Got here about 11:30, beautiful day, minimal wind, calm seas, tons of various types of birds everywhere. Not many anglers Wide open sardines and wide open lizards on the floor. Got a dozen dines in a matter of minutes, super healthy lively fish, the birds were stealing them faster than i could catch them! I put a lid on top but they’re still trying. Deployed a live sardine and see if i get a non-bird strike….to be continued…
Dec 4 2023 - Balboa Pier
- Thread starter Rusty
- Start date
…and everything stopped promptly at 1pm. Totally shut off! Got a few dozen aggressive sardines for bait for future trips, and probably lost 3 times as many to the birds! The mean little sardines tore apart my sabiki and only 2 hooks left out of 6. They are only 4-5” but were fighting like little mackerels, of which I saw none being caught. Showed a guy how to catch the sardines, gave him some smaller lead and he was catching a bunch of sardines also. 6”-10” smelt off the end of the pier, all you could catch sardines in the mid pier section on the shaded side. No takers on my live bait, not even a scratch. Tons of tiny 3” lizards all over the floor. One guy at the surf line not catching or snagging anything.
These birds were persistent and just hung around like my buddies, literally everyone that walked by asked or made a comment about them stealing fish. I really don’t mind them taking the fish, but the pointy beak guys are impatient and let out a startling roar. One is a pro at moving the lid over just enough every time i turn around, and that lid is probably 2-3 lbs full of tackle.
Perfect relaxing day even though there’s not a lot of fishing action, probably a good mack attack later towards evening as usual im guessing. Still awaiting some Bonito to arrive, they have been pretty much MIA this year in this area, though I’ve heard there is tiny guys in MDR and Redondo area.
These birds were persistent and just hung around like my buddies, literally everyone that walked by asked or made a comment about them stealing fish. I really don’t mind them taking the fish, but the pointy beak guys are impatient and let out a startling roar. One is a pro at moving the lid over just enough every time i turn around, and that lid is probably 2-3 lbs full of tackle.
Perfect relaxing day even though there’s not a lot of fishing action, probably a good mack attack later towards evening as usual im guessing. Still awaiting some Bonito to arrive, they have been pretty much MIA this year in this area, though I’ve heard there is tiny guys in MDR and Redondo area.
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If I couldn't catch a trophy, I would still be happy with a wide open sardine bite. I really like 'em grilled or broiled with a little salt and hot sauce, lemon juice, or mustard. Trader Joe's recently was selling a cloth grocery bag with canned sardines art and a recipe for "sardine salad" printed on it. I made the recipe with some fresh ones this summer and it was the b0mb on saltines.
