With Event#2 of the Big Hammer Tournament Series coming up next Saturday at Leo Carrillo, I decided to spend yesterday doing a little scouting. I have never fished Leo before but I had surfed there before, so I had an idea of what to expect.

Launched about 7:30 into small surf without incident. Just kind of headed straight out looking for kelp and structure. The rocks were obvious but it took a little while to find some kelp. Once I did the bite was good until landed around 12:30.

Started off tossing the Big Hammer ‘redrum’ 5.5 inch on a red 1 oz. head. There was quite a lot of bait around and I heard a sick boil on a bait ball behind me. Turned around a saw the area and just cast over it and started burning the bait on the surface. Picked up my first fish that way, about a 2 pounder. Worked the kelp over the standard way for 2 more small fish and then another chunky one.

I noticed that the fish were feeding on small pinhead sized chovies as they kept puking them up when I landed my fish. I switched over to a 4 inch ‘redrum’ and in the next 2 hours picked up 6 more bass to about 3.5 pounds. I also lost another good one in the kelp.

Finally the sun started to come out, so I switched over to a 5.5 inch “Pierce’s Perch’ Big Hammer. Ended up sticking another 7 Calicos on that bait to almost 4 pounds. I also had one of the sickest things, that I have seen in fresh or salt water bassing. I had cast right over the top of a big kelp stringer/paddy and I was trying not to get hung up, so I was burning the bait over the top. It was basically just bouncing out of the water on top of the kelp. It must have bounced over a hole in the kelp because all of a sudden a bass just freakin exploded out of the hole trying to get my bait. Now I have had lots of bass hit top water etc. before but this explosion was ridiculous. It moved so much water I might have thought it was a yellow tail or WSB. Maybe it was but it was a crazy explosion. I missed the fish, but proceeded to cast right next to the paddy and burn the bait on the surface and got slammed and landed 3 bass right in a row.

All baits were coated in Pro-cure ‘Krill’ flavored gel.

Hopefully the bite will stay on for next Saturday. If you want more information or to sign up for the tournament you can go to www.swimbait.com/tournament

Bryan