HMB 8/6 - Art of the Iron

Art and I launched around 7:30 from the HMB Kayak Co. The tide was waaaaay out and as we rounded the jaws we could see numerous rocks poking out between us and the gren buoy.

We fished for about 5 hours and my score was one underling. The tide was coming in and the wind had picked up quite a bit making it hard to say vertical with my 3oz jig had.

Art on the other hand was killing them on the iron! He ended with either a limit  or very close including a nice ling and a pretty massive black.

We loaded up and headed to Ono's only to find out it was closed!!  

Here is Art's very nice stringer.

I recall art g. saying he preferred triple hooks on his irons. Also that he
was used to using irons on party boats. (is that right?). So I guess he
knows how to use them well, and the evidence is there.

But what kind of iron was in play here?

The big ling caught during the tourney was with an iron with plastic
squid-like addition?

Although I have used krocodiles from shore to great effect in baja,
I haven't caught anything on iron yet from my kayak up here. I have half-heartedly tried small crippled herring 1 to 2 oz and a larger megabait, 3.5 oz. I did switch to single hook because a triple and an iron is like giving me a grappling hook, I just know I will hook the bottom first drop. losing a lure before it ever catches a fish is hard for me to take, I have done it so many times already. But it would also be nice to catch a fish on them at some point.

also, art, get ready to move your surfing away from montara, that place
is deadly, literally, when the real waves get here! on real waves ross cove can be a lot of fun, nice channel, quality left.  If you see mavericks breaking, it's time to go in,  

I prefer swimbaits to irons or hex bars, especially fishing for rockies. The horizontal hook position on a swimbait lessens the chance of the swimbait getting snagged.  Usually, the lead head will hit the submerged  rocks, giving you a chance to pull up quickly and prevent the swimbait from getting snagged. However, if you do get snagged, you can reverse direction of the drift, pump the rod a couple times and the lead head often times becomes dislodged. On an Iron or Hex, a snagged hook is much more difficult to dislodge IMO.
Many fisherman use hex bars to "target" lings, but a large 9"+ swimbait can achieve the same or better results. You can stay closer to the bottom and spend more time fishing, than dealing w/ snags.

I believe Art was using the standard issue 4 side diamond jig with no enhancements.

yeah, I'm a swimbait fan, in shallow calm water those work for me. maybe I should have a couple big ones with a giant leadhead. I actually got some big (4oz, 3.5oz) leadheads this weekend after having to use a lot of weight to sink some squid in heavy water a oouple weekends back.
I didn't get bigger swimbaits tho, stuck with the 5.5" (?) from fisherman's
warehouse on the counter.

But so far, irons are ruling this summer on big lings. And, I'm pretty much a failure with them, at least from the kayak, and I'd like to hear how the experts use 'em and why they like 'em.  

art g. and fantini(sp?) clearly know how to use 'em, and I dimly recall
somebody else on this board using megabaits to good effect.

Okay, final tally 4 black rockfish in the 4-5 pound range, 3 china cod and a 31" ling.  My best yak score to date.  All fish came on a 4 oz diamond jig.  
In my experience, iron will produce a greater number of bigger fish than plastics.  I do use plastics but I tend to catch alot more smaller sized fish on them, I'll usually make the switch to them if I'm not getting hit on the hard stuff.   I've only tried the larger scampi/swim baits a couple times.  What I've found was that they are a pain to keep vertical in a fast current, a 3-4 dollar leadhead+ 2-3 dollar plastic isn't any cheaper than a diamond jig (especially when the plastic tails get bit off and you're going through multiple bodies a day) and they lack the flash and noise of iron(thats a biggie, bouncing a chunk of medal off rocks creates a ping that draws the fish attention).  I think too big a fuss is made over iron getting hung.  I hung up about a dozen times that day but only lost one jig(my fault, 9 oz, too heavy for the depth and current but too lazy to re-rig). As soon as you know its a snag cut to freespool so theres about 2 feet of slack and whip the tip up and down, the jig will dance around the snag and free itself.  Make sure there is still slack, thats key, alot of people keep a tight line and start bouncing their rod but all that does is stretch and weaken your line with very little chance of getting the jig back. Dancing it works 80% of the time.  If that doesn't work then paddle upcurrent and work it from a different angle.  The bending bronze hooks are your last option, button down the drag and try horsing it out.   Of course every now and then your gonna lose a couple but the same can be said for plastics as well.  
This is not meant to bash plastics or suggest that you should do things a different way but more along the lines of not limiting your game.  It took me a while to learn how to free snagged lures, fortunately for me my dad was still footing the tackle bill when I was learning

jmairey, my plan was to exit montara as soon as summer ends.  I don't want any part of that place in tougher conditions  We'll have to hook up and trade secrets.

I use power pro line 30 to 50 # test.  A short leader of mono 30  to 40 lb test (10 to 20 ft).  If I get snagg. I put the reel in free spool and row way above the snagg.

I have been fishing a Braid lure (iron) 3 to 4 oz (I think)gold with a red head...tip with squid.  It has a treble hook.  Been fishing it for atleast four trips now.  Always get it stuck atleast a couple times.

Last time I was using 30 lb. mono.  The calcutta I was using...I thought is had a power pro backing.  It did not.  I like the calcutta (700) because of the push button for the free spool.  Just keep contact with the bottom on each swing.  Have the iron just barely touch bottom on the down stoke.

Got tow lings (25") 3 weeks ago and last Sunday got 8 rocks and a undersize ling.

Ken kickfish

Thanks for the report and picture Bill – Heck of a stringer Art.  Now that I’ve fished HMB I can visualize and appreciate the reports from there.

EE