Fished San Clemente yesterday and today, thanks to a ride out and back with Phil on the Knot Now.
Got out there Friday night and anchored in Pyramid Cove. Next morning, after breakfast and coffee, they dropped me over the side and the day began. All the other BDers moved off to other spots and before I knew it, I had the cove to myself. Got a scoop of live squirts from another BDer so I drifted for buts for a while. Could of lost baits but nothing stuck. Wind was down so I figured to go deep while I could. Got out to 200ft but was only hitting on big sand dabs. Was going to head out further but a NE wind kicked up so I headed back into the cove. Wind got up over 10kts and it was getting unpleasant so I grabbed on to some kelp to wait it out. Dropped the rockfish rig down and immediately got hammered but missed em. Rebaited and this time got hammered again. Came up with 2 baby calico's on the bait hooks and this 6-7lb unit on the iron.
Rest of the day was spent trying to go off the kelp in search of better stuff but every time I started to move off the wind would pick up again. That evening several boats rafted up for happy hour, then it was one to anchor for the night.
Sunday was calm from the get go. Phil dropped me off on the east side of the island and I worked back and forth across the escarpment hoping to find some YT. Few good marks but nothing came of it. Found another pocket of toad whitefish and got another half dozen. Scrappy little fish, those whitefish. Left the island around noon for a quick 3hr run back home. Great trip with a good bunch of guys. No love from the exotics but plenty of toad whitefish (2-3lb) and sheephead kept it fun. A couple of YT were caught Sat morning and one WSB was reported, but otherwise pretty slow for everyone. Bottom fishing was wide open though. My total was 4-5 sheephead, a dozen or so whitefish, one rockfish, and that calico.
Misc pics from the island.
