I took the 6 am boat out to Avalon for a 1 day fishing trip. I started off fishing mackerel on dropper loops, while fishing a float rig for opaleye. No opaleye were around, but I did catch quite a few small halfmoon and blacksmith. When I released the smaller fish, an immense (>24") calico came up from underneath the pier and ate them. However, whenever I dropped down a live baitfish with a hook in it, the bass immediately turned away. Although at one point it took a flylined senorita wrasse, it busted me off almost immediately and returned to its spot by the piling. At around 8:30, I met Reel Newbie, and we began fishing together. (I swear this was not planned) The sun came out, and fishing immediately slowed. I could barely scrape out a couple short calico and an almost legal sculpin. Casting a coltsniper jig, I was able to catch a jack mackerel, which I tried to send out on a wire leader, but it flew off the hook during the cast. I made the move to the GPP at around 12, and began fishing for opaleye. There were not very many around, but I managed two after picking through dozens of short calico. I also caught an amberstripe scad, the first that I had seen in several months. Around 3 pm, the bite for all fish slowed substantially, and I decided to try somewhere else. I dropped some of my gear off at the storage service, and took my backpack, a bucket with ice, and my medium baitcasting setup to Pebbly Beach. Initially the fishing was slow, but then around 4:40, the whitefish bite kicked off. I caught well over a dozen, and kept six nicer size ones. I returned to the Mole by 6 pm, and began cleaning/packing up, while leaving one rod out with mackerel on a dropper loop. I also fished a float rig for opaleye, and caught a nice sized halfmoon. I took the last (7:30) boat home.
Overall mediocre fishing (especially compared to some of my trips during the winter), but still fun, and it was great being able to meet site members.
Pics:
Note the more gently curved lateral line in comparison to Pacific jack mackerel, fewer lateral scutes, yellow stripe running down its side, and the reddish-brown coloration in the lower lobe of the tail.
Overall mediocre fishing (especially compared to some of my trips during the winter), but still fun, and it was great being able to meet site members.
Pics:
Note the more gently curved lateral line in comparison to Pacific jack mackerel, fewer lateral scutes, yellow stripe running down its side, and the reddish-brown coloration in the lower lobe of the tail.
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