We saw a much more mellow week on the local 1/2-day scene. The water temps are still cool at 62 to 64°. There has also some lingering red tide and that combination made fishing tough for a few days. The guys getting the most bites are using lighter line. Scaling down from 8 to 12lb was the ticket. Baits fished near the bottom caught some bass, sheepshead and a few sculpin. Some little bonito were around too. Anglers fishing little flashy jigs have been catching some.
Our 3/4-day trips have been targeting primarily rockfish. The fishing has been consistent and good. The local shallow water area down off Camp Pendleton has kicked out a good mix of fish. Live baits and 100g sniper-style jigs fished well. Out deeper on the 14 Mile Bank, we saw more great fishing for the bigger bocaccio, Floridas and chilipeppers.
Choices for many anglers were 16oz sinkers and double dropper looped baits. Worth noting, the anglers fishing 300 to 400g jigs did very well too. On some days, the guys fishing the jigs out deep did better than the bait anglers.
Off the beach at San Clemente Island, the Fury had some good bass fishing as well as good opportunities off the bottom for sheepshead and whitefish. A few yellowtail and white seabass were caught there as well. Two-day fishing has also seen some good bluefin opportunities. They had a great sundowner bite on their last night (Saturday) in beautiful conditions, pulling in 25 bluefin in the 20 to 40lb range. Couple that with some dropper loop yellowtail fishing at the island this morning for 5 fish 20 to 25lbs, and it made for a great two-day trip.
