[zanglezonker]

hi All,

I just rejoined the world of the fishing, having taken my daughters fishing over father's day weekend.

They are "hooked," having caught (and released) a number of small bluegill (on red worms) at Cholla Lake and Lower Otay.

But now I'd love to catch something big enough to keep (and eat) with them, and from everything I've read, it seems like opaleye at OB pier might be the thing to try next.

I'm interested in any detail people can offer. Time of Day? Tide?

Sounds like south side inshore. How far out the pier relative to either fixed landmarks (benchs, etc.) or surf?

I'm thinking of peas and/or "moss." Any details about the rig I should use? How deep?

Thanks.

[dompfapops]

Opaleye are a lot of fun to catch. I've spent many happy times with my 6 sons targeting the beautiful blue eyed nibblers. And pound for pound they are smarter and scrappier than most fish that size. And they do get surprisingly larger than you'd think. The big ones have a large forehead and seem to have a personality that says "I'm older than you, toss me back in". And I always do throw them back because, frankly, I just don't like the taste of Opaleye. The way to catch them is, use a very small hook #14 or smaller so the frozen green pea completely hides the hook. Use a bobber and a 2 or 4 lb. leader 3 feet long. Now here's the secret, WATCH THE BOBBER, it won't move much. Set the hook at the slightest hint of a movement or all you will get back on the hook is the hollow skin of the pea.
That's right, in a splt second, they can suck the meat out of the pea and leave the empty shell hanging on the hook and not even hardly move the bobber! Have fun.

[dompfapops]

I forgot to mention: put a small split shot about 8 inches above the hook so the leader hangs down in the water below your bobber.

[squidder]

When I was a kid long ago (1970's) on Redondo Beach Pier, I saw an unusual method one guy used to catch opaleyes. He would cut open a mussel and insert four small hooks into the meat without cutting the meat out of the shell. Picture four quadrants with hooks in each. Then he would lower the entire thing near one of the pilings where the opaleyes tend to feed. Worked really well at the time. I'm sure techniques like this withstand the test of time.

[Ken Jones]

Opaleye

Species: Girella nigricans; from the French word girelle (a derivative of julis, an old word used to denote a number of small wrasse in Europe), the Latin word nigr (dark) and the Greek word ikanos
(becoming, in reference to its pleasing appearance).

Alternate Names: Blue-eye perch, green perch, opaleye perch, bluefish, blue bass, greenfish, Jack Benny, Catalina perch, button-back, button-eye, and button bass.

Identification: Opaleye are perch-shaped but heavier bodied. Their coloring is usually dark olive green, usually with two light spots at the base of the dorsal fin; eyes are large and an opalescent blue-green color.

Size: To 25.4 inches and 13 1/2 pounds; most caught off piers are under 16 inches. The California record fish weighed 6 lb 4 oz and was taken near Los Flores Creek in 1956.

Range: From Cape San Lucas, Baja California to San Francisco.

Habitat: Shallow-water, rocky areas and kelp beds.
Piers: Can be caught on almost any pier in southern and central California located near rocks, reefs, or kelp, but they're uncommon north of Cayucos and rare north of Monterey. Best bets in the San Diego area: Shelter Island Pier, Ocean Beach Pier (inshore), and Oceanside Harbor Pier.

Bait and Tackle: Some anglers specialize in opaleye, and many of them swear that moss or frozen peas are the best bait. I've caught them on both, but I've actually caught more on ghost shrimp, fresh mussels, pile worms, bloodworm, and small rock crabs. I also managed to hook a few opaleye using garden snails during an experimental day at Catalina in 2005.

Food Value: A good eating fish that is generally fried.

Comments: Primarily vegetarians, opaleye eat a variety of plants including feather boa kelp, giant kelp, sea lettuce and coralline algae. Evidently they also grab a few tube worms and red crabs as they're making their rounds. Opaleye are a favorite of many anglers; they're hard to hook but once hooked put up a very good fight for their size.

[zanglezonker]

So I went out to the OB pier this morning and fished for a little over an hour with no action whatsoever. Since my peas mostly stayed on the hook (all of them, not just the outer skin), I suspect that means I wasn't where the Opaleyes were.

I was out from about 10 to 11 AM. I believe high tide was around 11AM. The weather was foggy with a light breeze.

I was fishing between the first benches and the green iron cage with the pumps in it. I was on the South side.

I was a bit offshore of where most waves were breaking, but occasionally a set of bigger waves would break out were I was fishing.

Mostly I was dropping straight down or underhand casting out just a little ways.

I chummed some with some seaweed I scraped off the seawall and with peas. I probably should have brought more peas to chum. I had about 3/4 of a bag.

I threw 3 handfuls in when I got there and then a small handful every now and then.

I had a bobber about 3 feet up from the hook, with a split-shot about 12 inches from the hook. The hook was a no. 8 baitholder. Mostly, I put 3 peas on together, but I also tried it with just one. (Anyone tried with even smaller salmon egg hooks? - they seem like they might be good for one pea).

I was also wondering if I was limiting myself too much with the peas (at least until I know where to find the opaleye) and if I ought to try a rig with two hooks, one with peas and one with squid or mussels. Anyone tried a hi/lo like that?

Any advice about what I ought to do differently is appreciated.

[dompfapops]

Yeah you probably were not near any opaleye. But when you do find a good spot for them take a big bag of frozen peas (they are cheap) and chum a lot. And use a much smaller hook than a #8 they have real small nibbler mouths use a #12 or 14 hook. As for good spots in the SD area I cant help you. If my life depended on me finding opaleye in my neck of the woods (LA) I would try the Marineland area of Palos Verdes or the Mole in Avalon.

[zanglezonker]

Thanks dompfapops,

Looking at the OB Pier page again, it seems to suggest that I ought to be fishing more in the breakers.

The paragraph about Opaleye begins "Inshore..." following a paragraph the describes fishing for Leopard Sharks "just past the breakers" near the green metal cages. I read this to mean, I ought to be fishing "inshore" of "just beyond the breakers," that is, in the breakers.

If so should I really be using a bobber and spilt-shot? or heavier sinker?

Also should I just be fishing at lower tide?

[Ken Jones]

No, no; at OB you would want to fish the rocks on the south side of the pier during a time when there is sufficient water to bring the opaleye in close. Quite honestly, if you are targeting opaleye you might want to try the Mission Bay Jetty or Sunset Cliffs. Most of the time rocky areas are better than piers although there are some piers—Oceanside Harbor Pier, Redondo Sportfishing Pier, and both Catalina piers—where there always seem to be some of the fish around. The San Diego piers mentioned can be good but it's hit and miss.

[rayhawk]

If you want the big Opaleye, fish the Mission Bay Jetty. Peas will work along with mussels, but Ghost Shrimp work best for me. You can actually see the big Opaleye feeding on the moss around the Jetty.If you dont see them, crush some Mussels or crabs and toss them in an area, and they will come. I toss a small ghost shrimp on 6 pound line with a small split shot. You can see the Big Opaleye inhale the shrimp and the fight is on. Tough fish on light tackle.

[opal eye]

zangle,

try the rocks south of the pier, past the seawall. There are some good areas. I have done well with peas and moss there. And there are some big fish.

I have had much better luck with mussel and small bits of raw shrimp from the pier itself. Peas not so well from the pier. Also, the opaleye run smaller from the pier vice the rocks. You were in the right area, just keep moving. They will be shallower than you think, and away from the pier. I use a hi-lo setup with mussel one one hook and a small piece of shrimp on the other. #8 hooks and 1 oz torpedo sinker. Moving bait is good. Keep moving and casting until you feel the nibbles. Very light tackle is a huge help, opaleye bite very softly and are hard to detect with a heavier setup. Good luck, once you find them it is great fun.

[zanglezonker]

I went out to Mission Bay Jetty on Friday afternoon (with girls 5 & 9 in tow).

A couple of guys were catching a ton of smallish barred surfperch (?) with live ghost shrimp near the small building on the jetty. The gave us a handful of the shrimp, which kept the girls amused for a while.

But not long enough to hook anything. We didn't stay long at all, although once I've learned enough to start catching fish with them, they'll be willing to stay a little longer.

(This is why I'm asking so many questions instead of merely trying to learn by fishing and watching others fish).

Where, in relation to the surf, do you all recommend fishing for opaleye? The guys catching the barred surfperch were fishing more or less in the breakers.

[rayhawk]

Fish on the Bayside of the jetty. If you fish on the surfside, you will catch more surf fish. The bayside is usually calmer. Chum some mussels in one area and it will attract the opaleye.

If you have a license, fish along the rocks in Mission Bay. Its a bit safer and easier while fishing with children. You can see the Opaleye feeding along the rocks. Most are small, but big ones will cruise along. They are close enough to flyline a ghostshrimp right in front of there noses. Some spots to try is around the Lifeguard headquarters, or near the Seaforth Sportfishing operation.

[zanglezonker]

I went out to Mission Bay Jetty without the kids this evening. I went out further (but not to the end) and fished on the North (beach) side (I hadn't seen jayhawk's post). I caught two opaleye and a jacksmelt on mussels. The opaleye weren't very big, but they were bigger than the barred surfperch I saw people catching the other day, and way bigger than the bluegill I caught at lower otay. I had the opaleye for dinner, and threw the jacksmelt back.

[Ken Jones]

Congratulations on your first opaleye.