Pre-holiday report from Mission Beach. Calm and clean surf this morning, and fished the incoming low tide up to almost its peak. Hooray for holiday time off from work! It feels like it’s been a while since there has been “fishing hours” tides of less than 6’ down here so it was a nice change of pace.
First cast was in the water just after 6:00. Perch were biting regularly for the first 1.5 hours or so, but for whatever reason that has been a dead time the past week or two. Not even a nibble until 8:30 or so, at which point a couple last lunkers took my bait. Mix of sizes today from about 4” up to 8”-9”. By 9:30 the bite had completely dried up and the crowds had grown with lots of people in town on their surf board rentals, most of whom were staying too close to shore to feel like dealing with. Not ideal for surf fishing but it makes you appreciate where we live!
All in all a good day, around 10-12 total caught. Mostly mussels, but tossed a few Gulp camo worms to see if they still worked for me… they did
Hey Joe, I was at Mission as well this morning, by BP where T 13 is usually located. First time out for me in almost a month - - back & knee issues so haven't been walking the beach much. Were you the guy with the wide brimmed hat just past the LG station & then moved north ? I sure didn't have the results you did, in fact a skunk. Truthfully, I didn't have high expectations with the rather high low tide earlier of 3.5 moving up only 1.2 to the noon high. Not much tidal movement at all which makes your results remarkable. Nice going. Just nibblers for me on frozen mussel meat & dried lugs, not a sniff on Gulp or Dura Scent worms. Even tossed a few LC's for 3/4 hr or so, no hits. As you said, a beautiful morning to fish with nice mild Santa Ana conditions & good water conditions made for an enjoyable outing to just get out on the sand.
Perch killer wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 11:23 am
Hey Joe, I was at Mission as well this morning, by BP where T 13 is usually located. First time out for me in almost a month - - back & knee issues so haven't been walking the beach much. Were you the guy with the wide brimmed hat just past the LG station & then moved north ? I sure didn't have the results you did, in fact a skunk. Truthfully, I didn't have high expectations with the rather high low tide earlier of 3.5 moving up only 1.2 to the noon high. Not much tidal movement at all which makes your results remarkable. Nice going. Just nibblers for me on frozen mussel meat & dried lugs, not a sniff on Gulp or Dura Scent worms. Even tossed a few LC's for 3/4 hr or so, no hits. As you said, a beautiful morning to fish with nice mild Santa Ana conditions & good water conditions made for an enjoyable outing to just get out on the sand.
Wasn’t me, I was probably halfway between BP and the pier today, maybe a little closer to the pier. I kept moving south to avoid the surfers until there were just too many of them, too shallow. Sorry to hear of your skunk but at least you got out there! Beautiful morning, indeed.
I must’ve been in the right place and the right time when I was catching them early on
The minimal tidal movement was interesting but I’ll take it over getting pounded by high tides and surf, lately! Sure does make your appreciate the summer conditions, eh?
Perch killer wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 11:23 am
Hey Joe, I was at Mission as well this morning, by BP where T 13 is usually located. First time out for me in almost a month - - back & knee issues so haven't been walking the beach much. Were you the guy with the wide brimmed hat just past the LG station & then moved north ? I sure didn't have the results you did, in fact a skunk. Truthfully, I didn't have high expectations with the rather high low tide earlier of 3.5 moving up only 1.2 to the noon high. Not much tidal movement at all which makes your results remarkable. Nice going. Just nibblers for me on frozen mussel meat & dried lugs, not a sniff on Gulp or Dura Scent worms. Even tossed a few LC's for 3/4 hr or so, no hits. As you said, a beautiful morning to fish with nice mild Santa Ana conditions & good water conditions made for an enjoyable outing to just get out on the sand.
Wasn’t me, I was probably halfway between BP and the pier today, maybe a little closer to the pier. I kept moving south to avoid the surfers until there were just too many of them, too shallow. Sorry to hear of your skunk but at least you got out there! Beautiful morning, indeed.
I must’ve been in the right place and the right time when I was catching them early on
The minimal tidal movement was interesting but I’ll take it over getting pounded by high tides and surf, lately! Sure does make your appreciate the summer conditions, eh?
Good spot near and around Santa Clara St. Had good luck there in the past. I'm having the reverse Midas touch of late . . . right places but at wrong times ! LMAO
