First pier fishing session of the new year for me. I heard Veteran's pier calling my name. So I went for it. Last trip here was in September 2023.
Overcast and cold morning. Temperature about 44 degrees at 6:00 a.m.
I fished midpier, targeting Batrays and anything on the bottom. I figured January being a slow winter month for fishing that the bite would be slow. No luck with any bottom dwellers this time.
Around 7:00 a.m. Jacksmelt arrived. I caught seven total for the session and one Pacific Chub Mackerel.
Fish were in the thirteen to fourteen inch range. Good fight on light tackle. Fish caught on a high/low rig with mussel, shrimp and anchovy. Released all the Jacksmelt except for one. His fate will follow shortly. Kept the Mackerel for future bait.
I saw a few Sabiki fisherman moving around the pier. One fisherman caught two or three Jacksmelt and threw them onto the pier for Seagulls. Another Sabiki fisherman caught two Jacksmelt and tossed them into a very large cooler with wheels. They suffocated while bouncing off the cooler walls.
The fate of my last Jacksmelt? Well, when I hooked the fish, a passing Sabiki fisherman stopped and watched. When I landed the fish, the fisherman got very close to me. He basically entered into my personal space zone. I asked my "close friend" if he wanted the fish. He happily accepted. I handed him the fish and the fisherman walked to the fish cleaning station. He fileted the live Jacksmelt. He left the fish carcass on the cleaning station for the seagulls.
Jacksmelt get no respect on Belmont Veteran's Memorial Pier! 🙂
Happy New Year and good luck fishing in 2024.
Overcast and cold morning. Temperature about 44 degrees at 6:00 a.m.
I fished midpier, targeting Batrays and anything on the bottom. I figured January being a slow winter month for fishing that the bite would be slow. No luck with any bottom dwellers this time.
Around 7:00 a.m. Jacksmelt arrived. I caught seven total for the session and one Pacific Chub Mackerel.
Fish were in the thirteen to fourteen inch range. Good fight on light tackle. Fish caught on a high/low rig with mussel, shrimp and anchovy. Released all the Jacksmelt except for one. His fate will follow shortly. Kept the Mackerel for future bait.
I saw a few Sabiki fisherman moving around the pier. One fisherman caught two or three Jacksmelt and threw them onto the pier for Seagulls. Another Sabiki fisherman caught two Jacksmelt and tossed them into a very large cooler with wheels. They suffocated while bouncing off the cooler walls.
The fate of my last Jacksmelt? Well, when I hooked the fish, a passing Sabiki fisherman stopped and watched. When I landed the fish, the fisherman got very close to me. He basically entered into my personal space zone. I asked my "close friend" if he wanted the fish. He happily accepted. I handed him the fish and the fisherman walked to the fish cleaning station. He fileted the live Jacksmelt. He left the fish carcass on the cleaning station for the seagulls.
Jacksmelt get no respect on Belmont Veteran's Memorial Pier! 🙂
Happy New Year and good luck fishing in 2024.
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