Annual Crystal Pier Trip

[Midnightpass]

I’ve. been here for 3 days but only fished Sunday for 1-1/2 hours… Other 2 were family days.. I used 3 small sand crabs on a #8 Owner Mosquito Hook for 7- BSP to 13”… Not much structure, and kelp and eel grass around… But fishable.. I only saw 1 other fireman using fresh ghost shrimp but didn’t see him catch anything… There were a 1/2 dozen fishermen to the south of the pier this morning that I enjoyed watching sitting in bed having coffee with my sweetie. …. Any of them you guys?
Butch

[kastmaster]

Nice work out there! I'm planning to hit the area one morning this week when the crowds are gone. Will be my first foray into the sand crab scene.

[Midnightpass]

Nice work out there! I'm planning to hit the area one morning this week when the crowds are gone. Will be my first foray into the sand crab scene.

Welcome to the “scene”… I’ll be the guy in my avatar, probably early mornings, the rest of this week, weekdays.. Usually just to the south of the pier… Come say hi, if you see me….
Butch

[jwacky]

I’ve. been here for 3 days but only fished Sunday for 1-1/2 hours… Other 2 were family days.. I used 3 small sand crabs on a #8 Owner Mosquito Hook for 7- BSP to 13”… Not much structure, and kelp and eel grass around… But fishable.. I only saw 1 other fireman using fresh ghost shrimp but didn’t see him catch anything… There were a 1/2 dozen fishermen to the south of the pier this morning that I enjoyed watching sitting in bed having coffee with my sweetie. …. Any of them you guys?
Butch

Wasn’t me, I played golf today and avoided the beach crowds.

Are there crabs under the pier, Butch? Haven’t ventured that far north yet, but realized at the end of last season that a stop there first thing got me enough crabs for the entire morning in about 30 seconds, haha.

[Midnightpass]

I’ve. been here for 3 days but only fished Sunday for 1-1/2 hours… Other 2 were family days.. I used 3 small sand crabs on a #8 Owner Mosquito Hook for 7- BSP to 13”… Not much structure, and kelp and eel grass around… But fishable.. I only saw 1 other fireman using fresh ghost shrimp but didn’t see him catch anything… There were a 1/2 dozen fishermen to the south of the pier this morning that I enjoyed watching sitting in bed having coffee with my sweetie. …. Any of them you guys?
Butch

Wasn’t me, I played golf today and avoided the beach crowds.

Are there crabs under the pier, Butch? Haven’t ventured that far north yet, but realized at the end of last season that a stop there first thing got me enough crabs for the entire morning in about 30 seconds, haha.

There is a gazillion crabs, but they are mostly way too small…. I dig a shovel full and sift to find big enough ones to use.. Even then they are very small… I pin 3 on a very small #8 Owner Mosquito Hook… I haven’t found even one medium or larger.. Didn’t you find some decent ones in Mission Beach?… There maybe some up or down PB, but I didn’t take th time to look…
Butch

[jwacky]

I’ve. been here for 3 days but only fished Sunday for 1-1/2 hours… Other 2 were family days.. I used 3 small sand crabs on a #8 Owner Mosquito Hook for 7- BSP to 13”… Not much structure, and kelp and eel grass around… But fishable.. I only saw 1 other fireman using fresh ghost shrimp but didn’t see him catch anything… There were a 1/2 dozen fishermen to the south of the pier this morning that I enjoyed watching sitting in bed having coffee with my sweetie. …. Any of them you guys?
Butch

Wasn’t me, I played golf today and avoided the beach crowds.

Are there crabs under the pier, Butch? Haven’t ventured that far north yet, but realized at the end of last season that a stop there first thing got me enough crabs for the entire morning in about 30 seconds, haha.

There is a gazillion crabs, but they are mostly way too small…. I dig a shovel full and sift to find big enough ones to use.. Even then they are very small… I pin 3 on a very small #8 Owner Mosquito Hook… I haven’t found even one medium or larger.. Didn’t you find some decent ones in Mission Beach?… There maybe some up or down PB, but I didn’t take th time to look…
Butch

Yes, I’ve been seeing some beds but only as the tide recedes and the ones I’ve been finding with roe have been really big. It wasn’t until Sunday that I started to see all of the tiny ones. Seems to be the opposite of what people are reporting so I’m a little confused as to why. I don’t ever recall seeing them this large AND with roe last year, so maybe it’s just an end of spawn thing?

[kastmaster]

Found several this size on Sunday near Tower 22, but mostly micro sized ones. This was around 9 am.

[Midnightpass]

Big skunk this am…. Unless you count kelp and eel grass as catches… I did get to meet and fish a bit, with Bill (Perch killer)… Great meeting you Bill… The salad drove us off the beach, but at least Bill broke the skunk with a BSP… Hopefully the conditions will improve for tomorrow morning…
Butch

[Midnightpass]

Found several this size on Sunday near Tower 22, but mostly micro sized ones. This was around 9 am.Screenshot_20260526_073728_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20260526_073756_Gallery.jpg

Those are bigger than what I found at the pier..
Butch

[jwacky]

Big skunk this am…. Unless you count kelp and eel grass as catches… I did get to meet and fish a bit, with Bill (Perch killer)… Great meeting you Bill… The salad drove us off the beach, but at least Bill broke the skunk with a BSP… Hopefully the conditions will improve for tomorrow morning…
Butch

Oh no! Water was relatively clean all weekend, at least in the windows I was there. Sorry you had to deal with! Thankfully you've still got some time down here. Fingers crossed for better conditions for you!

What's (sort of) funny is that on mornings like that, I do tell myself that I wish seaweed counted as a catch, ha. It sure is a lot of work to reel it in sometimes

[Perch killer]

Butch, a pleasure to meet up and share the sand with you this morning. Wish we could have continued under better conditions. FYI, I stopped by Mission at B.Park to check conditions there. Except for a few kelp floaters, water clean. Go figure! Ran into and set up by fishing bud and fellow SD Fish member Tom (Jusbigguns) and his buddy Mike. Believe they scratched out some perchies, but while I was there, there was some good size SNGF action. We each had a break off or two close in at our feet with Tom managing to at least get one on to the sand. Didn't see any sand crab beds but didn't bother to dig around; imagine there were some to be found if you spent the time to look. I hope Butch that conditions by the pier will be better for you tomorrow and you get into a few.

[Midnightpass]

Oh no! Water was relatively clean all weekend, at least in the windows I was there. Sorry you had to deal with! Thankfully you've still got some time down here. Fingers crossed for better conditions for you!

Thanks… Yea I was better over the weekend, and it got better as the tide receded…
Butch

[Midnightpass]

Butch, a pleasure to meet up and share the sand with you this morning. Wish we could have continued under better conditions. FYI, I stopped by Mission at B.Park to check conditions there. Except for a few kelp floaters, water clean. Go figure! Ran into and set up by fishing bud and fellow SD Fish member Tom (Jusbigguns) and his buddy Mike. Believe they scratched out some perchies, but while I was there, there was some good size SNGF action. We each had a break off or two close in at our feet with Tom managing to at least get one on to the sand. Didn't see any sand crab beds but didn't bother to dig around; imagine there were some to be found if you spent the time to look. I hope Butch that conditions by the pier will be better for you tomorrow and you get into a few.

The pleasure was all mine.. Glad you got into a little action.. I like SNGF, they usually give you a nice workout.. I tried the other side of the pier for a couple of cast, after you left… Just as bad or worse.. I talked to a guy just starting to fish as I walked down there… Gave him the rest of my crabs.. I can still see him fish now.. Don’t know if he is having any luck or not..
Butch

[Midnightpass]

Salad and cool wind drove me off the sand this am… But I beat the skunk wit a small BSP… Probably could of used more weight than the 3/8 oz that my rods rated for.. Current was heavier this am too..
Butch

[Mike A]

Sounds like tough going the few days. BSP on crab? Thanks for the reports.I might get out Friday morning. Was it more salad this morning or air temp? We had a few minor sprinkles up here.

[Midnightpass]

Sounds like tough going the few days. BSP on crab? Thanks for the reports.I might get out Friday morning. Was it more salad this morning or air temp? We had a few minor sprinkles up here.

Mostly salad… About every cast was had a wonderful surprise wrapped around the line/sinker/hook.. As the tide recedes, it clears up.. I usually only fish early… And that has been high tide… I see 3-4 fisherman now, but they seem to be pulling up stakes as I write this.. The wind might be slacking off a bit… It did yesterday….
Butch