Balboa pier. Saturday

[blfishing]

Just came back from pier to make more bait for my catfish and stripers. Water is dark green. Swell was unusual tonight. Switching north to south to incoming to outgoing in a matter of a couple hours. All the sardines you want. However the macks were absent. Only caught 5. Also i believe i got a couple of herring? Sure looks like it. It was a great afternoon evening fishing session. Ate my burger with with my beautiful gf, enjoy the cool weather, watched fellow anglers laughing, music blasting. It was the perfect summer night at the beach.

 

[EgoNonBaptizo]

Do you have pictures of the herring? From what I've seen from that pier, they may be round herring (Etrumeus acuminatus), a more southerly species that has been showing with increased water temperature.

 

[blfishing]

Bad pic. But i gutted him. Looked up on Mexicanfish.com and it is as you said. Looks identical. How are they for table fare? Is this rare?

 

[EgoNonBaptizo]

Almost definitely a round herring. They are reasonably uncommon, but I see every sabiki angler at the end of the pier catching at least one whenever I go. They are decent table fare, similar to a sardine but somewhat milder.