I fished and hooped Catalina for a few days with my friend Don Elm. We launched from Huntington Harbor Monday morning and picked up a half scoop of nice sardines from Nacho. The winds were blowing from the north at about 12 knots and followed us most of the way across. It was a bit of a bumpy ride! Once we got to the island, the wind died and the sun came out. It was like flipping a switch!
We trolled rapalas east from Long Point and scored a few bonito for bait tube stuffers. At Silver Canyon, Don nailed a nice 5-pound snub-nosed sheephead on a sardine. This fish had an old injury on his upper jaw, giving him a severe under bite. We tried some East End rock piles for a couple of salmon grouper that were released on a descending device, and I released a lingcod that looked a bit short. I also kept another female sheepshead that was bleeding out.
We trolled up a few more bones and headed over to our hooping spot. That night was as calm, clear and windless as can be. Perfect. We managed 8 solid legals – including a couple of big ones – and released 3 more that were just barely legal, along with a ton of shorts.
On Tuesday morning we went to the Isthmus to try some of our shallow water rockfish spots. Using frozen squid, I managed a medium sized red and a chuckle head, but we were mostly getting small white fish. Maybe live squid would have made a difference. Anyway, the fish just were not biting well.
Back down by Avalon, we caught some more bones and set up on our lobster spot. Again, the night was perfect. We put 5 good legals in the tank on the first set. While our second set was soaking, I watched the fireworks show at Disneyland. It was that clear! Needing only one more bug for limits, we released 2 that were just legal hoping for something bigger. This paid off with what may be the biggest bug we have ever caught. A true lobstrosity. With limits in hand, we released several more legals, including a big female that was probably the 2nd biggest one we hooped up this trip.
Wednesday morning it was overcast, but very little wind made our crossing back to the barn smooth. Over all, it was a really fun trip, with excellent weather. Water temps were 55.6 in Long Beach, about 57 to 58 mid-channel and for the most part 58 to 62 at the island. We did find 64.3 degree water Tuesday afternoon just east of Gallaghers. Air temps rose to at least 70 each day. I can’t wait for my next trip this spring!
Be safe out there!
Lucky released ling!
Red destined for the fish box
A limit o'bugs crawling the deck. Check the can for a little perspective
A fish fry in the making
Big boy bug on my 30 gallon bait tank
We trolled rapalas east from Long Point and scored a few bonito for bait tube stuffers. At Silver Canyon, Don nailed a nice 5-pound snub-nosed sheephead on a sardine. This fish had an old injury on his upper jaw, giving him a severe under bite. We tried some East End rock piles for a couple of salmon grouper that were released on a descending device, and I released a lingcod that looked a bit short. I also kept another female sheepshead that was bleeding out.
We trolled up a few more bones and headed over to our hooping spot. That night was as calm, clear and windless as can be. Perfect. We managed 8 solid legals – including a couple of big ones – and released 3 more that were just barely legal, along with a ton of shorts.
On Tuesday morning we went to the Isthmus to try some of our shallow water rockfish spots. Using frozen squid, I managed a medium sized red and a chuckle head, but we were mostly getting small white fish. Maybe live squid would have made a difference. Anyway, the fish just were not biting well.
Back down by Avalon, we caught some more bones and set up on our lobster spot. Again, the night was perfect. We put 5 good legals in the tank on the first set. While our second set was soaking, I watched the fireworks show at Disneyland. It was that clear! Needing only one more bug for limits, we released 2 that were just legal hoping for something bigger. This paid off with what may be the biggest bug we have ever caught. A true lobstrosity. With limits in hand, we released several more legals, including a big female that was probably the 2nd biggest one we hooped up this trip.
Wednesday morning it was overcast, but very little wind made our crossing back to the barn smooth. Over all, it was a really fun trip, with excellent weather. Water temps were 55.6 in Long Beach, about 57 to 58 mid-channel and for the most part 58 to 62 at the island. We did find 64.3 degree water Tuesday afternoon just east of Gallaghers. Air temps rose to at least 70 each day. I can’t wait for my next trip this spring!
Be safe out there!
Lucky released ling!
Red destined for the fish box
A limit o'bugs crawling the deck. Check the can for a little perspective
A fish fry in the making
Big boy bug on my 30 gallon bait tank
