Tidelands bass fishing in SD w/ Jim Sammons

When I found out I had to come to SD for work I thought I'd give Mr. Sammons a buzz and hit LJ for another attempt at YT.  Well things weren't aligning for YT (why does the big swell ALWAYS follow me down here???), but Jim said it would be a great day to try SD bay for bass.  I have always wanted to try fishing for spotties and sandies so I was all in.

We  launched from Coronado Island and fished 30-40 feet of water in front of Tidelands park.  I didn't take long and we found a steady pick of bay bass.  We fished light spinning tackle, which made these little guys very entertaining.  We ended the short morning session with around 10 fish a piece. 

If I lived in SD these fish would totally be on my distraction list.   Ironically the hot bait came out of my Mendo bag...a Zoom fluke.  Jim had some as well, and said they worked well...he wasn't kidding!  We both seemed to marvel that the Zoom fluke is so effective, cause it doesn't really look like much...but it does work!  Apparently if your name has "bass" in it somewhere, you'll eat a Zoom.  Anyways, great time, and would really recommend it for a Norteno looking for something different while down here. 

Thanks Jim, for another quality experience.

oh yeah- those little bay bass are fun aren't they?   last time i was down there ( oct) we were catching those little guys and they were spitting up little white worms- fat like a caterpillar sort of- switched over to white swimbaits then and there.

I've made like 8 trips down there (to visit wife's family) and have yet to get a YT. I know it will happen, just don't know when...

Hey Sean,

No pics?

Ken kickfish

Spotties kick ass.  Plain and simple.  I miss that fish more than any other up here.

To bad you didn't tie into any of the larger sandies.  Did you fish that steep drop off near the sailboats?

Tidelands kicks out some impressive halibut also.

Sandies are supposed to be sick wide open right now.  Launch from Shelter island and fish the channel and/or paddle over to the bait recievers and you will get into a better grade of fish.

Zoom Flukes imitate the smelt/grunion and tidelands is a huge grunion spawning spot.  I've caught a ton of fish on flukes in the bays.  Mostly on drop shot.

Glad your having a good time.

MolBasser

Mol:  They really are cool little fish, I can see why you would miss it.  We fished out past the sail boats, almost in the middle of the channel.

Steve: The only thing they spit up was part of my thumb...they are toothy little bastards!

Ken: I had my camera, but it was on the frits...my trusty old WR33 is dead or dying. 

they are toothy little bastards!

LOL!!  Yeah they are.  I think of them as the smallmouth of saltwater.  They fight super hard for their size.

MolBasser

Hey Sean,
Thanks for coming out, glad I could get you, and me, out on the water, it had been to long. It certainly was not on fire, as predicted by the minimal tidal flow, but sure was a nice morning. This time of year the bay is just so inviting, no punching through the surf and getting hit in the face by cold water, much less paddling and just plain lazy relaxing fishing.
I managed to be home in time to see my Chargers make an incredible come back, then headed to my sons baseball game, then was up until 1:00 am helping my daughter with a school project, she of course had gone to bed at 10:00. A very long day, but I was glad I got to spend the morning on the water with you. Look forward to seeing you, and hopefully fishing, during the Fred Hall show in San Fran.

toothy is right. I remember taking a couple of days for my thumbs to heal after 30-40 fish days at Catalina. The fishing down there is the only thing i miss about socal!!! Randall

Thank you Jim!  See you at Fred Hall and glad you got to see the rest of the game.  I was feeding my face at a restaurant that had the game on and the place went NUTS! 

Just got off the water again today. It was a much better bite, very steady the entire time. Much better tidal flow but cold and drizzely all morning.

you guys like the 4" or the 5.5" flukes?

J