[kelpangler]

My buddy and I took the day off and made a tour of the South Bay from the Palos Verdes rocks to Hermosa Beach Pier. Got to PV a little after 6am and made the trek down to the rocks. The tides were pretty low which made the kelp forests all the more visible and, IMHO, more challenging to fish. Used both squid strips and "sidewinder" crabs with a single dropper loop, #4 circle hook, and 2 to 3 oz. torpedo and egg sinkers. The bite was good as we ended up with 3 calicos and a sand bass, as well as a couple lost to the rocks/kelp during the retrieve.

15" calico


Around 10am we decided to collect some more crabs and made our way to Redondo Beach Pier. The mac bite was on although we weren't too interested in sticking around for it.

Moved on to the Redondo Sportfishing Pier and was graciously left a bucket of live sardines and anchovies left by a party boater. Spent about 4 hours throwing out squid strips, crab, live bait, and cut bait, only for it to turn into a royal feast for the bait-stealing senoritas. The constant tap-tap-tap can really get on a fisherman's nerves. One of the sardine heads (eyes, brains, guts) was picked clean with only the exoskeleton left perfectly intact. We didn't end up with anything, but there were probably a dozen or so very small calicos and a couple macs pulled over the rail. Also of note, the bubble hole was apparently pumping out some warm water and attracting baitfish as evidenced by the crashing birds.

Trying to outlast the pesky senoritas


Our last stop was Hermosa Beach Pier. We were finally able to make some bait and it was just about the right size--smelt a little smaller than the size of your hand. Had 2 really nice hits within 10 minutes of baiting up--got my blood going--but when I went to set the hook nothing was there. But the highlight of the day was a 33" hali caught near the end by a fellow named Al. I think he caught it on plastics? If you're reading this Al, congrats!

Al's 33" hali


This was sorta my last hurrah before the 2nd child is born. Gotta stay close at hand for the delivery. Not sure how the wife feels about it, but I'll be glad to have another fishing buddy soon.

[norcalkat]

awesome report. thats a nice hali by al. i always like these reports with pix, kinda shows you how the day went.

[riorust]

Nice report Pops...er, um Eugene. Nice pictures as usual.

[kelpangler]

Thanks, I forgot to mention how much fun it was collecting the sidewinder crabs (what's their proper name?) It felt like we were kids again. Here's a chronicling of how the crustaceans fared...

Pried them from their holes while avoiding those powerful claws


Our "stash"--we used 'em whole or cut in half


Releasing the lucky ones (the one in the background is seen crawling off the edge)


Most of them scurried off quickly--we had fun watching this family "discover" one of them


Crab vs. toe--fighters 'til the very end

[tinle]

nice report. love those pictures!

[pdrfish]

Last hurrah? Good luck with the new addition.
Those are some sweet pics, did you take them with your new camera?
I'll be going out on Saturday (3/4) if you think you can sneak away again.

[bassmanben]

great pics kelpangler and thanks for the report. I had never thought of using those crabs for bait. I like to mess with them in the rocks sometimes when I am not getting any action. next time I will think about putting one on the hook!

[kelpangler]

[bassmanben]

[toejamb]

Good old Al. He usually comes 'round during the summer. Almost always catches something too. $#@%$!

BTW, Great report and shots Eugene. Good wishes to you and your fine (growing) family.

t

[Mahigeer]

Eugene, thanks for the invite to go with you. I had to do chores since I was heading to Catalina on Friday.
I caught a very nice sheephead with the crabs last time I was at Catalina. The sport-fishing pier is the place to use them for the big sheephead that hang around there.

Was the line bin full? Did you empty it?