[brian21johansen]

Before I ask my question I'd like to introduce myself. First off, I'm a member of Stripers247.com....some of you may be familiar with your affiliate site. Anyways, I'm a 19 year old Marine from Boston MA....I'm currently stationed at MCAS Miramar. I've been saltwater fishing my whole life.....Striped bass is my number one fish but cod, flounder, bluefish and whatever else will take my bait is next. Here in San Diego I'll be fishing mostly from the surf and jetties and piers if I can find any but back home I fished from everywhere...from my boat, from the surf,sea walls, jetties piers....you name it...I've probably fished it Here are my questions.... First off what are some good fish or shark species to target? I'm looking for something as close to striped bass as possible when it comes to size and overall characteristics. After I learn the species I'll be able to buy a new combo or have my parents ship me some of my gear....I own a Penn 650ss and 750ss and a shimano baitrunner 6500....how are these reels for fishing the west coast surf? Thanks -Brian

This post edited by brian21johansen 05/21/2008

 

[Baja Dreamer]

Hi Brian and welcome to Allcoast!

For the most part, we don't have anything like the fishing for stripers or bluefish that you were used to back home unless you get up to the bay area where they do have stripersin the surf. There is however the occasional striper caught in the Torrey Pines area no too far from you.

Most of the surf fishing here consists of fishing for various species of surf perch, croakers, and corbina. There area also halibut, (Sometimes up to and over 20 lbs.!), available in the surf. The reels you mention having are a bit large for most applications here but if you are looking at fishing leopard sharks they're fine.

The majority of surf fishing in So Cal is light line from as low as 4lb. up to maybe 12 lb. line. Good baits to use include sand crabs which you can dig yourself, (It just takes a little knowledge to locate them.), lug and blood worms, mussels, razor clams, and ghost shrimp. Many folks like to use artificials such as small plasic grubs which are carolina rigged, and small spoons like Krockodiles and Kastmasters and they do very well with them. Berkley is also making a line of power bait style lures, (Small grubs, sand worms, sand crabs.), just for surf fishermen which have been very productive for those using them.

Rods for the in close perch and corbina action are in general light action and from 7' to 9' in length. many guys prefer a light steelhead rod for this tyep of fishing. For a leopard shark rod, what you used from the beach and jetties is probably just fine with 15lb. to 20lb. line. And if a bat ray picks up your shark rig, that may not be enough! LOL!!!

The most common rigging for bait or grub fishing is the "fish finder" which used with a grub is of course a "carolina rig". Depending on conditions, a sliding sinker of proper size is slid up the main line and a swivel is tied on the line as a keeper. A leader of 18" to 30" is then tied or snapped onto the swivel and a hookfor the bait or grub is tied onto the leader.

For local knowledge about spots and what's working, check with one or more of the local tackle shops there, (Of which there are many!), and they should be able to help you out. And the guys on this board who fish down that way will most likely help you out as well. You may even find a guy or two here that will take you out and show you a couple of spots! 8):tu:

Good luck and I hope this helps get you started!


FISH HARD!

 

[Alan_Cole]

Before I ask my question I'd like to introduce myself. First off, I'm a member of Stripers247.com....some of you may be familiar with your affiliate site. Anyways, I'm a 19 year old Marine from Boston MA....I'm currently stationed at MCAS Miramar.

Welcome, Marine! God bless you in your service to our nation.

Here in San Diego I'll be fishing mostly from the surf and jetties and piers if I can find any but back home I fished from everywhere...from my boat, from the surf,sea walls, jetties piers....you name it...I've probably fished it

You'll find lot's of places to fish from shore, besides any surf line there are two bays with plenty of new species for you to conquer!

First off what are some good fish or shark species to target? I'm looking for something as close to striped bass as possible when it comes to size and overall characteristics.

In that regard you might want to try fishing Mission Bay, the resident yellow mouth corvina act a lot like stripers, and can ge great game from shore. See this post: (edit by Charlie: link removed) ..... then look for many more going back the last few months with "MB" in the thread titles. There are LOTS of pictures like this one :

The last few weeks the catch on these has been limited due to the spawn taking a lot of their concentration, but the warming air and water temps will bring much better fishing for them and the other several species there.

After I learn the species I'll be able to buy a new combo or have my parents ship me some of my gear....I own a Penn 650ss and 750ss and a shimano baitrunner 6500....how are these reels for fishing the west coast surf?

Your gear will be fine, though I suspect you'll be bet off using a little lighter line such as 8 lb to 12 lb for a stealthier presentation. Also, don't expect anything over 20 pounds .... there's nothing like a large striper here locally. But that doesn't mean that there won't be significant game fishing to be done ... On the other hand, San Diego is home to the greatest sport fishing fleet in the world. You might be very interested in fishing for the local yellowtail or pelagic albacore or other species during their seasons. Jump on a boat from any of the landings and get in on that action while you are here! Look through the posts at the forum noted above and note the building use of top water hard baits for the larger corvina. And don't be shy, while you are there at either bay introduce yourself to other anglers there not using buckets (meat seeking anglers mostly), we'll want to meet and greet you properly! By the way, not that meat fishing is bad, those anglers have fishing rights, too, of course. But I personally would be limiting the consumption of the fish caught in either Mission Bay or San Diego Bay due to the inherent pollution normally there due to the runoff from streets and other areas around those bodies of water. Good luck!

This post edited by Charlie 05/28/2008

 

[brian21johansen]

Thanks for the replies. I'm familiar with halibut....in the east coast they get HUGE....I've never got any before though. Corvina sounds like a good fish for me but I'm gettin interested in leopard sharks.... I'm thinking about just buying a brand new set up..... I'll search through the forums for more info....thanks for the help!

This post edited by brian21johansen 05/21/2008

 

[DockRat]

You can catch Stripers off the beach in So Cal. Check out our Ghost Surf Fishing Moderators Site. (edit by Charlie) This one caught at Santa Monica Beach. You might have better odds of winning Super Lotto. Never seen one in LA/OC/SD County Good Luck, DR

This post edited by Charlie 05/28/2008