View Full Version : What to hunt during the winter?
DaKahuna
10-03-2003, 11:35 PM
Seeing as this summer was my introduction to freediving and spearing, I don't know what to expect as the season changes.
I am reading references to WSB heading south, flatties heading deep, etc, and now we have the DFG closures. So what is the hunting like during the fall and winter in SoCal? What are the trends regarding visibility? I am only beach launching and pole spearing in the surf zone so far and hoping I will continue to see fish/dinner to hunt!
If all that is left is lobs, it's going to be a boring season if things don't improve. :(
Hope someone has good news for me!
PhotoTJ
10-04-2003, 01:30 PM
Halibut are always tasty!
Halibut, sand bass, calico, orange sea bass- j/k
Lobsters can be found in water as shallow as 8 feet, so its allways worth a try.
Hopefully the vis will clear sometime this season.
Laters, Kyle
DaKahuna
10-06-2003, 11:20 PM
I'm glad to know that it sounds like there is plenty to keep it interesting through the colder months. It would have been a real bummer to get hooked on hunting like I have this summer and then have a long dead season!
A buddy and I went out at Trestles on Saturday and had a pretty fun day! Vis was a little better, and would have been much better if the sun had been out. We saw more fish than we had seen in a while. Sargo, Opaleye, Perch (more than one kind), and I think I saw some Corbina too.
I got my first rubberlip, about 14 inches. Never even seen one before. What do they eat that they have such fleshy lips? He was good eatin'.
I actually shot at the biggest Opaleye in a school I found (probably approx. 18 inches long) and got him, but in the belly. I was really bummed when he ripped off, but then realized I had another fish on (about 14 inches). 2 fish in one shot with a polespear - not bad eh?!
We didn't see any large fish except for the absolutely HUGE giant black seabass I saw! This thing swam near me as I was on the surface in only about 12 feet of water. I breathed up quickly and went down parallel to him, he was about 10 feet away! I was behind him at first, then he slowed and turned almost broadside. I waited, then made 2 easy kicks toward him and he bolted - now that was power! It was the biggest fish I have seen so far, I'm guessing it was realistically about 5 feet long! I don't know if I could have gotten my arms around the middle of this fish! Very cool to see, especially in such shallow water.
Any guesses as to general weight range of a fish like that?
Great report thanks!! I bet the giant black seabass was at lease 200.
What's a rubberlip, I can't find a picture of one.
Laters, Kyle
Prodigal Son
10-07-2003, 02:50 PM
Originally posted by Kyle
What's a rubberlip, I can't find a picture of one.
Maybe he means a buttermouth perch?
DaKahuna
10-07-2003, 08:52 PM
Very large, very fleshy, pink/peach lips!
Body was kind of a golden brown color with a thin black stripe running down the length, above the midline.
Follow the link and scroll down to Rubberlip Surfperch:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mspcont2.html
The pictures on the DFG website really don't do the size of the lips on this fish justice. They look like some kind of caricature!
Like I said before though, pretty good eating!
IB Boyd
10-07-2003, 10:27 PM
How did you cook the rubberlip? I saw quite a few on my last dive(laguna beach brrok street 10-14 ft vis, last sat) but was hesitant to shoot em, as i havent eaten one. my buddy plugged a couple and said they were indeed platable when i called him today. If they are good eatin, I might consider shootin them from time to time. Poplulation seems quite healthy.
Dan33
10-09-2003, 10:43 AM
I never seen anyone dive at Trestles before. I dove there once about a year ago, but haven't been back since. Got some lobster and saw a nice Pacific Halibut though (about 40-44", but out of season at the time). I live in that area and I'm always looking for guys to out with, so if you ever want someone to shoot fish with, send me an E-mail. Dan33N@Hotmail.com
DaKahuna
10-18-2003, 02:52 AM
Boyd -
Sorry for not responding sooner, my firewall software took a vacation on me and I just got running again.
I won't go online (DSL) w/out my firewall.
Anyway, we actually filleted several different fish we got and just put them in a large rectangular casserole type thing and topped them with some sauteed veggies.... My buddy (pro chef by trade) cooked it all up. But I could tell by size and shape of the fillets which was which, and the rubberlip was good!
I would be confident that just sauteeing it in a pan would be great too. I will shoot again, but will try to go for at least over 12 inchers, hopefully 16+.
Dan -
My diving buddy and I have been going out at Trestles about every other week, usually on Mondays that we both happen to have off. Sometimes we go on Sundays too. We just hunt with polespears for now, and sometimes are combining surfing and diving in the day, depending on the surf. I'm taking a trip this weekend, but we'll probably go on 10/27. I'll contact you if we're going!
JustAddWater
10-19-2003, 07:18 PM
I had heard the silver surf perch made fine table fare, but I never hunted them; always figuring they were a bony fish and marginal in taste. It's good to hear otherwise from you. Any halibut reports out there?
Halibuts are out there. We bagged one Friday night out at San Mateo Point in South OC. It went 12#.
Laters,
Herby Verstinks
IB Boyd
10-20-2003, 12:30 AM
Went kayak fishing with a friend in Dana Point /Doheney area today, caught a bunch of short buts in shallow water. There has to be some big ones there also. Visibility looked decent up by the headlands, and kind of murky down by doheney. Want to go back soon and shoot one.
Anyone of you ever hunted the Dana point Harbor Jettty all the way out at the end? I got off my butt once and treked all the way out there but it was almost dark by the time I made it, so I didn't go. Boats don't usually fish near there and fishermen don't walk out there so I figure it would be pretty good hunting. Anyone ever hunted here?
DaKahuna
11-07-2003, 04:21 AM
Kyle -
How far out / how deep were you at San Mateo, if you don't mind sharing? If you've got a "secret spot" I totally understand. The only time "Bluegill" and I went out there the vis was horrible (literally only 1-2 feet), so I really don't know the terrain there.
We have been beach launching at "Uppers" lately because it seems to be less churned up over the rocks there, but I really want to get my first Halibut SOON. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!
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