Central Coast California Rockfishin'

The season in my area is coming to a close so we headed out for one last trip going after Rockcod, lingcod and a fun time!

We launched out of Port San Luis via the hoist at the sport launch. The hoist makes it very easy to launch the Parker 2110!

Upon launching at 7am, the fog was very thick and our Garmin 740s GPS navigation was heavily relied on.

High tide was around 645am and low around 1pm.

We started out in around 110ft of water off Pecho Rock up the coast from Avila Beach. Something cleanly bit through my 40lb mono line tied to a 6oz leadhead and 9" Big Sledge Hammer swimbait. Shortly after my dad lost a fish as well. Weird stuff, what could it have been? Another good ol' fish story!

After a few fish we moved a few miles offshore to around the 200ft depth. We began catching quite a few lingcod. A variety of baits were used from swimbaits to iron jigs to shrimp flies with squid bits. A few lings were also caught on small blue bass hitchhikers.

The bite seemed to taper off around low tide.

The final count was probably around 15 lings for the two of us, of which we only harvested 2 at 28" and 27". We also kept 2 vermillions around 16" long.

The fog never really lifted but it made for a nice day on the water with very little wind and a small 4ft swell. The water temperature was around 55 degrees along the coast.

Warm Waters Arrived

September Wind Event

Catalina Yellowtail

Fished a few days at Catalina for a few hours per day on August 27/28/29.

• Fished East End of Catalina
• 60-120ft of water
• Lost a fish fly lining a live sardine, took me into the rocks
• Landed a fish slow trolling a live mackerel
• Didn't get any Yellowtail trolling all sizes of Rapala XRaps
• I would recommend trying lighter line, we fished 25lb and 40lb, but I think starting with 15lb to see what is biting would be a good bet and then increasing the line size if you are loosing fish.

Fishing Tip: Keeping People Out of Your Chum Line

How many of us have been fishing and anchored up with a real nice chum line going on that we have put some time into and then a rude boat comes and anchors right smack in the middle of the chum line, ignorant to the fact that was right where you were fishing?! Or if you are trout fishing on a lake with indicators that blow down wind/down current and another boat comes in too close?

Well I have seen it happen, heard of it happening, and had it happen to myself.

I have come up with an idea to keep people out of your chum line.

THIS IS ONLY AN IDEA. I don't promise it will work and I don't promise that there aren't better ideas out there.

Here's the idea: Use a rod with a big balloon tied to the end of the line and let that balloon float back into the chum line, basically indicating to others right where you are fishing. People are *slightly* less likely to come running over your balloon than they are into a 'bare' area that they didn't know was your chum line. You likely will need to have some kind of weight tied below the balloon to keep it somewhat stable.

Here is the next question: Do you fish a bait under the ballon or purely just use the balloon rod as a tool? Tough to say, you will have to experiment.

Would love some feedback on this post, feel free to post any other ideas.

Water Temperatures September 4th

So Cal Bight, Southern California as of Sept 2016

Port San Luis Fishing Report

Taken from Facebook:

Santa Barbara Calico Bass Fishing

We fished roughly in around 60 feet of water with some Halloween 5" Swimbaits and caught a few Calico Bass. ALL RELEASED!!

Crowley Lake Trout Fly Fishing

We fished around July 4th in Hilton and McGee Bays. Stillwater nymphing with copper head tiger midges in roughly 18-22 feet of water. First day was slow, second day we whacked 'em. All fish caught, photo, released!!!

Water Temperatures June 15 2016

Nacimiento Lake Spotted Bass

This was a quick trip after work on a weekday. We fished roughly from 5pm to 8pm and did well right before dark on topwater baits like the Zaraspook and Buzzbaits.

Spring Nacimiento Lake Spotted Bass Fishing

Quick morning trip, only one fish on the shakey head with Zoom trick worm. Deeper water, probably around 20ft.

Santa Margarita Lake Crappie Fishing

Fished for only maybe 30 minutes, got this crappie on a small white plastic jig.

Nacimiento Lake Fishing

This was the first time taking my daughter on the lake, so fishing was not the focus, but got this small guy fishing a spinnerbait in Snake Creek.

Winter / Spring California Perch Fishing

The perch fishing in Central California seems to be the best in late winter / early spring.

I went out to several beaches several times with no luck.

Finally I bit the bullet and bought some Gulp Camo Sandworms at 6.99 a pack.

I finally found a beach with a steep drop off ( different than the super flat beaches I was previously fishing...)

Sure enough, the fish were holding and biting. It was nearly a bit every cast, sometimes very subtle so they were easy to miss!

I focused on fishing high tides and did well!