New Member from SoCal - lakes Castaic and Pyramid

[samotlietuvis]

Been fishing in the ocean targeting BFT, YFT, YT, rockfish for some time from charter boats. 

Got myself a 22ft boat, put lots of work to her- minn kota ulterra, fish finders, autopilot, new electrical, radio, etc. Came to realize 22ft don’t mean much in pacific. Been to Catalina twice, caught rockfish and bonito but no tuna. 

Just switched gears and started fishing lake Castaic;  just tried Pyramid lake and got my first large mouth on drop shot. Find my new favorite lake. Kudos to two gentleman in pyramid who gave me pointers to better drop shot technique that lead to me catching ***.8lb large mouth and two smaller small mouth basses. Got one striper on trolling but lost my Alabama rig around the island passing shallow point   Looking to get better in drop shot fishing and getting rigged for ned. Got many more lures to try.  

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

 

[WRB]

Welcome to BR.

Any question you have regarding SoCal fishing ( fresh or salt) will be happy to help  with.

We have a Western Bass fishing forum for regional  Q & A’s.

Tom

[GaryH]

Welcome aboard.. need to update your PB. 

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[samotlietuvis]

5 hours ago, GaryH said:

Welcome aboard.. need to update your PB. 

Thanks - my PB is 4.8lb at this time - will update. Got big shipment of lures coming tomorrow   Rigger my daughter up as well - she is coming and it is her first time on boat / fishing. Got new umbrella rig as well - (hopefully) better lures. 

[samotlietuvis]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

Welcome to BR.

Any question you have regarding SoCal fishing ( fresh or salt) will be happy to help  with.

We have a Western Bass fishing forum for regional  Q & A’s.

Tom

 

Will be asking and been looking at Western Bass fishing forum. Did some reading yesterday that Castaic fishery is not so good - that is unfortunate. Cannot wait for tuna to show up south of Catalina- they are 20miles South of San Diego at this time. 

[WRB]

It’s easy to trailer to Mission Bay and target tuna on the 9 mile bank in your

boat.

El Nino year brings up red crabs and Big Eye tuna so trolled red tuna lures should be added to the standard green colors.

Castiac is slowly recovering fishes very differently then Pyramid generally deeper active bass zone.

Tom

[samotlietuvis]

17 minutes ago, WRB said:

It’s easy to trailer to Mission Bay and target tuna on the 9 mile bank in your

boat.

El Nino year brings up red crabs and Big Eye tuna so trolled red tuna lures should be added to the standard green colors.

Castiac is slowly recovering fishes very differently then Pyramid generally deeper active bass zone.

Tom

 

Did trailer to San Diego once - was an optimistic new boat owner who never trolled in his life and was dreaming on big tuna from my own boat   Learned my lesson - not trailering to SD again. I did become decent in trolling in the lake - have a nice electric reel setup (banax 1000) to let line out, and it works well for rock fish. Would like to try ocean again but once u leave the break wall u realize how small your boat is   I am gaining skillset to catch fish from my own boat from a lake. Catching in the ocean from your own boat is very different.  I do have all safety gear like life raft, satellite beacon, AIS, uhf radio, two motors with independent fuel supply, wireless engine shut off, etc, and I have trolling lures like mad mac’s and other ocean trollers. I would love to either join a boat who has crew  knows what it is doing in the ocean and I pay, or someone joins me free of charge but knows what he is doing in the ocean. 

This year I plan launching my boat twice from Long Beach and go catalina - catch rockfish, bonito and kelp bass, and dream about yellowtail or tuna   Already have plans for 28ft much more ocean capable boat   

[WRB]

No reason to leave the federal breakwall, the kelp beds just outside holds Yellowtail during the summer, lots a Calico inside and outside break wall.

Trolling for tuna is simple; you need rod holders, trolling rods with 40# big game and tuna feather/jigs. Trolling speed for tuna is between 6 to 8 mph, the lures running near the surface about 100’ behind the boat. You run a pattern about 1 mile squares. 
Mornings are usually calm with swells, as soon as the popcorn comes out ( small white caps) you go in.

You need safety lanyards attached to the rods and troll 2 outfits off the stern. 
Set the drag at 6 to 8 lbs, tuna hook themselves.

You can see Point Loma from the 9 mile bank, no need to go out much further.

Birds are your fish finders and kelp paddies will hold Yellowtail and tuna.

I fished tournament tuna and marlin for 35 years, local to Cabo San Lucas.

My suggestion is hire a 6 Pack with friends and learn how from skilled charter crew.

If you get a map and draw a line from San Clemete Island Pyramid Head to the SD 9 mile bank the follows a ridge (underwater mountain ) with a high spot 43 fathoms.

Tuna migrate north following the ridge or outside 60 miles or more , rarely inside towards Calalina,

Water temperature is a key 66 to 70 degrees and blue.

I sold all my off shore tackle 3 years ago, otherwise I would give you what you needed. Too old now to fish off shore.

Willing to help you with our local bass lakes.

Tom

 

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[GreenPig]

Welcome to the forum.

[GRiver]

Hi from the Sunshine State of Florida.

[Jmilburn76]

Welcome to Bass Resource!

[J._Bricker]

Hello @samotlietuvis from Northern California, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

[ATA]

hi and Wellcome to Bassresource. you are in the right place.

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard! 🤙

[Glenn]

Welcome home! We're glad you're here.