Targeting Vermilion rockfish?

By the way guys what has been the ticket for the lings in the area (BIG SUR)or should I just stick to the same as I would anywhere else.
Thanks

for lings I do best with live bait, followed by iron or big swimbaits.

I know many of the people on here and Norm (Norm isn't a person he is a ling slaying machine) use fishtraps and other swimbaits of that types. I was wondering about prerigged swimbaits and who has used what type/brand. I bought some Storm wildeye 9" swimbaits at Sportsmans warehouse for 5.49 a piece. They are prerigged and are 2 3/4 oz (I'm curious to see how well they sink.

I have some other swimbaits that I bought last year for Clear lake that I plan on trying. I don't remember what brand they are but they were prerigged. These swimbaits aren't the leadhead just stuck through the body, they are the type that are internally rigged. I bought some fishtrap type swimbaits (the package said A.A.T.) and they tore apart pretty bad during rigging. 

I saw these (check link) at Sportsmans warehouse. 9 and 12 inch fishtrap type swimbaits. Has anyone tried them? I would think a 12 inch swimbait would keep off most everything except lings.
 
http://store.ebait.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=baitrigs&Product_Code=SO-Mag&Category_Code=Muskie

Has anyone used the Castaics or any other type? Have you had to run a weight ahead of the swimbait on a leader? How much do you think the color pattern matters? I had planned on going to Point Arena area this week and testing my new swimbaits and sonar but it looks like the weather/water conditions won't be fishable.   



 

Any of them will work but the prerigged are a one shot deal if/when a gopher or other fish rips its tail off. With the separate jig heads that many of us cast at home you save a bit, plus you can re rig with another $1.50-$2.00 plastic body (or a home pour).You know how cheap kayak dudes are! The larger baits catch larger fish (in my mind) but with larger size comes problems with getting the bait to the target area (bottom) and staying there. It's a balancing act with the wind,drift,current, still water.
 The smaller pre rigged aren't to expensive but the big boyz cost more than the separate components.
 Bottom line is you see that everyone uses different tactics, live bait, swimbaits, jigs, iron. Find good structure and fish what you have with confidence. Mahi uses a red and white torpedo sinker, Sean and I use mega's and 6-7" swimbaits and some goofy home-made prototypes. If the fish are located, they bite. But if you catch a smaller blue,etc. send him back down to scout the area. thats pretty close to a sure thing.

You know how cheap kayak dudes are!

Hey, I represent that!

Thanks guys will post report when I get back from Big Sur.

Big Sur and big reds go hand in hand... throw whatever you have and you should get into them. Good luck down there.

Freddie

Couldn't a said it better

Aallen

One part of the equation left out is water depth. Rarely do I get into good reds or coppers in less then 90'-100'. Sure you get the oddball in shallower, typically smaller. The best depths for me in BS this year start at 100' and work out to deeper water 150-170 if able or necessary. Just because they won't bite in 100' move out to find some deeper structure. Better have an assortment of weights and jig heads from 4oz to 10 oz.

One part of the equation left out is water depth. Rarely do I get into good reds or coppers in less then 90'-100'. Sure you get the oddball in shallower, typically smaller. The best depths for me in BS this year start at 100' and work out to deeper water 150-170 if able or necessary. Just because they won't bite in 100' move out to find some deeper structure. Better have an assortment of weights and jig heads from 4oz to 10 oz.

great advice there.

I realize this is anecdotal and a singular experience but I got my 7-pounder off Bean Hollow in 70 feet or water on whole squid on a Shrimp Fly. That's half way to the record of 14 pounds. And I got an 11- and 13-pound Ling Cod the same way in the same vicinity.

Location, location, location.

---
"NCKA Mutha F**ckas" apologies to John McClain of the LA/NYPD