Posted by Ted on November 11, 2002 at 20:37:35:
I didn't take the morning too seriously with the high surf report and the fact that 45,000 tons of garbage was cleared from our flood control system into the Santa Monica public toilet, I mean bay. So I opted for the 9:15 am town drunk launch. I think 8:30am is the cut off time for the gentleman's launch. The bait barge only had sardines and mostly jumbos. I left the squid at home and only brought two rods. I started up by the yatch club for halibut and then met up with Greg near the bait reciever. We were talking most of the time while being interrupted every 20 minutes with a bonito tease. One took my croc and rapped a kelp stringer. I lost the fish but saved the croc. Small sardines were the ticket with extra sharp hooks. I just could not get the hook set on any bonito's that were playing with my bait.
I was really itching to paddle to Torrance beach to mooch for halibut, but the wind kept me in the harbor. The wind did die down a little around 12:30, but it still looked stirred up outside. A few breakers would spray over the top of the outside break wall every now and then, the water was probably in the high 50s and maybe the low 60s. I was sweating in a longsleeve shirt with my spring suit down around my waist. The water visibility was about 10 feet.
I also met Caleb who was in a hobie with the pedals and that kayak really moves. There were a couple of young guys in in frenzys fishing and enjoying their day out of school. Brad was working but showed up on the pier to take pictures of fishing veterans for the paper. It was nice to meet every one. Greg if you are reading this, send me an email, I wanted to talk to you about your bait tank. I think it's time to build one after seeing yours.
-Ted