Got out to the pier much later than i was hoping, some time around 8:30. The place was packed already with beachgoers! 90 degree temperature felt relieving compared to the 112 degrees away from the ocean.
short story:
The Bonito were around, but certainly not wide open. Mostly small groups of small guys. 1 small 10” Bonito around 10:30am on a big Kroc, a bit larger fat 16” model around 12:30 on a tiny 2” blue colored smelt. Sorry for no pics, i am horrible at the pictures, my hands are slimy, i am busy fishing, and i hate to look like one of the silly instagrammer selfie people
Long story:
I set up towards the end of the pier, in the corner next to the trash cans…started looking for sardines, tons of smelt in the water super thick. Finally managed 1 good sardine after 15 mins of frustration, set him out on the slider while i tossed a big kroc around. Water was calm, some light wind. A few guys with splasher rigs trying, a few others with sniper style jigs. No hookups that i can see except for a guy with a super long sabiki just hooked up 3 small boners, so i cheated and took my kroc to the end area and cast the kroc way out into the zone he was just in and instant hookup on a small 10” guy that fought like he was twice the size. He slammed that kroc hard enough to bend the treble hooks. Gave the fish to someone else who wanted it. I was gonna toss the small guy back. This was around 10:30am. Slow from there on out. Around 12:30, i see the smelt acting crazy, darting around being chased by something, also a bunch of Mullet rocketing around the pier being chased by something huge, the size of a sea lion, but no sea dogs around, not sure what the heck it was, maybe a diver? And a small school of Bonito chasing smelt, at this time i was set up next to the life ring where all the bait was huddled. I tossed a tiny 2” blue smelt at the edge of the bait line, proceeded to cast the Kroc around, I would drop it on their heads, they would stop and take a sniff then take off again and again- then whammo, something takes the live bait, i left my Kroc dangling as i had to get to the fish rod, which the Kroc ended up getting snagged on the piling, i knew that was gonna happen, but had to make a decision! This fish was pulling drag and heading out, then suddenly turns around and heads straight towards me, i reel like hell, he jumps out of the water a few times before i finally get him over the rail. Significantly larger than the first 10” guy that i gave away, i ended up bringing the larger guy home, a really fat looking guy about 16”. Gutted and bled him, paid Ruby’s $5 for a small bag of ice and packed up the fish. I don’t take fish home often, but this guy was such a big fattie, it will be great for some smoked fish tacos.
It was hot at the pier, around 90f, but i had to keep reminding myself it was over 20 degrees hotter inland, so i had nowhere to go lol. I stuck around a little while longer and watched other people fish with not much action going on. Good day at the beach, 100% of people at the beach had a big smile on their faces. Best part of the day!
short story:
The Bonito were around, but certainly not wide open. Mostly small groups of small guys. 1 small 10” Bonito around 10:30am on a big Kroc, a bit larger fat 16” model around 12:30 on a tiny 2” blue colored smelt. Sorry for no pics, i am horrible at the pictures, my hands are slimy, i am busy fishing, and i hate to look like one of the silly instagrammer selfie people
Long story:
I set up towards the end of the pier, in the corner next to the trash cans…started looking for sardines, tons of smelt in the water super thick. Finally managed 1 good sardine after 15 mins of frustration, set him out on the slider while i tossed a big kroc around. Water was calm, some light wind. A few guys with splasher rigs trying, a few others with sniper style jigs. No hookups that i can see except for a guy with a super long sabiki just hooked up 3 small boners, so i cheated and took my kroc to the end area and cast the kroc way out into the zone he was just in and instant hookup on a small 10” guy that fought like he was twice the size. He slammed that kroc hard enough to bend the treble hooks. Gave the fish to someone else who wanted it. I was gonna toss the small guy back. This was around 10:30am. Slow from there on out. Around 12:30, i see the smelt acting crazy, darting around being chased by something, also a bunch of Mullet rocketing around the pier being chased by something huge, the size of a sea lion, but no sea dogs around, not sure what the heck it was, maybe a diver? And a small school of Bonito chasing smelt, at this time i was set up next to the life ring where all the bait was huddled. I tossed a tiny 2” blue smelt at the edge of the bait line, proceeded to cast the Kroc around, I would drop it on their heads, they would stop and take a sniff then take off again and again- then whammo, something takes the live bait, i left my Kroc dangling as i had to get to the fish rod, which the Kroc ended up getting snagged on the piling, i knew that was gonna happen, but had to make a decision! This fish was pulling drag and heading out, then suddenly turns around and heads straight towards me, i reel like hell, he jumps out of the water a few times before i finally get him over the rail. Significantly larger than the first 10” guy that i gave away, i ended up bringing the larger guy home, a really fat looking guy about 16”. Gutted and bled him, paid Ruby’s $5 for a small bag of ice and packed up the fish. I don’t take fish home often, but this guy was such a big fattie, it will be great for some smoked fish tacos.
It was hot at the pier, around 90f, but i had to keep reminding myself it was over 20 degrees hotter inland, so i had nowhere to go lol. I stuck around a little while longer and watched other people fish with not much action going on. Good day at the beach, 100% of people at the beach had a big smile on their faces. Best part of the day!