Surf Smelt This Week

I posted previously that this week would be good for surf smelt.
I'll be away backpacking until Fri night. I understand many of you are heading N. this weekend. So here is enough info for anyone to go it alone.

I have been successful on Half Moon bay beaches from Venice south. Martin's beach is always good, but I prefer not to pay. The ~ Cowell beach 0.5 mi S. of Miramontes works, but it's small and a fair walk.

You want to be there for "the hour" around the afternoon high tide.  (I'd shoot for arriving about 40 min before the published time.)
Walk along the beach (I usually wear booties and shorts, but some may prefer a wetsuit. Waders may be dangerous in the surf) and find the places where the sand is more coarse...even tending to pebbles.  (Watch for birds too)

When you find a likely spot, prepare your net and stand so that the waves sweep up knee-high or so. Then, as the flow of water pauses before retreating and the floating  foam diminishes and separates, you can look down through the water to the sand. If they're there, you should see them darting around your legs and in front of you.  You should be able to see through 1/4 to 1/2 of the waves. If for whatever reasons, you  cannot ever see through, you're probably SOL. The sun out is good because you can see better (with polarized glasses). In fact, I have never been successful under fog or heavy cloud.

IF you are in the right place at the right time and there is in fact a run, the smelt will typically be there on perhaps 10-25% of the waves. It will vary....growing frequent, then tapering off for 20 min, then stronger again. (I think they move down the beach, then loop back and go again, but that's just a theory.)

If you see the smelt, you want to throw where they are heading....not where you saw them.  It is seldom necessary to cast your net a great distance; better to get it well open right in front of you.

Where you stand is important: neither too high on the beach or too deep.

About throwing blind: So, you've been ready and watching every wave for 10 minutes. Your net arm is tiring, and you decide to throw blind and cross your fingers. This will ensure two things: your net will be empty, and the next wave (while you are regathering your net) will be loaded with smelt.

Be careful to take only what you will use: It can be exciting, yet one or two successful throws are all one diner can eat, and smelt do not freeze well.

You'll need a bag or bucket for your catch. I gut them and remove the gills. Drench in seasoned flour and fry until golden brown.

I cut-pasted this weeks tide below: W and Th are best. Later in the afternon (F and Sa) are still possible, but my confidence diminishes slightly. Still, I might go on Sat.


vanim

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Tides for Princeton, Half Moon Bay starting with August 10, 2005.

Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible

W  10     High   1:59 AM     4.3   6:22 AM    Rise 11:35 AM      19
     10      Low   8:13 AM     1.3   8:08 PM     Set 10:52 PM
     10     High   2:54 PM     5.1
     10      Low   9:16 PM     1.8

Th  11     High   2:58 AM     3.8   6:23 AM    Rise 12:38 PM      28
     11      Low   8:47 AM     1.9   8:07 PM     Set 11:18 PM
     11     High   3:28 PM     5.3
     11      Low  10:17 PM     1.4

F   12     High   4:18 AM     3.4   6:24 AM    Rise  1:45 PM      37
     12      Low   9:27 AM     2.4   8:06 PM     Set 11:50 PM
     12     High   4:10 PM     5.4
     12      Low  11:24 PM     1.0

Sa  13     High   6:07 AM     3.3   6:25 AM    Rise  2:55 PM      48
     13      Low  10:22 AM     2.9   8:04 PM
     13     High   5:00 PM     5.6

I know this is old But,,,,   Thanks for your posting
I used to go with my dad as a kid and he has passed, Now I want to take my son.
Now the job of learning what I am doing is underway.
I don't want to ask for spots but how do you know what a good tide is.
Day fish and night fish run on similar tides??
Thank You to any one with info

Matt

 the higher the tide the better the Run. we always used a frame nets north of wages Creek Beach.  scissors made the job of cleaning them go pretty quickly. cut the head off cut down the stomach and push the guts out with your thumb nail. take the spine out with a pinching motion butterflies the fish beautifully.

Martins Beach and Cowell Ranch Beach use to be good for Day Smelt.  They haven't shown up in the last 2 years that I am aware off.

Thanks for the replies
Looks like we have some good tides this weekend,
 I may take my son and give it a try up in Bodega area
Matt

Schoolhouse and Portuguese have coarse black sand was surprised some fifteen years ago couple of of people casting Hawaiian throw Nets had a third of 5 gallon bucket each. I had packed a kayak down the stairs for a quick fishing trip and scored on a school of 8 plus pounds black rock fish and i kept only five of them coincidental that they were both there at the same because otherwise the fishing sucked in area. crabbing was always good but I don't go there any more because I got Goldie Hawned in the surf and I don't want to share the story.
 still might be a bit early for good surf smelt run by good luck

Will someone comment on the best cast net configuration for surf smelt?  I'm trying to pick the best diameter / weighting options.  I am tending to go for an 8' net with 3/8" mesh having 1.5# / foot (the upper limit in the CA CDFG recommendation (6-8' w/ 1 - 1.5 #/ft)) but there is probably a tradeoff with using the heavier weighting + wider net vs. the number of time the larger net is tossed, etc.  Thanks!

An 8' net is pretty big to handle, especially in the surf.  Smelt are amazingly quick.  while a bigger net may have more "coverage", they're also slower and harder to throw.  You're better off with a smaller, quicker net that you can reliably throw in a fully open circle. 

My go-to is a 6' Betts Old Salt in 3/8" mesh.  That 6' even seems big sometimes.  Plenty of good smelt fisherman throw 5 footers.

I use this one: http://www.ahiusa.com/ahi/Products.aspx?Cat=1&Item=11

Speaking of surf smelt, it sure did at the Salton Sea earlier this month.  Thousands of dead tilapia washed up on the beach broiling in the hot sun.  Saw kayakers and paddleboarders, no one fishing though.  Has anyone ever fished there?

Talked to a close fishing buddy, he went to several SMC beaches for Surf Smelt and Stripers last Wednesday.  They weren't around.

Thanks for the replies so far - you have already saved me from going the "bigger must be better" route, both in size & weight.  I may be nit-picking at this point, but I was previously being swayed toward heavier-weighted (>1# / ft) nets to sink faster, but I notice both recommendations are for less than that.  Now that I think about it, surf casting may not rely so much on the ability of the net to sink fast, so other factors may become more important (net spread, fatigue, ??).  Any further comments would be welcomed, I know people have personal preferences but I am just trying to learn and get opinions.

Oh, and so sorry the surf smelt so bad at the Salton!

On 7/3 High Tide was around 8am.  I made a trip to Martins Beach and Cowell Ranch Beach.  Still no Surf Smelt on both beaches.  Conditions were cool and foggy.  My last good trip was July 2015. 

Thanks for the report, Mel. I love throwing a net and have always been curious about surf smelt. Hopefully someday I'll get a chance at them.

Nice throw in that picture, by the way.