fishing th' Bean, 8/25

Nice report guys...sounds like Shawn has the Bean dialed in.  Yep, jump through that surf before it turns and swallows you up.  So did you fish north or south of the launch?

What's this about ling cheeks...damn sounds like I've been throwing away the best part of the ling meat.

Ron, I was wondering why you use a clicker.  To tell you the truth I can hear your reel from quite a distance.  I'm not sure if it makes a difference to the fish but  I would think the shark shield is probably a bigger factor.  Next time fish a couple hours with that thing turned off and see if it makes a difference.

You're using the right bait and lures so that shouldn't be a problem.  Regarding your snags...welcome to rock fishing.  Sounds like you need to watch your FF a little closer and to reel up just a touch faster before your rig becomes one with the rock.  Sounds like Shawn had the same snag experiences except he's quicker on the draw.  Trust me...tying directly to spectra will leave you frustrated but you'll have lots of stories to tell about the BIG one that cut the line.

Regarding the keys, they could also belong to Ty.  He lost his keys about a month ago and had to get a ride home. 

If you get one of those magnetic boxes, make sure its taped or fastened down.  My spare key box fell off after about a week of just normal driving.  Better yet just duct tape your spare key in some hidden space that you won't need any tools to get to.

At least everyone caught some fish and made it home safe...that's a good day in my book.

Gary

Hey Gary,

do you recommend using a lead line of a couple of feet instead of tying directly to spectra?  Or do you tie directly to spectra too?  I was keeping the lure very close to the rock and dipping it in 5-10' holes; but like you said, I wasn't quick in the draw.  The spectra line was getting shreded big time in the sharp rocks, alright.  It was overcast weather the whole morning we were fishing; I remember spearfishing/freediving in that kind of weather and the fish were nowhere to be found---I think there were doing extended napping.   

I'll turn off the clicker next time but the s/s should be ok and thanks for the advise.   

-Ron

Spectra is very intolerant of abrasion. I'd never, ever, tie it directly to a lure/bait/weight when targeting rockfish.

Regards,
Scott

What's this about ling cheeks...damn sounds like I've been throwing away the best part of the ling meat.

I fish for food, so I was stoked to learn about this at Elk. You can feel where the muscle pocket on the ling is. There is a little flat bone over it, I make a shallow cut on either side of the bone, then slide the knife blade under it through the two shallow cuts. The bone is only attached on the neck side, so you can cut right under toward the mouth and the just fold it back to expose the cheek muscle. Then you can just cut around the muscle and voila! you have a scallop sized delicacy. I may have to get a small sharp knife just for this, but the tip of a fillet blade works too. I found each cheek from a 31" ling makes one restaurant sized taco, using a small corn tortilla.

do you recommend using a lead line of a couple of feet instead of tying directly to spectra?

I don't use spectra direct to the lure unless I have no other choice. I mentioned above I've been using 30 pound spectra with a 25lb monofilament leader about 10' long. The mono holds up much better in the rocks and gives a little bit of shock absorbing stretch. It's also easier to tie. I still had to cut and retie a bunch of times from nicks and abrasions on the mono. I like to use a slightly lighter mono than the mainline in case I need to break it off. Most times with my setup the break comes at right the lure. I've used this all summer & am stoked with the results.

i tie about 5-6 feet of mono onto spectra. after using spectra last season i went back to good ol mono. i lose less line, its cheaper and it stretches when fish are fighting. all the good things that helps me to land some fish: )

john

If you use mono go to 40 lb. and again.  I don't lose fish on 50 to 65 spectral straight tied.  Also, the full moon has alot to do with not getting bites.

Ken kickfish

I personally don't like to use a leader heavier than the mainline in case I need to break off a snag. This is the same reason I would not recommend kayak fishing with anything much heavier than 30lb line, especially for beginners. To me it just seems unnecessary, at least right here in California, where the majority of my fish are under 30 pounds.
To each their own though, and folks should use the tackle they are comfortable with, but IMHO the higher the breaking strength of the mainline the more it can become a danger for the paddler, especially  with snags in wind and chop. Granted, spectra is easier to bust off than mono of the same strength due to the low stretch, but it is something to consider.

I personally don't like to use a leader heavier than the mainline in case I need to break off a snag. This is the same reason I would not recommend kayak fishing with anything much heavier than 30lb line, especially for beginners. To me it just seems unnecessary, at least right here in California, where the majority of my fish are under 30 pounds.
To each their own though, and folks should use the tackle they are comfortable with, but IMHO the higher the breaking strength of the mainline the more it can become a danger for the paddler, especially  with snags in wind and chop. Granted, spectra is easier to bust off than mono of the same strength due to the low stretch, but it is something to consider.

sean, I often use 40lb leader w/ 30lb spectra mainline and it still usually breaks on the leader because of knot strength reduction and the odd small nick in the leader.

but once in a while the mainline breaks it is true. only once this season so far and that is because I went three trips without retying the mainline to the snap swivel.

I double the spectra for a couple feet, then tie the doubled line to a snap swivel. then I have pre-tied mono leaders with a duo-lock snap.

I use 25lb leader in santa cruz but 40lb where there is a ton of structure.

if you retie that 25lb often you are probably good, but I don't do much retying.

that 25lb might also help you get bit just a tiny bit better, who knows.

John

Yeah that's why I say, to each their own. Hey, I used to use 17lb straight mono! I landed a few halibut on this, but I lost a LOT of lings & big rockfish and unknown "monster fish". I went up to 20lb bass line and lost fewer fish, but I still got broken off. After listening to Sean White's talk at the Fred Hall show I went to 30lb spectra and the 25lb leader and haven't lost a rockfish due to breakoff since, charter boat trips included. I probably have to re-tie more than some folks would like to, but for me that's just part of the whole experience.

Go 40 mono for leaders...We only fish 50 to 60 feet.  Most ligs are caught in 30 to 50 feet.  If I lose 30 to 50 ft of line to cut or break off.  Who cares?....Sean (Great White) complains about the extra line in the water for Abs divers.   But, divers have a knife and I think they are more worry about a long liner net left on the bottom or a steel cable (Downrigger broke off) or a crab pot line that broke off than some 50 to 60 lb. braid.  Steel cable is something a knife will not cut threw...a pair of wire cutters, maybe.  Don't dive and never will.

Ken kickfish

Shawn, thanks for the gourmet advice and now I can't wait to catch my next ling.

Regarding rock fish rigging... 

I experimented like everyone else and learned from the school of snagged lures and more importantly lost fish.  So I currently use 50 lb Power Pro (Spectra) for my main line and 4 ft of 50 lb mono for leaders.  I would use fluorocarbon leaders except that I already had a spool of mono and it works.  Maybe when I run out I'll go to the expensive stuff.

Why the heavy duty line...well I like to yank fish out of their holes and I expect the line to get scratched and cut during the battle.  I hear you guys about getting snagged and having a losing tug of war with the bottom using heavy lines.  I reverse my drift ASAP when I catch the bottom and have been able to pull free most of the time.  When I can't free up my rig, I put on my glove, wrap the line around it and pull until something gives.  Its usually the mono that breaks at the snap swivel or the part of the spectra just above the snap swivel.  I especially appreciate the heavy line when I'm fighting lings in the kelp and I yank them out before they wrap the line around something.

The lines are connected using snap swivels so I can switch bait presentations as the conditions or my mood changes. 

Rig 1 - shrimp fly or small swim bait (3") teaser about 3' above either a terminal swim bait or frozen bait.
Rig 2 - straight 4' leader with frozen bait weighted down with a torpedo or banana sinker or a 7" swim bait.

Each time I catch a fish or clear a snag I run my fingers against the line to check for nicks.  If its nicked, its tossed and I snap on a new leader.  All my leaders are pre-tied and kept in little plastic bags.  Snack sized baggies with zip locks work great so they don't get tangled up. 

The leader I use for frozen bait is 4' log with two 5/0 hooks tied on with palomar knots and spaced about 5' apart.  First hook goes through the bottom of the mouth and out through the forehead.  The second hook goes in the back below the dorsal fin.  Big fish are usually hooked by the front hook and the smaller ones by the back hook.  The frozen bait can be hard on the hooks so keep them sharpened or change them out every so often using new hooks.

I'm sure there's many other variations but these are mine and they're quite simple.

Gary

Just wrap a few wraps around the reel and pull.  Keep your rod inline...no bow in your tip. Or, thumb the reel and pull...again, no bow in the rod...unless you want a shorter rod.

Ken kickfish

Holy cow!!! you guys just really explained this to me really good.  I lost so many rigged, lures, ball bearing swivels, irons in this BH trip that the ocean god is really mad at me.  In fact, I went windsurf the following day (Sunday) and tried (wannabe) some aerial jumps, then crashed & burned.  When I got back to the shore to rest a little, I realized that my titanium kinetic watch was knocked off during my fall out.  And this whole situation got me thinking that my kinetic watch will still probably be working underwater for many years to come (it's non-battery, non-rewindable operated) and at the same time the litter I left at BH will linger there for a while that this really makes me feel so bad.   

I thank you all (Gary, Ken, Piscean, JMairey, JohnGpig, and Scott) for your feedback here.  I will immediately start using a mono leader in my spectra line (it was the first time I used it in rockfish) so I don't litter the ocean anymore.

Live & learn. and this is definitely an eye opener for me.  I really appreciate all your advise here.
 
-Ron