San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

I am starting to understand why low tide, especially negative tide, is so prized. Unfortunately, crazy low tides during day time are pretty much behind us...

Anyway, last weekend had negative tide in the afternoon. Waded in and casted with heavy gear to get over the edge. And...

A couple smaller ...

A couple nicer ones

Some even nicer ones...

Neuroshima wrote: Thu Apr 20, 2023 2:09 pm So cool catching legal sheeps form shore.

I got a lucky streak. Went to the same spot the next day and no sheep at all.

Give it a shot man. Wading in reef is not very child friendly though so not the family fishing time..

Had an afternoon and an early morning session. North county reefs. Mostly used 13 ft rod and 40 lb mainline to cast over the reef edge. #2 and #1/0 circle hooks.

The best fish is always the one that was lost. How true! This morning I felt some smaller fish biting, some were fairly strong. Then Bam ...

Now let's get to the basses. A small sand bass:
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...and some nicer calicos (forgot to include the measure of the 2nd picture. It was 16 in):

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Cabbie also came to play:
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My very first ...

Last but definitely not the least, a couple sheeps:
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Later this morning, my lower back was suddenly "locked up", when I was simply walking. I guess all the pulls this week put a toll to my back, and it is telling me to stop. Aye aye Sir Body ...

Back felt better. Wrap a back brace and let's do some moderate casting in the reefs. Again lost a big one that broke my 1/0 hook, but did land a few sheep over two sessions last weekend.

Start with "barely legal"
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This one is legal for sure
PXL_20230430_203031377.jpg ...

For surf fishing, this is probably as deep as it gets. This guy was crazy, chest-deep water and often submerged by swells, when I could only see half of the rod above water... Did not see him catching much but the spirit was surely admirable.

Rock/reef has been producing. Maybe give it a try? You will need different rig and technique though. Carolina rig is probably not the best choice. I use hi-lo with 150 lb mono leader to fight the rock/kelp abrasion (I was using 110lb, not strong enough). 40 lb mainline and 4oz sinker. This past June ...

Hali has been biting indeed. I was fishing LJ the other day and saw a guy landing 4 halis using swimbait. I was using shrimps so no hali for me. Caught 2 calicos though.

There are calicos at Swami's. I went in May. Casted into a deep pocket and landed 2 calicos and 1 black perch in about 1.5 hours. I'm a bait guy and used shrimp.

Many surfers at the southern end of the reef. Fewer of them in the north.

No experience at stone steps.

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Scripps Aug Temp.jpg



Thanks, Hilary. How does the drop in temp change your fishing strategy? Hit the bays instead of the surf? Hmmm...


Fish is still biting ok in the surf. Hit LJ yesterday for a 2 hour session and landed 7 or 8 including a 16in calico, a decent sargo, and some others ...

Thanks guys...1st procedure done and good results (If you don't mind a 1/2 dollar size chunk removed from your shin. ) Two more... Worse thing is that the Dr. told me not to get it in the ocean for at least 2 weeks... The others shouldn't present as much of a problem, as they are higher on my body ...

Trick-or-treaters are gone and October is at the end. Wish I could fish as much as I did back in June but in all honesty October has been a decent month.

PB calico. This alone would make it a fine month. Got stuck twice when reeling in. I was able to un-stuck it by lower the tip of the rod and wait ...

Got s'more sheep. No hogs but decent size.

A couple more calicos... Black croaker. Caught a lot more of these this year than the last.

Once in a while I hit the sandy beaches, and meet good ol' surfy-fish there. Once in a long while, mi boi joins me...

To wrap it up, I will echo the Halloween theme with a spooky-looking HM. I think it was due to a shark bite, rather than some nuclear mutation...

October is behind us. Let's see what November brings.

Tight lines!

Some very fine fish there. Fighting them must be really fun. Congrats!