8/26 San Clemente Pier - Bonito

[Sly tuna]

I decided to venture down to San Clemente this morning to see if there was any bonito action. Fished the pier from 6-9 this morning for a limit of bonito and countless follows/strikes.

I started off by using a splasher + feather but they wouldn’t commit for some reason. Tried a blue feather and a white feather for no takers. Around 7 I switched to a splasher and lucky craft smelt. It took 1 cast to get hooked up with this setup. managed to get a limit within a couple hours. Kept 2 and gave the rest to anglers around me.

In hindsight if I would have started with the lucky craft, I would have had a limit by 7. They were far more active in the early morning.

They would come and go for that 3 hour window and I decided to head out after 9am.

 

[Ken Jones]

Sounds like they've finally arrived.

 

[Snookie]

We have got them at Balboa Pier off and on even into the surf area. There are lots of smelt for them to eat. I have even seen a normal big sized one for a change.

Snookie

 

[HookedUp!]

I decided to venture down to San Clemente this morning to see if there was any bonito action. Fished the pier from 6-9 this morning for a limit of bonito and countless follows/strikes.

I started off by using a splasher + feather but they wouldn’t commit for some reason. Tried a blue feather and a white feather for no takers. Around 7 I switched to a splasher and lucky craft smelt. It took 1 cast to get hooked up with this setup. managed to get a limit within a couple hours. Kept 2 and gave the rest to anglers around me.

In hindsight if I would have started with the lucky craft, I would have had a limit by 7. They were far more active in the early morning.

They would come and go for that 3 hour window and I decided to head out after 9am.

I've tried using crankbaits for bonito, but I've found it to be difficult to cast. How were you able to cast with the Luckycraft?

 

[Ken Jones]

Piers that are high off the water are not great for many lures, you just get a much different movement and appearance from the lure. Small piers closer to the water, like many in San Diego Bay, Bay Area waters, and Humboldt Bay are tend to be better for lures.

 

[Sly tuna]

I've tried using crankbaits for bonito, but I've found it to be difficult to cast. How were you able to cast with the Luckycraft?

A lucky craft alone will not work. I use a golf ball with a 10’ 15lb leader. Keeps the bait working like it should!