Critter fishing at NP 11/21/15 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

King Saba · 11-25-2015, 12:55 AM

Late report, but a report is better than no report.

Went fishing with my buddy at NP to test out my Elite 4 HDI. I need to figure that thing out. It seems that I need to adjust the ping speed? I think by the time the FF showed me what the bottom contour look like I had already passed the structure. Plus, I have this split screen thing. I don't know.

Anyways, we caught a mixed bag of fish including a sheephead, starry flounder, whitefish, sand dabs, bonita, a sarcastic fringehead, and endless extremely pesky lizardfish.

Used squid strips for the bottom fish and krocs for the top. Water temp ranged from 67-71. Warm!

My first sarcastic fringehead! This slimy mushy sucker had a huge jaw with some serious teeth.

Harry Hill · 11-25-2015, 06:31 AM

you caught sand dabs in Newport? I need to find where you are catching sand dabs, one of my favorite eating fish. Good report, you got me fired up to get down there again but I'm afraid this weather is going to turn things off for awhile.

onetriphudson · 11-25-2015, 08:18 AM

Great post, sounds like a good time.

Goose1993 · 11-25-2015, 08:33 AM

Is that a blue lightning rod I see?

That thing is a great small fish saltwater rod!

TroutBum · 11-25-2015, 08:58 AM

Nice report! Thanks!

Harry Hill · 11-25-2015, 09:48 AM

That fish looks the mudsuckers we use to catch corvina with down at the Salton Sea.

ROSSOLY · 11-25-2015, 12:06 PM

Thanks for report and pics☺

Raskal311 · 11-25-2015, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

you caught sand dabs in Newport? I need to find where you are catching sand dabs, one of my favorite eating fish. Good report, you got me fired up to get down there again but I'm afraid this weather is going to turn things off for awhile.

was out last weekend with a buddy sandaps was at 135foot just outside the mouth.

Harry Hill · 11-25-2015, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raskal311

was out last weekend with a buddy sandaps was at 135foot just outside the mouth.

that is great to find out. I have been catching macks and spotties in the harbor but I will head out aways and see if I can pick up some dabs. Thanks for the information.

Raskal311 · 11-25-2015, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

that is great to find out. I have been catching macks and spotties in the harbor but I will head out aways and see if I can pick up some dabs. Thanks for the information.

There was a lot of white fish around too, more then mack that day in my case. We limited out on white fish quickly and also landed a few reds, and couple of nice sheeps head, and sand bass.

kobra · 11-25-2015, 04:53 PM

Nice mixed bag Brian.

King Saba · 11-25-2015, 05:04 PM

Thanks guys! It was a fun trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

you caught sand dabs in Newport? I need to find where you are catching sand dabs, one of my favorite eating fish. Good report, you got me fired up to get down there again but I'm afraid this weather is going to turn things off for awhile.

I got them at around the 180ish zone. It was a bit of a relief to catch them as well as they one of my favorite eating fish. Steamed or pan fried they're delish! Yeah, no bueno on the weather.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goose1993

Is that a blue lightning rod I see?

That thing is a great small fish saltwater rod!

Indeed it is! I got it for 40 bucks at a yard sale. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the other ones the guy had.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raskal311

There was a lot of white fish around too, more then mack that day in my case. We limited out on white fish quickly and also landed a few reds, and couple of nice sheeps head, and sand bass.

Oh there's a good amount of whitefish at that zone if you're into those. I didn't take any as it's like roulette with them. They'll either be super tasty when you make it or bitter. What makes them so bitter anyways? I heard it's something in their diet. Any tips on finding a rockfish spot around NP? Those were my primary target but no results to show for our efforts.

Harry Hill · 11-25-2015, 06:25 PM

How were the sheepshead? The last ones I caught on a party boat we had to throw back because the Captain said they were wormy. I don't know how he knew that without opening one up but we didn't keep any. It's always been a real sweet tasting fish when I have eaten them so I would keep them if they are okay.

King Saba · 11-25-2015, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

How were the sheepshead? The last ones I caught on a party boat we had to throw back because the Captain said they were wormy. I don't know how he knew that without opening one up but we didn't keep any. It's always been a real sweet tasting fish when I have eaten them so I would keep them if they are okay.

I didn't eat this particular one, but my grandparents did. And, yeah the sheephead I've had in the past is exactly as you describe Harry, sweet.

Raskal311 · 11-25-2015, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Saba

Thanks guys! It was a fun trip.

I got them at around the 180ish zone. It was a bit of a relief to catch them as well as they one of my favorite eating fish. Steamed or pan fried they're delish! Yeah, no bueno on the weather.

Indeed it is! I got it for 40 bucks at a yard sale. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the other ones the guy had.

Oh there's a good amount of whitefish at that zone if you're into those. I didn't take any as it's like roulette with them. They'll either be super tasty when you make it or bitter. What makes them so bitter anyways? I heard it's something in their diet. Any tips on finding a rockfish spot around NP? Those were my primary target but no results to show for our efforts.

These were MUCH better the ones a caough at catalina a few weeks back.

Raskal311 · 11-25-2015, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

How were the sheepshead? The last ones I caught on a party boat we had to throw back because the Captain said they were wormy. I don't know how he knew that without opening one up but we didn't keep any. It's always been a real sweet tasting fish when I have eaten them so I would keep them if they are okay.

I got 5 a few weeks back and no worms in any of them.

Harry Hill · 11-25-2015, 07:33 PM

I always thought cooking would kill the worms so if you are making sushi I think you need to freeze if first but if they are cooked you shouldn't even notice the worms. I've seen guys throw away striped bass because they had leaches in their mouths so some people seem to worry to much. Unless the worms are really noticable I don't think I would worry to much. Of course I could be wrong, I was once before but I divorced her and fixed that problem. I think I need to carry a chart of minimum sizes so I don't keep the wrong sized fish.

wolfman · 11-26-2015, 08:40 AM

Check out the free app. Fish Alerts for regulations, MPA's and weather

Orca Winfrey · 11-26-2015, 01:28 PM

What app is that wolf man?
Great trip Saba! Thanks for the use of your FF. It did put us on the fish. We'll have to catch som red colored ones next time.

cell128 · 11-28-2015, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

How were the sheepshead? The last ones I caught on a party boat we had to throw back because the Captain said they were wormy. I don't know how he knew that without opening one up but we didn't keep any. It's always been a real sweet tasting fish when I have eaten them so I would keep them if they are okay.

Damn that sucks. I've heard a few times that cattle boats don't like sheepshead because they're tough to filet.

11-25-2015, 12:55 AM	#1
King Saba Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: SGV Posts: 848	Critter fishing at NP 11/21/15 Late report, but a report is better than no report. Went fishing with my buddy at NP to test out my Elite 4 HDI. I need to figure that thing out. It seems that I need to adjust the ping speed? I think by the time the FF showed me what the bottom contour look like I had already passed the structure. Plus, I have this split screen thing. I don't know. Anyways, we caught a mixed bag of fish including a sheephead, starry flounder, whitefish, sand dabs, bonita, a sarcastic fringehead, and endless extremely pesky lizardfish. Used squid strips for the bottom fish and krocs for the top. Water temp ranged from 67-71. Warm! My first sarcastic fringehead! This slimy mushy sucker had a huge jaw with some serious teeth.

11-25-2015, 08:18 AM	#3
onetriphudson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 143	Great post, sounds like a good time. __________________ 2012 Dune Pro Angler 14, 1994 Yellow Scupper Pro

11-26-2015, 08:40 AM	#18
wolfman Wolfman Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 51	fishing regs. Check out the free app. Fish Alerts for regulations, MPA's and weather

11-25-2015, 06:31 AM	#2
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	you caught sand dabs in Newport? I need to find where you are catching sand dabs, one of my favorite eating fish. Good report, you got me fired up to get down there again but I'm afraid this weather is going to turn things off for awhile.

11-25-2015, 08:33 AM	#4
Goose1993 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	Is that a blue lightning rod I see? That thing is a great small fish saltwater rod!

11-25-2015, 08:58 AM	#5
TroutBum Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: OC Posts: 62	Nice report! Thanks!

11-25-2015, 09:48 AM	#6
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	That fish looks the mudsuckers we use to catch corvina with down at the Salton Sea.

11-25-2015, 12:06 PM	#7
ROSSOLY Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 120	Thanks for report and pics☺

11-25-2015, 04:53 PM	#11
kobra Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: oceanside Posts: 880	Nice mixed bag Brian.

11-25-2015, 06:25 PM	#13
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	How were the sheepshead? The last ones I caught on a party boat we had to throw back because the Captain said they were wormy. I don't know how he knew that without opening one up but we didn't keep any. It's always been a real sweet tasting fish when I have eaten them so I would keep them if they are okay.

11-25-2015, 07:33 PM	#17
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	I always thought cooking would kill the worms so if you are making sushi I think you need to freeze if first but if they are cooked you shouldn't even notice the worms. I've seen guys throw away striped bass because they had leaches in their mouths so some people seem to worry to much. Unless the worms are really noticable I don't think I would worry to much. Of course I could be wrong, I was once before but I divorced her and fixed that problem. I think I need to carry a chart of minimum sizes so I don't keep the wrong sized fish.

11-26-2015, 01:28 PM	#19
Orca Winfrey Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: The I. E. Posts: 353	What app is that wolf man? Great trip Saba! Thanks for the use of your FF. It did put us on the fish. We'll have to catch som red colored ones next time.