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Forum nameSaltwater Fishing in California
Topic subjectJune 30th - Santa Cruz Island
Topic URLhttp://www.calfishing.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=14389&mesg_id=14389
14389, June 30th - Santa Cruz Island
Posted by Big Hammer, Sun Jul-01-07 07:38 AM
Started the day with the plan to get squid and try for some of the seabass or yellowtail that have been around. Spent the next three hours reminding myself why I hate fishing with bait. Of course, if we would have caught something it might have helped.

We finally came to our senses around 9:00 am and decided to give the bass a try. Went around the corner to Chinese. I started with a 5 inch swimbait and Bryan was throwing a Rainbow Trout colored spinnerbait. He hooks up first with a decent calico. We continue moving West fishing the shallow hard bottom and boiler areas. Bryan gets another one on the spinnerbait and I get short bit a couple of times. So I move down to the 4 inch - and continue to get short bit! I move down to a 3 inch "Blue Shad" colored swimbait on my ultra-light bass rod with 10 lb. and finally hook up while Bryan hooks up on his third spinnerbait fish. The thing starts pulling drag and I started thinking I was never going to land it. I couldn't even pull hard enough against it to feel what it was. Thinking it might be a halibut I slowly work it to the boat while I watch a ball of follower fish follow Bryan's fish to the boat. Finally, mine surfaces and it's a nice calico that goes 6.25 lbs. on the Boga.

http://www.swimbait.com/slideshow/bh-calico-wolf-pete-070630-010.jpg

I switch back to the 4 inch (for obvious reasons) and start nailing bass between 1 and 3 pounds. After a few blank casts Bryan switches to the 4 inch also and starts connecting as well. After several decent bass I hook up on something heavier again. This time my gear was adequate as I get my second 6 pounder of the day.

http://www.swimbait.com/slideshow/bh-calico-wolf-pete-070630-020.jpg

Bryan and I continue up the island for some truly wide open bass fishing on 1 to 3 lb. fish. Most fish were being caught on 4 inch swimbaits in the "FishChick", "Redrum" and "Red Calico Hunter" colors. I did get one on a Candyman Jig and a couple on larger swimbaits but it really did seem like they preferred the 4 inch. A little while later Bryan pulls a nice 6.25 pounder off a boiler and raises our 5 fish limit to about 25 lbs.

http://www.swimbait.com/slideshow/bh-calico-davis-bryan-070630-010.jpg

It was an awesome day. Sunny, light wind, beautiful scenery, and great fishing. I have no idea how many bass we caught as we were having too much fun to keep count. My best guess is that it was alot. If it wasn't for all the black gooey stuff all over the boat and my t-shirt it would've been near perfect. Cheers to Larry for helping us find the spot!