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Top Calfishing.com Saltwater Fishing in California topic #14640
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Subject: "San Diego Bay Open" Previous topic | Next topic
Team StriperMon Jan-26-09 10:42 AM
Member since Oct 21st 2001
346 posts
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#14640, "San Diego Bay Open"


  

          

My morning started at 1:30 am in order to make it down to San Diego in time to be one of the last 20 or so boats to launch for this grand event. '09 was the 2nd year Karl & I have fished the SD Bay Open tournament but both of us had each previously fished it one time prior with different partners. Our goal was to improve on last years 10 place finish, but being a single event in unfamiliar water we approach this event with a "swing for the fences & have fun fishing the way we want to fish" attitude.

Until a 4 pounder quickly finds his way into the livewell:

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/521/medium/192.jpg

This fish was the only re-bite all day & made the difference in our final weight, we attribute this bite to the Uni Goop. That fish had a taste & couldn't resist coming back for more, a rarity when burning large baits in cold water.

Another good fish missed, then another landed & it's game on once again!
After a lull we were about to move then get another missed solid bite, kept us there for bit but nothing else. Made a move to some nice looking water that just wasn't producing a bite, as we were about to move "last cast", we both missed bites. Spent the next couple hours picking away with a few flurries but had one smaller fish we just couldn't cull. When we finally did, maybe upgrading an ounce or 2, it started to sink in that our small fish was close to 2.5. A good sign!

At this point we know we are 1 good fish away from wrapping this event up, then it happened!
Very solid, heavy bite & the fish digs hard, I pull back even harder. That's when the headshakes started & I call for a gaff. Initially disappointed but it didn't take long to think of the upcoming Super Bowl BBQ, I hear seabass goes well with lobster?

http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/502/medium/WSB2.jpg
35"

We seem to get a few white's a year on the Hammer's but the one common trait with seabass bi-catch is it ALWAYS happens when the bait is freshly lathered with the goop!

Our day was pretty much over by 9 am but we were very happy with what we had in the tank but couldn't help thinking of some of those heavy missed bites.

The event was a huge party & a good time was had by all!
The SWBA/Uni Goop booth's seemed the place to be with a constant flow of knuckle heads coming through. Thanks again to all involved in putting together this massive event & all the sponsors that make these things possible. The food, beer, prizes, trophies & goop were all flowing.





  

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Replies to this topic
RE: San Diego Bay Open, Mattlures, Jan 26th 2009, #1
RE: San Diego Bay Open, Team Striper, Jan 27th 2009, #2
      RE: San Diego Bay Open, Mattlures, Jan 27th 2009, #3
           RE: San Diego Bay Open, Team Striper, Jan 27th 2009, #4
                RE: San Diego Bay Open, Mattlures, Jan 28th 2009, #5
                     RE: San Diego Bay Open, Team Striper, Jan 28th 2009, #6

MattluresMon Jan-26-09 07:47 PM
Member since Jan 25th 2007
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#14641, "RE: San Diego Bay Open"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Did you guys weigh in a limit of calicos or just that 1 fatty?
Congrtas on 2nd place that is a very strong finish. I fished it also and had vessel assist tow me in early. We got about 1 hr of fishing in before we were done. Finished in 23. I was disapointed. We were on them good in prefish and were were getting them untill we died. I just wish they would have this Tourny twice a year.

www.mattlures.com

  

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Team StriperTue Jan-27-09 09:19 AM
Member since Oct 21st 2001
346 posts
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#14642, "RE: San Diego Bay Open"
In response to Reply # 1


  

          

Thanks, we're stoked!
Bummer to hear about you having to get towed in, that sucks especially when your on 'em.
23rd with only an hour of fishing is impressive, your disappointment is very understandable. It's very frustrating when things beyond your control come into play during a tournament.
I'd be down to fish that bay twice a year, quite a fishery. Do you fish there often? Much other SW? Do you fish any of the Bad A$$ lures you make in the salt?
If you like that tournament I can guarantee you'd get hooked on the SWBA, first event of the '09 series is coming up Feb. 7th in Newport Bay for Spotties only.

All we caught was calico's & that seabass, had 2 good ones like that for 8 lbs, 3 sportcoats made up the other 7.5 lbs.





  

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MattluresTue Jan-27-09 01:05 PM
Member since Jan 25th 2007
521 posts
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#14643, "RE: San Diego Bay Open"
In response to Reply # 2


  

          

Thats cool. Your one of the few teams that have done good with calicos. You almost won it with them. I have fished for them in prefish but I get bigger sandies.
I have fished that tournament the last 8 or 9 years and 23rd is the worst finish we have had. We cant seem to win it but we are almost always in the top 10. I dont fish my freashwater baits in the bay, but I do make my own saltwater baits and some are different than anything on the market. I dont plan on selling them either :-)
I will check out SWBA. I would like to fish more tourny's. That is the only one I have ever fished. I have never even fished a freshwater T

www.mattlures.com

  

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Team StriperTue Jan-27-09 02:20 PM
Member since Oct 21st 2001
346 posts
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#14644, "RE: San Diego Bay Open"
In response to Reply # 3


  

          

That bay really is amazing, so much going on, so much structure to learn, fish everywhere.
Sounds like you guys have it pretty wired, those are very consistent finishes esp. considering how large/experienced the field is.

You really should check out an SWBA event, quite a few freshwater tournament converts. Very cool group of low key people, not an ego driven series by any means.

As sweet as your FW baits are I must admit to being more than a little curious about the SW stuff your holding out on :)

Pretty cool of you to support the event as well, I noticed those sweet lead heads in the goodie bag had your name on them, Thanks!





  

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MattluresWed Jan-28-09 12:55 AM
Member since Jan 25th 2007
521 posts
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#14645, "RE: San Diego Bay Open"
In response to Reply # 4


  

          

I looked at the schedule and most of the event are far away. Can you just fish 1 tourny with out signing up? Probably not, but If you could I might try their events that are held down here.
The baits I make for salt vary. I have a swimbait that is similar to premium brands like Hammer,Mc and Fishtraps that are rounded on top and have all the fins. They are hand poured and fit up realy nice with my heads. Then I have 3 custom very differnt baits that Are not seen by the fish except by me and my partner and my partner team, who placed 6th. I just started experimenting this last year with these strange baits and I am liking the results.
Your 2nd place finish is something to be proud of. I am jelous as I have not finished that high. I have 2 4ths and a 5th and a few more top tens but I have not made the top 3. Very impresive you did it on calicos. Had you known where to go after the morning calico bite you could have won. Prety darn impresive for fishing away from home.

www.mattlures.com

  

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Team StriperWed Jan-28-09 04:34 PM
Member since Oct 21st 2001
346 posts
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#14646, "RE: San Diego Bay Open"
In response to Reply # 5


  

          

Yes you do have to sign up to fish any of the SWBA events, covers their insurance.

Very cool to hear about having success with your own creations, thinking outside the box (along with obvious talent) explains your consistent good finishes. Def. an impressive record.

Thanks again for the kind words Matt!





  

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