San Diego

[George F.]

Hey-

Anyone fish the San Diego area? I spend a week or two in the area each month. Would like some tips on fishing the surf for (Corbina-Corvina). Also wondering if anyone fishes the bay from kayak or on foot and could burn a spot or two? Would definitely like to meet up with a local if there are any.

George

[Chad Simcox]

I‘ve fished Mission Bay for bay and sand bass. Once I figured the presentation out and where to target, they were pretty easy to catch; and a lot of fun! My best luck came on shrimp patterns, fished on the bottom with short strips. Try Crown Point off Ingraham St.
Corbina, that‘s another story! I haven‘t fished the surf in SD, but I did quite a bit in LA. Beans never wanted to play with me, which is really frustrating when you find them sliding up the beach at dawn. But I have had a lot of luck catching surf perch on clousers and surf rats. SNGF and Leopards seemed to always like merkins or other crab patterns.

I’m jonesing to get back out there myself.

http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.

http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
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[George F.]

Chad-

Thanks for the reply. Like you I have stood in the wash in the evening and watched the Corvina rushing in and out of the surf. Two weeks ago I was enjoying my morning coffee in Mission Beach (plug for Better Buzz Coffee) when I guy comes walking down the street with a nice corvina in one hand and a spin rod in the other. The hook was still in the fishes mouth. We spoke for awhile and he split. Well he reappears 20 minutes later heading back to the beach. I tag along and ask to hang out with him. Turns out he took the fish home, cleaned it, drizzled olive oil, salt pepper and some lemon and wrapped in tin foil for lunch. Then headed back for dinner!

He scoops in the sand, finds a sand crab, hooks it on and casts into the wash. He says there are tons there. No bites in 20 minutes and he headed to work. I stopped at SoCal flyfishing, nice shop, bought some flies (orange to replicate the sand crab with eggs) but had a small problem. All my fly rods were back east.

So on my next trip I will go out with the recommended rig. Heavy sinking line, short leader, fly with orange on it and see what happens. The fish I saw were in the wash at Torrey Pines.

I have a SUP but have not fished from it as it has no rigging for a rod, hold down straps, etc. But I bet in Mission Bay I could have some fun with it.

George

[Chad Simcox]

Check the regulations for fishing down there from a SUP. It is considered a watercraft and I believe you have to be a certain distance off the shore to fish. Some guys got busted for fishing too close to shore off SUPs in Long Beach I believe. Not sure if it was an MLPA or not.

In the surf I always used an 8wt with a 300grain sink tip line and a straight 15lb flouro leader of about 5-7 ft. It really helped keep the mole crab flies down in the wash.

Check the boards at
http://scsurffishing.com/
https://www.garybulla.com/forum/
http://flyfishingaddicts.com/forum/

Make sure you give your gear a good fresh water rinse after you‘re done using it for the day.

http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.

http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox Instagram

[George F.]

Thanks for the tips Chad. I will let you know how I make out.

George

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