Palos Verdes 10/7
Even though the daily dock totals would indicate slow action locally on the calico/sand bass front, I was just about sick enough of this pulling weeds/trimming trees business around the house the past two months that I had built up a strong urge to stand on a rock and look stupid while listening to two-foot waves roll by.
I already know it is too early for the intestinalis algae opaleye bait to be growing at the Colorado Lagoon slime pit in Long Beach because we haven’t had our first rain yet. I stopped by this morning anyway just to verify. Yup, none available. As a substitute I carried with me a bag of frozen peas and four squids.
At five I made my first casts from my favorite platform at the end of Hawthorne Blvd. in Palos Verdes while using the five-inch WildEye sardine. The predicted lack of action came true as it took an hour before I had my first hit, a 20-inch pencil barracuda that was tossed into a tide pool.
Just in case there were other larger specimens of this specie around, I cut off the WildEye and tied on a 1 ½ ounce Krocodile. With that lure you can cover more water as it casts farther than the plastic bait. It seemed I landed the only ’cuda in town as no bites were had on the iron.
Next I went with the PowerBait Jerk Shad on a 3/8 lead head, which in the next hour landed me two calico bass of 11 inches each. So far nothing I caught was of legal status.
After casting the Jerk Shad from several different rocks, I switched over to suspending a squid head fifteen feet under a bobber. I soaked that from two different spots for a half hour and didn’t even have little guys picking it apart. Very odd.
And finally I used peas for an hour trying for opaleye but again nothing doing.
On the way back to San Pedro I stopped by the Point Vicente fishing access parking lot, which has been expanded to double its original size by the developers of the Terranea project. There’s a big sign that has a map of all the new walking trails they put in. You can now park and walk to all the good spots near Long Point that have been unavailable the past two years during the construction of the resort. One trail in particular caught my attention; I drove over to the other side of the property to investigate.
Good news, you can now park free curbside near the corner of Nantasket and Seacove and access the Terranea property (old Marineland) 24 hours a day. There are these handy little map signs around to direct you and none of them have any kind of time restrictions or say no fishing. I’m feeling this is too good to be true. Next month, as soon as the green bait starts growing, I will bring a bucket load down the footpath to Long Point at 4am just to see if some sort of resort rent-a-cop tries to kick me out.
*****
Dude lands 7-8 golden trout while backpacking the Eastern Sierra
Many 35lb tuna caught in local waters
King Harbor's Golden Years. Awesome 1962 aerial photo included. This is where The Breakwall Angler started ca. 1966.
So. Cal. marine mammal counts report.
*****
Jim L. reporting from the Owens Valley 9/26:
Last Saturday fishing down at my very favorite creek (Owens River) up above the Pleasant Valley Dam. 
Lake Sabrina Last Saturday. Caught four nice trout there. 
*****
Ed R. reporting from Old Marineland:
Editor's notes:
Looks like they built the pool over the old trail that lead down to Long Point. I'll have to walk over 1/4 mile of shoreline jagged rocks to access that area. Bummer.
*****
A couple people sent me this anonymous email:
In 20 years of fishing the Middle/Upper Brazos River, I can honestly say that I have never encountered a venomous snake (pit viper) within the riverbed. However, as I tell my clients, go outside the riverbed and that can be a very different story. Obviously, just because I have never come across a venomous snake in the river, does not in any way mean they are not there. In fact, I always remain vigilant and on the lookout knowing that I'm simply overdue for my first encounter. The way I look at it, Texas, venomous snakes and the outdoors will always go hand in hand. So, I wasn't too surprised when I observed a juvenile rattlesnake headed across the river while I was in my kayak flipping a jig for bass.
I continue fishing. However, I can't help to notice the rattler has changed it's course and is headed straight for my kayak.
At this point, I've pretty much quit fishing and have my attention focused on the intentions of this potentially pesky pit viper. While tracking the rattler's movement, I couldn't help but think, from a fish's point of view, how enticing the serpentine motion of this snake looked while in the water. Suddenly, I am jolted back to reality by the fact the rattler is now along side my kayak and is lifting it's head out of the water in an apparent attempt to come aboard.
No way I'm having this ill intentioned reptilian hitchhiker nosing around the kayak. So, with a couple whacks of the paddle, it's now docile as can be.
Now my mind begins to wonder...Hmmmm. This rattler looks like mighty good big bass bait!!!
I put him in one of the footwells on the kayak and paddle over to a series of submerged river laydowns so I can begin to put my plan into action. Here is my "Superstar" getting warmed up in the bullpen.
Put me in, Coach!!!
I now cautiously rig the snake by hooking it through the bottom of the jaw and through the top of the head onto a weedless black 3/4 oz. jig. On my sixth cast into the snag infested laydown my jig n snake combo gets destroyed on the fall as indicated by a telltale "thump" that reverberates all the way down my rod blank. I set the hook hard and immediately feel stiff resistance on the other end from what I know is a solid fish. What happens next is something I'll likely never forget as I watch my bass come cartwheeling out of the water with the rattler hanging out of it's mouth! The LMB gave a really good account of itself and I eventually get her alongside the kayak. I cautiously lip the opposite side of the cavernous mouth where the fish is hooked. I now take a moment to pose with my oversize snake eating river bass before returning her back into the river depths.
I admit, my curiosity might have gotten the best of me on this one. However, I just couldn't help it. In the end... It was just another Kayak Fishing Adventure on the Brazos River, Tx.. 
*****
From Jim L.:
Priorities
Dave and his buddies were discussing an upcoming fishing trip. Unfortunately, Dave had to tell them that he couldn't go this time because his wife wouldn't let him. After a lot of teasing and name calling, Dave headed home, frustrated.
The following week when Dave's buddies arrived at the lake to set up camp, they were shocked to see Dave. He was already sitting at the campground with a cold beer, swag rolled out, fishing rod in hand, and a camp fire glowing.
"How did you talk your old lady into letting you go Dave?" "I didn't have to," Dave replied. "Last week when I left our meeting, I went home and slumped down in my chair with a beer to drown my sorrows. Then the ol' lady snuck up behind me and covered my eyes and said, 'Surprise'."
"When I peeled her hands back she was standing there in a beautiful see-through negligee and she said, 'Carry me into the bedroom, tie me to the bed and you can do whatever you want!'
"So, HERE I AM!!"
*****
Nice girl lands Big Bear record
Four Kalamath river dams to come down
Latest Lake Elsinore Fish Kill
Man falls to death at Pt. Fermin
Popular game fish holds clues to climate change
Del Mar and Hedionda to be closed to fishing?