Monday, August 22, 2011

Heavy Wind

TIDE  |  Moon : : 3.0 low @ 7:00am and a 5.8 high at 4:13pm
Moon Phase : :  Last Quarter

Tide this whole week isn't good. Not enough water movement, but I tried some bass fishing in the bay with plastics. Saw a lot of bait fish in the water. Had some early action at one spot where the bass were chasing and cornering bait fish against the rocks and pilings. The bait fish were spraying all around me. I could sight fish for the bass when they broke water. It was fun while it lasted.

Wind picked up real heavy early this morning and screwed everything up. I was fishing 1/4 and 3/8oz swimbaits and had hard time getting down.  Couldn't stay in position either over structure, drifting too fast. Came in early. 

3 Spotted Bass | 2 Halibut | All Catch Photo Release today




{Vintage Lures and Bobber} swap meet and garage sales

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Mini Halibut SLID E R S

Mini Sourdough dinner rolls slightly toasted with spinach, tomato, sauteed onion, avocado with a light tarter sauce spread



Pineapple Halibut Ceviche

ceviche |səˈvē ch ā; - ch ē| (also seviche)
South American dish of marinated raw fish or seafood, typically garnished and served as an appetizer

Ingredients : : (Depending on how much fish you have you want an even amount vegetables to fish mix)
  
• 3/4 lb. Halibut fillet or sea bass fillet or rock cod fillet (or use mixture of fish and shrimp)
• 1 bottle lemon juice (enough to cover fish)
• 1 cup diced fresh tomato
• 1 green pepper finely chopped
• 1/2 bunch of chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and finely chopped)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 can Pineapple slices, finely chopped
• 1 Avocado, sliced on top at the end (optional)
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon oregano
.....................................................................................................................................................................

STEP ONE | Dice the fish (approximately 1/2 inch pieces)

























STEP TWO | Marinate fish in lemon juice in the fridge overnight (Stir often)

















STEP THREE | Finely chop all the vegetables





































STEP FOUR | Drain most of the lemon juice, leave a little reservoir at the bottom














STEP FIVE | Evenly mix one ingredient in at a time and then add spices in. Place avocado slices onto. I like to serve with whole wheat tortilla scoops



Sunday, August 14, 2011

Long Drifts for Big Halibut

TIDE  |  Moon : : 5.1 high @ 10:35am and a 1.4 low at 4:11pm
Moon Phase : :  Full Moon was on Saturday the 13th

Took Stan and his father-in-law Les out fishing. Full moon was on Saturday so I knew later in the afternoon we would have good drifts so we went out to the kelp beds first. Hit a few spots and tied off the boat in tight to some kelp stringers. We got a handful of rockfish there. The anchovies were so small today that we had a hard time getting them down before a mackerel would swoop in on it. It was funny at first but after awhile we had to move, they were almost as bad as having a seal find you and steal your bait.

Went back in and got our second half of our split scoop of bait. The Sardines were super lively and fresh. Set up our first drift just to see how we were moving. Next few drifts I got in closer over my spot and as soon as Stan's sardine hit the bottom on this one drift his rod got slammed. He was fishing a light rod with only 8lb test. He couldn't just muscle the fish up on that pound  test so he took his time and just let the fish run and take out line a few times. Eventually it got tired enough for him to pull it up for me to net. It was gigantic. I got it in the net and half the halibut was hanging out the side going nuts. Stan cut his leader and we man handled it into the live well. I had to literally stuff it in there. This was the biggest halibut I have seen on my boat to date. Fish of a lifetime for Stan. So stoked for him.

2 Spotted Bass | 1 Sand Bass | 5 Bocaccio Rockfish | 2 Halibut




Stans' killer Halibut,  42 inches and weighing in at 28lbs.
































This was a 24inch halibut but next to the 42 inch halibut it gets dwarfed in scale

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Slow Troll

TIDE  |  Moon : : 1.5 low @ 7:33am and a 5.8 high at 2:23pm
Moon Phase : :  First Quarter


North West wind has been blowing hard for the last few days. Up-welled some cold water slowing down the fishing a little. Water dropped from the 70s down to the low 60s. Fish are cold blooded creatures and don't like big changes in water temp.

Fished a few of my go to bass structures and caught a few Spotted and Calico Bass off plastics. Earlier in the week I was doing drifts near the jetty for bass and I caught a few small halibut where the eel grass ends and becomes sandy. So being that it was a slower day I decided to try something different and threw out a small deep diving Rapala plug.  I trolled all the way up the jetty and the came back down along the other side. There was a lot of kelp and eel grass floating in the water so when I saw my rod went over I put the boat in neutral and just assumed I was snagged on kelp. I cranked twice and felt heavy weight on the line and the pulsating fish. It wasn't head shaking like a bass so I knew I had a halibut on. Got it to the side of the boat and realized it was a keeper. This last year I have been fishing more artificials and have been surprised how aggressive halibut are. I never thought they would hit a plug on the troll. Makes me rethink of ways to fish for halibut. Super excited to get a keeper halibut but on a diving plug is special.

Made Dinner for friends this week. Halibut with Pineapple Salsa on a bed of spinach with thin sliced apples and walnuts on the side.

3 Spotted Bass | 2 Calico Bass | 4 Halibut (1 keeper @ 34 inches)

LURES: Rapala X-RAP DEEP Diving Slashbait (XRD-10 Silver), Big Hammer (3" Calico Hunter w/3/8oz. War Bait)