Ocean fishing in a SSW swell

I see the swell and wind is forecasted to lay down this weekend. However it's a SSW swell. I don't think I've ever fished in those conditions. Should I expect anything different? I seem to remember some discussion saying the bite dies during a southern swell. What has your experience been? Anything to watch out for? 

Seems to me it might depend on where you're fishing and what you're trying to catch.  Never heard of it killing the bite, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  Up here, there are places that fish best in a S to SSW swell and others that are dead in a N to NNW swell.

To me it seems like every time I fish and there is a southern swell the bite is much slower and I don't do as well.

Where do you plan to fish ?

I catch fish no matter where the swell is coming from. When it gets big it gets harder to fish and stay in the zone or hold position and to me that is what will slow it down some.

SSW swell wrecks our normal protected launches up here. Be careful when launching and landing, the sets will behave differently than what you are used to.

Looking to fish timber cove most likely.

South swells often have longer periods in the 15-20+ second range, meaning they can pack a lot of punch when they hit shore (or offshore reefs) even if the swell height isn't much.

South swells also tend to bunch up into "sets" with long "lulls" between them.

For example... Bolinas is a south facing beach that's sheltered from most N and NW swell. Say there's a south swell of 2 feet at 18+ seconds. One minute it will be completely calm with ankle-knee slappers, and the next minute there might be a set of chest to shoulder high breaking waves rolling in (each loaded with at least 4-5 surfers, of course...).

Some spots the fish seem to bite regardless of swell direction, other not so much. I hear Santa Cruz shuts down during south swells, especially for halibut.


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Alex explained well. This weekend also has a strong tide swing. It will has a drift of around 1.5-2mph.
Watch weather if you go. Good luck.

South swells often have longer periods in the 15-20+ second range, meaning they can pack a lot of punch when they hit shore (or offshore reefs) even if the swell height isn't much.

South swells also tend to bunch up into "sets" with long "lulls" between them.

For example... Bolinas is a south facing beach that's sheltered from most N and NW swell. Say there's a south swell of 2 feet at 18+ seconds. One minute it will be completely calm with ankle-knee slappers, and the next minute there might be a set of chest to shoulder high breaking waves rolling in (each loaded with at least 4-5 surfers, of course...).

Some spots the fish seem to bite regardless of swell direction, other not so much. I hear Santa Cruz shuts down during south swells, especially for halibut.


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SSW swell wrecks our normal protected launches up here. Be careful when launching and landing, the sets will behave differently than what you are used to.

If you go to TC I'll be interested to hear your observations of the launch as it's well protected from the north but not so much from the south. 

SSW swell wrecks our normal protected launches up here. Be careful when launching and landing, the sets will behave differently than what you are used to.

Does at the usual Sonoma Coast launches.
Longer the period, the harder the punch.

From an underwater perspective...when there is a long period south swell it often makes diving harder, way more surge, and usually less fish...

You can still find fish holed up, but I often see less out and about on the reefs...

FWIW.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Maybe Albion would be a better choice.

I will be at OC catching fish.

i never enjoy SSW swell. most of the launch are not protected but I'm more concern with landing. as far as catching fish, i do find it the bite is not as hot as NW but still catches fish.