17 minute read
YOUR MISSION: CATCH BAY’S CORNUCOPIA
MISSION: TAP INTO BAY’S CORNUCOPIA
Mission Bay is one of San Diego’s most popular locations for water sports, including some of the Southland’s best saltwater fishing for spotted bass and plenty of other species. (BILL SCHAEFER)
SAN DIEGO’S SHELTERED WATERS OFFER PEACE, PLENTY OF YEAR-ROUND ANGLING OPTIONS
By Capt. Bill Schaefer
Mission Bay Park is one of sunny San Diego’s great aquatic spots. Known for all types of water sports, these waters also hold all the different types of species of fish to tempt anglers.
Most of the bay is a 5-mph-only zone, so it’s easy to get away from all the action of jet skis and the like. The park-like setting is a great place to bring the entire family for a picnic, as well as to fish.
BASS HEAVEN
Mission Bay has bass – calico, sand and spotted – throughout the year. The main resident fish are the spotted bay and spotted sand bass. They usually frequent the weeds, docks and boat mooring lines. Barred sand bass, the larger cousin to the spotty, tend to hang more out towards the main channel that leads to the Pacific Ocean.
Calico bass also tend to hang out on the jetties that lead to the ocean
The rock jetties of Mission Bay’s main channel hold calico bass like this one the author shows off. (BILL SCHAEFER)
and around some of the dock pilings closer to the mouth of the bay.
HURRAY FOR HALIBUT
Halibut are also found throughout Mission Bay. Its shallow and mostly sandy bottom is a perfect environment for them, and in the spring, giant halibut move into the bay to spawn. Spotfin and yellowfin croaker, mullet, corvina and even striped bass and bonefish have been caught here as well. The bay is also home to many sand sharks and rays, which when hooked can put up quite a fight.
Halibut will be caught as incidental catches while fishing for bass, but if you want to target them, the list of areas and ways to do so is endless – from shallow-water fishing with small grubs and spoons to using heavier tackle and live sardines and smelt or even live squid, if you can get it.
Most anglers in the bay usually fish a standard bait rig setup or threeway swivel rig. Remember to let the halibut have the bait for a bit once you feel their first bite. Give them some line before setting the hook.
Grubs and swimbaits in pearl colors tend to work best, as far as artificial baits go. Shady areas under the many bridges are always good, but any of the main channels through the bay hold fish, and all the back bays hold the smaller, light-tackle-sized fish.
SETTING UP YOUR ROD
A lot of fish can be caught using the same methods, but each species does have some unique traits.
The spotties, which are in the bay year-round, can be attacked like freshwater bass. They tend to hang on the same types of structure as bass and will eat the same baits. Use medium bass gear with 8- to 12-pound-test line. Small grubs or swimbaits on a ¼-ounce lead head are probably the most popular baits in Mission Bay for spotties. Working your lures slowly or swimming them over the shallow weeds can produce big bass. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and even fluke baits work as well. Popular
Rocha’s Dory Charter
Joey Rocha is the owner and captain of Rocha’s Dory Charter, formerly Eagle Charters, one of the many dory boats that are based in Pacific City, Oregon. Dory boats are flat-bottom boats that can launch from and land right on the beach! They can be found all over the world with a rich history in the US, and a large dory group based right on the Oregon Coast in Pacific City. The dory fleet today is comprised of commercial, sport charter and individual fishermen.
Each spring the Dorymen’s Association holds a blessing of the fleet, where they bless all the dory boats. The Dorymen’s Association also holds a festival called Dory Days and each year there is a different theme. The boats are decorated to correspond with the theme for the Dory Days Parade. This festival is held in July each year, and if you are planning a trip to Oregon, it is a fun, wholesome and family-friendly event. Come check out the boats!
Joey Rocha was five years old when he began taking dory boats out fishing with his dad. Later, his family purchased a dory boat for family use. You can say Joey grew up on dory boats! After finishing school, Joey spent more than a year working on the Siberian Sea out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, on a massive 133-foot-long liner owned by the Aleutian Spray Fisheries.
After returning home, Joey began working for Eagle Charters as their captain for the summer. Not long after, he decided this was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life, and he purchased Eagle Charters. Drawing on the experience his family has with dory boats, they all pulled together to get Joey’s dream started. Joey met Taylor, a local 5th grade teacher, they fell in love and made it official. Together they decided to take the business in a different direction and have changed the name of Eagle Charters to Rocha’s Dory Charter to better represent their family.
“We are a family-run business that strives to give everyone the best dory fishing experience, making it a fun time for the whole family. The season started a little early this year and began in the spring. Usually, conditions become too unpredictable in October on the Oregon Coast, and that finishes our season. We fish for bottom fish, salmon and crab, and sometimes we get lucky and catch ourselves a halibut. After your fishing trip, Joey will fillet your fish, cook your crab, bag it all up and place it on ice for you. We even offer vacuum sealing if you choose.”
“We invite you to come to Pacific City, Oregon, and visit us at Rocha’s Dory Charter for a unique fishing experience that your whole family will love.” — Joey and Taylor Rocha
options include Kalin’s chartreuse 5- inch grub, Bomber’s Fat Free Shad crankbait in fire tiger, and swimbaits in browns and green color variations. Experiment with tackle from all the different companies, such as MC Swimbaits, Big Hammer, Reeb’s Lures and Reyes Plastics, to name a few.
In the summer, calicos tend to move into the bay, although not in giant numbers. You can still use your bass gear, but fish the areas closer to the mouth of the bay. Both rock jetties that lead in from the ocean will hold fish, as will bridge and dock pilings. For these areas you may want to go a little heavier on the line; 10- to 15-pound Maxima Ultragreen will do the trick. Rigging a grub as if you were fishing for bass Texas-style will let you pull it down the rocks and through the kelp and weeds without getting hung up very much.
The calicos also tend to eat swimbaits a little better. The aforementioned companies make good ones in various brown bait, smelt, anchovy and pearl color combos. Weedless versions will do well without hanging up.
WHEN WINTER ARRIVES
Winter brings cooler water and barred sand bass to the bay. Even though you’ll catch a few all over the bay, barred sand bass tend to stay out in the main channel between the jetties leading in from the ocean.
Fished on the moving tide, the wind-and-grind method works well in this bay too. Let your bait back until half your spool of line is out. As you retrieve the bait, it will stay in contact with the bottom longer because of the long scope of line.
The bite will feel like a heavy weight has been added to your line. Don’t set the hook, though; rather, wind like crazy and the weight will get heavier. This is the stretch leaving your line. Now, set the hook!
All the same swimbaits work for the sand bass as for the calicos. You may need ½ to 1 ounce of weight to get down, depending on the current.
Don’t forget this can be a productive winter fishery as well. The main channel holds nice sand bass in colder months. (BILL SCHAEFER)
COMBINATION TRIPS ($250 Per Person) • BOTTOM FISHING • SALMON FISHING • HALIBUT FISHING • CRABBING
WHALE WATCHING & DORY RIDES ($100 for the boat, $25 per person) CALL OR TEXT FOR BOOKING Joey 503-801-3464 • Taylor 503-812-9597 • oceanfish62@gmail.com rochasdorycharter.com
GO BATTY IN THE BAY
Another way to have fun out here at Mission Bay is at the extreme other end of the spectrum from bass fishing, and that’s angling for bat rays and sharks.
Whether from shore or boat, these fish can test both you and your tackle. Use strong gear such as a heavy bait stick with a reel that can hold 25- to 40-pound test. And then throw a half to whole 1-pound mackerel.
The bat rays in Mission Bay reach 125 pounds easily and have wingspans of up to 6 feet. When you hook one of these, it’s a fight two or three fishermen can share. They just don’t give up! Sharks of various shapes and sizes frequent the bay as well and will eat the same bait. BS
Anglers who use bait can enjoy surprises in Mission Bay, including sand dab. This one was caught by Dean Mitchell. (BILL SCHAEFER)
LIGHT TACKLE FUN
A couple of other ways to have fun in Mission Bay is to micro-fish – fishing with small trout gear. Use 2- to 6-pound-test line, crappie jigs and grubs or micro-cranks, and for bait, use a small 1/64- to 1/8-ounce jig head with bloodworms or ghost shrimp. You will catch everything from sand dabs to croaker – maybe even an occasional bonefish.
LAUNCH AND FISH
There are several launch ramps around Mission Bay. The Information Center ramp is located on the east side of the bay, South Shores ramp is on the southeast side, and the Dana Launch and Ski Beach ramps are both more centrally located. There are no charges for launching or parking at any of the ramps.
Seaforth Boat Rentals has a location on Mission Bay in Quivira basin, while Dana Market and Fuel Dock, by Dana Launch ramp, rents skiffs as well in this urban saltwater fishing paradise. CS
FROM FIELD...
Author Scott Haugen tagged this benchleg blacktail in extreme heat last season. The buck was skinned, quartered, deboned and packed out before any spoilage could result. Being prepared to do this before the hunt is crucial. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
ARE YOU DRESSED FOR SUCCESS?
WHEN PREPARING TO TAKE A SHOT AT BIG GAME, YOU MUST CONSIDER ALL THE WORK AHEAD TOO
By Scott Haugen
After you’ve hunted hard for days, the animal of your dreams is standing in front of you. The distance is 150 yards, but the end of legal shooting light is only moments away.
If you drop the animal on the spot, field care will be easy. If tracking is involved, be aware that you’re far from base camp. With only a few days left in the hunt, do you shoot or not?
How you answer this question comes down to many factors, not the least of which is your ability to shoot accurately – and with confidence – in low light. If you drop the animal
... TO FIRE
Tiffany Haugen says thinly sliced big game meat makes for a delicious topper for everything from salads to pasta. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
MAKE BIG GAME MEAT SIZZLE
By Tiffany Haugen
With big game hunting season upon us, it’s time to secure some of the best-eating protein out there. But proper field care is essential in optimizing its flavor and texture.
As soon as an animal is down, get to field dressing it and make sure the meat starts cooling as quickly as possible.
And with that quality meat, here’s a tasty recipe that makes a great topper for your salad, rice or pasta, or it can simply be enjoyed as is. This recipe works with any big game, even game birds.
1 pound thinly sliced big game meat ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons sesame oil 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon gochujang or chili sauce 1-2 green onions 1 teaspoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon cold water
Thinly slice green onion, separating the white bottoms (to put in the marinade) from the green tops (to use as a garnish). In a medium bowl, mix onions, soy sauce, honey, oil, garlic and chili sauce until thoroughly combined.
Place meat in marinade and let sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes. For longer marinade times, up to four hours, refrigerate until ready to cook.
Heat a large skillet on medium-high. Add meat and marinade to the skillet and stir-fry meat until reaching desired doneness. Keep in mind that the longer game meat cooks, the stronger the flavors may become. Remove meat from skillet and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water. Add to the skillet and bring sauce to a boil, stirring constantly for about a minute. Serve sauce over meat or add game meat back into the sauce before serving. Garnish with remaining green onion.
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular book, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit scotthaugen.com for this and other titles.
Bull elk are big animals and can hold in a lot of heat. Once downed, field dressing should quickly begin so the meat can start cooling. The author downed this bull across a canyon and worked until 2 a.m. to get it quartered
and cooling. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
where it stands, great. But if the hit is anything less than perfect, a tracking job may be necessary.
The same scenario holds true for archery hunters who encounter last-minute shots throughout much of the early season. Even a perfect hit with bow and arrow often requires some tracking. The big question is, are you prepared to do what’s necessary to recover an animal that’s hit right before daylight runs out?
GEAR CHECK
If you have a headlamp with extra batteries, flagging tape and maybe some reflective tape, you’re ready to track in the dark. But that’s not all.
Ideally you have a knife, game bags, a pack and some rope with you. Before even taking the shot you should be committed to finding the animal and breaking it down in the dark. Why? Because it’s not OK to leave an animal in the woods overnight, period.
During the hot days of early fall, big game will quickly spoil, especially given the warming trends the West has experienced in recent years. And as for later in the season, the colder it gets, the more insulating the hide of big game animals becomes as their fur thickens. This means they hold in heat, thereby not allowing the carcass to properly cool, even if death is quick. Even in the coldest of conditions, animals should not be left overnight to recover the next day. MAKE A COMMITMENT
Before taking that shot, promise yourself you’ll quickly recover the animal, then break it down so every bit of meat can get cooling. If it’s a deer, pronghorn or midsized bear, you can often pack out all the boned meat in one trip.
If you can’t pack out the meat that night, at least get it quartered and in game bags so it can properly cool. If leaving the backstrap and rib meat on the carcass, be sure it’s field dressed so it can cool from the inside and outside. If removing the backstrap, tenderloins and rib meat, place it in a game bag to cool. Neck meat should quickly be filleted, as the upper neck is made of large bones that hold in
heat and quickly results in meat spoilage. When slow-cooked, neck meat is one of the most delicious cuts, so save every ounce; it’s the law.
PROTECT YOUR HARVEST
Should you be forced to leave the animal overnight in bear country, hang the game bags so they can’t be reached. If no bears are around, this simplifies things. The more air that can circulate around the game bags, the better. Avoid placing game bags on the ground or stacking them atop one another, as this hinders air flow and exacerbates spoilage.
If you have the luxury of getting an animal out of the woods whole, make sure it’s gutted first. Transporting a game animal with the hide intact ensures the meat stays clean. Once home or back at camp, remove the hide, along with all the bloodshot tissues. Nothing taints game meat faster than coagulating, rotting blood. catching a few hours of sleep afield is an option that saves time and energy.
PREPARE FIRST
Before shooting any big game animal – or embarking upon any hunt –be prepared. Before the hunt make sure your pack comfortably fits with a heavy load, and that it’s big enough to get the job done. Next, be sure to wear that pack afield when leaving camp for a day of hunting. If your pack frame is different from your daypack, consider strapping the daypack to the frame. This means you can hunt all day and not have to worry about returning to camp to get your pack frame when you shoot an animal.
If covering a lot of ground on foot, it’s not a bad idea to have a small spike camp on your back so you can stay the night afield, if need be. Should you cripple an animal, then spend a few hours tracking it in the dark, then another hour or more breaking it down, it might be very late before the job is complete. In some situations, CONFIDENCE KEY TO ALL-AROUND SUCCESS
Of course, the decision to shoot an animal in the waning moments of daylight – or in any situation – comes down to confidence in your ability to make the shot, then handling the responsibilities that follow.
The more experiences like this you encounter, the greater your confidence will grow, thus the more successful your hunts will become. The ultimate reward, however, comes in knowing every bit of meat will be salvaged, which equates to more game in the freezer and on the table. CS
Editor’s note: Want to learn how to fielddress big game, including black bears? Order Scott’s best-selling DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, at scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
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