Beach Tips and Tricks

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Beach Tips & Tricks

Once you’re at the Beach:  What To Look For and Where To Fish

When you first reach the beach find a spot on the berm where you can get a good look at the lay of the land.

pointsandbays
Points and Bays make good places to find surf fish
jalamasurf
Waves carve out the bottom and create troughs

 

INSHORE TROUGH
Troughs form near shore and can be seen at low tide
slopingcorbina
Corbina love gently sloping beaches

 

illustration
Fish float suspend in the churning waters of the trough looking for food
illustrationrip
Look for rip currents that pull bait away from shore.
Fish the edges of the rip, this is where fish wait for food.

 

rip current
Here’s a great example of a rip tide that formed off Huntington Beach. All of the edges of the rip are were the fish gather to find food.
rivermouth
Look for rip currents that pull bait away from shore.
Rivermouths, not unlike rip currents, create some great fishing opportunities

 

surftriangle
Fish the edge of a foam triangle–this is where the dropoff starts
rockyshore
Winter sand erosion leaves all sorts of structure for fish to hide and feed near.  Find structure like this and fish it at high tide when the rocks are covered.

 

lowtide
Find structure at low tide and fish it at high tide
jettypic
Fishing from the rocks takes slightly heavier gear and a longer rod.  I like to use 6-10lb mono on a 9′ rod.  Fish live in the rocks beneath your feet and move in and out with the tide and current.  Fish jetties at high tide and place your bait right where sand meets rock.  Shorten your leader to 8 inches and downsize your sliding sinker to 1/8th or less.  Let you line down to the bottom and be sure to reel up slack so you are tight to your sinker.  When you feel a bite reel down and lift up quickly to keep the slab from rocking you.  In winter months use sidewinder crabs and hang on!

 

JETTY DIAGRAM 15
On a jetty, take note of the current’s direction and you’ll know where to fish
jettyop
Fish from the top or along the sides of a jetty.  At low tide and especially minus tide periods, walk out as far as possible on the sand and fish the front of the jetty.  You’ll find some big fish along this edge.

CALICO PERCH BILL 1 14 won

“If you need a home loan please ask me!  I’ve help families with home loans since 1984–that is, when I’m not fishing!             Bill

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