BOLSA CHICA BONANZA!

From the first cast, the Barred Surfperch were slammin' the 2" Berkley Camo Sandworms! By the way, if you've been experimenting with different sizes and colors of Gulp Saltwater worms, the aforementioned style are the BOMB!!

While most people seem to used the six or seven-inchers, pinching off a small chunk, the ready-made two's, don't ask me why, are the TICKET!!

By the way, as usual, these perch, including one over 12" (slightly over 3#) and three better than 9", were given to my neighbor with nearly as many kids. Other than that, it's strictly Catch, Photograph and Release! (late June, 2010; near Tower 21)

LITE LINE!

Sure, most fish in the surf zone aren't "line shy", but if you use anything above 6#, you'll take ALL THE FUN out of it! By the same token, I see no profit in utilizing super expensive exotic leader material, either! Most of my fish, including the notoriously "line shy" Corbina have been hooked and landed on good old Trilene 6# with a green tint. Now granted, if you're lucky enough to hook up with a "barn door" California Halibut, say over 10#, y0u may be in some trouble! But what the heck, remember, it's fishing, NOT catching:-)

Nice Day at Bolsa Chica State Beach

Yellowfin Croaker (1), Barred Surf Perch (6)

Not bad for about two hours of "work", and thanks to my good ole standby Berkley GULP Saltwater Sandworm (Natural)!!

By the way, keep ONLY what you can eat (these were given to a neighbor with a bunch of kids), and RELEASE the REST!

Tackle Tips

In preparation for this blog, I've read most of the material, including other surf fishing blogs, I could get my hands on. The result of my research has been both enlightening and frightening. Many of the guys I've read seem to lean toward the expensive side of the tackle equation. Well, okay, but I have a wife and a BUDGET, so expensive is pretty much out of the question. And what I've learned after close to 20 years of fishing in the Southern California surf zone is that top of the line tackle is not only too costly, but completely unnecessary!

To be frank, I don't have an outfit (rod and reel) that cost more than $100. In fact, my latest acquisition set me back, line included, is comprised of a Diawa REGAL 2000 XIA reel ($55), Shimanu STS 70M2 7'.0" rod ($23), and 135 yards of Trilene XL 6# ($4.35), and for me that's a little on the 'ritzy' side! The setup I get the biggest kick out of was one that I originally purchased in pursuit of trout. It consists of a Quantum Xtra-Lite S-3 reel (about $45), Tahoe GTX-7 super lite action 5'6" rod and approximately 100 yds. of Trilene 4# (it's been a while since I bought it, but total cost was about $65).