Planned a all day striperthon on Tuesday. Clear day and windy as heck. Huge waves. Nothing going in the morning but around 2PM a bunch of birds start working just north of mussel, so I go charging down the hill. I saw some fish busting out in front of the rocks so I started fishing in the first stretch of sand in front of the rocks. Bad idea. After a few casts I glanced down at my reel to make sure I was winding the line evenly. When I looked up a huge wave was bearing down on me. I didn't have room to back up because of the rocks and got completely wiped out. I was under water for about 4-5 seconds but luckily didn't get sucked out. My tackle bag with my digital camera DID. It washed to shore two waves later. My camera was double wrapped in plastic bags but still managed to get water on it. I waited around for another half hour but only a few fish were caught so I took off for home. My reel was so full of sand I couldn't have fished anyway.

And yep, the worst part was that the stripers ran on both sides of mussel rock that evening. Wide open bites at the Apartments and Center hole. Mostly 15-20 pound fish with lots over on the Apartments run, too.

Grrrrrrrr.... Back at it this afternoon.

Nico

Dude, be careful out there, that's the real deal ocean.
Glad to hear you didn't get swept out.
Sorry to hear you missed the good run.

Sorry about the camera too. Like Swimbait said Stay Safe! The ocean will kill you if it can. Have you thought about wading with a life vest on? I have after taking a step too many at Zmudowski and having to fight my way to the surface over my Neoprenes which wanted to float me head down, feet up. I haven't done it yet, but it is an idea.
Stay at it too. I got my striper at Middle hole, as I was about to call it Nap time.

Tight lines,
Wade

Although I definitley have a lot more respect for roguish waves I don't really think I was in danger of being swept out that time.

Was out today all afternoon. No runs. No false runs. I didn't even see a bird dive all day. Just sat at the parking lot and BS'ed for 8 hours. At least I don't have to clean my waders and reel tonight. Stupid fish gotta be hungry tomorrow.

Nico

Or the next day-JINX ;-)
You'll get em eventually. In the mean time are you going to Pinto?

Tight lines,
Wade

Nicolo - I'm a little new to this whole striper thing myself, I grew up fishing ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams in the Midwest. How long do you expect good surf striper fishing to last into the fall? August? September?

Also, does anyone out here ever try night fishing? I just read a book called "Striper Surf" by an East Coast striper aficionado and he claims that's the best and only time to be fishing for stripers in the surf...

Pura vida,
Mark

I know at least one old timer who thinks Tuesday's run was the last one for the year. Typically the big runs end in late July/Early August. But anything could happen. I'm going to give it another week or so.

Sunset/Sunrise and night are the best time for blind casting. I avoid blind casting if possible.

Fished again this afternoon. Perfect conditions. Water looks fabulous. As calm a day as you could want and not too foggy, not too clear. Water had great color. Zero bait though and the stripers followed it wherever it went.

Nico

i don't personally know how good the run is in the fall, but the happy hooker, the boat that fishes the beaches, usually only runs down there in the summer. so i guess its not worth the gas for him to run from berkley to pacifica in the fall.

I might be wrong, it's been 12+ years, but don't they migrate into the bay at this time? I seem to remember casting from Fort Pt for Stripers in Aug. and Sept.. I think in Sept. and Oct. we fished from a boat around Angle Island.

Tight lines,
Wade