The last time I passed through Motown, Dad requested I bring him some fish filets the next time I show up. Since opaleye have been a snap lately, I figured I'd catch a bunch on my day off closest to this week's holiday and make them my contribution to the party.

However, the swell chart said there were ten-footers off Point Conception meaning the new Long Point hotspot we fished last week might be washed out worse than two weeks ago when twelve footers were within sight over at nearby Point Vicente. To make matters more messy there was an incoming tide to 5.2 at 10:30. I might be able to reach the rock when I first arrived, but later there would likely be risk in trying to rock-hop back.

A decision was rapidly made when at 5:15 I started walking to the bluff from the parking spot we used last week. In the darkness I came upon what looked like a shiny new fence. That plus I wasn't even near the point yet but I could hear the waves crashing in on the rocky beach below. I packed everything in the truck and drove down the street to the Opaleye Point trailhead. I calculated that since the swell was coming in from the northwest, the two major points over that-a-way would somewhat shelter my old spot.

Fishing near the bottom of the trail with a bucket of high quality enteromorpha, the waves were splashing, but nothing like what was going on at Long Point. Through binoculars I could see the rocks there continually being pummeled by large swells, often coming right over the top. At least at Opaleye Point, even though I had to wear a rain suit, there was a lull between wave sets to safely toss a bobber. An hour and a half later with no bites and losing three rigs to the kelp, I pebble Danced over to the ledge to try there.

Two hours of fishing the ledge saw my bobber go down four times without a hook-up. Three other times I saw it wiggle half-heartedly, signifying an attack from little guys. At nine-thirty I said, that Dad guy is getting whatever filets I have left in my freezer.

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