Gaviota Pier Damage Pictures 03-25-2014

On the way back home my buddy and I decided to take a quick detour to see the extent of the damage from the storms earlier in the month. Below are the pics I took plus a Google Maps screenshot showing how the pier looked before the storm. No fishing this time, but sad to see a pier I fished often as a child in disrepair. As of this writing (actually written 05-25-2014) it is still closed. I kept meaning to stop by and fish it too, but just kept cruising on by. Hopefully it will be fixed and re-opened soon...but if it involves the State, you know it will not likely be soon unfortunately.

Malibu Pier Fishing 06-10-2012

Went to Malibu pier with my buddy Brian. We got there around 11 AM or so and didn't see much going on up the pier. We set up shop near the end on the right and waited. To start I had one line in with two circle hooks and the other I had set up trolly rig style. Brian had one single dropper loop and one with a sabiki. I tried sabiki as well later on. Got some taps on it, but nothing that stuck. VERY slow all day. Brian caught one bullhead and I caught some sun and a few nice ladies in short shorts, lol. Only action I saw all day on pier was two spider crabs poached via sabiki, three pacific mackerel and one medium to small bat ray without a tail which I helped them land with the crab net I brought as a landing net. I know this pier is usually slow, but this was just dead. Left around 6 PM. Next time I plan to hit this pier I hope I go back to this post so I see - DON'T DO IT!

Crabbing and Fishing Ventura Pier 05-25-2012

Met up with Brian at about 7:15 AM and headed for the pier. Started fishing and crabbing at around 8:00 A.M. There were a few other anglers around most catching queenfish / herring on sabikis. We set up shop at the end and I placed the crab net in my usual spot. Fishing was fairly constant on the sabiki lines we used catching what they call tiny 7-11 perch, decent sized walleye perch and queenfish / herring. Buddy and I both tried shark rigs (him the whole time, me only when I got tired of using the sabiki rod) with live bait but no takers on those either. Gave some of our perch to the locals to try for sharks, no love for them either. Crabbing was spectacular as usual. I ended up getting 23 keeper red, yellow and rock crabs. I gave five away to these two younger fellows (I think they were around 17) who were camping with their family somewhere close and wanted some to boil up. They were pretty nice kids and I had plenty so I spread the wealth a little. We left at around 2:00 PM as the wind and swell was getting progressively worse (the crabbing also slowed as the swell got bigger). Good day on the pier hanging with my buddy and checking out the local scenery (love them hot days!).

Redondo Sportsfishing (Short) Pier 05-10-2012

Fished the short pier today from about 7:30 AM till 2:00 PM. My main goal was to hopefully stock up on Sardines for bait, but didn't see any all day. Morning started out very slow, don't think I caught my first fish until about 3 hours in. I was fishing one rod with a double dropper with squid and sardine as bait and a sabiki rod with small chunks of mackerel. Finally caught a 12" or so mackerel around 10:30 or so on the sabiki rod. Tried out different baits on the droppers (mackerel, smelt and a small sand dab I caught as live bait) but did not get anything on it all day. Caught a humongous smelt (I did not measure it before I chopped it up for bait, but I think it was at least 17") a half dozen medium to large pacific mackerel and one medium sized Spanish mackerel. Pretty slow day for this pier, but still had a good time!

No fish pics this time, just a couple shots of the harbor.

PFIC Catalina GTG 04/28/2012

This was the first year I attended the annual PFIC Catalina Get Together, and it was great fun. Day started super early Saturday morning with me leaving the house at 3:00 A.M. to drive and pick up my friend John in Whittier and get to the landing in time. After the wife dropped us off we waited for the boat and watched a huge school of sardines moving around inside the harbor. After a smooth boat ride over we arrived on the island at around 7:30 A.M. and set up shop in the SE corner of the Mole. Fishing started out pretty good with John catching a nice sculpin and whitefish and I caught a whitefish. Once the other PFIC people stared showing up around 10:00 A.M. we mingled a little meeting everyone and then the fishing derby started at 10:30 A.M.. Caught a 14" calico bass and a small rock fish (I think it was Boccaccio, but I am not sure) during the derby (I could have slaughtered the derby by catching my limit of pacific and spanish mackerel and blacksmiths and other assorted small fish, but being my first derby I did not want to show off, lol.). John caught a short calico during the derby. After lunch provided by a PFIC member (Gudude is the families PFIC handle I believe) and raffle trophies were given out  to the winners in each division (I got an "Awesome Angler trophy) and back to fishing we went. Caught a ton of small fish the rest of the day while watching schools of sardines, mackerels and other bait fish swim by, there was even a small school of juvenile squid cruising around.

All and all a GREAT day spent with AWESOME people on the best Island around for fishing.

Some fish and other pics below (I will add more when others post them on PFIC):