Arrived at Huntington Beach Pier yesterday evening at about 6:30 PM. The tide appeared to be incoming, and the wind was moderately strong. There were lots of anglers in the surf using market shrimp and mussels, but were not successful. I fished at the end on the left side of the former Ruby's Diner to avoid the wind. I saw several families fishing, with most of them using squid or salted anchovies on size #4 hook sabiki rigs. I only saw one very small fish caught while I was there on a sabiki baited with squid strips, which I could not tell if it was a Topsmelt, Jacksmelt, or a Pacific Mackerel. I used two triple dropper-loop rigs with size #10 mosquito hooks, 2-oz torpedo sinkers, and squid strips on a 6 lb mono leader, and received some nibbles, but nothing stayed. I also used a carolina rig with a 2/O live bait hook, a 3-oz egg sinker, and a whole squid on a 15 lb mono leader for sharks or rays, and while I did have the bait stolen, I believe that it was taken by crabs. I had some success with my hoop net, where I caught one Swimmer Crab and two undersized Rock Crabs using Salema that I previously caught at the Dana Point Pier in October as bait. I left at about 9:00 PM.
Tips:
-If the bite is not wide-open, use small hooks instead of a sabiki.
-Always bring a hoop net when pier fishing. Crabs provide entertainment to other fishermen and passerby on the pier.
A couple of questions:
-I am unsure of the exact species of Rock Crab that I caught. By chance, does anyone know what species it might be?
-I am unsure of what a "trap rig" is? I attempted to tie it yesterday, but I could not figure it out and just used a standard carolina rig instead.
Tips:
-If the bite is not wide-open, use small hooks instead of a sabiki.
-Always bring a hoop net when pier fishing. Crabs provide entertainment to other fishermen and passerby on the pier.
A couple of questions:
-I am unsure of the exact species of Rock Crab that I caught. By chance, does anyone know what species it might be?
-I am unsure of what a "trap rig" is? I attempted to tie it yesterday, but I could not figure it out and just used a standard carolina rig instead.
