OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
January 1, 1976
It was just this time of year that a party of three fisherman came into my shop, early in the morning. They said they had a lunch put up for all of us, and they wanted me to go surf fishing with them. I looked up the tide and it said it would be high tide, at eleven that morning. Business was dull, so I consented. They had a large station wagon to take us to the spot. I had a full bucket of fresh mussels which a boy had gathered for me the day before, so I fastened my long surf rod on top of their car and told them to drive to Sandyland Road. We carried our gear onto the beach and started opening the bait. I was the first to cast out and I hooked a large barred perch. I knew we were going to have a good fishing morning. Two of the men had theirs baited up and cast out. They had two strikes; and one pulled in two fish at a time, and the other man, one which weighed three pounds. From that time on, the perch were striking hard and fast, and we all limited up, and quit, in the next hour. I sure enjoyed that day. Off the long stretch of beach leading from Palm Avenue up to Sandyland Beach should be good fishing.
When the weather is good and sunny, it is a good time to try your luck. At the large rocks at Serena Beach is a swell spot to fish at this time. The surf is sandy, with lots of sand crabs and that is what brings the fish in close to shore. Salted or fresh anchovies are excellent baits to use for barred perch. And a size one. hook will catch these fish fast. Off Summerland Hill platform is also a swell spot to try. The ocean comes in and splashes against the metal wall at high tide. From there, up to Santa Barbara and to Goleta pier, barred perch are now striking.
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When the weather is good and sunny, it is a good time to try your luck. At the large rocks at Serena Beach is a swell spot to fish at this time. The surf is sandy, with lots of sand crabs and that is what brings the fish in close to shore. Salted or fresh anchovies are excellent baits to use for barred perch. And a size one. hook will catch these fish fast. Off Summerland Hill platform is also a swell spot to try. The ocean comes in and splashes against the metal wall at high tide. From there, up to Santa Barbara and to Goleta pier, barred perch are now striking.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
January 08, 1976
Recently I saw a long feature picture of what sharks are doing all along our shores and off the shores of Florida. They showed pictures of swimmers that had been attacked in not more than four feet of water by white sharks swimming in large schools off the shore. It is getting terrible that swimmers can't enjoy themselves in the surf. I can tell you what is causing the sharks to come so close to shore. In the past 15 years, huge schools of anchovies and sardines have been taken out of the ocean so fast that there is nothing for the sharks to feed on, so they have moved in closer to shore.
When we had large schools of small fish all along the coastline, they brought in schools of larger fish that feed on them, and the sharks in turn had lots of fish to feed on and it kept them out in the deeper water. Do you know, if you bury a fish near a rose bush, it will thrive, and send out beautiful buds the year around? If they would start catching these white sharks for the farmers to plow deep furrows and dump one of these fish in and cover it over, they would soon have the most fertile land in the country.
They could be planted down each row of fruit trees and in no time at all the trees would take on new life and produce large harvest of fine fruit. In years to come, these schools of white sharks, could be controlled so that they would not bother swimmers in the ocean. They could be ground up, bones and all, and sold in sacks to gardeners, and ranchers. California would be the leading State for oranges, lemons, avocados and other tree fruit. They say that all our farming land is being worked out, but it wouldn't be if this plan was used.
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When we had large schools of small fish all along the coastline, they brought in schools of larger fish that feed on them, and the sharks in turn had lots of fish to feed on and it kept them out in the deeper water. Do you know, if you bury a fish near a rose bush, it will thrive, and send out beautiful buds the year around? If they would start catching these white sharks for the farmers to plow deep furrows and dump one of these fish in and cover it over, they would soon have the most fertile land in the country.
They could be planted down each row of fruit trees and in no time at all the trees would take on new life and produce large harvest of fine fruit. In years to come, these schools of white sharks, could be controlled so that they would not bother swimmers in the ocean. They could be ground up, bones and all, and sold in sacks to gardeners, and ranchers. California would be the leading State for oranges, lemons, avocados and other tree fruit. They say that all our farming land is being worked out, but it wouldn't be if this plan was used.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
January 15, 1976
This coming New Year will see some good surf fishing off the sandy beach at Carpinteria and off the many rocks and reefs below the State Park. Each year we have two runs of barred perch, corbina, and halibut. This holds good from Ventura up to Gaviota pier. In March, schools of large barred perch and small schools of corbina make their appearance in the surf from San Diego all the way up the coast. The first showing of these fish are small, and then the main school moves in for the summer months. Some year's when we had the old pier at Carpinteria, one could stand along the railing and look down in the water and see hundreds of large corbina seeking sand crabs that wash in with the high tide.
They usually don't bite when you can see them, but let the ocean get milky and you can have a ball hooking these beautiful fish. They fight as hard as a large trout when hooked. Fresh mussels, clams, shrimp, and chunks of fresh anchovies can catch these fish. I would suggest that you try all the rocks and reefs below the park clear to Rincon Point for some fine bass, cabazone, and shark fishing. The many rocks now are alive with these fish as they swim in from the islands.
Off the left of the large reef, directly off the park, is now a swell spot to fish at extreme low tide. Off the sandy beach in front of the camping grounds is now good for perch fishing. Get a good high tide and try your luck there and up to Sandyland Beach. I know you will catch some nice size fish. Off the Serena rocks, at full high tide, is another spot I have fished, and have caught many a large barred perch. Occasionally you can hook a halibut by casting farther out in the surf.
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They usually don't bite when you can see them, but let the ocean get milky and you can have a ball hooking these beautiful fish. They fight as hard as a large trout when hooked. Fresh mussels, clams, shrimp, and chunks of fresh anchovies can catch these fish. I would suggest that you try all the rocks and reefs below the park clear to Rincon Point for some fine bass, cabazone, and shark fishing. The many rocks now are alive with these fish as they swim in from the islands.
Off the left of the large reef, directly off the park, is now a swell spot to fish at extreme low tide. Off the sandy beach in front of the camping grounds is now good for perch fishing. Get a good high tide and try your luck there and up to Sandyland Beach. I know you will catch some nice size fish. Off the Serena rocks, at full high tide, is another spot I have fished, and have caught many a large barred perch. Occasionally you can hook a halibut by casting farther out in the surf.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
January 22, 1976
I remember the year of 1972. I received a long distant call from Frank Collins saying he was bringing up a fishing party from LA. He wanted to know if I had plenty of bait. I told him I (did) and he asked me to come along fishing with his group. At 7:30 a.m. they arrived in two cars and we drove up to Sandyland Beach and began fishing during the high tide. It was sunny and warm when we started to fish. I landed two large perch on my first cast and Frank reeled in his line with a 3-lb. perch. One of his party hooked and landed a large corbina. From then on each of us caught the limit of large perch in the next two hours. He and his friends said they all had a marvelous time. It so happened on that day that a large school of perch were in the first, breaker line feeding on sand crabs. This was one of my best days of fishing.
Another outstanding day occurred in the early part of Spring of 1973. The morning was overcast and it was sultry, when I decided to go down to the beach and try a few hour's of surf fishing. I drove my car out and loaded up my gear, and headed for Sandyland Road where at one time the old boat ramp had stood. It was at half high tide and the surf had washed out the sand close to the surf forming a long sandy wall about three feet high. The tide would splash over the sand wall and wash across the beach clear up to the sand dunes. I had on hipboots, and I started to fish. The ocean was like milk and I knew there were a lot of corbina hidden in the water. My first cast hooked a five pound corbina and I fought it in. From then on I hooked one after the other. They were all about the same size and soon I had my limit of 10 fish. The ocean was simply alive with large corbina schools. Never in my life had I seen so many fish in the surf. With my fine catch I started for home. Had I stayed I bet I would have caught 100 fish.
The next few days you were lucky if you caught five corbina in three hour's time. Some fishermen think that halibut only run at certain times of the year. Halibut swim over from the Islands and they stay in the deep water the entire year. So as long as the ocean stays calm that is the time to try your luck from your boats. Not only halibut are found in the deep water but you can catch other fish such as jacksmelt, yellowfin croakers, sharks and many kinds of bass.
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Another outstanding day occurred in the early part of Spring of 1973. The morning was overcast and it was sultry, when I decided to go down to the beach and try a few hour's of surf fishing. I drove my car out and loaded up my gear, and headed for Sandyland Road where at one time the old boat ramp had stood. It was at half high tide and the surf had washed out the sand close to the surf forming a long sandy wall about three feet high. The tide would splash over the sand wall and wash across the beach clear up to the sand dunes. I had on hipboots, and I started to fish. The ocean was like milk and I knew there were a lot of corbina hidden in the water. My first cast hooked a five pound corbina and I fought it in. From then on I hooked one after the other. They were all about the same size and soon I had my limit of 10 fish. The ocean was simply alive with large corbina schools. Never in my life had I seen so many fish in the surf. With my fine catch I started for home. Had I stayed I bet I would have caught 100 fish.
The next few days you were lucky if you caught five corbina in three hour's time. Some fishermen think that halibut only run at certain times of the year. Halibut swim over from the Islands and they stay in the deep water the entire year. So as long as the ocean stays calm that is the time to try your luck from your boats. Not only halibut are found in the deep water but you can catch other fish such as jacksmelt, yellowfin croakers, sharks and many kinds of bass.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
January 29, 1976
In February one can go down fishing off the Carpinteria Beach and from that time on large barred perch will start migrating in from the deep water to the first breaker line. If the weather stays good you can catch some nice size perch. By the middle of March one can look for the first scouts of corbina to show up. The first school of fish are the smaller size and then later the three to five pounders show up for their season run. I have watched them move into the surf many times from the old pier that Carpinteria had several years ago, and it makes a fisherman's heart beat with renewed happiness, for soon he will be hooking some of these scrappy fish. If one tries light tackle on these fish he can have the same thrill as fighting a large trout. When hooked, a corbina will streak off and fight all the way in to shore.
Many halibut were caught off the old pier. One time I stood next to a, fisherman who had hooked a halibut that I judged would weigh 15 pounds. He fought the flatside to the side of the pier and as it floated there, I told him to work it in toward shore. He said he could pull it up with his line, and as he lifted the nice fish out of the water, half way up to the top of the pier the halibut gave a mighty jump and ripped right off his hook. When you hook a halibut of any size, you cannot fool around trying to land the fish. You need either a gaff or a net or you will lose your fish if you try to land it such as he did.
The large reef directly off the lower part of the State Park is now a good spot to try for bass, black perch, corbina, and cabazone. Fish off the left side where you will find large stringers of weaving kelp. These fish are found under kelp, where they feed on mussels. I have caught five pound cabazone at this point and they are sure good eating. Their body is a dark green and when cooked the meat turns pure white. Fried in cornmeal and cooked a deep brown they are delicious.
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Many halibut were caught off the old pier. One time I stood next to a, fisherman who had hooked a halibut that I judged would weigh 15 pounds. He fought the flatside to the side of the pier and as it floated there, I told him to work it in toward shore. He said he could pull it up with his line, and as he lifted the nice fish out of the water, half way up to the top of the pier the halibut gave a mighty jump and ripped right off his hook. When you hook a halibut of any size, you cannot fool around trying to land the fish. You need either a gaff or a net or you will lose your fish if you try to land it such as he did.
The large reef directly off the lower part of the State Park is now a good spot to try for bass, black perch, corbina, and cabazone. Fish off the left side where you will find large stringers of weaving kelp. These fish are found under kelp, where they feed on mussels. I have caught five pound cabazone at this point and they are sure good eating. Their body is a dark green and when cooked the meat turns pure white. Fried in cornmeal and cooked a deep brown they are delicious.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
February 05, 1976
When the vacation season was over at the State Park, all the local fishermen used to comedown to my shop for bait to do some rock fishing off the beach toward Rincon Hill. From Higgin's Pt. down to the Rincon Pt. large rocks and reefs line the coastline where you can find cabazone, bass, perch, and other fishing excellent during the Fall and Winter months. The fishermen would stop at my shop for squid, anchovies, and shrimp bait which they packed in their sacks and then hiked down the railroad tracks to Higgin's Pt. where they climbed down to the sandy beach and started down the coast to the rocks. I have seen cabazone up to five pounds, and bass up to three pounds landed by these fishermen. Before heading for home they would always stop to show me their catch. These spots should be fished at extreme low tides. You cannot get down there at high tide. It is sure refreshing to stand up on a large rock and cast out near some submerged rocks beyond. These rocks start filling with surf fish during the low tides where they feed on mussel beneath the surface.
The long rock lined seawall directly below the point is another swell spot to fish when the tide is high. Corbina have been caught off these rocks that will weigh up to six pounds. And, during toe lobster season. many of them are hooked using fresh anchovie and a 3-way hook. As you walk up to the Carpinteria State Park you will find a large reef that reaches out into the ocean. for over two blocks. Fish off the left side of the reef at extreme low tide. At the mouth of Carpinteria Creek was always one of my favorite spots to fish for corbina and large barred perch. The long sandy beach above also is good at high tide.
FISH AND GAME REPORTS Rainbows will be stocked at Cachuma this week... The anchovy quota has been raised by 50,000 ton. Commercial fishermen that use anchovies for protein supplements had asked for a 100,000 ton increase... Calleguas Creek in Ventura County where the Silver Salmon experiment last year was so successful will be stocked again with 40,000 fingerlings in 1976.
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The long rock lined seawall directly below the point is another swell spot to fish when the tide is high. Corbina have been caught off these rocks that will weigh up to six pounds. And, during toe lobster season. many of them are hooked using fresh anchovie and a 3-way hook. As you walk up to the Carpinteria State Park you will find a large reef that reaches out into the ocean. for over two blocks. Fish off the left side of the reef at extreme low tide. At the mouth of Carpinteria Creek was always one of my favorite spots to fish for corbina and large barred perch. The long sandy beach above also is good at high tide.
FISH AND GAME REPORTS Rainbows will be stocked at Cachuma this week... The anchovy quota has been raised by 50,000 ton. Commercial fishermen that use anchovies for protein supplements had asked for a 100,000 ton increase... Calleguas Creek in Ventura County where the Silver Salmon experiment last year was so successful will be stocked again with 40,000 fingerlings in 1976.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
February 12, 1976
February means we are getting close to the Spring run of barred perch. This month will see some small schools of the smaller perch moving Into the surf feeding on millions of sand crabs that start moving shoreward where they burrow into the wet sand. Usually when they start into the surf you will find hundreds of perch going after them, and by gazing out in the deeper water, you will see many seals patrolling along and feeding on these fish. When I fished off our old pier this time of the year 1 went home with some good catches. Right where the tar pits start there must be some sandy holes out about 60 feet from shore.
Along the stretch of beach in front of the Carpinteria Creek mouth is a swell spot to try your luck. I found a good spot directly in front of Palm Avenue where I always fished when I had time off from my old shop. Sandyland Beach was another favorite spot of mine. There are no rocks along the surf just a long sloping sandy beach. When the corbina start running in the middle of March you should try this sport. By using salted anchovies on a nylon and wire leader and by casting out about 300 feet, you can get into halibut territory. These flatsides move in from the deep water and lay in wait for the smaller fish to feed on. At this time of year don't miss the Serena Rocks when the tide is high and splashing against the base of the large rocks. Corbina, bass, perch and halibut can be caught in the deeper water.
I remember one year all the rocks were covered with fishermen. The large perch were striking during the early morning high tide. They must have caught a hundred perch. Some of them weighed up to four pounds. At the time they were using fresh shrimp and shelled mussels. The cement seawall directly below the Ortega Hill is sure a great spot to fish. Lobsters in season, barred perch, bass, halibut, and many kinds of sand sharks strike off this point during the Summer season.
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Along the stretch of beach in front of the Carpinteria Creek mouth is a swell spot to try your luck. I found a good spot directly in front of Palm Avenue where I always fished when I had time off from my old shop. Sandyland Beach was another favorite spot of mine. There are no rocks along the surf just a long sloping sandy beach. When the corbina start running in the middle of March you should try this sport. By using salted anchovies on a nylon and wire leader and by casting out about 300 feet, you can get into halibut territory. These flatsides move in from the deep water and lay in wait for the smaller fish to feed on. At this time of year don't miss the Serena Rocks when the tide is high and splashing against the base of the large rocks. Corbina, bass, perch and halibut can be caught in the deeper water.
I remember one year all the rocks were covered with fishermen. The large perch were striking during the early morning high tide. They must have caught a hundred perch. Some of them weighed up to four pounds. At the time they were using fresh shrimp and shelled mussels. The cement seawall directly below the Ortega Hill is sure a great spot to fish. Lobsters in season, barred perch, bass, halibut, and many kinds of sand sharks strike off this point during the Summer season.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
February 19, 1976
Some of my friends fished off the Carpinteria tar pits the other day and caught a nice string of-half pound barred perch with two corbina. The smaller perch start running from the first of February and then the large school moves in around the 15th of March.
From Ventura, up to Goleta pier, now is the time to fish for halibut off the surf. Use a four to six ounce pyramid sinker on your line with the point down to keep it from rolling around on the sandy bottom. Then about three feet up from the sinker make a small loop. Choose a three foot nylon leader with a wire center and either a three- way hook, or a single hook, say about 1-0, or 2-0. Buy a small box of rubber bands so that when you hook the anchovie through the tail, hold it against the nylon leader and slip on one rubber band up to its head. Then twist it around the head several times. Then fix another band around the tail. This will hold the bail fish out straight, and you are ready to cast you line out from 200 -300 feet. The bait will stay on if you don't cast too hard. The leader will let the bait fish hit the bottom where it will float In the deeper water. A halibut will strike at anything that is floating off the bottom and soon you will feel a strike. Let the halibut swallow the ball, and when you think the fish is hooked, give it a light tug and you should have a nice size halibut on your line. Keep a tight line as you reel the fish toward land. You will find halibut schools all the way from the Rincon Beach up to Santa Barbara where they troll for halibut off the palm lined park in boats. I have seen many large halibut caught at this spot in the Spring and Summer months. Another good spot is off the right side of the pier about half way out. Rincon Point, down to the rock lined seawall on Highway 101, now is a swell spot to try your luck. Many large bass, halibut, perch, and sand sharks have been caught off these rocks.
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From Ventura, up to Goleta pier, now is the time to fish for halibut off the surf. Use a four to six ounce pyramid sinker on your line with the point down to keep it from rolling around on the sandy bottom. Then about three feet up from the sinker make a small loop. Choose a three foot nylon leader with a wire center and either a three- way hook, or a single hook, say about 1-0, or 2-0. Buy a small box of rubber bands so that when you hook the anchovie through the tail, hold it against the nylon leader and slip on one rubber band up to its head. Then twist it around the head several times. Then fix another band around the tail. This will hold the bail fish out straight, and you are ready to cast you line out from 200 -300 feet. The bait will stay on if you don't cast too hard. The leader will let the bait fish hit the bottom where it will float In the deeper water. A halibut will strike at anything that is floating off the bottom and soon you will feel a strike. Let the halibut swallow the ball, and when you think the fish is hooked, give it a light tug and you should have a nice size halibut on your line. Keep a tight line as you reel the fish toward land. You will find halibut schools all the way from the Rincon Beach up to Santa Barbara where they troll for halibut off the palm lined park in boats. I have seen many large halibut caught at this spot in the Spring and Summer months. Another good spot is off the right side of the pier about half way out. Rincon Point, down to the rock lined seawall on Highway 101, now is a swell spot to try your luck. Many large bass, halibut, perch, and sand sharks have been caught off these rocks.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
February 26, 1976
During the week a number of fishermen caught some nice barred perch off the surf directly in front of the Carpinteria State Park. This fine beach has been noted for many years as one of the prized spots along our coast for perch, corbina, and halibut fishing. I have seen runs of perch so thick that your could hardly hit the water with mussel, clam, shrimp or anchovie bait before' you would get a strike and pull in a large fish. In year's gone by, corbina schools came in so heavy you could limit-up with either kind of fish in & half hour's time. I would come home with a gunny sack full of corbina and go up-the street, giving them away. Some of the people would ask me, "Are they cleaned?" When I told them they weren't, they would say they didn't want them. Nowadays people are so sure fire crazy about fish and they are so high priced in the markets they now take anything caught fresh from the ocean.
Every Saturday my dear mother, Uncle and I, would ride up to Sandyland beach when the tide was full and we never came home without two fine limits of fish. Now that I'm living in La Habra I sure miss those wonderful days. I would suggest that you gather a bucket full of fresh mussels off the rocks on Rincon Beach and try this spot. Another swell spot that will get hot is off Serena rocks just before the peak of high tide. Large corbina, and three pound perch, are in the first breaker line along this fine sandy beach. Fishermen may be in for a few surprises next spring.
Silver salmon now being raised experimentally in saltwater pens and freshwater ponds will be released then, and no one is sure how these salmon will behave. The University of California, in a joint effort with local fishermen's groups and the California Department of Fish and Game, is raising the salmon this way to try to increase the fishing catch, lowest last year in 10 years. Marine biologists have found fish raised this way grow rapidly and have few disease problems, but the fish's behavior is the question mark. In a natural environment, salmon hatch at upriver sites and swim to the ocean as finger lings, returning to the same river site to spawn at maturity. Salmon raised by the Department of Fish and Game and released in river systems other than their own have generally shown a poor homing instinct. However, salmon raised in the oceanside saltwater pens are expected to spend their entire lives within 10 to 15 miles of their rearing sites rather than making a long migration. Extensive tagging programs will be used to see if the fish do in fact, react as expected. We sure hope it works.
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Every Saturday my dear mother, Uncle and I, would ride up to Sandyland beach when the tide was full and we never came home without two fine limits of fish. Now that I'm living in La Habra I sure miss those wonderful days. I would suggest that you gather a bucket full of fresh mussels off the rocks on Rincon Beach and try this spot. Another swell spot that will get hot is off Serena rocks just before the peak of high tide. Large corbina, and three pound perch, are in the first breaker line along this fine sandy beach. Fishermen may be in for a few surprises next spring.
Silver salmon now being raised experimentally in saltwater pens and freshwater ponds will be released then, and no one is sure how these salmon will behave. The University of California, in a joint effort with local fishermen's groups and the California Department of Fish and Game, is raising the salmon this way to try to increase the fishing catch, lowest last year in 10 years. Marine biologists have found fish raised this way grow rapidly and have few disease problems, but the fish's behavior is the question mark. In a natural environment, salmon hatch at upriver sites and swim to the ocean as finger lings, returning to the same river site to spawn at maturity. Salmon raised by the Department of Fish and Game and released in river systems other than their own have generally shown a poor homing instinct. However, salmon raised in the oceanside saltwater pens are expected to spend their entire lives within 10 to 15 miles of their rearing sites rather than making a long migration. Extensive tagging programs will be used to see if the fish do in fact, react as expected. We sure hope it works.
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OFF THE SURF
By Reg Reynolds
March 04, 1976
The late, late show along Southern California beaches is scheduled to begin it's annual early year fun this week, starring a cast of millions of grunion. Also taking part will be a supporting cast of hundreds of fishermen in our area. After consulting tide tables and moon charts, Department of Fish and Game marine biologists determined the first grunion run of the year should take place Tuesday -night, beginning at 11:09 p.m. or thereabouts and lasting about two hours. Each year, near the beginning of spring, the small silvery fish appear during the night to spawn on beaches along the coast.
The timing of their spawning runs is dictated by the cycles of the tides and the moon. They usually run for four consecutive nights, with the beginning of each run occurring two days after a new or full moon during the highest tide of the day. During the runs the grunion come ashore on the waves. The females bury themselves tail-first in the sand to lay their eggs which are then fertilized by the sperm of a male grunion, The entire mating process takes only 15 or 20 seconds and the grunion return to the ocean on the next wave. And it’s during that short interval that grunion grabbers take part in one of the most unusual fishing scenarios possible. Since grunion can be caught only with your hands — state law forbids the use of any kind of fishing gear or other implements — activity on the beach during a run is wild and often frantic as people try to pick up the slippery fish with their bare hands.
Sometimes it’s akin to catching a greased Pig. Although grunion can be expected to run on any of the major beaches there's no guarantee they will run on every beach during every night of the predicted four-night run. Grunion not only are fun to catch but they're good to eat. One popular recipe says they should be cleaned and scaled, rolled in a mixture of flour and cornmeal to which a little salt has been added and deep fried to a golden brown. Although bony, they have a delicate flavor when they are freshly prepared Although major grunion runs will take place from early March through July, grunion fishing is banned during April and May to be sure enough survive during the peak of their spawning season.
There's is no limit, as long as you don't waste any fish, but the DFG says you do need a fishing license if you are 16 or over. The following shows the predicted times and dates of the major runs. When the time of the expected run is after midnight, the date of the night before is shown. The best runs usually occur on the second and third nights of the four-night period.
The timing of their spawning runs is dictated by the cycles of the tides and the moon. They usually run for four consecutive nights, with the beginning of each run occurring two days after a new or full moon during the highest tide of the day. During the runs the grunion come ashore on the waves. The females bury themselves tail-first in the sand to lay their eggs which are then fertilized by the sperm of a male grunion, The entire mating process takes only 15 or 20 seconds and the grunion return to the ocean on the next wave. And it’s during that short interval that grunion grabbers take part in one of the most unusual fishing scenarios possible. Since grunion can be caught only with your hands — state law forbids the use of any kind of fishing gear or other implements — activity on the beach during a run is wild and often frantic as people try to pick up the slippery fish with their bare hands.
Sometimes it’s akin to catching a greased Pig. Although grunion can be expected to run on any of the major beaches there's no guarantee they will run on every beach during every night of the predicted four-night run. Grunion not only are fun to catch but they're good to eat. One popular recipe says they should be cleaned and scaled, rolled in a mixture of flour and cornmeal to which a little salt has been added and deep fried to a golden brown. Although bony, they have a delicate flavor when they are freshly prepared Although major grunion runs will take place from early March through July, grunion fishing is banned during April and May to be sure enough survive during the peak of their spawning season.
There's is no limit, as long as you don't waste any fish, but the DFG says you do need a fishing license if you are 16 or over. The following shows the predicted times and dates of the major runs. When the time of the expected run is after midnight, the date of the night before is shown. The best runs usually occur on the second and third nights of the four-night period.
March 4— 12:02 to 2:02 a.m.
March 5— 12:33 to 2:33 a.m.
March 17 — 11:08 to 1:08
March 18 — 11:50 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.
March 19 — 12:39 a.m. to 1:39 a.m.
March 20 —l:36 a.m. to 3:36 a.m.
By Reg Reynolds
March 11, 1976
During March you will see a big improvement in surf fishing. Large schools of barred perch start moving into the surf from the Rincon Beach up to Goleta pier. They don't miss the date of the 15th for showing up, and the perch weighing up to three and four pounds will be close to shore where they spew out millions of young. At that time you should see hundreds of seals patrolling the surf and feeding on these fish.
Years ago the perch came in so heavy that fishing for them could catch two or three every time one cast out a fresh anchovie, shrimp, clam, or mackerel bait. Where the pier once stood at Carpinteria the left side was so heavy with schools of perch that everyone fishing off that side quickly filled their sacks within a half hour. Those days I guess are gone forever, but like all true fishermen, we can hope. All along the sandy beach directly in front of the State Park was a swell spot to try your luck at high tide. Not only perch are close to shore but you will find some large size halibut out about 300 feet from shore.
Casting out a fresh or salted anchovie you are apt to hook one of these flatsides. Are they ever good eating, caught fresh and filleted, then fried to a golden brown and eaten with French fries! Another good spot to try is off the rocks at Serena Beach at high tide. This spot has always been my favorite spot to fish. I have caught thousands of large perch in the years I had my tackle shop. Now is the time when the ocean isn't too rough to troll from you boat for halibut all along this fine beach down to the causeway on the Rincon. If you are interested in salmon go out a ways about in line with the oil platforms.
One year I fished off the seawall on Ortega Hill at Summerland. I limited up on barred perch along with two large corbina. The next time I tried ! hooked a 30-pound halibut. I also hooked a 5-foot blue shark that gave me a hard battle until he cut my line with his tail.
---------------------------------------------------------Years ago the perch came in so heavy that fishing for them could catch two or three every time one cast out a fresh anchovie, shrimp, clam, or mackerel bait. Where the pier once stood at Carpinteria the left side was so heavy with schools of perch that everyone fishing off that side quickly filled their sacks within a half hour. Those days I guess are gone forever, but like all true fishermen, we can hope. All along the sandy beach directly in front of the State Park was a swell spot to try your luck at high tide. Not only perch are close to shore but you will find some large size halibut out about 300 feet from shore.
Casting out a fresh or salted anchovie you are apt to hook one of these flatsides. Are they ever good eating, caught fresh and filleted, then fried to a golden brown and eaten with French fries! Another good spot to try is off the rocks at Serena Beach at high tide. This spot has always been my favorite spot to fish. I have caught thousands of large perch in the years I had my tackle shop. Now is the time when the ocean isn't too rough to troll from you boat for halibut all along this fine beach down to the causeway on the Rincon. If you are interested in salmon go out a ways about in line with the oil platforms.
One year I fished off the seawall on Ortega Hill at Summerland. I limited up on barred perch along with two large corbina. The next time I tried ! hooked a 30-pound halibut. I also hooked a 5-foot blue shark that gave me a hard battle until he cut my line with his tail.
By Reg Reynolds
March 18, 1976
For the many year's that the old Carpinteria pier stood, the mouth of Carpinteria Creek on both sides of the pier was noted for its fine surf fishing. I have fished off the right of the pier, and looked down in the clear water, and have seen hundreds of large corbina swimming in the surf not more than 20 feet from shore. At that time, the fish were not striking due to the clear water-Waiting until the surf sanded up nearly everyone started catching corbina. While off the left side, was a spot where the large barred perch were found. When they started striking on-fresh and salted anchovies, everyone caught their limit of fish. It was sure a funny thing how both kinds of fish chose a certain side of the pier to be striking from. It might have been because sand crabs were plentiful along the sandy beach.
The old pier was sure noted for its excellent fishing. It was a shame they had to tear it down when they did. Now one can fish off the surf directly in front of the State Park and catch both the fish mentioned above. By using a large wire leader hook, baited with a fresh anchovie, one can occasionally catch a large halibut by casting far out. These flatsides start migrating over from their island home in March, and take up their new home in the surf, all the way from the Rincon Hill up to Gaviota pier. I have landed some large ones where Sandy-land beach, is situated, along with many kinds of sand sharks.
My landlady's brother, when he was younger, fished at this spot and on a 20 pound test nylon line and a 20 pound test surf hook, hooked and landed large stingaree that I judged would weight 100 pounds. a I don't know how he pulled it up on the surf, but he did. He sure loved fishing.
---------------------------------------------------------The old pier was sure noted for its excellent fishing. It was a shame they had to tear it down when they did. Now one can fish off the surf directly in front of the State Park and catch both the fish mentioned above. By using a large wire leader hook, baited with a fresh anchovie, one can occasionally catch a large halibut by casting far out. These flatsides start migrating over from their island home in March, and take up their new home in the surf, all the way from the Rincon Hill up to Gaviota pier. I have landed some large ones where Sandy-land beach, is situated, along with many kinds of sand sharks.
My landlady's brother, when he was younger, fished at this spot and on a 20 pound test nylon line and a 20 pound test surf hook, hooked and landed large stingaree that I judged would weight 100 pounds. a I don't know how he pulled it up on the surf, but he did. He sure loved fishing.
By Reg Reynolds
April 08, 1976
With the grunion runs we are having all through the summer months, one can fish off all the piers, from Ventura up to Gaviota pier, and can catch some large jack smelts on tiny pieces of salted bonita. These large fish are plentiful and sure fun to catch on a size eight hook, and battle toward the side of the pier. They fight nearly as hard as large mackerel. When Carpinteria had the old pier, I caught jacksmelt 24 inches long.
Now that Carpinteria has grown so large, they should have a good pier again for the town people, and the tourists to fish from. Carpinteria has the best location along the coast for a sturdy pier, perhaps anchored to the bluffs. One hot spot right now is in front of the State Park from the tar pits up to Sandyland Beach. Large surf perch and corbina, up to five and six pounders, can now be caught on clams, mussels, shrimp and small pieces of fresh anchovies. The best time to try your luck, is about an hour before the peak of high tide. Then go down, and cast your line not more than 70 feet out from shore. That is where most of the surf fish are found, feeding on millions of sand crabs that wash in with each breaker.
This is also the time that halibut are running. Rig up your leader with a three foot nylon and 1/0 wire hook. Take an anchovie and hook the tail on the hook, and wrap a small rubber band around the bait near its head, and cast out about 100 feet from shore. The bait will float around with the tide, and that is what will attract a nice size halibut.
Now that Carpinteria has grown so large, they should have a good pier again for the town people, and the tourists to fish from. Carpinteria has the best location along the coast for a sturdy pier, perhaps anchored to the bluffs. One hot spot right now is in front of the State Park from the tar pits up to Sandyland Beach. Large surf perch and corbina, up to five and six pounders, can now be caught on clams, mussels, shrimp and small pieces of fresh anchovies. The best time to try your luck, is about an hour before the peak of high tide. Then go down, and cast your line not more than 70 feet out from shore. That is where most of the surf fish are found, feeding on millions of sand crabs that wash in with each breaker.
This is also the time that halibut are running. Rig up your leader with a three foot nylon and 1/0 wire hook. Take an anchovie and hook the tail on the hook, and wrap a small rubber band around the bait near its head, and cast out about 100 feet from shore. The bait will float around with the tide, and that is what will attract a nice size halibut.
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