i have a few questioins concerning surf fishing........primarly corbina and perch....why is the fishing always bad in small surf situations? where do the fish go when there is no surf? are they concentrated in different places? it seems like whenever its high tide and and over 3 foot the fishing is good...........but under that no way man. any info is appreciated.

Save a wave, Ride a surfer.

small surf is epic for fishing- certain DP spots only work on flat days. Put away the rods and surf if it's 3 feet plus.

where are these spots......strands? Creek? 3 arch? Doho?

Save a wave, Ride a surfer.

Higher surf and rising tides mean more sand stirred up to expose more forage and new shore being churned up as the tide rises. If surf is too big, they don't want to be thrashed so they'll slide out a bit deeper. When it's small, they are more skittish in the cleaner water, quickly swimming into the rip clouds to quickly eat and then exit. When it's small surf, look for any deeper troughs like where rip currents are washing back out--you don't need much of one to find fish in or next to it. Be mobile, if one doesn't have fish, go down the beach to the next. You may only pluck one or two from each in those conditions.

Fongster hit the nail on the head with his post...use sandcrabs for bait too...they work best. Also I agree with Bassnet...if the surf is too big to fish (bigger than 2 to 3 feet), go surfing!

ha yea well surfing is always my main priority.....but when u surf 2 times a day everyday you gotta find some fishing thanks for the help ill check out creek today

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grom, you little bastaaad- I miss the days of surfing two or three-a-days! good for you though, keep charging! fished San-O tonight on the longboard right before dark, surf was FLAT, got a nice 4 pound chunk checker right away and followed it up with a fat bellied 2+ pounder, both fish were dark and beautifully colored. Both fish ate the sardine colored FT, I'm really learning to love the 30 lb. Powerpro to tear through the vegetation. Pics to follow if I score this weekend and finish the roll. At least I found a use for the frickin' longboard! Oh yeah, don't be afraid to fish right up tight to the beach, the bass, butts and croaker (had a good sleigh ride last week at strands from Mr. Croaker) are found closer then you think.

Oh yeah, Remington (AKA WSB Iron Boy after last weekend's Ventura run & one of the most polished right handed tuberiders in DP) nailed 8 corbs at Gravels Saturday on the crabs, no lunkers but 8 corbs is pretty impressive! The Hot Corner should be good to go with this lack of surf and the dirty kelp that it brings- Wednesday night corb fest for those interested!

wow...i hit gravels up yesterday and and didnt get a thing. i threw crabs for a little bit and fished a grub for nothing....but i think i know why.......i went at like 430 so the tide was low....at about 530 6 things started to change...the tide got higher and the fish started hitting... like a switch or something was flipped. these fish were caught on the south side of point tho. all the perch were tiny except for one. i dont know why...maybe the area. i ended the day fishing crabs for 3 small perch. no corbina to be had. i have still yet to catch one. o well. maybe ill check out creek tonight? fihsing that is...surf is just sad right now hopefully thursday and friday will fill in. What are the best times to go right now for fishing?

Save a wave, Ride a surfer.

Grom,
Hit Gravels in the morning or evening and use the sand crabs that are holding the roe(eggs)and use 6 lb test on your leader as well. Trying to beach a grumpy corbina on anything lighter in test is a real pain in the arse! The corb fishing will only get better as the water temp improves........

Kelly, sounds like you had an AWESOME day at Gravels...congratulations! I fished gravels today in the late afternoon for only a few dink perch. Lots of sandcrabs though! Unfortunately, there was way too much kelp that messed up the fishing! If only the darn weeds will go away!? Haven't surfed in over 2 months...will we ever get a swell?

tomorrow evening and friday we should have some waves

Save a wave, Ride a surfer.

Remington and I got the white stripe as guys got some fun lefts at Middles and point- no love from the fish at all- Strands Point was packed with refugees not carrying licenses, ouch. Should have surfed, couple of barrels at Creek, surf looked fun. Had to cringe watching a guy on a really racey left try to bust an air and kook it on a beautiful section, learn to turn on a rail before you start to fly.

Chris, bummer on the "white stripe" but that's how the corbina fishing can go sometimes! Surf has picked up some along with the crowds! If it continues to pick up...I may get out there. I was at the harbor and saw 3 Corbs along the boat docks searching every hole and crevice in the cement for crabs. All looked over 3 pounds...I doubt they would bite a hook though!

Fished strands yesterday as well and caught a shark of some sort, two perch, and had some other fish on.....it was really dark thats all i know....he broke me off right before i got him in.
i surfed gravels today....low tide was fun with makable sections....high tide ruined it so when i lost my board i just bodysurfed the shorebreak close outs....tomorrow moring should be fun. i bet the fishing was good today too.

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On the surfing and fish...shark probably was a smoothhound or leopard. Not sure what broke you off though? Gravels looked fun today...some good ones coming through at point too, but a little inconsistent. Keep those posts coming in too!

GOOD SURF DAY, i surfed from 615-815, 1145-1(lunch), and 3-430.....the surf is big right now....the morning was alot of fun on the steep take offs and the occasional walled rights. super gnarly in some cases....tomorrow should be better but two times the 909ers, i well all you can do is snake them.....anyone fish today or yesterday?

Save a wave, Ride a surfer.

Grom, the surf is too big and too much kelp at gravels to fish. Surfed yesterday afternoon there...caught some fun ones but the high tide shut it down some(Bassnet and Remington are locals there as well as myself). It did look fun in the morning though, but I couldn't get out...must be nice to surf 3 times a day!

Serious...surfing 3 times a day is key....i surfed strands this morning and in the after noon.....crowd was light, water was warm, waves were muy bien in the morning but badly shaped in the afternoon.....tomorrow morning might be fun tho...

Save a wave, Ride a surfer.