has anyone fished zuma beach? what species would be good to target in this area? and what technique and setup would be the most productive? i primarily fish off shore but would like to pick up surf fishing. i used to surf fish there with my dad when i was a wee lad and i remember all we ever caught was yellowfin croakers and shovelnosed guitarfish on sandcrabs. any information would help.

fished zuma on sunday. there's a bait shop that i know of that used to sell sandcrabs but got nailed for selling them without a permit. no sandcrabs anymore. we bought some clam and headed out. caught yellowfin croaker and surf perch on sandcrabs that we dug up at the beach and a smelt on clam. not sure what to make of this beach though. saw some diving pelicans right behind the waves. does that mean anything?

The diving pelicans means there is lots of bait in the water (probably smelt or anchovies)...might be good for trying for halibut. I havent fished Zuma, but if you can find sand crabs, you will probably catch perch, croaker, corbina, and small sharks.

LAST EDITED ON Sep-04-01 AT 01:59 PM (PST)

what are the most productive methods for fishing halibut from the surf? if using plastics, what colors? if irons, what kind? crocodile?

Hey yellowtail, I normally fish for perch and corbina down south with sandcrabs and dont fish specifically for halibut(I have caught a few shorts on sand crabs before). But to try for them, plastics (in grunion/smelt colors) reeled slowly in along the bottom should work. Crocodiles (and possibly "crippled herrings") along the bottom can be productive also. Good luck!

TBrumfield,
i saw your post on the san diego saltboard with the 25# shovelnose guitarfish. that was you, right? how'd it taste? i always thought they didn't taste very good.