jetty fishing

[bbqmilt]

I would like to know how and what to use to fish for sea bass or cod off a jetty, i've got the gear but not the know how, would appreciate any suggestions!

[Born to be Wild]

Here's an article I posted on ifish back in Febuary and there has been several more by me and others.

I will try to find BOE's Tillamook jetty open invitational that I and others gave a lot of jetty fishing info.

Dan

http://www.ifish.net/cgi-local/ultim...c;f=1;t=021001

[Born to be Wild]

A post from BOE's jetty open invitation.

Swell was a bit big and fishing real slow (catching non-existant) but the BBQ'ed Oysters and ifisher's were great.

Fish_N_Russ,

On the jetty a 8'-9' medium to heavy rod in a spinning or casting works well (whatever you're comfortable casting). 15# - 20# line is most common.

TERMINAL TACKLE:
For seabass (Black's) small jig's work best but ocassionally bait works also. 1/2oz., 3/4oz., and 1oz. jig heads would be your best bets. I prefer the shorter shank (3/0) jig head with a 3" shad body on it. A 4" curl tail grub (worm) works well also.
Some folks like the longer shank hook (5/0) in a 3/4oz., 1oz., 1&1/2oz., or 2oz. jig head.
With those you would use a 6" curl tail grub
(worm), or a 4" shad, cocahoe, or chovy minnow. Some folks like to use a 4" twin tail shrimp on the longer shank (5/0) jig head also, but not my preferance.
If specifically targeting Lingcod (2 fish limit this year), an 8" curl tail grub (worm) or 6" shad/cocahoe minnow works better. But they will grab the smaller bass stuff.
Colors:
In the shads, cocahoes, or chovy minnows, some of the best colors are the blue pearl/ black back, pearl/black back, pearl/blue back, pearl/green back, pearl, clear glitter/black back, clear glitter/blue back, chartreuese glitter/black back.
In a curl tail grub (worm), the two best colors are white and motor oil. Black, flo orange, root beer, black and other colors work also.

Bait fishing:
You can really improvise there.
If you are fishing smaller species like seatrout (kelp greenling), or pearch, smaller hooks in a size 2 or 4 are best. I normally use a surf leader which you can buy or make your own. A surf leader comes with a barrel swivel at one end to tie to your mainline,and a snap swivel at the other to attach your weight. It has 2 loops in between to hook your snelled hooks to.
Some folks make there own version with a three way or crossline swivel to tie there dropper line and hook & leader too.
For the jetty, 1oz., 1&1/2oz., or 2oz. bank sinkers should be adequit.
For the folks targeting Lingcod or Cabezon (new 16" minimum size on Cabbies), you are probably better off tying your own leader set-up and using 20lb.+ test and 3/0-5/0 hooks.
Bait:
For the little guys I would have to say sandshrimp works best. Other baits; clams, mussels, kelp worms, squid, etc. work at times also. (Kelp worms are great, if you can get them).
For Lingcod, the best bait is Herring or a small seatrout that you catch.
The largest Barview Ling that I have caught (11#'s.) was caught on squid. Good bait also.

Bobber fishing is also an effective way of catching Ling's and big bass.
The guy's bobber fishing Salmon at the Columbia river jetty (Ilwaco) catch a lot of nice rockfish.

If you choose to fish the beach (sand) for redtail surfpearch (i.e. pogies, pink fins), the surf leader set-up I mentioned above with #2 or #4 snelled hooks does the job. Some folks use the expensive "safety pin" hooks.
You would use a 3oz. pyramid or sand claw sinker there. Some times 2oz. or 4oz.
A longer rod in the 11' or 12' works well, but not necessary.
I usually use my Salmon/Steelhead rods (8'6") for both the jetties or sandy beaches.

Best time for blacks off the jetties is usually after dark, or at dusk or dawn combined with a slack tide, but can be excellent at any time of day. Ling fishing is best during the daytime.
I don't bother with a lantern at night, but just a small pocket flashlight for retying or moving around. I usually carry two in case the batteries or bulb go bad in one of them.
Needle nose pliers come in handy for many task (removing hooks, retying, etc).
A burlap bag works best for me, but other methods for storing your fish work also. Burlap bags don't fall over or off the rocks as easily as a bucket.
If you have a shrimp gun, you can save a few bucks by pumping your own bait.
Great fun for the kids catching seatrout & pearch from the rocks and beach.
Boots or shoes with good traction work better than most tennis shoes. Extra Tuffs are the best I've used.
Might want to bring some trout gear in case the Ocean isn't cooperating, but it should be fine.

I offered to donate to Bait O' Eggs more than enough plastic worms and shads for the whole bunch of you, so I wouldn't be to concerned about not having or buying them.
Got to bring or buy your own jig heads though.

Dan

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