Calico bass caught on a fly off Malibu. Photo by Bill Becher

   For current conditions and reports please check out the Discussion. Also, if you read through some of the archived reports to the left you will gain a lot of useful information about flyfishing in the surf. Pick this month in a year past and conditions will be similar.  
Surfcast
August 2003

OK, this time of year is when we say-if you want fish, you’re going to have to work for them. June gloom has finally receded, but the fishing hasn’t gotten any easier. There are lots of corbina moving into the shallows and playing hard to catch.

Most of the sand crabs have gone through their reproductive cycle of carrying eggs, and the fish in the surf are a little choosier. By all means, fish the deeper holes, troughs and get out there at the crack of dawn or fish past the sunset. I know you have heard this strategy before, but in the heat of summer it is especially true. Besides the sun directly overhead, there are lots of boogie board riding bikini clad potential predators spooking the fish midday.

Both of these scenarios are even better if the tide is rising or in the case of the early morning, just before a low. Clousers with flash thrown into the deeper holes are a good choice. If you see suspect or get a halibut, try it again with a larger fly and a slow strip. White with flash is a great choice. There are halibut, croaker and corbina looking for baitfish. For perch stick to the bright reds with flash and maybe even head north to cooler waters to find the platter size. Guitarfish, smoothound and leopard sharks are common near shore in late summer and will often jump a fly. That’s one way to see your backing!

It is also a great time to consider a little kayak fishing over some of the local reefs. From now into the fall is the time to catch calico bass. The waters are calm but safety is important in any boat. Always have a PFD, a flash light (in case your out early or late) and a have a buddy along. The same flies we use in the surf are great for calico, barracuda, leopard shark and rubber lip perch. If your luck and timing are right you could land a white sea bass.

Looking at my tide calendar, I see that the spring tide weeks begin August 10 and 24. They look great for rising tides and moving water in the less windy morning hours. Neap tides (between the full and new moon or spring tides), can be a great time to fish too, especially this month.

Suerte,
Gary