and I counted 10 tubers today, and on the way in 3 more kayaks and a couple of guys fishing the marina wall from a Robalo 21 footer - one with a flyrod (he had a small spotty on) and the other with a spinner bait.
Secret fishing hole this is not.
Once again, I gotta say - This place is just loaded with fish. My goodness.... Seriously, an obscene number of fish here. Always.
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Speaking of....
The Fish
30 total
* 29 Spotted Bay Bass (probably 9 legal... an 18"+ corn-fed toad, a couple of 16" bullfrogs, a 15", several 14s)
* 1 Sculpinette
The Gear Section
* Hookup Baits. 1/4 oz Minty Fresh, 1/4 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 Glow Green. HUB Crustacean (red) scent. All four rigs were catching fish today.
* I never go anywhere without my Kelp Klip. Love this thing. You can see it in the final video.
* Caught a fin tip as I was stepping over the front spreader bar at the exit...made for a great show for the swimmers, Fishbones, Fishbones Jr and some others as I did a graceless belly flop into about 8" of water.... nice.
What I learned
* I'm learning this place. I rather like that. I'm beginning to find the fish traps at low flow, moderate flow and mega flow.
* Hook Up baits rule. That is all.
* Left my net in the truck.... ugh. Didn't need it.
*
Notes for next trip
* I need to start taking off the fins before stepping over the bar.... my bar is attached to the frame.... My bellyflop has been narrowly avoided a few awkward times... but not today. SPLASH
* I need to be sure in the bright sunlight of the day, I'm hitting video and not just photo.... ugh. Had many photos, only three videos... and there were some phatties that came out today I was sure I got video of.... nope.
What. A. Day! Hey FishB - great to meet you today. Lets hit Newport soon, please!
-Ken
The Triple Hookup - Longish, but action packed. Sad to eventually bust off Godzilla, but I wanted to keep fishing...
Spotty - such a fun day!
Kelp Klip - essential kit.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I put in at 5:15 AM, and fished until about 10:50 AM. I overstayed, as the last two hours were a total grind with only about 6 fish. But I did meet Fishbones and his son - so I'm really glad I stayed. Hey 'bones - thanks for the baits. That was really sweet of you, man. You're like Bait-o-clause out there. Solid. Thanks!
The fishing was very good the first 2 hours... I had 4 on a couple hundred yards from the launch spot in the first 10 minutes. Very first cast about 3 kicks from the launch brought in a 15" toad
So that made the morning feel like it was going to go well.I had a few double hookups today and the rare triple (longer video, below.) Brought in a 14", then the 18+", and then something huge grabbed a rod. The water was surging in, and this thing was swimming OUT towards the mouth of the bay to get back to the open ocean. If it was a Halibut, it was about the size of a Volkswagon. It was likely a huge bat ray. I had 30# braid and 15# leader clamped down, and this thing was still pulling drag. I shut off the video, fought it for another 16 minutes (eventually kicking over to and clamping off to the pier so I didn't have to kick against the flow) and I finally decided to break it off so I could get on with the morning.
No wind, never had to change a leader, and I think I lost one or two bait, had probably two or three others just wear out. I like how easy on the gear this place is.
Today was the day of the toad. The water was really moving, I mean just ripping. And I was pulling in bigger fish than the general parade of dinks here. I think the moving water had something to do with the bigger guys being on the prowl.
2 Kayak fishermen out there fishing near me, and I counted 10 tubers today, and on the way in 3 more kayaks and a couple of guys fishing the marina wall from a Robalo 21 footer - one with a flyrod (he had a small spotty on) and the other with a spinner bait.
Secret fishing hole this is not.
Once again, I gotta say - This place is just loaded with fish. My goodness.... Seriously, an obscene number of fish here. Always.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Speaking of....
The Fish
30 total
* 29 Spotted Bay Bass (probably 9 legal... an 18"+ corn-fed toad, a couple of 16" bullfrogs, a 15", several 14s)
* 1 Sculpinette
The Gear Section
* Hookup Baits. 1/4 oz Minty Fresh, 1/4 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 oz Sardine the Dream, 3/8 Glow Green. HUB Crustacean (red) scent. All four rigs were catching fish today.
* I never go anywhere without my Kelp Klip. Love this thing. You can see it in the final video.
* Caught a fin tip as I was stepping over the front spreader bar at the exit...made for a great show for the swimmers, Fishbones, Fishbones Jr and some others as I did a graceless belly flop into about 8" of water.... nice.
What I learned
* I'm learning this place. I rather like that. I'm beginning to find the fish traps at low flow, moderate flow and mega flow.
* Hook Up baits rule. That is all.
* Left my net in the truck.... ugh. Didn't need it.
*
Notes for next trip
* I need to start taking off the fins before stepping over the bar.... my bar is attached to the frame.... My bellyflop has been narrowly avoided a few awkward times... but not today. SPLASH
* I need to be sure in the bright sunlight of the day, I'm hitting video and not just photo.... ugh. Had many photos, only three videos... and there were some phatties that came out today I was sure I got video of.... nope.
What. A. Day! Hey FishB - great to meet you today. Lets hit Newport soon, please!
-Ken
The Triple Hookup - Longish, but action packed. Sad to eventually bust off Godzilla, but I wanted to keep fishing...
Spotty - such a fun day!
Kelp Klip - essential kit.
