Search results

  1. Reel Newbie

    Balboa pier 7/13 and Santa Monica pier 6/14

    Fished balboa pier from 10am-12pm on Wednesday, at the peak of high tide. Only caught 3 sardines, but the pier was mostly empty and the other guy fishing next to me caught 3 mackerel as well. Overall slow, but I was jigging a sabiki without bait. Fished Santa Monica pier from 9am-1pm on Thursday...
  2. Reel Newbie

    Selling some reels and gear before I go off to college

    Hi again guys, it’s been a long while since I was here, but between college and the pandemic, it’s just been rough on me and I haven’t really had any time to fish and most of my stuff has just been collecting dust. I’d like to trim down my collection a bit, and I think that selling here to...
  3. Reel Newbie

    Need a refresher for the sf bay

    Finally finished grinding through finals with 6 classes, and I’m planning to go out on oyster point this week. Anyone know what’s been biting and what’s around? Definitely need a break from all the online classes.
  4. Reel Newbie

    Oyster point 6/13

    Came to the pier at around 1pm at peak low tide, fished until 8pm. Dragged a few friends with me and that totaled to quite a few people on the pier, mostly using dead bait on the bottom. Plenty of smelt for the guy who was fishing for them. Caught a decent bat ray around 2-3pm, probably a good...
  5. Reel Newbie

    Oyster point 6/7

    Went to the pier at 7am at peak low tide. Started with a three way rig with frozen anchovies and herring. Very windy that day, saw one shaker halibut at around 10. More people showed up around 12, and one guy caught some live smelt for bait and I started using some of that. Around this time, a...
  6. Reel Newbie

    Oyster point 6/6

    Headed to the pier at around 6 am on peak low tide. Started with two 3 way rigs with frozen anchovies, herring, and back of the freezer bait. Guy there with a cast net couldn’t get any live bait. Somehow caught a bullhead on my stinger treble and used it as live bait on one of my rods. Some weed...
  7. Reel Newbie

    Crabs in a halibuts stomach?

    I was filleting the halibut that I caught at oyster point and when I cut it’s stomach open, there were small crabs. From what it seemed, there were a few green crabs and slender crabs I think. Didn’t take a picture though, but aren’t halibut supposed to be ambush predators? Never thought they’d...
  8. Reel Newbie

    Oyster point 5/31

    Went out at 1:30pm at peak low tide on a calm and cloudy day. Already were a bunch of halibut fishermen there already and I heard that a 30 incher and a bat ray had been caught. Most of the guys were using live anchovies and conventionals in clamp on rod holders. I only had frozen anchovies and...
  9. Reel Newbie

    Oyster point pier 5/25

    Slow and hot day. Was there from 8am to 4:30pm on the incoming tide. Was there with about 10 other anglers on the 3rd day of opening the pier and the launch. Was using a fishfinder with squid and a three way rig with frozen anchovy. Saw only 4 shaker halibut caught the entire day and 2 bay ray...
  10. Reel Newbie

    Is the Brisbane pier open?

    Was driving on 101 today and I think I saw a few guys with rods on the holders on Brisbane pier. Is it open? I’d like to get out there and fish if it isn’t too crowded.
  11. Reel Newbie

    How exactly do you fish with circle hooks?

    Never tried them really, just found a couple older decent sized ones that I can use for sharks and rays. Also found a new pack of 2/0 and 5/0 gamakatsus in my tackle stash, thinking of using those for halibut or striper. Thing is, how am I supposed to fish with them? I know you’re not supposed...
  12. Reel Newbie

    Lock down boredom creations

    Stuck inside for too long and got bored. I started making some sheaths for my fillet knife, bait knife, scissors,and pliers. Used some trashed plastic binders for the sheath material and some old 15lb mono for stitching. Just used a nail to punch the holes into the thin plastic and threaded the...
  13. Reel Newbie

    Light oil for conventionals

    I normally use some old air tool oil for my reels, partly because it had a convenient tip cap. Turns out it gunks up or something like that. Don’t notice it on spinning reels, but it is definitely noticeable in conventionals with lighter spools. Probably out of its prime. Sometimes I’ll have to...
  14. Reel Newbie

    Balboa pier 3/1

    Final managed to get some time to go fishing through midterms and homework. High tide was at 12pm, got there at 10am. Little tidal movement, guys at the back said they had caught some baby mackerel earlier. Fished 1 rod with a Sabiki and old shrimp/squid I scrounged up. My other rod with the...
  15. Reel Newbie

    What’s at balboa pier again?

    Midterms, homework, etc. held my trips back for a while, what’s biting there now? I’m just going to hope that it doesn’t rain like the last time I went.
  16. Reel Newbie

    What’s biting in balboa pier?

    Heading down there this weekend, is anything biting right now? Most importantly, are the mackerel or bonito here? Thanks.
  17. Reel Newbie

    What exactly is there to fish for around now?

    Just made it back to the Bay Area for winter break, just wondering what is biting now? Is there anything worthwhile to fish for at oyster point? I don’t think I’ll take my chances at Pacifica for crab, so I’m just seeing what’s in the bay.
  18. Reel Newbie

    Balboa pier 10/6

    Got up at 5, boarded the bus at 5:30 and got there at around 10. Fished the incoming tide for only a few mackerel on sabikis tipped with mackerel pieces. Seems the people who flyline a piece of mackerel with a little weight did pretty well. Had some sashimi again. Lots of small smelt. Got bored...
  19. Reel Newbie

    Newport Beach pier 9/29

    Took the bus from UC riverside to Newport Beach. 5:30 am to 9:30 am. Headed on to the pier and by the time I was done rigging, the tide was falling. Fished until 5 o’clock and caught nothing but a few small smelt and a small jack mackerel. Lots of tiny smelt around. People said that they had...
  20. Reel Newbie

    Any news from Newport Beach pier?

    Any recent reports? Headed down there from UCR just to wet a line with a friend. Let’s see if the mackerel are around.