Trading a Lucky Craft Lure for a Halibut

At this point, it’s safe to say that we’re entering Halibut season as the last few weeks have been great! We’ve fished a few different beaches and had success all around. If you’re struggling to catch fish right now and you’re getting frustrated, it’s time to either target Perch or target Halibut. These are the two species that are biting like crazy right now!

Surf Fishing Report (2/16)

Conditions:

We decided to try a new spot this time as we fished the early morning again. The temperature in the early morning was 49 degrees Fahrenheit and by wrap-up, it was 63 degrees. The water temperature showed a slight dip from the previous 62 degree mark to a new year-low of 59 degrees. This was an interesting factor to keep an eye on as we were hoping it wouldn’t dip as low this year. The swells were listed at 1-2 feet again, but these swells rolled in a little larger than the previous week’s. Seaweed was nonexistent and the current was very manageable. Wind was mild, but either way, it’s freezing out there at 6 am! Get your waders for surf fishing here if you haven’t already. Sunrise was at 6:31 am and first light was 6:06 am.

First Cast

We hit the sand at 6 am and made the decision to throw the LC. Kyle rigs up first and makes his way over to the water for his first cast and just like that, he’s got his first Perch of the day! That’s a great sign! I finish tying my LC (Metallic Sardine) to my main line and start fishing. Three hits in the first five minutes and I lose all of them. Two didn’t stick and one popped off during the fight. By now, Kyle’s already landed two more Barred Surfperch and I’m getting antsy.

I take a look at the treble hooks on my LC and they appear to be a bit dull. Either way, I’ve got to keep fishing! ten more minutes go by and I land my first fish of the day, a nice 12 inch Perch. Thus far, they’ve ranged from 11 inches to 13 inches in length and hit like tanks! In the next two hours, the action turns on and off and on again as we catch a few more and have a few more pop off.

$20 Down

The area we’re fishing isn’t one we’re too familiar with and it’s full of structure. You know when a spot looks so good, but you simply aren’t getting hits? Yah, that’s what we were experiencing. So, we start casting a little closer to the structure and we get a little more confident… a little too confident.

I cast again and I get hit! This thing hit so hard, it felt like a rock!… Then again, maybe it was a rock… This exact scenario is the one thing all fishermen dread when it comes to using Lucky Crafts. They work so dang well, but you pay a price when you lose them. After a few minutes of trying to dislodge the lure, I decide my last resort is to try and will it out. Bad idea… I feel the pop and I know it’s gone forever.

$40… No, $60 Down

Reluctantly, I tie another LC on (Sexy Smelt) and continue fishing. After 10 minutes or so, I get two back-to-back Perch. Meanwhile, Kyle’s just lost two LCs… yup, you heard that right… $40 bucks gone. Might I warn you: Familiarize yourself with your spot and all it’s structure before you decide to throw a twenty dollar bill at a rock.

It’s 9:30 am at this point and we need to wrap things up by 10:30. So we keep fishing. We’re now fishing a little more conservatively in a safer spot. A couple bites here and a couple fish there, but that’s it. Then, on my next cast, I’m reeling my lure in and it’s about 10 feet from my feet as I get slammed! At first, I can’t gain any line, but it’s not taking any either. We remain in a stand-still for a few seconds and then the fish takes off! My drag ticker sounds AWESOME. If you’ve hooked drag-peeling fish in the past, you might agree… it’s likely the best sound in the world.

I’ve almost worked the fish back to where I hooked it and it’s in shallow water. If it were a Perch or any “upright fish” for that matter, it’d be breaking the surface. At this point, I can be fairly certain it’s a Halibut. As it gets to the shallow section, it takes off again and all I can do is let it take out line. The fight didn’t last much longer than a minute, but it was a memorable one to say the least. As I beach the fish, my hopes are confirmed, I’ve got another legal Halibut from the surf. More than legal though, I’ve landed my personal best 24 and a half inch California Halibut.

Wrap-Up

That right there was enough to end the session for me, but we kept fishing a little longer. I didn’t feel like losing another twenty dollar lure, so I decided to throw an X-Rap Jerkbait XR10. To my surprise, I hooked up on another Barred Surfperch. In comparison, the LC lure flies much better than the X-Rap which allows for more distance, equating to more swim time and distance. Similarly, the LC swims a little better too. But all-in-all, I caught one fish in 30 minutes so I’ll take it.

I hope your winter fishing experience has been as good as mine, and if it hasn’t, take my advice or reach out and let me know if I can help. Tight Lines!