Hit moss landing Sat morning... um it was pretty unfishable. Water looked like a scene from hell, it was so turbulant I didnt even want to be on the beach!

Packed up and went to Sunset (much better water) fished for about 3 hours but nothing.

The water is nasty man. If you wanna roll on some 4 am trips shoot me a PM. Glenn is the most knowledgeable surf fisherman on this board. Check www.stripersonline.com for more info too. Admin pls delete if i violatwd forum rules there

SJ_Fishing,

I've been working a lot and have been spending days off finishing up some home projects. Just about done though. Hope to sneak out this weekend. The surf has been doing some crazy stuff to the beach and Marina. The wave action has pulled sand out away from shore causing steep drop offs in front of the parking lot. It's really dangerous to be standing down there when the tide is on the rise because there is nowhere to run if a rogue wave surges high. I'll try to take some pictures and post them this weekend. The ocean is no joke. As soon as I post this the tide could change tonight and fill that hole back up with sand and you would never have known there was a deep cut in the sand dunes.

The best "Safety Tip" I can give anyone new to surf fishing is to:
1. Check the tide before going out. Know when the peak of the hight tide is and how high it will rise.
2. Don't go alone. If you do, let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.
3. The #1 Tip is NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE OCEAN!!!!!!!! I you have to mess around with a lure or untangle your line, back up on the beach so you are out of the surf zone. I've watched may new guys to surf fishing get knocked to there knees because they were'nt paying attention.

With that being said, Get your striper gear ready. Small fish are in the area. That means the larger keepers are soon to follow.

Thanks to all who keep checking in. Hope to have good first hand news soon.

Striper Time is Here!!!!!!
I was able to get out yesterday. Fished after getting off of work. Got started at 0830 and worked a hole just south of the Marina Beach Parking lot. It was a minus tide which is no big deal. Just wanted to do a scouting mission to find out what's going on out there first hand. Conditions were perfect considering it was a minus tide.

Ran into a fellow striper guy. He had been out for three mornings a row and has caught at least one legal fish each morning. The stripers being caught are in the 24" range on average but bigger fish have been landed. After visiting for a few minutes I continued walking and casting.

Forgot to mention, I had my perch set up which is a 10'.6" rod, light action so very whippy, carolina rigged with #2 hook at the end. I switched out my motor oil grub for a full 6" Gulp sand worm. I would cast out 10' and let the worm sit in the trough that runs along the beach. Did this for an hour. Got a couple nipples from a perch here and there.

I was almost back to the parking lot when I felt my line tighten and the rod start to load up. If it was a big perch I didn't want to swing for the moon or I'd rip the hook out of its mouth. If it was a striper and I don't set the hook he could spit that #2 out. I went for it and set the hook hard. That 10'.6" pole bent in half and the fish never moved. Once it realized it was hooked it took off along the beach. I'd reel in line....he would take some....I reel in more.....he would take more. Finally after doing this two or three times I was able to surf him up on the beach. Not enough back bone in my rod or line strength to horse him up all the way.

I let a little pressure off and it flopped on the beach throwing the hook. the fish was about 25" long. Typically schoolie bass but I wasn't about to lose this fish. Started to run down to the waters edge when the next wave came up high enough that the sucker was able to swim on its side right back down into the water.

I hate to lose fish!!!!! However, it was bitter sweet. I knew now that I could come back and post some solid info. Good sources told me that they have been up to Manresa in Watsonville and fish are there to. Not in large numbers but the bite seems to be consistent with fishing showing up every day.

I hope it turns out to be like last year which I'm sure it will. My prediction is that the bite will be hot and heavy by mid June if not sooner.

Marina Beach has changed a lot in the last month. The tidal flow has really eroded a lot of the beach away just in front of the parking lot. At high tide you can not park in the parking lot and walk north. The erosion has caused a steep 20' drop off. Can pass through at high tide. I'll try to take some pictures and post some access points for you guys.

No one particular place is better than the other right now. Fish are scattered from Seaside to Santa Cruz. Find a spot and just start casting.

Glenn

THANKS GLEN............ I always enjoy your reports I wish my legs where better so I could walk the beach=, But my knees just ain't what they used to be...... Keep up the reports.....

Thank You Sr for the feedback. As long as you guys enjoy reading I'll keep posting. Give my regards to Jr. too!

The weather has been pretty bad the last couple of days. I don't mind fishing in the rain but the wind coming off the ocean has been crazy the past few days. The weather is suppose to get better tomorrow with it clearing even more over the weekend.

For those of you new to reading my post, you'll see that I don't really recommend to many "specific" things such as gear, lures, time of day to catch stripers off the beach. If you have specific questions please ask. I'm more about getting the word out as to where the fish are. When the striper bite is on you can catch them on literally any lure of choice on any type of rod, reel, and line set up. Believe me, I've passed buy guys with set ups that I would have bet a pay check that they wouldn't catch a thing only to walk by later in the day and see that they have their limits. Shame on me for judging a book by its cover.

The most difficult part with catching stripers is finding them. I've put in miles walking one way down the beach only to return to find out guys caught them right from where I started at. Frustrating......! Once you hook a striped bass off the beach you have some issues to contend with to land them.

Something that is as straight forward as playing them, letting them get tired then landing them isn't necessarily so on the beach. Once a striped bass is hooked it will fight. Most of the time they will go left or right. They dive down into the trough that follows the edge of the beach. The water is a little deep there. It looks like a trench when the water is gone. Not only are you fighting the fish but then there is the current, wave action and holes and troughs they will dive down into. You have to have good timing when it comes time to landing them.

You want to put the pressure on them and pump the rod and wind down as the waves push up on the beach. As the waves go back out you want to reel down and just maintain line pressure. That fish will use that outgoing flow to make a run and strip line. The striper will eventually get tired after doing this a couple of times. Once this happens do not try to "horse" the fish up on the beach. As the waves go out, start to reel down, point your rod at the fish and start walking down towards the waters edge. Keep that line tight! When the next set of waves come in start walking backwards, put pressure on the fish and reel all at the same time. Basically you will be surfing that fish up on to the beach like a surf board using the wave action to help push that sucker up for you. Main thing is to keep a tight line by reeling as you are walking backwards.

Get ready to change directions real quick to run down and grab the fish as the wave goes back out. If you take your time the next wave can come up and pull your fish back down into the trough. Even worse, it wall cause the fish to flop around and throw the hook.

Hope this helps.....more tips to come.

Thanks for the comment Sr. That's my motivation to keep on posting!!!!!

Glenn,
I'm a fan of your saltwater reports too and have a newbie surf question. I think I've finally got the gear to give this a try. Is it necessary to wear waders when surf fishing? It seems like casting out passed the first set of breakers with lures for stripers might require getting into the water a bit. Might not be a big deal with bait or in the summer but right now it's pretty cold. Thanks for your feedback

Great read Glenn. Thanks for the report. Can't wait to get out there. JimmyG....you ready for some surf fishin? Where you at JimmyG?

Hey Bassnflip,
Waders are not necessary. I know guys that are very successful striper fisherman and they never get wet throwing lures. Majority of the stripers I caught last year were 50' out and closer with the majority being hooked at the waters edge right when you would think your lure is ready to come out of the water. With that being said, there are always stripers further out schooling around but the average person can cast out far enough from shore and catch striped bass without getting wet.

A lot of guys I know including myself will wear waders in the winter time to stay warm. I grew up in Marina so i've been fishing in shorts for the past couple of months. I have all the good intentions of staying dry but sometimes that unexpected wave comes up out of nowhere and catches you off guard. Bring extra clothes and keep them in your car. Nothings worse than having to drive home in wet clothes.......

Dress in layers and bring a back pack to keep you clothes in as you go. You can't judge the beach weather from home. It's always....and I mean always colder at the waters edge in Marina. As you travel north to the beaches along Watsonville and Santa Cruz for sure... the beaches are warmer up there. The fog can roll in at Marina and things miserable if you're not dressed for it.

Hope this helps. Any question is one worth asking. There are no bad questions.

Fish are being caught but still spotty as to where they are at. I'm hearing anywhere from Seaside to Watsonville. Hot spots have been in Seaside off of Tioga Street or the access behind Orchard Supply in Sand City and at the mouth of the Salinas River. That river mouth is always a good spot. Fish not schoolie size but there are the fattys mixed in with them.

Keep the questions coming!

Stripers are still spotty from Seaside to Santa Cruz. On the Monterey side the fish are a little on the smaller side. Guys have been going to Sunset beach in Watsonville and have caught some stripers in the 20 lb range. The fish are starting to move in. Stripers are being caught everyday.....just not in the same spot.

Through a pencil popper the last two mornings. Got one hit but never stuck. Some guys close buy were able to limit. It's all about walking and trying to find them. Bait fisherman have done okay too in front of the Marina Beach parking lot.

I'll keep you all posted!

Glenn,

What other kind of lures work for stripers out there?? hair Raisers? Im new to beach fishing and want to bring the right lures!..

I went to Marina today to fish for perch. didnt get a bite but caught some perch in Capitola!

kastmasters, pencil poppers, hair raisers,
need some weight to them too.. to get em past the surf line...
go get em and report back with a chit eatting grin and a picture of your fish..
good luck

Went to Marina yesterday morning. Started fishing at 4:45am until about 8. Hiked about 2 miles south of the parkin lot workin a mickey the whole time but it was just too windy. The signs are all there though but the water needs to settle. Went up north after Marina and had a huuuge blowup on a popper but I missed it like an idiot. I will be going out again tomorrow morning. Im gonna start at Marina and probably go to Sunset if its too rough. If anyone wants to go shoot me a PM. I know its early but when the fish are biting its worth every second. Also! Safety tip. I ran into a tourist who got lost on the beach. The dunes all look the same and if you go too far you can forget where youre at. Bring a GPS!

Great report SJ! I fished Marina Beach Wednesday evening. The wind was blowing so hard it was crazy. Not to mention the seaweed.....but that didn't stop me from trying. No bites for me or the other guys on the beach that evening.

Fish are still scattered around. Just got to find a fishable beach and fish it! Hopefully this wind dies down some. The mornings have been really nice. Slight breeze but nothing to bad until about 11 clock.

SJ, Isn't that great when you get that big blow up? A swing and a miss is better than no swing at all. At least you know the fish are out there.

Keep on posting SJ!

Pulled an all-nighter yesterday. Fished from midnight to 3 am in the bay. My boy got one striper. Went to Marina at 430am and fished with a fellow Forum member. Water was real nasty butthe signs are good. That beach still confuses me a bit. No hits for me but i think once the water chills itll be great. Im going to go back on monday and try again. Jus payin my dues I supose... Just a heads up i wouldnt try fishin Marina as my first spot if youre new to the surf. That place has a hell of an under tow and some nasty waves. i wasnt paying attention and almost got dropped yesterday. Hopefully the bite is on soon. A little birdy told me that Sunset is hot. If I dont see anything on Monday Im goin to head there or to Pacifica on tuesday. Annywayss im always down to learn new thing if any of you want to go. Still waitin for my first fish this year. Quick question to Glenn. I was brought up with thw mentality that distance is the key. Seems like that may not be the case at Marina. Swimbaits and hair raisers dont go as far as my mickeys but thats all I see people throwin! Any input on that? Close quarters fishing it seems like. Also Id love to hit the beach with you sometime Glenn. Let me know if you ever are gonna be out there id love to meet up