Overall Conditions – Morning
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 63 degrees
Ocean Surface: Relatively Smooth
Water Temp: 62 degrees
Surf: 3-5′ faces
Bait used: ZOOM Super Fluke in Smokin’ Shad color on Tokyo Rig
Fishing Summary
Today’s trip was nearly a duplicate of yesterday, just a faster incoming tide. So, just like yesterday, I go to the beach at 6am and walked straight to my spot. The water was moving much quicker than yesterday as there is a new south swell in the water with much bigger surf. With faster moving water, it was nearly impossible to keep my jig on the bottom. I was only using a 3/8oz sinker in an effort to not get stuck in the rock structure that is present on the bottom in a few spots. Though, I did manage to get stuck once.
Here is a little tip that I figured out when there are rocks and you are using a dropshot or any type of rig where the weight hangs down past where your bait is connected to your main line. Use a smaller pound test line. For my main line, I have 30lb PowerPro braid with a 12″ – 18″ leader of 25lb or 30lb fluoro. When fishing these rigs, especially near rock or standing structure, I want heavier pound test in case get stuck or get a big halibut hooked. In these types of conditions, I don’t believe these fish are line shy. They are hungry and attach. It is a reactionary bite, not a finesse bite. For the line that the weight hangs on, I use 12lb or 15lb mono. The reason for this is that if the weight gets stuck in the rocks or on some type of structure, that line will be the weakest point and that’s what will break. You’ll keep your bait and hook. Then, I just have spare lines ready to tie or hook back onto my rig and cast right back out. Saves a lot of time this way.
Anyways, back to the story. After about 45 minutes or so, the water had slowed down drastically to where my bait was able to nicely glide along the bottom at a fairly slow speed. I was able to jig the fluke much better now. Just like yesterday, I cast out, jigged up 2 or 3 times, and the rod just bent as I pulled up. At first, I thought it was just seaweed, just like the post from 2 weeks ago when I caught the halibut on my Lucky Craft, but then I go a couple head shakes and some pulling. It really felt like something small, like maybe an under 15 inch fish. no real fight at all until it got to the rocks (as you’ll see in the video below). I really thought that it may have been a ray or something. Sure enough though, I got it close enough and could see that it was a small halibut.
I got it onto the rocks and it definitely looked short. I didn’t think there was any way that it would be close to 22 inches. Well, as you will see in the video, it was a heck of a lot bigger than i thought. Was it a keeper? Check out the pics below. The tape makes it look like 22 inch, but if you look at the other end of the tape, you can see that it is not quite at the end of the tail. It’s actually about half an inch past the tail. If you account for that 1/2 inch, the total length came out to 21 7/8 inches long!!! Just short again!
Until my next post, have fun and stay healthy!
