6 A.M. Monterey Rockfishing Before Work!

Woke up really early to get to my favorite low-tide spot! My first time using Circle hooks for Rockfish and I can't say I'm a fan.
While I get snagged on the rocks way less, I feel I lose more opportunities for hook-ups .

It for sure takes some restraint not to set the hook when feeling the rod tip bounce with the circle hooks but at least there is a way lower chance of them eating the hook.

Nice pictures, trippy lighting

It for sure takes some restraint not to set the hook when feeling the rod tip bounce with the circle hooks but at least there is a way lower chance of them eating the hook.

Nice pictures, trippy lighting

Gah!!!! I'm not supposed to set the hook!! I lost so many fish because I didn't know that  !!!

Nice work catching a couple from shore!

Circle hooks are a different beast for sure, and take a little getting used to. I only use them for bait fishing. When I get a bite, I give the fish a few seconds to get everything in it's mouth, then reel slowly until I feel the rod load up and the fish starts pulling back. Then it's game on!

I do like that they usually are pretty easy to remove.  Sticking your bait on a circle hooks requires a little finesse, but once you sort it out, good to go. I try to have the bulk of my bait on the side opposite the hook point, to help leave as much of the gap open as possible.

After being told how Circle Hooks PROPERLY work, I am happy to say I was way more successful this morning on the last day of low-tide fishing!
It took every fiber in my body not to set the hook when I got massive bites from these guys, but I managed to show self-restraint and I just kept reeling.
Sure enough, they set themselves and then I was able to fight them like normal! The Rainbow Perch I got was massive, like REALLY big.
The second fish seems to be a Cabezon? Feel free to correct me, I've never caught one that color before. And the last is my signature Copper Rockfish.(Or Gopher)

Bonus: I recently went to the Moss Landing Marine Lab Open House and bid on the framed Rockfish picture below and won!
It means a lot since it's the species I catch the most it would seem!

Red cabezon are always fun to see - nice one!

Not sure how many juvenile coppers you're catching in the shallows - maybe gophers and browns more often.

I think they are Gophers after all! 

Gophers

Nice work! Cabezons are one of my favorite fish - so tasty!

author=The Gopher

Always good to get an expert opinion!   

I think the tidal rockfish are Black and Yellows or Grassy.