I’ve caught a few bay rays on my 19’ boat in San Diego bay. The biggest we estimated to be about 4’ to 5’ wide. It pulled like a Mack truck. At first I thought it was a big halibut. But, the first glance showed what it was. I fought it for about 15 minutes on a 15# flouro leader. Every time I got him close to the boat he went back down. Finally got hike close enough to cut the leader close to his mouth. It was quite a tough battle, and was a good test of my gear and knots.

Seeing all the various videos of extremely productive fishing trips to the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez, I’d love to give it a try. We used to do extended weekend getaways to a place in Loreto. It was a beautiful very easy going, safe place, with great people. Although I didn’t fish when there, it was amazing to see the haul of fish, with a lot of Dorado, that the panga charters brought in. It’s almost a guaranteed limit.

But, I’m concerned about safety. And with Mexico being the conduit of the invasion of illegal aliens to our country I just can’t bring myself to support their economy. So, I’ll be sticking to fishing on this side of the border. Except for fishing in Mexican waters in the areas of the Coronados.

Does anyone else have similar feelings?

In Portland, Or…. October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June…

Give me mean tweets again.

The latest Obiden Freck up is Iran is funding proxy terrorism against the US from oil they are now allowed to sell. Oh yeah, and thrn there is the $Bs Obiden gave them.

The charges are absurd! There are no victims. And he paid back every loan with interest. Doesn’t there have to be a victim in a civil case? Anyhow, I heard it today. It like a death penalty imposed for Jay walking. That NY prosecuter ran on a platform of prosecuting Trump. demoncraps will stop at nothing to defeat a trump.


Oh yeah, and then there’s conspiracy to spread misinformation. What about Chucky Schumer: “I have seen irrefutable evidence of Trump/Russia collaborations”. And then there’s Hildabeast who fabricated false information. Where’s the prosecution?

Another night of soaking nets in San Diego Bay last night. My buds and I now have 10 nets. We baited them with mackerel and squid. Set them along the center of the Bay Side of the Zuniga Jetty at 6:00. Did the first pull at 7:30 and subsequent pulls every 45 minutes or so. Last pull was 11:00 . earlier in the evening was a rising tide, then slack high, then falling. The evening was clear and dark with a new moon, and very slight breeze. Conditions sound sound great. Well, the lobsters didn’t think so. Our complete tally: 2 short bugs, several keeper sized rock crabs released, 1 octopus, 1 eel, and 100s of sand dollars.

During our wait period we did some fishing and caught about 15 fish, a few spottys, a few calico bass, a few small halibut, and a bunch of rock fish.


Then to add insult to our bugless night, one of our nets tried to escape and got dragged up close to the submerged jetty by a big strand of kelp. As careful as I was at the helm, I found a slightly submerged rock that was out from the jetty. I gained some nasty looking gouges in the hull, and a bent prop blade. Fortunately my boat is a Triumph “The World’s Toughest Boat”, as I’m not sure a glass boat would have faired as well.

The final insult was when removing my fishing rod from the boat, I snagged a rod guide and broke it off.

When we returned to the launch we were met by F&G Rangers. They were very nice, and appreciative that we were all legal. They said it was a hit or miss night.

DAMN!

A PSA.It might be useful to put your name phone number on your net bouys. Last time fishing the bay, we came across 2 obviously lost lobster rigs. We retrieved them, and found that they had the owner’s contact info on them. Called the owner, and he was elated that we contacted him.

We arrived at our spot around 4:00. Fished for a while waiting for 6:00. The fish were biting well. 3 guys for 2 hours, we hooked up about 15 fish, 6 halibut…including a 25” keeper, calis, and brown rock fish. We netted 12 bugs, but only 4 keepers. Most of the shorts were less than 1/8” short. Also netted a bunch of keeper size rock crab that were released, and an eel that was about 2’ long.

Tonite‘s dinner will be Halibut and lobster.

No, that wasn’t my filet knife, it was covering a near decapitation by the gaff.

Recent catch in SD Bay by my fishin Bud, 33” doormat…

And a 17.5” Sandy by me…

Gentlemen….drop your nets! 6:00 PM PDT the hooping begins. It’s gonna be busy in San Diego, because Orange County & La County opening is delayed due to some bacterial stuff. Not only that, but the Shelter Island Boat Launch has lost 1/2 of the dock. Might be fun for someone to video the “Chit Show” at the launch.

I’ll report tomorrow…

Is that what happens when liberals think about Michael Obama?

Caught a new to me species in the San Diego bay yesterday. It was on my lazy line, that was out for about 20 minutes. When I started to reel it in it felt like I was dragging a huge kelp bed. Then when it started to head shake I thought it was a big halibut. I fought with it about 15 minutes. Then when I first saw color I saw the dark top, then a flash of white underside I really thought it was a big halibut, until I saw it’s shark like tail. We netted him, so I could bring him aboard to remove the hook. I’m guessing it weighed about 15 pounds or more. Anyhow…here’s the picture of new to me “shovel nose guitarfish”. Looks like a cross between a shark and bat ray. I was able to get the hook out of his lip, and return him to the water.

Sorry for the delayed response. The hole where the line enters the rod…I used a torch to heat up a nail, stuck it through the pipe and wiggled it around. Then laid it on an angle to give it the angle.

Here I am battling one of the Bat Rays. This was on one of my back up rod/reel combos. It was a good test of my gear, and especially my knots.

Yesterday’s outing count on San Diego bay, for 2 fisherman, was:
38 Spotted bass
10 Calico Bass
5 Sand Bass
1 Barracuda
3 24” to 36” Bat Rays…

All released…and they all swam away strong and healthy.

We hit some larger sized spotted bass, and wow! Do they ever put up a fight. Size fir size they are probably the hardest fighting fish. Especislly on 30# rods, and compact bait casters. All caught on 3/8 to 1/2 oz. Jig heads with various, mostly smelt, plastic swim bait.

The Bat Rays were all caught on a larger “Hookup Bait”. I was dragging it on the bottom, as we drifted with tide & wind. Each time I thought I was snagged on the bottom. Until I realized it was pulling in the opposite direction of the drift. Those guys put up one heck of a fight. And ya can’t get them to the surface until you let them tire them selves out. We netted them, and brought them into the boat so I could retrieve my, expensive to me, lure.