San Clemente New Year's day

#1
Decided to try lobster hooping and fishing. Got there 3:30 to get some fresh mac but it was not happening. I only saw one caught the whole time. Luckily got frozen as backup. We set up at the end, shark crew all around. So my lady was fishing for mack and I was slide baiting a small perch with my new saltist 15p (love it) and heavy dropper loop with whole shrimp on the komodo as other setup. Only caught red kelp. It was bad. Real bad, clickers kept going off.

So we moved to near the concession stand. It was near sundown, dropped 2 nets out. First pull at 6pm blanked, 30 minute intervals. Second pull blanked again. Doesn't look good. However third pull got 1 almost keeper. 4th pull got 3 in a pot with 2 almost keepers and one almost keeper in the other pot. This would happen almost every pulled until 10:30pm leaving. I have never got so many almost keepers before. Great sign to see so many next year legals but Damn..now getting little frustrated. Total count was 12 lobsters all short thrown back of course. Oh well, next time. Better than doing work. Happy new year.
 

Rusty

Active Member
#3
Decided to try lobster hooping and fishing. Got there 3:30 to get some fresh mac but it was not happening. I only saw one caught the whole time. Luckily got frozen as backup. We set up at the end, shark crew all around. So my lady was fishing for mack and I was slide baiting a small perch with my new saltist 15p (love it) and heavy dropper loop with whole shrimp on the komodo as other setup. Only caught red kelp. It was bad. Real bad, clickers kept going off.

So we moved to near the concession stand. It was near sundown, dropped 2 nets out. First pull at 6pm blanked, 30 minute intervals. Second pull blanked again. Doesn't look good. However third pull got 1 almost keeper. 4th pull got 3 in a pot with 2 almost keepers and one almost keeper in the other pot. This would happen almost every pulled until 10:30pm leaving. I have never got so many almost keepers before. Great sign to see so many next year legals but Damn..now getting little frustrated. Total count was 12 lobsters all short thrown back of course. Oh well, next time. Better than doing work. Happy new year.
a little trick i like to use is to leave the shorts in the hoop and descend it, if you aren’t already doing so. They will attract more bugs into the hoop hopefully raising chances of a legal size. They are very social and will gather if they see others partying 😂
It may sometimes even work if you run out of bait!
 
#4
a little trick i like to use is to leave the shorts in the hoop and descend it, if you aren’t already doing so. They will attract more bugs into the hoop hopefully raising chances of a legal size. They are very social and will gather if they see others partying 😂
It may sometimes even work if you run out of bait!
I have tried that in the past. Didn't seem to make any difference for me. I had the sea dog messing with my nets. I threw the shorts opposite side of the pier. Heard sea dogs munch of them..interesting note.. the warden showed up but didnt check anyone..wished he did.