9/16 Bean Hollow - report

What a difference a day makes, both good and not very good.  Sorry, no photos of either!

The good - while I was out alone, JTF makes a surprise appearance OTW mid-morning, always good company.   Earlier, Guitarzan/Ben stopped by to say hi on VHF, before getting back in his truck in search of more Hawaii-like conditions.  Said he was thinking about trying Paradise.  Guess he hadn't got enough of that already?  Aloha Ben!

The not very good - conditions.  Swell was unpredictable - seemed around 3-5, with a few sets of 5-7's mixed in, but they were all fairly tight, so it was bumpy.  It was overcast, light breeze at best, misty at times, but not cold.  Just the varying swell and short period made it less than comfortable.

I started for halis w/sardines on 2-hook nose/tail rig, had a few tail bites that didn't stick and one good takedown, but about halfway up it let go.  Just didn't hook it well, might have been too quick to start fighting it.

Went WNW out to 60-70ft, picked up a ling 26" - he dissed my swimbait and bit the shrimp fly tipped w/squid.  Solid hook through the upper jaw.  Good thing I got 5/0 shrimp flies.

Then met up with JTF, hit the reef WSW of the hollow about .75 miles out, 36-55 FOW, got a cabbie 22" on a halloween fish trap 7" swimbait.  JTF had some hookups and a huge copper.   The bite seemed tentative.  There were big schools of blacks, seemed like all of them were 12" or less tho.  Threw back some, kept 4 biggest.

Landed was uneventful, and from the beach, conditions looked pretty nice.  Just wasn't like that when we were out there.  But good fun and company - thanks John!

Hope conditions cooperate the next 2 weekends...

Craig,

Back to back days for you on BH...best to take advantage before the closure.  Interesting about the swells picking up and good to hear that the launch/landing went well.  Good that JTF was able to join you and watch your back.  He's always been helpful to me and I've learned a lot from his advice.

Interesting that we've been catching so many lings this past weekend.  More importantly we've been catching fewer hali's.  The reef SWS of BH is where Steve and I caught our lings yesterday.  I am used to seeing many vermillion caught there as well but all the vermillion appeared to caught be north of BH.

Good luck during the next two weekends.  I'm headed out of town and will probably not be able fish BH until next year.

Gary

craig saw your car, I was going surfing, north of pigeon point was messy, south of pigeon was smooth.

we surfed a spot known as county line or little bonzai, at the top end of wadell beach just south of
aNo. smooth water conditions there.

on the way back I looked hard and finally saw you north of the cove in your halibut hunting grounds.
good that you had JTF with you.

the closure might be good for you, make you branch out and try some spots south of pigeon! 

Best,
J

Gary, yeah the lings are out.. Not sure if mine was a female (didn't lift, well, whatever you gotta lift) but it's getting to be that time of year.  Yes, just in time for the closure!  I really hoped to get a verm today - s'why I was out that way, but the structure was too good to pass up on a slow pick day.  The halis are still out there - I have been getting bit.  Just need to present the bait w/rig properly.  Yes, JTF always has great advice - I was lucky to spot him out there today as I don't think we knew each other was out.   Hope you have a good trip - sorry to miss you the rest of the month!

John, you are reading my mind...  I would like to hit you up for a lil tour of S of the Point.  XJ style, perhaps?  Hope you caught some good waves today brah!

Hey Craig - You are a hardcore fisherman! You probably were only one who had persistently rigged up and tried Hali for last few trips to BH. I would not be surprised if you caught Hali today, given your devotion to fishing time. Too bad Hali were not cooperating. On the other hand, you should feel accomplished of catching many Hali in this season. Try South of PP ... 

You are an ANIMAL Craig!  I thought about it for a few minutes on sunday@4am, but remembered the south swell report and stayed home.

Can't hook fish if you don't have a hook below the waterline.

Thanks for the report!

Adam, yeah, you made a good call - after a day like you had Saturday, Sunday would have been much less fun for you, I am sure.   Sunday was less fishy - I just got a lot luckier than nornal.

Hope it's calm out there for one more day this month so we can get out..  i want one more hali!  Outside chance next Sunday...  watchin swell forecasts..