Redondo Beach Pier
California Fishing
Apr 12, 2024 02:30:35 #
On Wednesday (10 April) a friend and I had planned to take a half-day sport fishing trip out of Long Beach, but the trip was canceled because too few tickets were sold. We decided to go pier fishing at the Redondo Beach pier. We were using two rods, one with high-low rigs baited with frozen squid (purchased at the pier tackle shop) and some shrimp I had previously salted. The second rod with swimbaits and lures. After four hours we had nothing to show, except some kelp. We switched the second rods to Sabiki rigs and started catching mackerel. Eventually my friend got a bite on his squid while he was taking mackerel off the Sabiki, so I brought it in for him. Another small mackerel.
Prior to catching the mackerel on the high-low rig, my friend caught one of the aquatic birds (perhaps a common loon) that was swimming around the pier. We don't know how he got caught, perhaps he was swimming around the rig in the water. After much commotion, others stepped in to help and we were able to get the bird onto the pier using a pier net. The upper hook had snagged the back, near a wing, and the lower hook went through the leg. The hook through the leg was removed by cutting the hook using a bolt cutter. The bird was released and appeared to be in good shape.
Around the time we were planning to quit (5:30 pm), the mackerel action was good. My last three casts with the Sabiki rig all landed some mackerel. Fishing is fun, but catching is even more fun. This was the first time fishing with my friend that we had not been skunked.
Prior to catching the mackerel on the high-low rig, my friend caught one of the aquatic birds (perhaps a common loon) that was swimming around the pier. We don't know how he got caught, perhaps he was swimming around the rig in the water. After much commotion, others stepped in to help and we were able to get the bird onto the pier using a pier net. The upper hook had snagged the back, near a wing, and the lower hook went through the leg. The hook through the leg was removed by cutting the hook using a bolt cutter. The bird was released and appeared to be in good shape.
Around the time we were planning to quit (5:30 pm), the mackerel action was good. My last three casts with the Sabiki rig all landed some mackerel. Fishing is fun, but catching is even more fun. This was the first time fishing with my friend that we had not been skunked.
My first catch of the day. I ended up with 14.
My friends first catch. He ended up with over 20.
Others helping to untangle and unhook the sea bird.
Apr 12, 2024 07:48:17 #
Apr 12, 2024 14:06:07 #
Apr 13, 2024 15:48:39 #
I grew up walking distance from that pier. Started fishing off it at age 9. In those days, fishing was outstanding. Everyday there were quality halibut (20 lb plus) caught. At the very end and south side, there were a group of hard core halibut guys. There was a right of passage, and those boys wouldn’t let anyone outside their core group to get anywhere close to the railing. But it was a real education for a pinhead like me to watch and learn. By 14, I was able to be a deckhand on “The City of Redondo & the Redondo Special”. 3 years later I was able to deck on the Pursuit, which ran overnight island trips. Fishing those waters back in those days was outstanding. Gradually things changed, but I’m sure occasionally a nice fish is caught on that pier. At age 71, now residing in n/w Montana, I look back on those wonderful memories made on that pier.
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