Short trip to the Central Coast — 1B

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#1
Pismo Beach

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I next moved down to Pismo Beach, checked into my motel, rested a short bit, and then headed out. Parked near the pier in a packed parking lot ($7 for 4:40-6 p.m. parking) and then headed over to Splash Cafe for some clam chowder.

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Finally made it to the pier, headed out to the end, and was baited up and ready to go at 5:45. The pier was actually packed with people but unfortunately none were catching fish (which is not a good sign). Newbies with Sabikis, what looked to be some regulars with bait, and heavy tackle sharkers at the very end, but, as said, no fish. In talking to some regulars I found out there had not been a shark bite at night (one reason I wanted to fish it at night) so I revised my plan.

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Anyway, using my high/low and a variety of baits—lugworms, cut salted/sugared sardine and mackerel, and even squid produced hardly anything except for a variety of small fish. At least the night was a nice one with shirtsleeve weather, 70+ degrees, a light wind, and the usual beautiful sunset.

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Sunset om the pier.

Pismo Beach Pier: 5:45-7:45 p.m.

13 Lizardfish
2 Jacksmelt (one a nice 16” fish)
2 Shinerperch
1 Specked sanddab
1 Topsmelt
1 Staghorn Sculpin

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Day One result — lot of small fish, nothing worth keeping, but still a great day in 70+ weather contrasted to Fresno that was in the 100s.