Wednesday December 7th, 2005
While I am fortunate to be able to go fishing somewhat frequently (though never as often as I'd like), I don't have the luxury of being able to go whenever I think conditions suit me the best. But it seems to work out sometimes anyway. Normally, I wouldn't choose high tide to go, as I seem to have better luck at low, but high tide at the right beach, with the right swells, have produced some of my biggest fish, and some good fishing in general under the 'foamy flats' conditions. High tide with big choppy waves close in on steep beaches don't usually work for flyfishing.
Let's go back a few days, to friday, December 2nd. I went and fished on Sunset beach that morning. Well, first I looked at Manresa and thought it didn't look so good from the parking lot, so I drove further south. Mistake. Word at sunset was "good for bait", which turned out to be true. Wind from the right, lots of waves in close; in short, not good conditions for me. No fish. Should have stayed at manresa and worked north. I got a lot of lefty-arm casting in, and some over the left shoulder with the right arm too.. Nice day to be out, though.
Anyway.. today (wednesday) I took some time in the early afternoon and drove down to Manresa. I fished from about 12:45 to 2pm.
The water was very clear; beautiful long foamers, producing white foam for a change. Some pretty big breakers far out, though there were also some lulls with almost no waves. Its approaching the top of the high tide, but very fishable. Some structure close to the parking lot path. Great weather. I was using the 8wt XTR / OutBound type 8 line, with a #6 surf-miki3 and a #10(?) conehead worm-fly with peacock body. I had a fish after just a few casts, then worked my way north, casting and walking. The next catch turned out to be a double, then another smallish one. I moved further and found a school of dinks, casting lefty some of the time, then started back, and hooked one really good fish.
This one pulled very hard. Strongest fish I've ever had on out here. Thinking that it must be something other than a perch, I ended up giving it line and put it on the reel, but when it came in close, I saw that it was a very large barred perch. It had taken the small conehead peacock-worm fly. As it Turned out, it measured 14 1/4 inches; the biggest barred perch I've caught so far. Nice.
Feeling very greatful, I gave my thanks for this fine fish, and called it quits there. I hope it recovered well from the ordeal.
Tides for today: 2005-12-07 03:59 PST 4.63 feet High Tide 2005-12-07 07:08 PST Sunrise 2005-12-07 09:05 PST 3.07 feet Low Tide 2005-12-07 12:20 PST Moonrise 2005-12-07 14:15 PST 4.64 feet High Tide 2005-12-07 16:51 PST Sunset 2005-12-07 21:11 PST 0.00 feet Low Tide 2005-12-07 23:44 PST Moonset