Fished yesterday at Oceanside Harbor and reaped a few short Halibut and Calicos on Swimbaits without any significant note.

However I caught the largest Kelp Fish that I have ever seen on a 3" kei lime hammer which he totally destroyed! That bastard must have been 20".

The great news is this:


Returned today, actually this morning on an outgoing tide at around 10:00 a.m. with overcast skies and about a 5mph wind out of the west water temp about 60 and WHAW!!

Fishing swimbaits of various colors, I started nailing the big Spotted Bay Bass. In a span of 90 minutes I grounded 8 of these puppies 7 legal. Smallest one was 14". Largest was 18"! Was he a toad!! I found a place where there is smooth sand , bordering rock and nice kelp and eel grass. Always happens on a Sunday!

Gotta wait another week to go back because work gets in the way. More reports from Oceanside to follow as Summer approaches.

Tight Lines!

P.S.

Caught all these puppies
on light gear.

Shimano 4000 Sahara Spinning reel
Shimano Charrus 7'6" Grafite Rod
Maxima 6lb test line
3" swimbaits with 3/16 to 1/4 leadheads.
Shimano Charrus Grafite 7'6"

You don't by any chance have a picture of that kelp fish do you? I like to see (and perhaps post) pictures of unusual fish caught on Hammers.

I have been catching Kelpfish (largest being 17") off of Goleta pier using swimbaits. They are a blast to catch and hit so hard. But after that they remind me of a grass rockfish and roll over and play dead. If I catch another this week I will take a picture.
Rudy.

>You don't by any chance have a picture of that kelp fish do
>you? I like to see (and perhaps post) pictures of unusual
>fish caught on Hammers.


Leapin Bass,

I didn't take a picture. Since I usually catch and release I'm going to start taking a camera with me if for nothing more than to lose those "looks" when I brag about my day. ( I think every angler can identify with that one!)

Maybe Rude Dog can help us out. Bye the way, those Spottie Bass I caught were all released.

Tight Lines

Aztecwin