What tackle to buy to fish off boat in the Southern California area?

Question

I will be going off San Diego on a 1-2 day trip and was wondering what tackle do i need to get? How do i set this tackle up? I fish fresh water and want to start saltwater. On fresh water i fish carolina rig, texas rig and drop shots and then other lures, just not sure what to do with saltwater. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

For a half-day trip, <SNIPPED>

SORRY -- it sure looked like asking about a half-day trip. If you haven't done so, I strongly recommend you try a short trip before shelling out a few hundred dollars for a longer trip, just to get used to live bait fishing, etc., and to see if you have problems with seasickness.

For offshore (overnight, 1.5, or 2 or 3 days) I bring several outfits, with 20, 30, 40 pound line. (I also bring 15, 50, and 80 for trolling, but the first 3 are what I use the most). If you have just one, I'd recommend a 30-pound rig, and spend the day flylining, as it's usually the most effective fishing method offshore. Unless the bit is really picky, don't worry about using the light line. If you're sharing a boat with 15-20 other people, that's a lot of potential tangles, and the longer you have to play a fish, the more chance you'll get into a mess.

If you don't own it, don't worry about trolling tackle. Most boats have it to loan out, rigged and ready to go.

Flylining is simply tying the hook to the end of the line, picking the healthiest/strongest swimming bait (sardine or anchovy, 4-6 inches long), casting it out and letting it swim naturally. The trick to flylining is to pick the healthiest-looking one you can find in the bait well, hook it gently (sideways through the nose or just under the collarbone behind the gill), and get it out there gently so it swims strongly. After a couple minutes, if it's not bit, it'll tire so you should change it. If you're fishing deeper with a couple ounces of weight, nose-hook the bait so it'll swim down smoothly behind the sinker.

If the fish are deeper, hang a weight on the line. A pinch-on works fine for up to an ounce, for more than that loop a rubber band through the eye of a sinker, then loop that onto the line a couple feet up above the hook. Using a pinch-on or a rubber band means you're only worrying about one knot (at the hook), which minimizes weak spots in your line. Putting a swivel into the mix means two more knots, so I don't recommend it.

A sliding sinker is more trouble than it's worth when you're fishing a live bait with no bottom -- I've seen the sinker slip way up the line as it sinks while the bait swims near the surface, then with a 40-foot "V" in the line setting the hook (or even detecting a bite) is hard, to say the least. In addition, with a heavy bait on the hook, if you try casting with a sliding sinker, it will slide up the line and shorten your cast. SO just rig with your sinker fixed on the line. When a 20 pound tuna grabs a 4 ounce sardine, there's no subtlety, and a 2-4 ounce sinker won't bother the fish a bit.

Fish bait off the stern or on the "wind in your face" side so your offering will drift away from the boat. If the boat stops on a kelp paddy, resist the temptation to cast right at the paddy, as everyone else will be doing that (I've seen some truly scary tangles in that situation) -- instead, cast off the stern where the chum is being tossed. The fish will leave the paddy and go for the chum, and you can hook them in open water.

Sometimes you can get fish on a heavy "iron" jig. I like a Tady 9 (or similar sized jig like a Salas 6xJr) with a chrome finish for offshore fishing -- chrome gets bit better than the painted jigs. Cast the jig with the wind at your back so you're not interfering with the bait lines, let it sink 30-60 seconds (until it's down about 45 degrees) and wind it in. Use 30-50 pound line for this.

You can get the most recent catch counts at 976tuna.com (link below). You can click on the landing name and get the boat by boat breakdown.

Answer 2

First off, it is O K  to be a novice. ask the deck hands to show you the knots he would use and rent a rod and reel from a local outfitter and tell them you want to make the right decision of what to buy ask them to take the rental off the sell price when you do buy as well. A reputable place should have this available for you. you will be paddy jumping on a 1-2 day out of S D. you can get by on heavy action pitching stick and a level wind that holds more than 300 yards mono. I like fighting lite line and never carry more than 18 pound on even my larger level winds. I do however tie on up 40 pound flourocarbon leader if I get snapped off and after one or two of what's getting caught comes up on the deck you can generally tell what leader to use accordingly.

I throw small plastics AA lures in temecula (northern S D) at paddies first with a freshwater bass rod while everyone is getting set-up with bait I am in the water and usually hooked up first. So what if you get a bigger fish than your gear can take. Will it get your heart pumping yeah will you then go get the right gear after one hits the deck yeh and will you have fun yeh. But immagine catching the first and only dodo under that paddy and everyone is has hooked up skip jack ot yellow fin? Tight lines mate

Answer 3

I like both earlier postings - but I'm onboard with Artie.  I have fished many 1/2 day cruises out of Mission Bay catching bonito and other fish having a blast. It would be good for you to try one of those cruises first... then look around to see what they are using or check with the boat that you may be taking the 1-2 day trip on. Most boats either have rods for you to use or rent. Either way they buy quality equipment that will last - look over what they have the looks like something you'd like - then I recommend hitting the pawn shops. You can get some really good deals especially if you're farther away from the water - like El Cajon or even LA.  

All else fails - go to Bass Pro shops and look to see what they have that is comparable to what the 1-2 day boat has.

FYI - if you're planning on keepin  the fish to eat - most of the time they will fillet it for you right on the boat for a reasonable price.