Nph 1st Timer

[jonee523]

Hey all,

Well finally made it to the salt for the first time on the yak. I arrived at NPH back bay about 1030 and was set up and ready 1045. After finally launching I made a bee line to the back bay. On the way I was trolling a luckycraft deep diver for no love. After hitting many docks with swimbaits I finally get my first spottie and break the skunk, not to mention truly break in the new set up. I was using a BH 3" clear with red flake. Actually both my fish were caught on this lure. After catching fish #1 I switched to spinner baits, again for no love. Funny thing is I missed many fish on the spinner baits?? Oh I forgot to mention condictions were none to good either. It was windy breezy at first then windy with small swell and caps. When that started I decided to head for calmer water and parked by the PCH bridge. This is where I got spottie #2, again on the clear red flake BH. After 5 hrs on the water by now I'm calling it a day.

So now can anyone give a newbie any advise? I really enjoyed the experience and can't wait till next time.

tight lines and paddle well,

Jon

jonee523

ps. gonna try to post pics.

[cashe]

Glad you had a good day, can't help much as I'm also, learning how to fish the bays, and using lures.

[Robert]

Jon,
I would suggest hooking up with someone who fishes that area on a regular basis. That will shorten your learning curve big time. As far as the conditions
go, I'm an early morning guy. By 10:30 the wind is picking up and the sailboats
are on their way out. So is everyone else. This boat traffic can really make the water choppy and the fishing miserable. I like to hit the water around 6:00 A.M.
Usually the water is like a mirror then and it is quiet and peaceful. My favorite kind of conditions. Not only that, there is less traffic on the way down to the water. I fish San Diego Bay a lot. You are welcome to join me and my friends anytime.

Robert

[jonee523]

Robert,

Thanks for the invite, I'd like nothing better to join a veteran on the water. I have much to learn and I know that I would gain valuable experience fishing with you or others like you. I don't know your schedule but my days off vary somewhat. My next day off is thursday, if your not busy let me know if you'd like to fish. If that doesn't work PM me and we can figure something out.

Tight lines and paddle well,

Jon

jonee523

[Robert]

Jon,
My days off are Saturday and Sunday. Let's go fishing sometime.

Robert

[seatech]

NICE!!

Glad you finally got the spotties!

Just keep doing what you are doing and I think you'll start to see the patterns. Fish tight to the structures (docks, mooring cans, eel grass, etc...) and you'll pick it up.

"Usually" the spotties just hammer the spinnerbaits and don't tap them like maybe they would a swimbait/grub. Keep working the baits and you'll get one.

If you are interested in fishing Huntington Harbor one evening, during the week, let me know. I can usually get out by around 6PM and fish until just after sunset. We can pick a day when conditions are right for this place.

Ed

[jonee523]

Ed,

Thanks also for the invite, I've have never fished huntington harbor. I have heard its a great place to fish.

Jon

jonee523

[Needlefish]

I have been brought up on the plastic AA grubs and swimbaits, but I need to "adapt" to working a spinner bait more often. I usually launch at North Star Beach. Mother's Day weekend is a wash for me, but any other weekend I'm free.




I catch fish........... inspite of my best efforts

[PerryC]

Jon,
Right now the fishing schedule is helter-skelter but it should free up pretty soon for some open invites and such in the evenings and weekends. My only suggestion is sometimes we use the PM feature here for trips instead of posting it in the forums so we can keep it simpler. If you stay active in the forums, it's easier to find out about and join others on trips. If you're not very active in the forums, people figure you're busy and you may not get the invites you may be looking for. Just some food for thought,
Perry