01-02-2003, 05:18 PM
What a way to kick off 2003. We got a scoop of live squid from LA Bait and headed for the west horseshoe. The ocean was alive with Pelicans, Shearwaters and screaming gulls. I thought that maybe the fire cracker yellows were back as the water was frothy white from large fish chasing sardines. But it was only barracuda going out of their minds. We stopped on the High Kelp Rock and caught limits of calicos, one 6 pounder and a 4 pounder, the rest were 14 inchers......that is, we got the calicos if we could get by the slimeys! Between the four of us we caught no less than 40 barracuda 90% legal and kept 4 for our doughnut shop guy. The slimeys were taking pieces of squid or eating our 1l4 ounce squid jig heads. I lost at least 15 hooks. After this we went to a local wreck and limited out on our favorite and actual target for the day....those delicious sculpin. The main reason the fish are jumping into the boats is that there is a very strong downhill current even though the water is 59 degres. If I was you I would head for the Horseshoe before the current switches. By the way the squid light boats are between Huntington Beach and the outside rigs. Time to look for "daylight" squid.
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