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Lobsterman
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Catching Live Bait in BOLA
Well it's official 4 of us are heading down to BOLA in two truck and two 18' aluminum boats with live bait tanks May 28th for a week. We will be
staying a Guillermo's. I'm not a top water fisherman but the others are so they want to catch live bait in order to catch YT if they are in by then.
How and where do you guys catch YT in the immediate area and what bait do you use?
I catch small macs and other small baitfish on my boat in San Diego around the kelp to go after big lingcod and halibut. I've been very successful
lately using a chumming technique I picked up from the locals in Hilo on a recent work assignment. I plan to bring it with me, frozen in qt ziplocks
as well as brown sugar and salt cured anchovies and small sardines. The Hilo chum consist of
cans of chub macs in oil, squished up
vegetable oil
oat meal slight chopped
and enough flour to make it into a sticky throwable ball. The ball slowly breaks apart and sinks, attracting small fish in the area.
I also will be bring about 10 lbs of smallish frozen squid (1/2 lb per day per boat) in 1 lb blocks for my bottom fishing to catch dinner with the
remaining squid bait fried into calamari rings for dinner. I have not fished there since 2008 according to Discover Baja but in the past was very
successful off a reef just off Smith Island. Two of us have been fishing there often dating back to the 60's and me from the 70's. I'm bringing one
of my GPS/FF to put on one of the boats so I can see the bottom and mark WPs where we catch bottom fish or triggers. This is my 1st time where I'm
not the wagon master but co-pilot in someone else's boat and truck. Finally I get to see the countryside going down there and not studiously watching
the road.
My fishing juices are running now. We will not be bringing any fish home. Part of the catch will be prepared by local restaurants for dinners and bag
lunches afterwards. In the event we are fortune enough to catch a limit is there a local charity where we can donate the fish? Last time down we
brought a lot of used athletic gear and clothing from local high schools and gave it to the wonder lady who runs the BOLA museum. Is she still there?
Thanks for your replies in advance. So if you see two aluminum boats sun-thurs please come and say hi. 1st beer is on me in the adjacent restaurant
where we can swap fishing stories well into the night.
Halibut Howie
[Edited on 5-26-2016 by Lobsterman]
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Santiago
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HH: Those cured anchovies sure bring back memories of fishing out of Cayucos with my dad.
making bait in BOLA is normally done before the sun is up somewhere in front of the lighthouse. It can move around though, so just watch for the
other boats.
End of May we have caught surface yellowtail in many different locations, I have not heard yet if this bite has happened. One year it was just
outside the inner islands between the south point of Smith (Coronado); other years closer to Don Juan cove or even in the south bay. If it's on,
you'll know by the boats.
Good luck and post a report.
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Paulina
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Sometimes bait (mackerel) is hard to get. The local guides will be on the usual spots very early in the morning, look for the "parking lot" and drop
down your Sabiki bait rigs.
Alejandrina's restaurant will cook up your catch. Her place is just past the traffic circle as you are headed towards La Gringa. Check in first to let
her know you may be coming and for price per person.
Catch and keep only what you'll eat.
Carolina runs the museum. If she is not there a docent will be.
P>*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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Lobsterman
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Woody,
Is that on the marine radio? One boat will have a builtin 10w radio. The other a 5w handheld.
Hopefully, we'll arrive sometime before dark on Saturday. After check in, dinner next door and then let the beer flow. I do not know if my group of
people will get up before dark, launch the boats and try to make bait all in the dark. That's ok with me cuz I'm not a big fan of YT any way. "Slime
balls" (jawfish) on the other hand are some of my favorite eating fish along with cabrilla and triggerfish ceviche with a cold one for pu pus. I use a
box cutter to cut around each triggers side filets before finishing it with the filet knife.
Are the jawfish still located on the south end of Smith on its eastern side in less than 100' of water?
Are there still triggers amongst those little islands? I remember one in days past we called Triggerfish Island. I'm bringing steel leaders in the
event we find them.
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woody with a view
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i deleted my post because I saw you're leaving Thurs. we roll in Sat after that. I've caught jawfish on the west side of Smith so they are around.
yes 68 vhf. gringos hail on 68 then talk on one channel up or down. Mexicans use 16 and 74 if you get in trouble.
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baitcast
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Those Woody are called BMB's or "BIG MOUTH BASTARDS and I think they taste like a microwaved cold sponge other than that they taste like chit
besides being ugly
Rob
Anyone can catch fish in a boat but only \"El Pescador Grande\" can get them from the beach.
I hope when my time comes the old man will let me bring my rod and the water will be warm and clear.
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woody with a view
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can't say I disagree with ya ROB!
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Hook
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Howie, bring some 1-3 oz sliding egg sinkers with you. Who says you have to fish mackerel in the top of the water column?
If the yellers are down deep, provide them with curbside diner service. Just put an egg sinker on the line above your baited hook. The size of the
sinker is somewhat dependent on the size of the macks, how much current and how deep the fish are. Currents are significant in BOLA.
Hey, Woody, has this May trip replaced your early June trip to BOLA?
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woody with a view
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No, we're still on for the same trip.
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willardguy
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screw it all....throw the iron...
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Lobsterman
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Thanks for the replies and advice. I value your local fishing advice and knowledge and have been following youalls posts for many years. Yes, hook
I'll bring about 20# of lead including many egg sinkers of various weights in a 2-gal bucket. That's my main method of fishing for halibut with live
bait. Yep, I've been told many times before that I'm nuts for liking jaw fish, but I eat my cured anchovies and bbq the small macs I catch for bait
for dinner as well and shun YT and tuna. Go figure. I hope the next door restaurant will cook the slimeballs for me and not throw me out.
Woody:
That's great that we'll cross paths this time either on the water or at the watering hole. And thanks for the marine radio numbers for communication.
The boat owner last year did not have a radio on the boat. After a friendly advice from me (kicked them in the ass) they both have one on each boat
now along with other safety equipment they were lacking. Safety 1st.
After over 60 years of saltwater fishing I've never been an iron guy. I love to explore around and find out what's below the waves on the bottom up
to about 500' with little wind or current. You'll be amazed at the creatures you find down there. However, I'm only bringing gear for less than half
of that depth.
If I do not get a bite in 5-10 minutes I'm off to another location to find something. I guess I love the mystery of what's down there more than the
fight of a large fish. My motto is to catch dinner 1st then hola hola around for the pelagics. Like tomorrow in San Diego, +20# YT and Bluefin are
prevalent and biting at the Los Coronados to the south but I'm heading north instead to the La Jolla area for reds and lingcod with said baits and
small macs I'll catch there. In fact I'll cure them as well and see how they work in BOLA. There's no way this group will get up early and make bait
in the dark.
My boat partner and the other two on the other boat, on the other hand, are exclusively iron or trolling guys. They know the area quite well growing
up fishing BOLA with their fathers since young kids (next door neighbors). One is bringing his grandson for the 2nd time who has to my knowledge never
fished the bottom. Unfortunately last year they only caught a handful of fish in BOLA with the grandson getting skunked after 4 days of fishing.
They had no live bait, did not bring squid with them and only threw irons and trolled a bit.
I still have a keen memory of where I caught fish in the past there (no GPS, just triangulation and bottom structure). Consequently, will bring the
baits that have been successful in the past there. Also, I'll put one of my GPS/FFs and a mobile 50/200 transducer on Alan's boat this time. I did
not go down with them last year. So when Alan is throwing irons, I'll be dropping down to see what he is missing. That way, we will be able to cover
the entire water column.
I'll post a detailed trip report with pics. I'm betting the grandson catches a fish this time.
Dennis
[Edited on 5-26-2016 by Lobsterman]
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4baja
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you will make bait right in front of were your staying( in front of the launch ramp) and usually all you want. that time of year is surface action and
all you can handle. if your looking for moss backs head to north smith and fish deep with live greenbacks sliding sinker to a circle hook.
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Lobsterman
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Thanks,
Is that while it's dark and do they continue to bite after 1st light?
[Edited on 5-6-2016 by Lobsterman]
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Lobsterman
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4baja,
A quick side note. I see you are from Morro Bay. I'm visiting a friend in SLO shortly after this trip. How's bottom fishing out of Morro Bay in
June? Any party boats you recommend? Have the MPA's affected you much?
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Martyman
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I'll be down there too from June 1-10.
I saw a recent fishing report on Bloodydecks saying that smaller (8-10 lb) yellows are on the surface between Smith Is. and La Ventana.
See ya'll on the fishing grounds.
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24baja
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Quote: Originally posted by Martyman  | I'll be down there too from June 1-10.
I saw a recent fishing report on Bloodydecks saying that smaller (8-10 lb) yellows are on the surface between Smith Is. and La Ventana.
See ya'll on the fishing grounds.
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Yes they were a friend caught 10 on wednesday
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24baja
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| Quote: Originally posted by baitcast |
Those Woody are called BMB's or "BIG MOUTH BASTARDS and I think they taste like a microwaved cold sponge other than that they taste like chit
besides being ugly
Rob |
Funny how we all experience things and tases differently, we love them deep fried in beer batter in fish tacos. I will take and clean them all day!
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Santiago
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| Quote: Originally posted by 24baja | | Quote: Originally posted by baitcast |
Those Woody are called BMB's or "BIG MOUTH BASTARDS and I think they taste like a microwaved cold sponge other than that they taste like chit
besides being ugly
Rob |
Funny how we all experience things and tases differently, we love them deep fried in beer batter in fish tacos. I will take and clean them all day!
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So true, I hate slimy bast*rds but then, they were the only thing Mike Humfreville would fish for. Viva la difference.
[Edited on 5-6-2016 by Santiago]
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willardguy
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| Quote: Originally posted by Santiago | | Quote: Originally posted by 24baja | | Quote: Originally posted by baitcast |
Those Woody are called BMB's or "BIG MOUTH BASTARDS and I think they taste like a microwaved cold sponge other than that they taste like chit
besides being ugly
Rob |
Funny how we all experience things and tases differently, we love them deep fried in beer batter in fish tacos. I will take and clean them all day!
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So true, I hate slimy bast*rds but then, they were the only thing Mike Humfreville would fish for. Viva la difference.
[Edited on 5-6-2016 by Santiago] |
not too many folks targeting jawfish....but like you said, different strokes!
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amigobaja
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Fished BOLA last week on the Tony Reyes. Caught limits everyday to 30 lbs.on Mirrolures exclusively. We did much better then the iron throwers and did
not work near as hard. More Cabrilla then tails but still a great mix.
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