Down the Opaleye Point trail this morning, I was up and over the dreaded hump and fishing the cave rock starting at three with a five‑inch Fish Trap, hoping that some sort of bass would be around, wanting to gobble up the plastic.  Conditions were as calm as I have ever seen them anywhere along our coast, with neither breeze nor swell atop the glassy lake‑like water.

    Three hours with no hits on the lure had me plucking mussels from the rock, to be used on my eight‑pound outfit.  As daybreak was upon the water I could see it was crystal clear, with a view all the way to the bottom no matter where I looked.  Rarely do I ever catch anything tacoable during conditions such as this.

    Today was no exception.  I had a few hits on the mussel while Dangling it in the kelp patch next to the Cave Rock.  I could tell they were teensy, so I packed it up and tried the bait over at the Platform Rock at Opaleye Point.  There, I actually caught something, a three‑inch calico bass, and a black surfperch and senorita of about the same length.

    To end the day I drove over to Long Point for a few casts from the Pillar Rock.  Nothing was interested in the Fish Trap, so another wad of mussel was dispensed to a spot between some submerged rocks.  I saw several garibaldi race over to check it out, but I ended up catching five senoritas, the largest going ten inches.  On my way back to the car I tried the Fish Trap at some spots where in the past I have caught sand bass, but nothing was biting because likely there were no fish around.

*****

From Breakwall Robert:

    I took a twilight last Saturday Night out of Pier Point and we headed out to the Hunington Flats......it was none stop sand bass bite for all the time we were there, the were suspended so we were getting hit half way down....I was using bait at first but then I switched to plastics and my bass setup (7 ft graphite rod with Corsair reel)....it was fun. I caught my limit plus I threw back about 20 bass(98% were legals).....I even switch to an iron and caught my biggest sand bass on it.......The Bass were spawning and were very active, I had fished the Flats on my boat once before and it was just like this....great fishing...............I still have not caught a white seabass but I will get one this year somehow............see ya Robert

*****

From JerseyBro via Breakwall Tim:

Proof of what we caught on Saturday.  It was a slow day in general.  A long day for 2 fish.  But it tasted good.  We caught them on the troll.  Not much bait action.  It was very busy out there.  The patch, ginger root, saltine crackers, and ear plugs worked great.  The ginger gave me very bad breath.  The ear plugs made eating the saltines very loud in my head.  Hope the preparations are going well.  See you in 7 days.

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