Balboa Pier Bonito action galore!

Rusty

Active Member
#1
Got down here at about 8am and setup to catch sardines. Bonito everywhere, easily spotted on the surface. Didn’t want to play with any of my lures, sniper, croc, kastmaster.
Lively sardines were the hot ticket if you can get past the billions of smelt. I couldnt even catch bait fast enough! As soon as my bait hit the water it got slammed! Limits within an hour! Heading home by 11am! The hot spot was in the middle where the kid with the green shirt is in my pic, he was a pro at catching sardines!

If you want to get on some of this action, get down here!

Huge thanks to Snookie!
 

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#3
Glad to hear that the bonitos have decided to stay a while longer. The water temperature took a fall to 63 degrees (so the paper says) and that isn't good, but they must not have noticed it. As far as catching the sardines I have found that the size 6 in the Sabiki is the best size for sardines. Thanks for updating us on the bonitos.

Snookie
 
#7
Got down here at about 8am and setup to catch sardines. Bonito everywhere, easily spotted on the surface. Didn’t want to play with any of my lures, sniper, croc, kastmaster.
Lively sardines were the hot ticket if you can get past the billions of smelt. I couldnt even catch bait fast enough! As soon as my bait hit the water it got slammed! Limits within an hour! Heading home by 11am! The hot spot was in the middle where the kid with the green shirt is in my pic, he was a pro at catching sardines!

If you want to get on some of this action, get down here!

Huge thanks to Snookie!
Great day out there saturday, I spy myself in the back of that picture! took home 2 bonitos and a couple mac
 

bassfanatick

Well-Known Member
#8
It wasn't wide open for me. As you said, live bait was key. They didn't hit the jigs or feathers much at all. Still got my limit with the jig powering thru the pain. Wasn't looking casting underhand, jig caught piling and slingshot into my hand. Good times still.
That is gruesome, how did you get it out if I may ask? I love fishing but getting hooked is one of my fear.
 
#9
I thought about doing the reverse pull with heavy line, but hook was buried deep and I had no heavy line. Also, kind of difficult to do it alone. So decided to simply pushed the barb thru and cut it with dykes. After cutting, the jig just fell off my hand. Let me tell you, the human skin is pretty damn tough, I had to really force it a few times to poke thru. Lesson here is, look down before casting?
 

fish-ninja

Well-Known Member
#11
I thought about doing the reverse pull with heavy line, but hook was buried deep and I had no heavy line. Also, kind of difficult to do it alone. So decided to simply pushed the barb thru and cut it with dykes. After cutting, the jig just fell off my hand. Let me tell you, the human skin is pretty damn tough, I had to really force it a few times to poke thru. Lesson here is, look down before casting?
Man, I hear you. I have done that a few times myself but I had some one who could do the honor of pushing it through my skin. All I had to do is to close my eyes and hold my breath. You got my respect doing that yourself. A true angler.