San Diego and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - anyone got the scoop?

[Justin Schiavone]

Hey ya'll, 

Hoping I could pick your brains on possible fishing in the areas of San Diego and Pear Harbor. 

I have two weeks in both regions for work. (Two weekends in Pearl Harbor)

4 and 6 weights to possibly take.  

Any suggestions/ tips are greatly appreciated. Feel free to email directly since there are two subjects. 

Thanks, 

Justin 

[Vic Velasco]

You might want to get a days worth of guiding in both places - that way you'll be armed with knowledge for the rest of the time you'll have in each spot. 

There is a flyshop at Liberty Station in San Diego.  They have guide services but if you aren't interested in that, there are a few internet groups like this one (but I can't remember their urls - just try googling).  

Al Q is another resource for San Diego.  http://alquattrocchi.wordpress.com/  also google Gary Bulla (I think that is his name - good flies).

Halibut, Corbina and Surf Perch are the targets in San Diego.  

For Oahu, the ginormous bonefish are out on the Windward side - guides with boats are your best bet, but again if you want to DIY, Maunalua Bay Beach Park at lowtide is worth trying.  Also Ala Moana Beach Park (you can see footage of one of the guides fishing this spot on youtube).  There is a flyshop tucked at the back of a small strip mall called Nervous Water (google them, get the address and look for them around the corner from the Chinese restaurant).  They'll have the right flies (think rootbeer gotchas or try googling "Spam and Eggs").  

If you have access to the bases, there is even more opportunity, but you should do some research on this (Hickam Flats).

I'm jealous... 

[Vic Velasco]

Oh - and you're going to need a bigger rod... On Oahu the wind and the fish will smash your 4 wt - and I would think you'll just get by with the 6 wt.  I think an 8wt minimum.  If you are lucky enough to hook up with a Hawaiian Bonefish, it'll try to break you off on the coral heads - you'll need the 8 weight to fight/steer the fish.

In San Diego, you might be able to get away with the 6 wt (surf perch), but that 8 will sure come in handy (halibut for sure).

One more thing - if you are up to the 1.5 hour drive - you should fish the Los Angeles River, just to say you did it.

[Nedak]

Fishing San Diego this weekend. Hopefully something good to report. Stay tuned.

[Justin Schiavone]

Vic,

This information is incredible, I really do appreciate it. I am definitely going to grab an 8 or 9 weight before I head out.

Again, much thanks.

[Justin Schiavone]

Awesome. I will. Thanks man.

[Dan Dutton]

I fished in SD a day before a conference a few years ago.  Hired a guide, ended up being a gear guy with a box of flies his boss gave him.  Luckily I had my own gear and he knew where to go to find fish.  It took a bit for us to click, but when it did I caught a bunch and had a good time.  He kept wanting me to switch to bait or lures at the beginning when things were slow, but once everything came together he was impressed with how well flies did.  

fishing the bay was just like fishing chesapeake bay, casting to drop-offs and grass beds.  I threw an intermediate line on a 6 wt with small clousers and shrimp flies.  Caught yellowfin croaker, sea bass, needlefish, other drum species, and BONEFISH!  I wasn't expecting the bonefish and it wasn't sight fishing at all, but they came off structure and grass beds like the others.  I'll see if I can find those pictures.  

Dan

[Nedak]

Justin-

I fished San Diego this past weekend without much success.  I was DIY fisher no guide.  I have some suggestions that may help you on locations but remember I was shut out.

1-if you fish the beach, you need fast sinking full line.  The water is cold so bring either a wet suit or waders.  I brought waders and was fine.  7 weight is perfect. 

2-I fished off Mission Beach.  You can park here: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.768097,-117.252084&num=1&t=m&z=16 and fish the Ocean.  If the waves/wind are too much. You can take a short drive and fish here:  https://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.768097,-117.252084&num=1&t=m&z=16

There is a park and its essentially a huge sand flat.  The channel is on the far side by the rocks.  Its huge tidal flows, rising 5+ feet.  The locals recommended fishing the incoming tide.  I was throwing mole crab patterns (essentially clousers with brown bucktail, a little gold flash, tied w. Texas burnt orange thread).  I threw a bunch of other colors but no luck.  During low tide on the flats you can see big holes and areas that look fishy.  Again the locals like fast sinking line with a slow retrieve.  

3-Recommend a stripping basket.  Waves get your lines in a mess and the 2nd spot I was making big blind casts in pretty heavy rising tides.  Hit me with an email and I will give you my suggestion on solving that problem.

4-If you want to chuck bait, I parked here:  https://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.768097,-117.252084&num=1&t=m&z=16 and threw Ghost Shrimp.  Again rising tides are what the locals look for.  I was using pretty big flounder hooks for live ghost shrimp but would recommend bringing small hooks.  The perch have tiny mouths.  Size 6-12.

Light tackle works well there.  The locals on the jetty were all very friendly and helpful.

I ended up with a spotted bay bass and a skate.  A lot of work for not much fish.

If you are into seafood check out Blue Water Seafood of San Diego.  Its a cool local market where you can buy fresh fish and sandwiches, salads etc. Local joint with lines out the front most days.

Good luck.

John

[Brad]

Peter Hamann with San Diego Fishing Adventures is a really good guide in San Diego. He also has some articles and reports on his web site. http://sdfishingadventures.com/index.php

I've fished conventional with him a couple of times and always had a good time. 

Brad

[Jason McMahon]

Justin,

The winds out on Oahu can be difficult during certain times of the year.  I take my 8wt when I go but wish I had a little extra punch with a 9wt when conditions are tough.  For leaders I'll use an abrasion resistant mono and add a section of 16lb flurocarbon for a length no less than 15'.  Flies that I've had success with are chili peppers, fluffy mantis shrimp patterns in brown and tan, and marabou shrimp.  For a real low tide I'll use the bead chain eyes but typically use black dumbell eyes.   If you are at beer tie on Monday the 10th I can give some flies that I've used. 

The access to the flats is pretty easy.  There is stretch from Wailupe Beach Park to Maunalua Bay Beach Park that is pretty good.  The best place to start is at Kawaikui beach park.  It is between both of these.  Straight out from the park you have some deeper water to blind cast and if you go left take a long walk up the beach and work your way back.  In the morning you'll have a sun at your back making it much easier to spot fish.  There will be some deeper holes that you'll won't want to pass up with out putting a few casts in.   I'd would probably pass up on Ala Moana.  It can get really crowded and there are a lot of surfers who paddle through.  You would also have to cross a deep channel to get to the flat.  There are, however, some ponds in the park that fill up with tilapia, barracuda, and omilu.  Good fun for the kids on spin gear.  If you want to get you eyes ready to spot fish go to the jetty on Waikiki beach with a some bread.  There are some beastly bonefish cruising around. 

If you have military access you can go on to Hickam AFB where there are some flats.  I've been on base for a beach day with the family and only got a few moments in the evening to fish.  I liked what I saw and have heard people having good success.

Plan your outings on the tides if you can.  Anything over 2.0' makes things pretty difficult.  An ideal tide is between .6  to 1.4.  If you can catch a rising tide that has is coming in after a minus tide you'll see plenty of hungry fish.  Here is link that I use for the tides.  http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/2602.html

If you need any more info, let me know. 

Jason

On Thursday, January 30, 2014 8:07:48 PM UTC-5, Justin Schiavone wrote:

[timdonalds...@gmail.com]

Justin,

I lived in San Diego 2011-2012.  SoCal Fly Fishiing in Liberty station is a great shop for local info.  They also guide and Pete Piconi knows the area better than anyone.  There is also a new Stone Brewery right next door.  

There is a TON of diversity in San Diego.  You can surf cast for perch, corbina and the occasional leoopard shark in Torrey Pines and Del Mar.  There is great bass fishing inland, although I'm no expert on that.  And then there's inshore/offshore.  Conway Bowman is based in San Diego and guides for Makos and other crazy shit like that.  Not really my cup of tea but if you're into that kind of thing.  

If you wanted to surf cast, you'll want a stripping basket, and lots of colorful squid and shrimp patterns.  Intermediate lines work as will sinking lines.  I always had the most success at sunrise and sunset, especially if you can catch a neep (sp) tide.  Be sure to check surfline.com or another site for tide info.  

Another good source of info is Blue Water tackle in Solana Beach.  

Have fun and enjoy some killer beer while you're in town.  I would also strongly suggest you hit one of the Bull Taco locations.  And get a surf and  turf burrito.  

Tim

On Thursday, January 30, 2014 8:07:48 PM UTC-5, Justin Schiavone wrote: