Why the Bite’s Slowed, a Sea Surprise and More
I know it’s been a while since I’ve given a true “fishing report”, so, let’s take the time to talk about what’s happening in the surf right now. Before I get into the report, I want to call your attention to a couple things: my shark set up and the arrival of Surf Fishing In So Cal apparel.
Scroll to the bottom to find the link for purchasing Surf Fishing In So Cal apparel.
A couple weeks ago, just before shark week rolled around, my shark set up (which had been just fine and very reliable all summer long) was tested… big time.
It could have been a bad batch of monofilament shock top, or it could have been the fact that I was hooking into bigger sharks. Bottom line, something was off and I had to fix it. So here is my updated shark set up:
My Updated Shark Set-Up:
- Rod: Fiblink Moonsniper (12 or 13 feet)
- Reel: Penn Battle 6000 or 8000 (II or III)
- Mainline: 50-pound braid
- Top shot: 100-pound nylon coated mono
- Shark Rig: (Buy Here)
- Hooks: 7/0 Circles
- Swivel: 3-Way Barrel Swivel
- Crimps: AFW #6 Crimps
- Weight: 8-ounce pyramid or 6-ounce sputnik
I have added to my set up, a nylon-monofilament abrasion resistant leader of about 4 feet. I use a double uni knot for this line-to-line tie and the knot remains outside the rings when casting. This is to prevent line snaps when a shark rubs its skin along the first 4-5 feet of your line.
Fishing Report August 2020
The week began where the last week ended (obviously), on Sunday 8/9. I was fishing with my client (Mike), and Kyle tagged along for the day. While the initial action was slow, a few things happened that session that are worth noting. Before anything, Shark Week happened!
Shark Week!
I was speaking with mike while our lines were in the water when he asked, “now what’s that swimming in the water over there?”. I looked where he was pointing and I was quite surprised. The tip of a dorsal fin (just barely breaking the surface), with a left-right swishing motion some 5-6 feet behind the fin.
No doubt about it, it was a shark. And, judging by the recent activity and postings of shark sightings nearby this summer, I would bet my money that it was a juvenile Great White. This thing was less than 40 yards out from the shoreline and it was atleast 8 feet long. Super cool, but, Great White’s are illegal to target. Odds are, my set-up would likely be outclassed when it came down to it.
Big Corbina and Some Halibut
You may have seen in my last post that Kyle caught a 24″ corbina. That was during last Sunday’s session. While it was completely foul-hooked, it was a tanker! At 24″ in length, that’s the second largest corbina we’ve ever landed. The biggest was some 5 or 6 years ago when I was lucky enough to hook into a 28″ monster! At either length, they truly don’t get much larger.
Kyle was actually trying out a new color of Lucky Craft, and it paid off. Along with the 24″ corbina, he landed 6 Halibut. All shorts, but six is a nice number when it comes to halibut on a lure. After that session, I ordered the same color that produced so much success for Kyle.
You’re probably wondering what color he was using. I’d be pretty rude to not tell you, so I will. Pearl White was the color and it had some more slaying to do in our next session.
Sea Surprise and More Pearl White Slaying
Our next session began with a good bite as I landed some 6 fish in the first hour. Nothing notable as they were a mix of small yellows, corbina, and sting rays. The bite slowed throughout the day and the sharking was non-existent.
The sun was just beginning to break through, so we broke out our LCs (lucky crafts). Unfortunately for me, my Pearl White hadn’t arrived yet, I used my Anchovy colored LC while Kyle threw Pearl White. This session confirmed the theory of Pearl White being superior as of late. Not to say that you shouldn’t throw the others. You absolutely should. Different days might call for different colors. It’s just that lately, Pearl White has been good.
In maybe an hour of throwing his lure, Kyle landed 4 fish. Two short halibut, a 20″ corvina, and a white sea bass! The corvina was the best fight of the day, but any day you catch a white sea bass is blessing. So, with all that action on Pearl White, Anchovy choked for me with zero bites. I only fished it for half the time as I caught a few more fish on sand crabs, but, I’m super excited to start using Pearl White.
In fact, we went out this morning (8/16) and nailed a few more halis. This time, I was included in the count as I got my new lure in!
Why Has the Bite Slowed?
This summer, we’ve seen an unusual range of fluctuation in water temps along our coastline. I believe the most recent dip in water temperature has been at the root of why the bite has slowed. Of course, the sea weed hasn’t helped either.
It’s taken slightly longer than expected for the water to return to it’s usual temperature of the low 70’s. I suspect the severity of the last dip (which reached temps as low as 62 degrees) in combination with the slow recovery has resulted in less fish/shark activity.
With that said, I would be extremely surprised if this lull continued much further into the coming week. San Diego’s coastal weather forecast is predicting highs in the lower 80’s and lows in the lower 70’s. The mean coastal temperature for the coming week should be somewhere around 76 degrees Fahrenheit which should easily bring the water temp above 72 degrees. We’re in for a pretty solid next two weeks of fishing, so make sure to get your light tackle set-up squared away:
- Rod: Okuma Celilo (8’6″ MA) or the Okuma SST (8’6″ MA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Mainline: 15-pound monofilament
- For Bait: Carolina Rig:
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Swivels: 15-19mm barrel swivels
- Hooks: size #2 or #4 owner mosquito hooks
- Weights: 1-oz egg weight
- Beads: 8mm fishing beads
- For Lures: Lucky Craft FM 110 and Shimano WM 115 SP
- Other best surf fishing rods and best surf fishing reels
Lucky Craft vs. Calissa
If you’re like me, you don’t love the idea of spending $20 on a lure that could easily get snagged. I’ve been looking for a cheaper lure that might be comparable to the LC FM 110. I’v come across Calissa and Caivo LC “look-alikes” and will be writing up a review of the head-to-head comparison. Caivo vs Calissa/LC will be coming soon as well.
Surf Fishing In So Cal Apparel FINALLY In
Some 3 or 4 months ago, I had mentioned that I had some Surf Fishing In So Cal merchandise coming in. Then came the covid shutdown and everything was delayed. Long story short, I’ve got my first batch. It’s a small batch and I won’t be ordering another for atleast the next couple weeks so if you’re interested, jump on the opportunity now. Here’s my “Shop/Apparel” page.
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