Great but long day today. Started out heading south down to IBSP at 430 am. Found a ton of guys making their way into the park before first light. Parking lots were almost full as I drove past on my way to Area 23. That lot wasn't full yet, but getting there. I got out on the beach to find howling E wind and a rough surf. Almost all the anglers were throwing Ava's or T-Hex's or some skinny metal. They were able to get over the breakers and out to the bar, not quite over it while I was there. I made some casts into the wash and then stood and watched for awhile to see if the 30 our so folks to my right or left were getting anything. They weren't so I moved on. There seemed to be a lot of traffic heading down to the north jetty and I wasn't taking that long walk.
I stalked out in Seaside Park and Heights and gave it a go at Casino Pier just past slack tide. It was hard getting that fly out to where I wanted to, I needed some rocks. I made my way north stopping to survey the usual spots. Before I called it a day I decided to hit my "home" water to see how things were looking on the incoming. It was about noon. To my surprise there was wall to wall birds just out past the rocks and only two guys fishing. The water was low, really low, and the wind blowing. I love snotty weather but this day would be difficult. The waves came in quick so it was a quick cast, mend, strip, and pick up before the fly and line got caught in the barnacle covered and exposed rocks. The video helps paint the scene a little better than the pictures do. As I made my way out one guy hooked up and released and then did it again. They were positioned at the tip and one was working north and the other south. They had to clear the rocks with their metal, so that spot wouldn't be any good for me.
any good for me. I had the wind coming from straight in the front of the rocks and to fish the north side so I had to cast over my opposite shoulder, which I did for hours. Luckily I only binged my Clouser off my head once! As time went on another angler head the groin south of us and the birds started working off the tip where he was. I saw him hook up twice.
After about 1,200 casts my line finally went tight and quickly the fish was into my backing and taking me out front. He turned nicely and with the help of the other angler he landed the fish from deep down in the rocks. I don't usually ask someone to take my picture with a fish, but I wanted to remember this one. He took the fly I tied last night, the one I tied with Farrar's Flash Blend, below.
All in all over about two hours there 10 fish landed, 9 released. I got one and had a good take but missed the set.
