San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Sounds like a profitable day, discounting the salad… I’m not sure if the dolphins affect the fishing but the seals/sea lions swimming in the surf sure do… They’ll shut down the bite faster than a changing tide… I’m curious about the salted clams as well, and will be interested in your findings ...

Went this morning from 6:30 - 9:00. Caught 1 YFC (11.5”) on an LC just before 7 am. From 7 to 7:30 nothing. Switched from LC to gulps, caught 3 perch. Including a feisty lil dude about 3.5” on a size 2 hook. Sand crabs were scarce. Put 1 sand crab on the hook with a small chewed piece of gulp to ...

I have often found that when I see dolphin they are associated with yellowfin croaker. The croaker tend to run in schools, rather than the lonely corbina, and ball-up bait in the surf. Dolphin/porpoise follow the commotion and feed also on the fin bait yellowfin are finding. I can't tell you how ...

Comes through again. Another "never been fishing in my life" person gets fish on Gulp at the pier. 2 baby yfc in 15 minutes

Last time out a few weeks ago, found some crabs at Mission but no roe or softies, fish wouldn't touch them, not even perch. Don't know if crabs still under the PB pier. Shrimp's a versatile bait, seems particularly good for species around jetties, I tried it in the surf years back, never much luck ...

I haven't tried market shrimp in eons... Ghost shrimp are pretty much magic for me though...
Butch

I listened to Bill Varney's surf report last night and what he reported from the area regarding sand crabs reflected my experiences last weekend: those that were around were large and roe-less. He mentioned that he takes it as a sign to start switching baits with the new season.

I intend to do ...

Midnightpass wrote: Fri Oct 03, 2025 10:08 am I haven't tried market shrimp in eons... Ghost shrimp are pretty much magic for me though...
Butch

I like the ghosties as well Butch. they're $$ for croaker & beans if you can keep the perch away !

Started at CP at roughly 7am worked down to tower 15 by 11am.

Overcast, strong surf, Salad non existent at the pier but got progressively worse as I worked south.

Still crab beds under pier and between 20-21 at high to mid tide

Day started strong with a decent guitar and 4 back to back cast perch ...

I found a medium/large sand crab that looked like a soft shell, but was hard when I touched it. I thought, "If I was fooled, maybe a corbina would be fooled too." Sure enough, a short cast into less than 12" of water found this corbina.

Thanks for the re[port Joe. Good to know crabs with roe still under pier. Was going to give it a try yesterday early AM but got scuttled by family obligations. Perhaps just as well. Hoping to get out some time next few days before Priscilla possibly mixes things up later in the week.

Seems very similar to my Friday experience. I have debated on flipping to bay side especially as crabs dry up. We may be able to help each other on that. Forgot to mention the race setting up on Friday. But glad it wasn't a total skunk!

On the sand this morning at 6:20, about 1/4 mi south of the pier. Incoming tide was already about 3', little to moderate grass but strong surge from southerly swell. Cast 45 to the left and start slow walk to north & if not bit in 3-4 min pull in 45 to right. Check bait and repeat. That's the way it ...

Sound tough.. The salad can be a royal pain.. We put up with it when the bite is good, hate it when it’s not.. Nice go…
Butch

Went out Sunday and Monday. About 15 surf perch and a corbina for about 8 hours of fishing. Got my first walleye surf perch, so that was cool

At least you got out and found some action.

The only good thing about weeds is finding out how hard you can pull without breaking your line.

I found out real quick when spool started dragging and wasn't making any headway reeling in, broke off my 13# test; lost about 20 yards of line. 2nd one ...

This morning was as calm in mid-Del Mar as I have seen it since June. Not much grass in the water until high tide, but I was leaving then anyway. Kept thinking I should throw the LC, but didn't. I found enough crabs to fish for a few hours, supplemented with a little market shrimp and another test ...

It's about time. As the NW swells pick up, we start to see new structure form, and that is when the big halibut shows up.

Sounds about right cast right briskly walk with line briskly retrieve.
Was a total of 2 mins tops before recast lol

Also keep in mind the current direction on hard south the pier creates a break so you get less current closer to it. If the current flips north same concept with Jetty. I have found ...

Nice to get out with your son. With some fish, all that much better..
Butch