late January report LA harbor

Finally got out in the tube after it seemed like it rained for the whole month of January.  I was able to get a few hours in on the last Saturday of the month while the weather cooperated and in between sports practices and games for my son.  Set ups were a baitcaster with 30 lb braid to 15 lb fluoro leader to weedless eyestrike jighead with a 5" Z man Diezel Minnowz and a spinning rod with a 12 lb leader with a smaller eyestrike jighead and 3" Z man Minnowz.  Got a couple smaller fish and then as I was kicking in to call it a day this 27.5" halibut hit the swimbait as I was almost done retrieving it to the tube.  Kicked in to the launch as I don't like dealing with a bigger fish on my lap and it's easier to land there.  I still have yet to make a good tray like SP Dan and jmytuna have done for that.  Stoked on my first legal for the year.  Released to hopefully spawn and multiply for years to come.  

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Good on you letting that butt go buddy. A health beast out there to grow more beast for the rest of us. Thanks for sharing and great work.

I had a similar end-of-day experience, I was kicking through a weed line, heading for my start beach in Newport Harbor, in 3 feet of water (I was kicking up sand) when something WHOOMPED my fly, and when I saw color I almost had a heart attack and kicked the last few feet to the beach.

It turned out to be my PB at the time.

My friend who took me to that beach launch, was happy but sad...the last time he took someone to that launch, they also landed their PB, but he has as yet to get a legal halibut there.

Congratulations on your Hail Mary PB  [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Excellent job on landing your legal 27.5 inch halibut!!!
Thank you for the fish report with pictures!
Keep up the good work!!

SP Dan <“))><

Thank you all for the kind words! Fishing has so many nice moments that it keeps us coming back. Tight lines to all.

Wow, what a great way to finish! The way he hit it reminded me of my Hali from Saturday. I was almost hastily retrieving my lure as I was drifting past a slip and it must have been closer to top water than the bottom and BAM!

Great video of your catch, I really want to fish that area soon!

beedee wrote:Wow, what a great way to finish! The way he hit it reminded me of my Hali from Saturday. I was almost hastily retrieving my lure as I was drifting past a slip and it must have been closer to top water than the bottom and BAM!

Great video of your catch, I really want to fish that area soon!

Thanks beedee. You should definitely fish it. It can be very rewarding.

Great job
All those hours on the water last few years definitely paying off.
You tube videos and message boards can only take you so far.
Time on the water, learning something with every fish, skunk, pattern recognition , personal logs, YODA teachings (SP Dan) etc will take you to another level.
Let’s go buddy!

Doc …. you humble me Sir!
SP Dan    <“))><

Great job David!

Thank you Joe.  I'm just trying to keep up with you!  Let's keep on it!  And SP Dan has caught so many legal halibut.  He encouraged me to check out this area and was there my first trip.  Big thank you Dan!

I hold fond memories of you as well; my friend, of our fantastic fishing days, Sir!!

SP Dan <“))><

SP Dan wrote:I hold fond memories of you as well; my friend, of our fantastic fishing days, Sir!!

SP Dan <“))><

Same here Dan. Always fun fishing with friends. I hope you'll be back on the water soon!

david886720 wrote:

SP Dan wrote:I hold fond memories of you as well; my friend, of our fantastic fishing days, Sir!!

SP Dan <“))><

Same here Dan.   Always fun fishing with friends.  I hope you'll be back on the water soon!

Thank you … I’m trying to get back in the suds David.

 I am having my 2nd cervical reconstruction surgery this Tuesday, Valentine’s Day. I’m attempting to get the feeling back into my right hand, being right handed.

 In June of 2021, I had a five (5) level laminectomy with the complete fusion from C3 to C7 (through the back-side of my neck) which knocked me off the water.
 
This time they’re going (through the front-side of my throat) to perform a C6 -7, C7-T1 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Partial Corpectomy, with graft and plate.

 Hopefully this 2nd surgery will un-pinch my nerves, my damaged nerves will regenerate, and this will allow me to get back-on the water with all of my fishing friends!!

If not, I will have to sale all of my gear and just be content with cheering-on of all of my friends, being helpful … when I can be!

 It’s in His hands!

Possible warm-up pre $ale: three (3) Cumberland Float Tubes with (3) left and right side spare air bladders, SIMM’s G-4 boot-foot and sock-foot waders, SIMM’s G-3 jacket, two pair of Force fins (Lg & XL), custom wood lap-tray by Dan, etc.

SP Dan <“))><

SP Dan wrote:

david886720 wrote:

SP Dan wrote:I hold fond memories of you as well; my friend, of our fantastic fishing days, Sir!!

SP Dan <“))><

Same here Dan.   Always fun fishing with friends.  I hope you'll be back on the water soon!

Thank you … I’m trying to get back in the suds David.

 I am having my 2nd cervical reconstruction surgery this Tuesday, Valentine’s Day. I’m attempting to get the feeling back into my right hand, being right handed.

 In June of 2021, I had a five (5) level laminectomy with the complete fusion from C3 to C7 (through the back-side of my neck) which knocked me off the water.
 
This time they’re going (through the front-side of my throat) to perform a C6 -7, C7-T1 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Partial Corpectomy, with graft and plate.

 Hopefully this 2nd surgery will un-pinch my nerves, my damaged nerves will regenerate, and this will allow me to get back-on the water with all of my fishing friends!!

If not, I will have to sale all of my gear and just be content with cheering-on of all of my friends, being helpful … when I can be!

 It’s in His hands!

Possible warm-up pre $ale: three (3) Cumberland Float Tubes with (3) left and right side spare air bladders, SIMM’s G-4 boot-foot and sock-goof waders, SIMM’s G-3 jacket, two pair of Force fins (Lg & XL), custom wood lap-tray by Dan, etc.

SP Dan <“))><

Thanks for the update Dan.  Praying for a successful and complete recovery for this Tuesday!

SP Dan wrote:

david886720 wrote:

SP Dan wrote:I hold fond memories of you as well; my friend, of our fantastic fishing days, Sir!!

SP Dan <“))><

Same here Dan.   Always fun fishing with friends.  I hope you'll be back on the water soon!

Thank you … I’m trying to get back in the suds David.

 I am having my 2nd cervical reconstruction surgery this Tuesday, Valentine’s Day. I’m attempting to get the feeling back into my right hand, being right handed.

 In June of 2021, I had a five (5) level laminectomy with the complete fusion from C3 to C7 (through the back-side of my neck) which knocked me off the water.
 
This time they’re going (through the front-side of my throat) to perform a C6 -7, C7-T1 Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Partial Corpectomy, with graft and plate.

 Hopefully this 2nd surgery will un-pinch my nerves, my damaged nerves will regenerate, and this will allow me to get back-on the water with all of my fishing friends!!

If not, I will have to sale all of my gear and just be content with cheering-on of all of my friends, being helpful … when I can be!

 It’s in His hands!

Possible warm-up pre $ale: three (3) Cumberland Float Tubes with (3) left and right side spare air bladders, SIMM’s G-4 boot-foot and sock-foot waders, SIMM’s G-3 jacket, two pair of Force fins (Lg & XL), custom wood lap-tray by Dan, etc.

SP Dan <“))><

Hope everything goes good for you and you’re back on the water as the weather warms. Still would love to come down and fish with you so don’t sell all your stuff just yet.