I plan on going out rockfishing in San Luis Obispo, soon. I been out before & understand that live chovies or fresh squid are a good choice. Any other suggessions though? I use 15 lb. test mono & 1/0 hooks.

or maybe have another rod rigged with 30#. pin on a live mackerel about 9 or so inches on a 4/0-6/0 hook. killer ling cod setup!

but before you pin the mackerel on, clip the ends of his tail so that he doesnt swim as good.


joe

Do you only use live/dead bait? I've had great luck (fish a cast some days) with small irons and plastics. I especially LOVE the 1 oz megabait for shallower water and the larger sizes, up to about 4 oz. when the deep currents are moving. Bounce them off the bottom for a steady pick of nice fish. Also, sometimes I see the rockfish suspending off the bottom, often with reds the larger models are as much as 15' up. So I can drop down with the heavy iron and then move it up into "the zone". With live/fresh dead you can do the same thing with a dropper loop. Leave a really long tag end and move your weight up or down.

Plastics, like big curly tails or swimbaits, also work really well. I had a limit of nice reds last year in about 30 minutes with a two rods - one on the mini iron and one with a big curly tail. I'd throw one out and reel up the other with a fish, back and forth. 12 casts, 10 good fish! Man, I loves me some fishing.

--Drew
http://www.plasticnavy.com/
Be your own captain!

I will be on a pig boat AKA open party. If I start off doing well, I may switch over to iron or a heavy leadhead with plastic grubtail for a killer ling. I gotta bring 2 poles for an easy switch over. Thanks guys!
P.S. >>> What are the best colors with iron & plastics for lings.

Any of the calico sort of colors will work. Browns, oranges, greens, that kind of stuff. Just fish the platics in the 6-7 inch range.

Jake

If there are blue rockfish or black rockfish there (both common farther north) a dark blue swimbait can work well for lings. Oldtimers have won pools by catching the biggest lings on a small live blue rockfish or black rockfish in norcal. Trout color swimbaits also attract lings.

Bob

You might also try playing with a Ding-a-Ling. :+ No, not that one! :+
Take a Torpedo sinker 2-24oz depending, painted white and blue. Attach a split-ring to one eye and attach a 3/0 to 6/0 J hook. Thread a large, usually white, curly-tail grub on the hook and it's ready to go. I usually make them up in 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and rarely 24 oz sizes. Coat it with scent and bounce it off the bottom with a 6-8" curly-tailed plastic worm about 18" above it.
Tight lines,
Wade

Good idea Wade. I have done something similar. For the smaller weight situations I have pinned the white curly tail grub on a white bucktail jig instead of the painted torpedo sinker. I think that white is a good idea there. However, for the grub 18" above on the dropper loop, for some reason motor oil has worked better for me than white.

Bob

Catch a bunch of sand dabs & keep 'em live in an aerated cooler(if the boat allows coolers).

Best live bait ever... Ling cod candy.

Anyone planning on heading out of the local SoCal boat for em'?

Yeah, I never made it out to Morro Bay. My plans were for 2-25-04. Although, that day no boats went out from there due to the KILLER waves during that storm.
I do plan on going soon. I am wondering which landing would be killer for both lings and rockies. I have seen yesterday's report from www.sportfishingreport.com & many landings did well. Well, I mean for rockfish.
Our depth restrictions are 360 ft. COOL! Still 10 fish & 24 in. for lingcod. I hear a meeting will take place in April to determine if changes will be made to the lingcod regs. The proposal is for 30 in. minimum & 1 fish.

argh! sorry, i double clicked "posted messege"