SOCAL SURF BRIEF

SOUTH CAL SURF BRIEF Western Outdoor NewsPublished: Mar 09, 2010

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SOUTH CAL SURF BRIEF SAN DIEGO — It’s been tough conditions for beach anglers more often than not this winter, but tough conditions aside, there are some prospects to work on. “Conditions have been less than ideal, but folks are catching fish,” were the words from Hugh Cobb at Pacific Coast Bait and Tackle in Oceanside. “Dave Gnade of San Diego weighed in a 11⁄2-pound barred surfperch to take an early lead in our store’s March perch derby. He used bloodworms and caught his fish at Imperial Beach.” The southernmost beach in Southern California (as in Imperial Beach) has been a real sleeper this winter. It has been kicking out consistent surfperch action. To the north there has been surfperch in the cards as well. “The best story here in North County,” said Cobb, “was told by Stuart Schwartz. His son, Richard, used bloodworms at Aqua Hedionda Lagoon to take three yellowfin and five spotfin croaker, the largest of which was well over 4 pounds.” Pier action has been slow, but the Oceanside Pier has been giving up some small spotfin and fair sized perch. ORANGE COUNTY — No word from the southern end of the county, aside from there being some small leopard sharks in the surf being taken above and below the San Clemente Pier. The Seal Beach Pier has had some sand sharks for the taking off its end, while those fishing the skinny water towards the base of the pier have found some surfperch and a few croakers. Those looking for a prized winter corbina would be best off looking around Sunset Beach. LOS ANGELES— Small perch have been around off Malibu’s beaches, says Ginny Wylie at Wylie’s Bait and Tackle in Malibu, however, it’s been cabezon that have been the showstoppers. “There’s been cabezon being caught from what I’d call Big Rock up to Las Flores,” said Wylie. “Cabezon have definitely been the story. They have been caught on squid.” A few sand sharks have been caught off the pier and beaches. Wylie has not heard of any white seabass reports. The biggest news that Wylie heard of came from up around Ventura. VENTURA/SANTA BARBARA— Don Takatsuka made a big catch — or catches, really — off Sea Cliff and checked his prizes in at Wylie’s Bait and Tackle in Malibu. “I couldn’t believe it; Don had a 3-10 corbina and a 2-9 barred surfperch on crabs while fishing up at Sea Cliff,” said Wylie. “He said he though the corbina was a croaker when he first hooked it.” To the north, there have not been many reports from Santa Barbara. Jason Diamond of the sportboat Stardust said they neither he nor his surf fishing buddies hit the sand last week.