Inshore over the reef tips.

[Hillbeartoe]

I had a lot of success the last time I was down fishing from shore. However about 1 in 5 hook ups the fish locked into the reef and I would loose my rig.
Aside from swimming out to retrieve the fish and or rig what tips do you have for this scenario?
I was considering floating a bobber through the surf but didnt want to look like a child fishing at the local park. Lol.

 

[Hillbeartoe]

Awww come on now. You all telling me you have no tips for fishing over the reefs or are you afraid to admit you have used bobbers too?

 

[Mexico Joe]

Where are you fishing? What rigs are you using currently that are getting hung up?

 

[Kelney]

I was getting rocked up for the first time from shore on my last outing. Once rocked up, I gave the fish some slack and gave it a minute. Then I take up the slack yank the rod high and stark cranking. Worked every time for me. I only swim out to save a lure.

 

[Hillbeartoe]

I have fished various spots from where the old Aquarium was, in front of Playa Del Oro down to the old boat launch closest to Manny's . And also directly behind Comp hill down from sandy beach.
I guess it would be called a drop loop surf rig. Weight at the bottom with either 1 or 2 hooks drop looped roughly 2 feet from weight.

 

[Hillbeartoe]

I was getting rocked up for the first time from shore on my last outing. Once rocked up, I gave the fish some slack and gave it a minute. Then I take up the slack yank the rod high and stark cranking. Worked every time for me. I only swim out to save a lure.

That worked a couple time for me too.

 

[jmcdtucson]

You can fish a shallow running crankbait like a Rapala. That's what I do. Bait runs about 6-8 ft., water is 10-15 ft so no hangups. You'll need one that will cast far - maybe an X-Rap.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Try this Hill Bear...........

If you are using bait like shrimp, squid, snails, limpets, canned corn or peas, etc. on drop looped hooks with a weight on the bottom, it's almost always the weight that gets hung up on the rocks, not the fish. Try using a "sacrificial" weight like old lug nuts, bolts or whatever it takes to sling the bait out to the fish zone. Use a length of lightweight mono from the weight to the end of your drop loop. As soon as you get some action and you think that you are "rocked" just give your rig a swift stroke and the weight will break off and then it's just you and the fish. Another trick that Trigger's really don't like is to do some "strummin" on your line. As soon as you think the Trigger has locked himself under a rock, pull your rod up tight and strum on your line a few times then drop the rod and let all of the tension off. I think that the Trigger thinks that the line has snapped and then he comes out of his hidey-hole a free fish. The instant you feel any action, yank the little shit off the bottom and reel him in like crazy. I usually strum them the theme from "JAWS" and I think it really scares the crap out of them! Especially since Triggers are the favorite food of Reef Sharks.

As for using floating bobbers, they do work depending on the conditions. I used bobbers to haul in shit loads of tasty little surf perch off of the wave swept rocks at Laguna Beach back in the 60's and yes, I was a kid then.

JJ

 

[Kenny]

Try this Hill Bear...........
As for using floating bobbers, they do work depending on the conditions. I used bobbers to haul in shit loads of tasty little surf perch off of the wave swept rocks at Laguna Beach back in the 60's and yes, I was a kid then.
JJ

Used to fish and free dive (Hawaiian sling) off the rocks on both side's of Crescent bay in Laguna in the 60's and early 70's... We had a lot of fun diving off of shit rock too, until the kicked us off.

 

[Hillbeartoe]

Cool, thanks for the tips folks. We are hoping to be back down in February. This next time down I dont care what anyone else is doing.
I need fishes. Lol.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Used to park my V-Dub Bus up there and haul my longboard down to the beach with a mask, snorkel and a mesh laundry bag in hand.

I'd paddle out to those rocks and in short order have a bag full of Spiny Lobsters. I'd take em back up to the bus, whip out my Coleman stove and have a feast right there on the street.

No one ever surfed or free dived with a wetsuit in those days. Guess we need to blame it all on Global Warming since now days no one in their right mind would get in that 50 to 60 degree water without a wetsuit.

JJ

 

[Hillbeartoe]

Used to park my V-Dub Bus up there and haul my longboard down to the beach with a mask, snorkel and a mesh laundry bag in hand.

I'd paddle out to those rocks and in short order have a bag full of Spiny Lobsters. I'd take em back up to the bus, whip out my Coleman stove and have a feast right there on the street.

No one ever surfed or free dived with a wetsuit in those days. Guess we need to blame it all on Global Warming since now days no one in their right mind would get in that 50 to 60 degree water without a wetsuit.

JJ

I wish I wasn't so afraid of diving. I mean I love the water and everything about whats in it.
You have done some things I would love to do, just bust out right there on the beach. Very cool.

 

[ckyevanjay]

I have lost 100s of weights bottom fishing from the shore (drop shot style rig). I ended up switching from the pyramid sinker to a round flat sinker which gets hung up way less since it does not have any pointy edges that can get hung up on. If you are losing lures thats a different story but I seem to have become good at getting them back when i do get hung up. Even if i lose them I wait for the tide to go out and go on a manhunt for it hoping it didnt get buried or swept away.

I have been rocked up a few times from the shore or while fishing waist deep in the water and it has always been bigger rock bass. I just move/walk left to right and give them slack every now and then and try to get them to make the first move out of the rocks. Those are the few times i have caught legitimate sized rock bass. If a fish rocks me up from the shore its time to get excited!

 

[PintoPoint]

I have used spark plugs for weights for surf fishing for many years. They are cheap. I just close the spark gap and add a swivel.

 

[Wood Spinner]

Yes to all of the above. I am using the torpedo sinkers either drop shot or mid line with a 3 ft leader. I buy the torpedos with loops on each end. With each end you can remove a leader and replace the sinker in just a few seconds. Loop the sinker to the leader and then use a clip on the line to atach the sinker. I seldom loose anytrhing.
I believe that it is the sinker that gets rocked up.

 

[asprinkles]

So that's why I see so many spark plugs while I"m snorkeling. and I thought the car rusted away and left the spark plugs behind. In lobos if you go out by the light house and snorkel you will see hundreds of spark plugs. someone is changing out a lot of plugs

 

[Hillbeartoe]

I have lost 100s of weights bottom fishing from the shore (drop shot style rig). I ended up switching from the pyramid sinker to a round flat sinker which gets hung up way less since it does not have any pointy edges that can get hung up on. If you are losing lures thats a different story but I seem to have become good at getting them back when i do get hung up. Even if i lose them I wait for the tide to go out and go on a manhunt for it hoping it didnt get buried or swept away.

I have been rocked up a few times from the shore or while fishing waist deep in the water and it has always been bigger rock bass. I just move/walk left to right and give them slack every now and then and try to get them to make the first move out of the rocks. Those are the few times i have caught legitimate sized rock bass. If a fish rocks me up from the shore its time to get excited!

Yeah I always go back and look for traces of my line or weights or anything once the tide is out. You would figure using glowing yellow fluorocarbon you would see a trace of it or something.
Lots of good ideas for the next trip down.
Ty all for sharing your tips and experience.

 

[Mexico Joe]

So that's why I see so many spark plugs while I"m snorkeling. and I thought the car rusted away and left the spark plugs behind. In lobos if you go out by the light house and snorkel you will see hundreds of spark plugs. someone is changing out a lot of plugs

I don't know that I could snorkle right around the lighthouse Leigh. That water was so clear last year that it almost spooked me out a little. You could see every peak and valley beneath and I'm sure there are some BIG whatevers hiding down there... Not sure why I was so paranoid while I was out there... maybe it was all that weed I was smoking???? Well, VAPING I mean.

 

[mis2810]

I don't know that I could snorkle right around the lighthouse Leigh. That water was so clear last year that it almost spooked me out a little. You could see every peak and valley beneath and I'm sure there are some BIG whatevers hiding down there... Not sure why I was so paranoid while I was out there... maybe it was all that weed I was smoking???? Well, VAPING I mean.

That sounds fantastic. The part about the water being clear and seeing every peak and valley. I need to get down there when the water warms up again!

 

[asprinkles]

yeah sometimes it almost looks like there is no water, it is so still and clear