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!).

Ventura Pier 05-15-2012

Hit up Ventura Pier from about 1:30 PM till 10:30 PM. Set up shop with the crab net in my usual spot baited with the usual menagerie of junk this time consisting of mackerel, sardines, whitefish head and rock fish head. Crabbing was off the charts all day. Ended up keeping twenty something rock crabs (red, yellow and rock) and two spider crabs, one if which was the biggest caught to date for me. Fishing wise you could have all the queenfish you could ever possibly want if that is your thing (I caught and released all fish caught on the day). Didn't see much else, except for a large smelt and a few sand sharks caught by others shortly before leaving. Birds were diving and dolphins were around the pier, but I never saw any baitfish anywhere on the pier. Guess the bait is hanging out just outside the pier. I forgot to bring a sabiki so I made one from crappie jigs I had in my tackle box which worked just fine.

Hobson Beach & Ventura Pier 01/02/2012

So finally decided to get out around 11:00 A.M. and had a trip to a local area near Hobson Beach to harvest some muscles while I still can and just as I pulled up to my location, got a text from my parents that they were camping at Hobson. I quickly proceeded to their campsite to hang out for a while. I then went back to my location and harvested my allotment of muscles and then went back to Hobson for a short 15 minute perch session. No takers on sand crabs. I then took the parents to Andria’s Seafood Restaurant in Oxnard for a heaping helping of the best fish and chips around. After dropping them back at their campsite I proceeded to Ventura Pier for a short crabbing session. Crabbed at the end for about 2 1/2 hours and ended up with 11 keeper red and rock crabs. Lots of shorts and lots of poachers out at the pier unfortunately. One group even clawed the poor things and tossed em back defenseless right before leaving. I hope they get shellfish poisoning! Shameful! Only saw three queenfish caught all night by the people fishing. Been very slow fishing wise out at the end, so I did not even bring a pole on this trip. So muscles and crab for dinner tonight! Cooked the crab when I got home last night and will steam the muscles when I get home tonight (I am purging them of sand right now). All and all a great day and beautiful weather. I'll put up some pics later.