May 2, 2006 - West Beach - Santa Barbara

Big Hammer · May-03-2006, 08:19 AM

I heard some halibut had moved into the West Beach area so I thought I'd give it a shot. Got down there around 6:00 pm. Started off with a bang. Missed about 3 or 4 strikes (or at least what may have been strikes) and then finally hooked up with the first short flattie of the evening. A couple of casts later I got another one. Switched colors and got a couple more. In the meantime my 9 year old nephew Zack is getting them just as fast as I am while my 6 year old nephew Ryan gets his first halibut ever at around 19 inches. I ended up with 7 halibut and I believe Zack got just as many if not one or two more. We didn't get any legals but Zack did get one that was close at 21 inches.

Most of the fish were caught using a medium speed straight grind but I got several on a technique I learned last year while fishing for speckled trout in Nag's Head. Basically reeling at a medium/fast speed while sharply jerking the rod every few seconds. It's a great technique but the fish almost always hit on the sink and it's difficult to feel the strikes.

All fish were caught using 3 inch Big Hammers rigged on 3/16 oz. Super Shad jig heads and Pro-Cure's new "Krill" flavored gel. Swimbait colors that caught fish: Sara's Trout, City Shrimp, Pierce's Perch, Sea Wolf, and Margarita.

reel fun · May-03-2006, 01:43 PM

nice job im probably gunna order some more BH's soon. just got 50 in the mail the other day

lunchbox · May-03-2006, 10:10 PM

Hey Pete, glad you got them. Seems they have gotten bigger through the week - 14 inches Friday, 15 inches Saturday, 17.5 inches Sunday, 21 inches Tuesday. Just a matter of time before the legals show up. Did you get Pierce out with you?

jscrib · May-03-2006, 10:59 PM

WTG Pete.

j

seagipsy · May-04-2006, 04:13 PM

I miss SB...You guys ever get around L. Point to fish the grass beds for grass rockfish? I use to slay them at low tide flylining dead squid in the holes. Good fun on light tackle!

HotWop · May-05-2006, 07:46 PM

Hey Pete,

Is City Shrimp that new orange color? I think Mike had one of those the other day. It looked bitchen!

Way to go on the flatties. SB is awesome. I'm one of those idiots who makes the trek from Pasadena to Goleta quite often just to fish there.

Rock on!

May-05-2006, 09:13 PM

That is some nice totals on the hali's there Pete. Congrats to you for putting the little ones on the fish. Cant wait till you get the city shrimp in a bigger size.

How did you like the Krill smell? Phil is sending me some bottles of that stuff sounds like it has been working pretty good.

Kelp fisher · May-06-2006, 09:46 AM

Right on!!!!! Way to put the nephew on some fish.

Big Hammer · May-10-2006, 03:32 PM

Bryan - yes, city shrimp is part orange. Looks like a 50/50 bar with a red belly

Dave - how big do you want it? So far the plan is to only make it in 3 and 4 inch. I like the krill gel. It smells like salmon eggs to me and seems to work well. It does stain the baits a little but it's red so it's not really a bad thing

KC Kevin · May-10-2006, 04:01 PM

Thanks for the fish report Pete. Glad to see you posting on here.

May-10-2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hammer

Bryan - yes, city shrimp is part orange. Looks like a 50/50 bar with a red belly

Dave - how big do you want it? So far the plan is to only make it in 3 and 4 inch. I like the krill gel. It smells like salmon eggs to me and seems to work well. It does stain the baits a little but it's red so it's not really a bad thing

Pete 4" is what I am looking forward to. The last time I talked you said you had only the 3" right now. I will be in touch soon. I got the Krill scents from Phil today they look very red and smell like you said.