San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Rented an ATV and was trying to find blow ups of fish on beach at Rancho Leonardo, found some and casted Krocdiles. The school of fish were chasing needle fish. Instant hooks ups, we lost the fish and then had instant hooks ups again, and lost the fish.They jumped like crazy, jump, jump, way more than dorado, with soft mouths, I should have had single hooks on the krocdiles. They looked like good size mullets, but I have never seen mullet chase bait fish or lures like that, or was it lady fish. I know @Slater you fished here before what's your take? Or anyone else.

Was the Kroc toothed up? Maybe sierra

Not Sierra was a mullet or lady fish

X2 on the Ladyfish. Got one down there some years back just like you’re describing. Miniature tarpon.

Your guess is as good as mine, no idea what you were dealing with...
I tried surf fishing out front & the reef got all my krocs...
Glad you got down there before it all gets flattened / leveled, an amazing place...SAD!!!
Im going at the end of the month but the fam wants to stay at the Cabo tourist trap as theres more stuff to do for my son is their take...
I disagree but it is what it is.
I scored 3 round-trip tickets for $500 total for all of us....
not the typical $500 per person...

Certainly Ladyfish. Like Tarpon they have bony mouths, tough to get a good hookup. Lots of fun on light line. Really nail them on smaller Jerkbaits. Great Bait for monster Roosterfish.

I did hook a nice Roosterfish from shore but it pulled the hook. The boats we took out were mainly caught dorado with a wide open bite. We didn't have any live bait. When we fished for it me and my son caught lots of different types of jacks with was fun. The last evening we fished squid from shore and caught all kinds of jacks, pufferfish and needle fish a reel blast. Too bad the place is closing I really figured out how to fish it at the end. Also lost I think a big snapper while yellowfin fishing, it bit thru the line right before the boat.

You always know when a ladyfish hits. Check your line in front of the bait, it will be all frayed. Not sure why, but it happens 90% of the time for me.

Ladyfish is actually in the Tarpon family

Baja_Traveler wrote: Sat Sep 02, 2023 6:38 pm Ladyfish is actually in the Tarpon family

Yea I am pretty sure that's what I was hooking up on, they kept spitting the hook out with their crazy jumping

Fun little fish. Very aerobatic.
Butch