Palos Verdes 11/3
Three weeks ago they actually received measurable precipitation in Long Beach, an autumnal event The Breakwall Crew anticipates annually. The first rain of fall fosters new growth of the coveted ulva intestinalis opaleye bait algae at Colorado Lagoon. Another factor is the marine layer in the meantime had the whole Los Angeles Basin socked in until two days ago, which will allow the green stuff to proliferate without burning away under bright sunshine.
A five o’clock stop at the aforementioned slime pit this morning I happily found thick growth of the high quality strands lining the entire shoreline. A whole bucket load was raked up in three minutes.
As I exited my vehicle along the curb at the top of the bluff above my destination – Palos Verdes’ Christmas Tree Cove – I heard the waves at two feet as predicted by the Swell Chart washing up and down the rocks just enough to keep the fish actively feeding without the fisherman being splashed upon as he casts from his favorite platform. This combined with windless air made for perfect conditions.
This being the last day before the standard time cutover, at 05:50 the skies were still dark. Since the targeted opaleye do not start biting until after first light, I dropped off my pack and bait outfit, tossed out three handfuls of green chum then hiked out to the right about three-quarter way to the point to locate a suitable rock from which to launch the five-inch WildEye Sardine using my 20 pound conventional stick for bass, which start hitting just before first light.
A good thing since I was here last spring is the warmer water the coast has experienced all summer cleared out most of the inshore kelp, which enjoys a more cooler temperature. Everywhere I tossed was free of this obstruction. I cast a hundred times like crazy with no hits until opaleye light then turned around to head back into the cove.
The third step I took away from the casting rock, one boot stepped on the un-tied lace of the other boot and BAM! Down I went, painfully slamming my right thigh on a rock with headlight flying off over there somewhere. I lied there agonizing for two minutes before managing to stand up. It was still dark enough to need visual help to guide myself back to the opaleye hole but when I located and flipped the on switch of my light I found it crashed so hard against the rocks it broke. Carefully limping back through the darkness I dreaded having to power back up the cliff later but was thankful my usual March through August hike season is many months away.
Back at the opaleye zone more chum was deposited but sill there wasn’t enough light to start the bait routine. I cast the WildEye for another fifteen minutes and actually within that time had a bite that stayed hooked for two seconds.
You know the start time for opaleye when you can at last see your fluorescent red painted bobber reflect in the burgeoning light. I picked this spot at the bottom of the trail three years ago because I always saw a coating of green slime, probably ulva, covering the rocks at low tide. I figured at high tide this green zone will be submerged and the opaleye will have access to browse it. The first time I came in 2015 I ripped up, landing many three- and four-taco specimens. I thought I discovered a lucrative opal mine but the funny part is every time I have returned I rarely caught any, less than one each trip due to swell too high or low or high tide too late or perfect conditions but no takers. It is best to have two-foot waves with high tide at seven or eight… like we have today. It will rise to 5.4 at 07:15.
Things progressed better this morning than many other days here. I saw my bobber go down four times before seven. Then at 07:50 I hooked up to the first three-taco opaleye of the day. I loaded it into a gunnysack, soaked the material to keep it cool, chummed some more bait then cast again.
And cast again and again and again. I had like three more hits by 9:30 with none sticking to the hook. Generally what is supposed to happen is at first opaleye light you see your bobber wiggle a few times then it goes down hard with a solid hookup by a two-pounder and you catch nine more in a couple hours. Today perfect bait, water and air conditions but no fish. Dang me.
Next month we will have seven-foot tides two Saturdays. If the swell is just right I will return. Meanwhile here is a pic of my catch just before being carved.
Field Test
For years The Breakwall Crew has used Trylene XL nylon line on their spinning reels due to its smooth casting and no coil memory. This week I spooled my Penn 5500 with Seaguar Red Label 15-lb fluorocarbon. What I noticed is, the casting was ok but the coil memory was crunchy. Also if it touched a rock it nicked easily and caused a weak spot. It’s probably designed for conventional reels fishing in open water. I will give this string another chance or two and report back later.