Cherry Beach Report: A Few Shorts

YakSailor · 10-08-2005, 08:31 PM

Where: Cherry Beach

When: Saturday, 10-9-05, 9:30 - 11:30

Water Conditions: High tide, 5 ft, 66 deg F, thick red tide

Air Conditions: Partly cloudy, wind at 8mph

Craft: Hobie Mirage Tandem

Setup: Gulp! minnows, Swim Baits.

Catch:1 Mack, 1 Sandbass, 3 Short Halis, all CPR'd.

We decided to see what all the talk was about Long Beach as described by some other websites. Indeed, there were boils of bait fish all over the place, and in fact halibut WERE jumping out of the water. The tomato soup was so bad that you couldn't even see 1/2 foot into it. I can't understand how in the world the fish could even see the lures, but they did. I would guess that if the water was clearer, we'd of caught more fish. I had a couple of break offs and lost some new jigheads-ouch! I think next time I'll use a wire leader. I tried a P-line squid lure and got a few hits, but no takers. Anyhow, we had a great time, and came across some friendly float tubers who were hooking up, too. I didn't see any legals, but plenty of shorts and mackeral.

Here's the sand bass:

and a short...

and another short:

FishersDad · 10-08-2005, 08:41 PM

looks fun. any day fishing is a GOOD DAY!!!

BlackLion · 10-09-2005, 09:06 AM

Hey John,

Awesome report!! Both you and your co-pilot look like you had a pretty nice day! How was that beach anyhow? I'd like to try it myself sometime. It's a bit of a drive, but sounds like it was worth it. Thanks for the report and pictures.

Marvin

**ODH33** · 10-09-2005, 10:31 AM

nice report

pEsCaDoR · 10-09-2005, 03:28 PM

great catches YS. and its awesome to see kids fishing like that. especially on kayaks!

but if i may, i have one bit of advice on handling short halies. i realize that the teeth on them are pretty gnarly. i know, ive been bitten by a 25 pounder. but after doing a bit of research on these guys, i found some interesting things out about them. one of them is the fact that their jaws are pretty fragile. and by using those lip gripping devices, you can actually dislocate their jaw. now im no ichthyologist, so i cant say anything to the point of mortality rates after dislocating the jaw of a halibut, but the safer the release the better IMO. i know the rapala gripper swivels. thats a good thing in the way of preventing the jaw dislocation (i would never use the berkeley gripper on a halibut). but holding the fish up in the air by its jaw can be bad enough. when i catch a fish now for a picture (especially if its a dink and must be released) and i decide to hold it with some sort of device by the lip (which isnt often because i have pics lipping cudas and ling cod), i prefer cradling the body with my other hand to ease the pressure off the jaws. i cant say ive done it for ALL fish. but if i plan on releasing it and i know that it is either pretty heavy, or they have weak jaws, they get cradled for the pic.

again great job on the catches. cant wait till hannah gets big enough to take out fishing with her daddy.

YakSailor · 10-09-2005, 05:11 PM

BlackLion:

It's maybe worth visiting once, but probably not a favorite spot. Cherry Beach is part of the LA harbor with all its oil freighters, rigs and industry. Makes me really appreciate our harbors here.

pEsCaDoR:

Point well taken. Cradling is the way to go from now on.

-John

JR12 · 10-09-2005, 10:14 PM

WAY TO GO NICE JOB

**Joey805** · 10-10-2005, 12:42 AM

Thanks for the report YakSailor. Great pics as well.

FishersDad · 10-17-2005, 09:07 AM

You motivated me.. have the day off, and will fish cherry harbor
today. I will keep you posted

Tchli · 10-17-2005, 05:24 PM

Nice report YakSailor. I hope a socal college admits me so i can
get in on some of that action. UCSD better accept me or else