Big Bay Sunday 2-2 Spotties MIA

[JWall]

Was hoping for a day like others described yesterday but no dice. Plenty of water moving but couldn’t find them bunched up. No luck on the Buts but didn’t spend much time there. Maybe better in the afternoon? When they were biters, these did the trick.

[galen]

Any preference curly tail vs boot tail?

[JWall]

We threw boots on ball head jigs and as trailers and got nuthin. If I had to guess which of these two were bit more (or harder), the curly.

[vito1023]

It looks like you have that curly tail upside down is that how you set them so they fit the head shape of the jig?

[JWall]

It looks like you have that curly tail upside down is that how you set them so they fit the head shape of the jig?

Great observation and better question! I guess I’ve always rigged them with the hook coming out of the flat side, although the coloring and tail might be better the other way. Hmmm…

[Spektrum]

Early morning is usually the best time. Find the eel grass and eventually you’ll hook up into some bass. Also when in doubt, go smaller and lighter on the jigs.

[JWall]

Early morning is usually the best time. Find the eel grass and eventually you’ll hook up into some bass. Also when in doubt, go smaller and lighter on the jigs.

We fished the grass most of the day. When we did finally find a pack of them, they were suspended over the channel coming up from Chula. They hit all the way down in the water column to the bottom and in the grass on either side. Our baits were on the small side but I just got a box of smaller crappie jig heads and am going that route on the less aggressive days.

[KillinTime]

Curly Tails upside down for me too!

[Carpkiller]

A few recent trips ended with me having to leave biting fish to get back in as the sun was setting. So on Sunday I packed a strobe light so I'd be legal kicking home in the dark....and the sunset bite never happened. Tons of those little bay anchovies everywhere...and NOTHING chasing them. 5 spotties in 2 hours on the water...one middlin' size a foot long or so.

[JWall]

A few recent trips ended with me having to leave biting fish to get back in as the sun was setting. So on Sunday I packed a strobe light so I'd be legal kicking home in the dark....and the sunset bite never happened. Tons of those little bay anchovies everywhere...and NOTHING chasing them. 5 spotties in 2 hours on the water...one middlin' size a foot long or so.

Well there went my theory it was an afternoon bite LOL. I guess it was just an off day after what sounded like an all-out frenzy Saturday. We also saw the small fry everywhere south of the bridge. Definitely competition for our lures.

[Shawnster]

Hey John, just seeing this post. We were out there the same day! Interesting experience for us as well -- the spotties were oddly few and far between. We had some variety though -- caught quite a few smelt, a small flounder, a large ray, a few small halibut, and this one -- just an inch under a keeper for my buddy's first time on the bay.

We rented a skiff on Coronado so mostly stuck around the flats and around the moored boats. The 21" hali was caught under the bridge by the boats. She is still there... will be legal soon! Most of the fish were caught with 3-4" curly and paddle tails in pink or smelt colors (larger hali took a 6" smelt paddle tail). Nothing on chatterbaits, and oddly nothing seemed interested in the bait rods we let sit.

[JWall]

That’s a beaut!! Good job fighting thru what was a slower day for myself and others!

[Shawnster]

That’s a beaut!! Good job fighting thru what was a slower day for myself and others!

For us it was a decent day -- especially if I don't read the forums where folks are catching 50+ solo! We caught around 20 total and had a blast

[JWall]

I think the 50+ numbers were the day before. I could be wrong, or just in denial lol.

[Pourboy]

Great job out there! It looks like it was a fun day. It's always good to get a variety too. Nice hali and turbot!