Big Perch + Surf Halibut + no carolina-rigged grubs = FUN!

Headed down to Goleta Beach on Saturday to fish the Santa Barbara Sport Fishing Club's perch tournament. I met Mike and Larry there. Larry was in the tournament and Mike was there to target halibut. Shortly after we got to the first spot Larry and Mike took off down the beach and Daniel showed up after I made several un-successful casts with the Carolina-rigged Perch Grubs. Daniel made one cast with the 3 inch Big Hammer swimbait and nailed one of the biggest perch I've seen in a long time (about 16 inches long). After a quick picture, while I was still trying to get something to hit the grub, he nailed another one. It didn't take long for me to dump the grubs and tie on a 3 inch Hammer. Brian showed up a few minutes later and joined us in the perch massacre. Lots of big perch - all on the 3 inch swimbaits. Of course since I was fishing for a tournament I couldn't get any that were nearly the size of Daniel's but I did get enough to get me 2nd place in the tourney. Catching perch on grubs is fun and all but getting them on the swimbaits and not having to deal with a Carolina rig is about as fun as it gets.

Down the beach Larry was able to nail a few nice perch and some short halibut on the grub and Mike found several short halibut using the swimbaits. After a couple hours the perch fishing died off but the halibut bite stayed relatively steady and produced two legals (both caught by Brian). Larry and Daniel picked up a couple more large perch toward the end which shot Larry into 1st place for the perch tournament. Larry also was able to get himself a decent corbina and a few yellowfin croaker.

Headed back down today (Sunday) with Mike and this time didn't make the mistake of starting with the grubs. Within 20 minutes I had 5 fish that would've given me first place in the perch tournament with over 2 pounds to spare! If I had only pre-fished on Friday - arghhh!!!

On the first cast I got a nice line peeling perch that went about 14 or 15 inches. A couple casts later I got a full, ready to pop female that was probably pushing the 16 inch mark. Mike also got quite a few nice perch on the fly gear. Among the perch I was also able to scratch up a couple of short halibut that I was able to watch eat the swimbait as they both popped up off the bottom and struck the lure at my feet. A little later Brian, Daniel, and Daniel's dad showed up. I'm not sure what Daniel and Daniel's dad caught but Brian caught several big perch and a halibut before I had to leave.

March 19th-
I fished goleta in the afternoon starting around 2:30. I was throwing the 3 inch big hammer swim baits for the halibut. I worked really hard for nothing for the first hour. Then i noticed a halibut spook off as i took a step down the beach. I changed my casting to parallel to the beach right behind the breakers. This produced 3 fish in the next half hour before i had to leave. One was 20 one was 21 and the last was just over 22 (released). On a side not, i was using a tap rig and it didnt cause any problems. The halibut just stuck on the main hook and the trap hook was free, it didnt stick in their throat or anything.

March 20th-
Fishing for these monster perch is awesome. A few of my 16 inch perch felt bigger and fought harder than the better than legal halibut ive been getting into lately. They hit hard and pull hard. On the 19th i had 2 fish go 16" or better and 2 go 15" and 3 or 4 in the 14" range. I also had a couple other little ones that still managed to get the swimbait hook in their mouth seeing as how i wasnt fishing a trap rig. Actually, i only missed one perch on the swim bait because i got tail bit. After the perch bite died off i got 4 short halibut to 19" nothing as big as the day before though. All in all a great day. Too bad i wasnt in that perch tournament though. I probabally had a 12-14lb 5 pirch limit. Epic to say the least. Heres the pic of my first fish, my best guess is its the thired biggest fish i had that day.

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/2155.jpg


March 21st-
WOW! whered they go? I couldnt catch a perch to save my life but i guess thats fishing. Pete and mike got into them before i got there and brian got a few right next to me but i pulled a big fat skunk until i scrounged a 16" halibut. Oh well, i guess i really cant complain.:P

Were you guys using the Sea Wolf color again?

Yes and no.

On Sunday I got 2 fish on Green Sardine and the rest on Sea Wolf. I think Brian stuck to Sea Wolf also.

On Saturday we were using a multitude of colors and they all seemed to work. Blue Shad, Green Sardine, Sea Wolf, Bay Smelt, SeaChaser, Pepper Trout, Motor Oil Red. If I would've had Senorita I would've given it a shot.

This may sound like a dumb qustion guys but is Goleta Beach the one off UCSB? If it is Ill feel like a moron cuz' Ive been working there for a few months!!! DOH!!! I usually fish down the coast towards Ventura because I like to get ahead of the traffic in SB. But if thats the same beach Ill brave the traffic and chase fish after work since I can park on the jobsite by the marine biology building. Is the area by the lagoon a good place to start? Just asking because I can see that area from the jobsite. Any info would be great!

Thanks, Eric

Hey Eric,
Yeah, goleta beach is right next to ucsb. This has been my favorite and most productive beach and cove and its been my stomping ground since i was a wee lad. The area you speek of by the lagoon has been very productive for halibut (from shore and tubes) and perch and calicos (from tubes). I havnt tried that area to much this year but it wouldnt be a bad idea at all to give it a go. If you do write up a report and let us know how it is. Im going to fish goleta from the beach early in the morning then the kayak mid morning tomorow. Ill be sure to let you know how i do.
let me know if that helps or if you have any more questions
Dan

Hey Dan,
What time are you heading out in the morning. I was planning on hitting the surf in the morning and water from the tube in the afternoon. Maybe you could give me some pointers in the surf.
Later
chris

Innes,
I hear the grunion are running tonight so im going to try to get out there at 5:45 and be fishing ay grey light. Company is always welcome so feel free to head down. As far as pointers, im no expert but ill share what i know
Dan

No worries on the pointers. Are you fishing the fort at Goleta if so see you there 545Am.
chris:7

ill see you there.
Daniel

Hey Dan, Thanks for the info! Im going to try to hit that beach as soon as I can. Ill be fishing the surf down by Arco Island tomorrow or the next day. Last couple trips the monster perch have been WIDE in that area. Got great numbers on the 5-10 inchers then switched to the bigger baits and they loved em. As for Goleta Beach Ill be there Friday morning for sure about 5:45-6 til about 8:30 hopefully I can get into the hali's it would be a nice change of pace. Thanks again maybe Ill see you out there.
Eric