I went out in my kayak again to the same spot in the bay today(across from the aquarium, about 100 yds from the shore).I only got a couple hours in, but managed one halibut on the 5" fastrac. It might of been legal, but I forgot my tape so he's still swimming ,probably would've let him go anyway. I was wondering is anyone else fishing morro bay, i'd love to here some other reports. Besides everyone is probably getting sick of hearing all the morro bay news from me. So lets hear some reports, not just from morro bay but everywhere.We could really turn this mutha up.
-PHIL

I'm not gettin sick of it, keep em comin, IMO!!! I'm really getting a kick out of the spread of fastrac-mania. I think it's really cool that you guys are catchin flatties up there on the fastrac. That freakin lure just catches. Period. Can't wait till I get myself a real boat so I can really put it to the test... I smell tuna...
-Brian

Yeah that fastrac is pretty sweet. When I was out on sunday there were 3 other boats drifting live bait, only one guy caught one. I had 4 on the fastrac, they were all asking what I was using. then the next ? they asked "how ya keepin that thing on the bottom". I told them I wasn't, the hali's are coming up for it (I was in about 10 - 15' deep).They couldn't believe it.I gave them all the tips I know, and told them were I learned them calfishing.com. I have a feeling there will be a few more people checking out the site. Just doing all I can.
-PHIL

now that's pretty cool, nothing like outfishing the guys in boats from a float tube, kickboat, or kayak. I really need to get into that fastrac thing. I'm laggin !

I'm lagging too. What in the heck is a fastrac? Who makes it? Certain colors better than others, etc.?

This is a Brian and Pete question (who invented it anyway??? was it Brian I can't remember). Rebel makes them.
I think we need some advice on what hooks to use too. I forgot what you recommended Pete.

Ok, here goes the fastrac seminar again... I found out about the bait from Scott, who works at High Tide Traders in Avalon on Catalina Island. I was as skeptical as anybody who's heard that a crankbait can catch halibut, especially this one... I bought a couple and took em home, and started catchin. Paul found a couple in storage at Harbor Tackle, and he quickly sold out once the word got out. The bait is made by Rebel. I prefer the 4" bait because IMO it has a better action, but I throw the 5" one all the time and it is better sometimes. I think Pete likes the 5" (it's closer to 5.5" or something). Pete found the replacement hooks. They're made by VMC and can be ordered from this place in Canada. Pete can give details on that. As for colors, I like the black/silver. The gold also works well, but I don't throw it much. I painted one white with a red squiggle one time and broke off a seabass, so I guess it worked... I talked to this guy Gene Kira who fishes them all the time down in Baja and he said he's caught virtually every fish in baja to be caught, on a fastrac. Check out his website at www.bajadestinations.com This is also one of the few places you can order fastracs.

As for the retrieve, no weight is needed. Just a slow to medium retrieve and the halibut will come up from 25-30ft (according to Scott) to eat these things. I've had halibut and seabass both boil on em when I lift em out of the water. What we do down here is float tube in the surf and throw the fastrac right up on the beach. Literally, on the beach. TRYING to hit the sand. Then we drag it back and hold on... Give this bait a try, it's pretty killer. We've caught halibut, wsb, calicos, etc. I'm trying to figure out a way to put double hooks on it or something, so that I can try it on some albicores...
-Brian

Since I haven't been able to find any Fastracs, have you tried any other minnow type baits? Also what size have you been using?
I was wondering if my bassing gear would be good. I've already used a lot of it for rockfishing and some for Salmon.
I have a bunch of Bomber Long-A's and a few Rapala's in different sizes that a buddy told me to get for a Baja trip. I hardly used them because they worked too good. The 2 to 3 trebles attached to a hot fish can be an unneccesary caution in an inflatable boat, especially when every cast gets a 5#+ fish, and your 3 miles from shore. Boy was that fun!

Tight lines,
Wade

Bass gear's fine. I use a heavy crankbait rod. You can order the fastracs from www.bajadestinations.com.
-Brian

I'll throw in what I know about the fastrac.The color I've been using is black and silver also. I've been throwing the 5.5" because I think its easier to cast (heavier) and has a little better action than the 4.5".I ordered them from lurenet.com and it took about 2 weeks to get them, but I just found out that insidesportfishing.com has them cheaper ($4.67-4.5 $5.19-5.5).They're in california and said shipping would take 1-7 days,so that seems pretty good.And yes bass gear works fine I've been switching between my curado and an abu garcia eon on a 7'6" rod, and it seems to be working fine. Hope this helps.
-PHIL

I was checking out insidesportfishing.com and noticed that one of the manufactuers on there list is VMC. They have a saltwater lure hook kit for like $5.00.Are these the hooks you guys are talking about?I also wanted to add that I removed the front hook on some of my fastracs.They've all been hooked by the last hook anyways, and its made it easier to unhook em without worrying about that front hook.
Tommorow i'm going out again in the bay.I'll post how I do (of course).I'll be in a blue kayak, if anyone sees me give me a yell.
-PHIL

I fished 7/6 in the AM in the bay after reading your post. I tried fastrac-like lures and dead anchovies for nada- switched to squid/anchovies still fishing in the back bay for several rays and shark- they love the channels at low tide on a big swing. I guess I'll have to break down and order the real thing- fastracs

Andy