[bigred805]

I will post pictures this afternoon

Sunday was one of those days when the average fisherman hangs up the rod and reel and relaxs on the couch. I know I had intended to. Everything pointed to it being a rough day. 20 mph wind, huge storm swell, wrong moon phase etc....
But when my fishing buddy text me at 930 saying "do you wanna go battle the wind at goleta with me?" Without hesitation I said yeah and we started packing up gear. We arrived at 12, an hour and a half before low tide. Water was very cloudy from the high swell as well as lots of floating seaweed. We had the typical squid an sardines for bait. I was throwin the big sticks again and my girlfriend high low sabiki combo. Fishing was tough but wind was blowing NW so we were able to cast off the end of the pier. The first bite came at about 2 on my big rod. I had seen tiny taps so I reeled a bit and fish was on but small. I get in a clump of seaweed with a bullhead sculpin in the middle haha. Minutes later my gf also caught one on her hi low both released. My buddy peter caught a small thornback around 3 on hi low with squid. Then we realized... were almost out of squid and the bites pickin up soooo more bait! We hit the liquor store and mcdonalds and were back out fishin. The bite slowed down until about 630 approximately an hour before high tide. Suddenly the bottom feeders had moved in with the tide and the bite opened up!! Peter strikes first with a 40 inch shovelnose guitarfish immediately follow by a large thornback ray.then my girlfriends pole goes bendo and she brings in an even larger thornback to her amusement(she loves beatin the boys). next my friend casey catches a baby bat ray also on hi low squid . By this time I'm wondering when its gonna be my turn when suddenly my clicker runs on my avet so I put it in gear raised my pole tip fish on( I use circle hooks). After a bit of bulldoggin we net a 48 inch shovelnose guitarfish. My first so I was stoked!!! Once I get my pics and drop him back I get my line back and the water and there goes the clicker again! I repeat the process and reel in a faaaatt swell shark on sardines ( I use fish finders everyone else was using hi lows). I got my pictures once more threw him back and called it a night. Goes to show you never know what you'll catch if you don't go and try.

[Mahigeer]

Fish finders???

Do tell more please.

Better yet a picture or a drawing of the rig.

Thanks.

[seabass_seeker]

Sweet deal! You guys seam to be the first ones to hook up into any kind of shark/ray at the pier this season. BTW, just wanted to let you know that a 25" ling was caught there the other day. It was caught on Big Mike's ling slayer twintails, looks like the action is heating up.

[bigred805]

A fishfinder is simply a carolina rig really. Except I use a coastlock swivel on the main line then clip a pyramid weight to that. It keeps you stationary on the bottom while allowing your bait to flow in the current. Ill post a pic for ya later mahigeer.
Seabass I actually met the guy who caught the ling last night he talked with us for a bit he was tryin again same twintail they were havin a rough night though.
And also I believe the so called bullhead sculpin may actually be a small cabezon so hopefully someone will give me a for sure id later today.
Once again all fish released safe.

[Mahigeer]

Thanks.

I know the rig, but a picture would be good to see it.

[bigred805]

alright heres the pics of me and my girlfriend i also showed my friends catches but left them out for their privacy.

[Ken Jones]

[bigred805]

and if anyone would like to tell me how to post more than 3 pics per page i would appreciate it!

[bigred805]

thanks for clarifying ken. I agree with using circle hooks personally with any bait and wait technique. I use them on all of my rigs and they work great . I don't use the egg weights because i want to hold to the bottom when i hit and the egg weight will roll everywhere thats why i use the pyramid weights. also check out the old post from crass for a great reference to rigs he made some awesome illustrations.

[Ken Jones]

I think what you are using is more like this rig.

Pier Fishing in California, Chapter 4 —

Sliding Leader For Flounder and Sturgeon. Another type of sliding leader rigging, commonly used in the San Francisco Bay area, targets starry flounder and sturgeon. Here a little hardware is added to the rigging.

The main line is run through a plastic sleeve then attached by way of a snap-swivel or swivel to a leader. The sinker is attached to the snap on the side of the plastic sleeve. Once baited, the rigging is cast out and the reel is set on a very light drag, or no drag with the clicker on. If a fish picks up the bait, the line can be pulled out without the fish feeling any pressure. Thus the fish has time to play with and mouth the bait, an important trait when fishing for fish that give a light bite. Flounder, like their halibut cousins, prefer to mouth the bait before striking. Give 'em some line, wait a couple of seconds, then strike. Sturgeon of course are notorious for their light, almost imperceptible bite. If in doubt when fishing for sturgeon, strike!

Some tips: (1) Leader length, strength of the leader, and hook size will vary depending upon the fish you are seeking, the wind and the currents. For flounders a fairly light line, size 4 hooks and grass shrimp, pile worms, cut anchovies or small ghost shrimp should do the trick. Sturgeon require heavier line (typically 30 pound or heavier test nylon coated wire), larger hooks (2/0 to 6/0) and bigger baits. Several grass shrimp, a couple of pile worms, one or two large mud shrimp, or a fresh piece of herring should do the trick. (2) A variation often used when seeking the bigger sharks with this rig is to use two hooks in tandem at the end of the leader, double hooking a whole squid or a squid with a sardine inside its body.

[bigred805]

yes that is the rig i use its actually a pretty popular rig for big batrays and leopard sharks as well especially from the shore. I originally used the plactic sleeve slider but i found that when casting a 3 oz weight or larger they can break and become very sharp and possibly cut your line. that is why i started using #1 coastlock swivels and they work great.

[keoki]

You are obvioulsy above average braving the wind and sticking it to the fish. Good read and good details. Congrats on your fish. I agree with your pyramid sinker on slider technique. I use same method grubbing for perch. It holds offering in strike zone longer and you can reel or drag it around to the exact area you want to target perch. Look forward to more post.

[pierfisher007]

[CatchinKelp]

Red, bet you're happy you all took a chance and went down to GP. Congrats on such a successful outing. I cooked and ate a thornback I caught from the beach there once, and it was strange and not very tasty. Ever since then, I have been leary of trying shovelnose or bat ray. Makes me wish the shoreline in the Channel saw more threshers, leopards, and angels.

[bigred805]

@ keoki - hey thanks glad you enjoyed the report I don't know about being above average but I will say there's no better way to learn then going out and doing it and I go "learn" all the time haha.
@pierfisher007 - thanks I can figure it out from there!
@catchinkelp- yeah I have never personally eaten the thornback but have always wondered. I do plan to keep a shovelnose someday for eating but it will probably be the only one. I'm patiently waiting for the threshers to start coming in shallower and in march I lost the largest leo I have ever seen at gaviota. He tangled me around a metal cable that they hang scrub brushes from the side of the pier and popped my 25 pound mono. It was easily 6 feet but hey sounds like a fish story now .