smelt anyone?

Today and tomorrow look likely for surf smelt in the late afternoon -- beach S. of HMB.
4:15---5:15 today
5--6 tomorrow
Anyone with a throw net care to join me?
I've got the know how for this, if you want some.


vanim

i would like to learn this, but i am busy the rest of this week. let me knoe the next time the tides are right.

August 10--13, with the 11, 12 being best candidates.


vanim

count me in on August  - I have a cast net too....

Just curious.... what are you guys going to do with the smelt?  Live bait or are you planning to cook'em up somehow?

Deep fried smelt ... mmm mmm good ... over rice!!!

-Allen

Tasty!!  My dad used to use an A frame net for both day and night smelt off Martins Beach.  Heard stories (not sure if its actually true) of guys with cast nets who would get it so full that they could not pull it in against the surf.  Bye, bye net!!
When they are running, its easy to fill a 5 gal bucket.  I remember the top of the bucket would look like cream or milk on top mixed in with the fish.  Nasty reproductive juices I figure.  

Chuck,
They're actually pretty good eating, tempura style.
While its hot, Break of the head, roll the body a little to loosen the bones and pull from the tail to remove the spine.  Or, just eat the whole thing, minus the head.  
Well, since your Filipino, the head may be the best part

CORRECTION:  while its hot, break the tail off, roll the body and head and pull the head off so the spine comes out with the cooked guts.  I had it bass ackwards.

Pisco is right.  There's probably stripers running too.  

Stuart

I would be tempted to be casting something out behind the smelt to see if Mr. 'But is following them. I recall reading some of the SoCal posts that mentioned watching for the smelt and grunions- that and that they would sit on their yaks just outside of the breaks (they hoped) with a bait or lure rolling around just inside. Got to figure that some of the smelt get beat up in the spawn and surf and are easy pickings for bigger predators.

I would be tempted to be casting something out behind the smelt to see if Mr. 'But is following them. I recall reading some of the SoCal posts that mentioned watching for the smelt and grunions- that and that they would sit on their yaks just outside of the breaks (they hoped) with a bait or lure rolling around just inside. Got to figure that some of the smelt get beat up in the spawn and surf and are easy pickings for bigger predators.

oh ya , when i lived down in san deigo we would go out when smelt were going at night or during the day, use fish traps and such may favorite was a zara spook. at times i have seen the halibut jump out of the water on it and bait, it was just f....ing wild. but those wee the old days, now i just sit around in my rocker and think of the old times  chef

Vanim, I'll be there today (Thur.) with my family.  Hope to see you there and learn from you.  Thanks.

Al