King Harbor 7/12

Report from Baytubers.com

Took my daughter out on the kayak for the first time on Saturday. I thought she might be tentative and scared at first, but she jumped right on and had no problems moving about. She was pretty adamant about paddling at times, too. Brought a tear to daddy's eye. On to the fishing...

My buddies Frankie and Johnny joined me on their tandem (this was their second time out). Got some really nice sized anchovies from the bait dock--they hit the jetty while we started trolling around towards the back of the harbor. Mina's line got snagged and as I tried to get it loose, the rod snapped in half (it was an ultralight rig, 4# test). There was only 1 guide left but we made the most of it. Had a double hookup on a couple short halibut, I reeled in mine first and then reeled she reel in hers. Her very first halibut (brought a tear to daddy's other eye!)

We also ended up with a sandie (prolly around 16") and another hali (this time legal, around 24-26"). I think the other guys made out with a few calicos. Off the water by 11am.

PV to Hermosa 7/9

Report from Pierfishing.com

My buddy and I took the day off and made a tour of the South Bay from the Palos Verdes rocks to Hermosa Beach Pier. Got to PV a little after 6am and made the trek down to the rocks. The tides were pretty low which made the kelp forests all the more visible and, IMHO, more challenging to fish. Used both squid strips and "sidewinder" crabs with a single dropper loop, #4 circle hook, and 2 to 3 oz. torpedo and egg sinkers. The bite was good as we ended up with 3 calicos and a sand bass, as well as a couple lost to the rocks/kelp during the retrieve.

Around 10am we decided to collect some more crabs and made our way to Redondo Beach Pier. The mac bite was on although we weren't too interested in sticking around for it.

Moved on to the Redondo Sportfishing Pier and was graciously left a bucket of live sardines and anchovies left by a party boater. Spent about 4 hours throwing out squid strips, crab, live bait, and cut bait, only for it to turn into a royal feast for the bait-stealing senoritas. The constant tap-tap-tap can really get on a fisherman's nerves. One of the sardine heads (eyes, brains, guts) was picked clean with only the exoskeleton left perfectly intact. We didn't end up with anything, but there were probably a dozen or so very small calicos and a couple macs pulled over the rail. Also of note, the bubble hole was apparently pumping out some warm water and attracting baitfish as evidenced by the crashing birds.

Our last stop was Hermosa Beach Pier. We were finally able to make some bait and it was just about the right size--smelt a little smaller than the size of your hand. Had 2 really nice hits within 10 minutes of baiting up--got my blood going--but when I went to set the hook nothing was there. But the highlight of the day was a 33" hali caught near the end by a fellow named Al. I think he caught it on plastics? If you're reading this Al, congrats!

This was sorta my last hurrah before the 2nd child is born. Gotta stay close at hand for the delivery. Not sure how the wife feels about it, but I'll be glad to have another fishing buddy soon.

15" calico


Trying to outlast the pesky senoritas


Al's 33" hali

Hermosa Beach Pier

Report from Pierfishing.com

Got to the pier around 6:30am when it was just past low tide. Set up near the end before the faucet area, one stick for my sabiki (#8 hooks) and another as my live bait rig (1/2 oz. slider, caronlina keeper, #4 circle hook). Only found one suitable baitfish which was a small salema, but it helped me see my only action of the day--a short halibut just over 19". Got a nice net assist from one of the locals nearby for the catch and release.

Saw a pair of sandies and a couple yellowfin croakers pulled over the railing. Also saw another short hali a bit more towards the pier entrance. Macs and salema were fairly consistent during the morning.

Tim and Thomas, good to see you guys today.

Short hali (thanks to Deandre for the pic)


Sandie


Pretty full pier today (hey Tim)


Snapped this surfer just as he passed through the pilings.