Torrey Pines skunk city

[FishNdive]

I've been getting skunked at Torrey Pines. I've been going at night, I think the problem is the tide. The high tide is happening later and later, but I tried a few different nights. At high tide, an hour after high tide, 2 hours after high tide. Then an hour before high tide. No fish. Ok, I did catch one stingray, a baby leopard shark, and a tiny YFC. That is across all 4 evenings.

Is the problem that the tide is too high for that beach?

[jwacky]

I've been getting skunked at Torrey Pines. I've been going at night, I think the problem is the tide. The high tide is happening later and later, but I tried a few different nights. At high tide, an hour after high tide, 2 hours after high tide. Then an hour before high tide. No fish. Ok, I did catch one stingray, a baby leopard shark, and a tiny YFC. That is across all 4 evenings.

Is the problem that the tide is too high for that beach?

I am far from an expert and probably not even verging on 'knowledgeable' yet as I have only been surf fishing since the start of this year (but I did 'convert' from freshwater/lake fishing... although I sucked at that too )...

That said, some things I've noticed lately and about tides in general:

I have not had great success at high tide. Leading up to it yes, and to a lesser extent as it recedes. But the peak of the tide has not been good for me, especially lately with all of the kelp/grass. This is especially true this past couple of weeks/weekends when the highest tide has seemed particularly strong. I assume under the breakers is just as turbulent as on top, and maybe the fish just stay away? Once the tide peaks in the mornings I put my gear away and sit and watch the surf.

That said, I do seem to have a little better success in high tides when there is a steeper decline from the coast into the ocean. Fletcher Cove comes to mind here. And keep in mind that my definition of success is catching anything at all, ha. One or two small perch is good enough for me.

The other thing I've noticed and apologies for this sounding obvious, but sometimes the fish aren't there. Period. Nothing you can do about it. I tend to be a creature of habit and set up at/near the same spots every time. One day I'll nearly get skunked, and the very next day with similar conditions and identical setup I'll pull in 7-9 fish. I'm sure I'd have more consistent success if I was willing to move a bit more, but I like setting up my chair, tossing bait into the water, and enjoying the calm of a morning at the beach. Just getting there at all is a great start to the day, catching something is a nice bonus.

This (the relaxing part) is also why I kinda enjoy fishing the lower tides. It gives me a better idea of structure since these beaches (for fishing purposes) are new to me. Its calmer overall, and I can work on technique or tossing different baits without the stress of just trying to keep my bearings as the tide pulls my bait every which way, slams my lower body, etc. I'm sure at some point I'll settling into more of a routine of what works for me and/or what combo of all of the above I like best.

All of that said - the day you give up on Torrey Pines is the day someone else will come along and catch a 24" corbina that'll turn into a profile picture. Keep at it! Maybe move a few hundred yards north or south if possible. Switch baits, depending on what you're using. Gulp sandworms usually get me something, and it least stays on the hook to get an idea if smaller fish are around (as opposed to crabs getting picked apart by whatever it is that picks them apart). Clams were getting me decent action over the weekend and were more durable (for me) than the few times I've tried mussels, and from what I've read the rays don't like it so that at least removes them from the picture.

[Perch killer]

I've been getting skunked at Torrey Pines. I've been going at night, I think the problem is the tide. The high tide is happening later and later, but I tried a few different nights. At high tide, an hour after high tide, 2 hours after high tide. Then an hour before high tide. No fish. Ok, I did catch one stingray, a baby leopard shark, and a tiny YFC. That is across all 4 evenings.

Is the problem that the tide is too high for that beach?

It's probably too high for any of the beaches - - lot more junk in the water also at those high tides. Have you tried early morning, first few hours of the incoming tide following the low? Has been good for me often but of late has slowed with the warmer water temps & sand crabs disappearing. Also, less salad in the water first few hours whereas the last few hours of an incoming tide is going to be sucking all that junk washed up on the beach from previous night's high tide right back into the water. Just my 2 cents.

[crabman]

Tides...goodness, certainly one of the most important elements in surf fishing. Here are a few things I've observed over the years: When fishing on beaches with lots of kelp/eel grass I like to fish from an hour after low tide, up to high tide. This keeps most of the kelp/grass on the sand and not in the water to tangle my line. Additionally, corbina surf each successive waves in looking for forage, as waves push them up over the crab beds. On beaches with little kelp/grass, often on dredged beaches (Mission/Pacific/Huntington/Newport/South Bay/Ventura) I've had my best luck 2 hours before high tide to 2 hours after. Because dredged sand on these beaches has covered all the natural structure, fish rely on troughs created by the surf to hide and feed. If you are a night angler and fishing for sharks like huge leopards, pinbacks, soupfin, etc. we've always had our best luck fishing an hour after peak high tide using 1/2 mackerel, flylined on 40lb. Casting out, keeping in free spool and allowing the lowering tide to pull our bait out into the surf. Peak high and low tide is always slow for surf fishing (because most surf fish, who have no hands, rely upon the surf and tidal current to make forage available), with one of the only biting fish at peak tides being halibut who feed primarily when current is slack. So here's a quick generalized overview:
1. Corbina enjoy a low tide going to high tide and tend to feed more during this tidal change
2. Perch enjoy a high tide going to low because it draws food into the trough where they hide
3. Spotfin love high tide, especially near rock structure where they feed on crabs, mussel, limpits as they are wash from the rocks
4. Halibut enjoy slack tide periods (both peak high and low), when there is very little current, to feed because they are super lazy
5. Shark fishing at night is amazing when you fish after dark, on a high tide (especially if its an astronomical tide) going to a low tide using a big hook, half a bonito/mackerel and a bit of patience.

[Midnightpass]

Tides...goodness, certainly one of the most important elements in surf fishing. Here are a few things I've observed over the years: When fishing on beaches with lots of kelp/eel grass I like to fish from an hour after low tide, up to high tide. This keeps most of the kelp/grass on the sand and not in the water to tangle my line. Additionally, corbina surf each successive waves in looking for forage, as waves push them up over the crab beds. On beaches with little kelp/grass, often on dredged beaches (Mission/Pacific/Huntington/Newport/South Bay/Ventura) I've had my best luck 2 hours before high tide to 2 hours after. Because dredged sand on these beaches has covered all the natural structure, fish rely on troughs created by the surf to hide and feed. If you are a night angler and fishing for sharks like huge leopards, pinbacks, soupfin, etc. we've always had our best luck fishing an hour after peak high tide using 1/2 mackerel, flylined on 40lb. Casting out, keeping in free spool and allowing the lowering tide to pull our bait out into the surf. Peak high and low tide is always slow for surf fishing (because most surf fish, who have no hands, rely upon the surf and tidal current to make forage available), with one of the only biting fish at peak tides being halibut who feed primarily when current is slack. So here's a quick generalized overview:
1. Corbina enjoy a low tide going to high tide and tend to feed more during this tidal change
2. Perch enjoy a high tide going to low because it draws food into the trough where they hide
3. Spotfin love high tide, especially near rock structure where they feed on crabs, mussel, limpits as they are wash from the rocks
4. Halibut enjoy slack tide periods (both peak high and low), when there is very little current, to feed because they are super lazy
5. Shark fishing at night is amazing when you fish after dark, on a high tide (especially if its an astronomical tide) going to a low tide using a big hook, half a bonito/mackerel and a bit of patience.

Excellent write up!
Butch

[Ironchuckers]

Tides...goodness, certainly one of the most important elements in surf fishing. Here are a few things I've observed over the years: When fishing on beaches with lots of kelp/eel grass I like to fish from an hour after low tide, up to high tide. This keeps most of the kelp/grass on the sand and not in the water to tangle my line. Additionally, corbina surf each successive waves in looking for forage, as waves push them up over the crab beds. On beaches with little kelp/grass, often on dredged beaches (Mission/Pacific/Huntington/Newport/South Bay/Ventura) I've had my best luck 2 hours before high tide to 2 hours after. Because dredged sand on these beaches has covered all the natural structure, fish rely on troughs created by the surf to hide and feed. If you are a night angler and fishing for sharks like huge leopards, pinbacks, soupfin, etc. we've always had our best luck fishing an hour after peak high tide using 1/2 mackerel, flylined on 40lb. Casting out, keeping in free spool and allowing the lowering tide to pull our bait out into the surf. Peak high and low tide is always slow for surf fishing (because most surf fish, who have no hands, rely upon the surf and tidal current to make forage available), with one of the only biting fish at peak tides being halibut who feed primarily when current is slack. So here's a quick generalized overview:
1. Corbina enjoy a low tide going to high tide and tend to feed more during this tidal change
2. Perch enjoy a high tide going to low because it draws food into the trough where they hide
3. Spotfin love high tide, especially near rock structure where they feed on crabs, mussel, limpits as they are wash from the rocks
4. Halibut enjoy slack tide periods (both peak high and low), when there is very little current, to feed because they are super lazy
5. Shark fishing at night is amazing when you fish after dark, on a high tide (especially if its an astronomical tide) going to a low tide using a big hook, half a bonito/mackerel and a bit of patience.

Has anyone used smallish Perch for catching sharks?

[Bendo]

I’ve found that Perch don’t work so well for my crowd. Mackerel, Sardines/Anchovies, and Squid are my Top Baits for ShaRays. I usually use about three feet of 80 pound leader, and an Egg sinker that slides right down to the bait, making casting easier. Leader to line is usually a blood knot on the mono to heavy Mono connection although I have also tied an Albright with great success. I mostly use 15 pound running line. It works well and I rarely loose a fish. On the rare occasion I do, I think they are giant Bat Rays, we have them to over 200 pounds here in Newport. Mud Tuna is an apt description for these monsters. I try hard to lip hook these fish especially the Leo’s that fight so much better than gut hooked. Any way, if you aren’t successful from a certain Beach, try another area. Where they hang in the Spring isn’t necessarily where you will find them in the Fall. While Tides are important, some Beaches fish better at different Tides. It always takes time on the water and experimentation to figure out what will produce the best. That’s fishing!

[Perch killer]

Beautiful leo ! Fun to bring one of those in with right gear for the job. congrats.