I had a chance to dive with Dan’s weight vest for a few hours. It’s a nice product that accepts the standard 2lb weights. I’ve been diving with a vest for a little over a year and consider it an essential piece of gear. It makes it easier to drop down, level off and control movement underwater. I prefer the vest to the harness systems. IMO it does a better job putting the weight over the lungs.
Anyhow, for those who are not familiar with Southern California fishing we have a bait fish in the smelt family that spawns in the tidal zone through out the spring and summer months. The Grunion come in on the high tides and deposit and fertilize eggs that will hatch during the next high tide.
For more info on Grunion:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/grunion.asp
Larger fish take advantage of the grunion spawns. Particularly the California Halibut. Larger halibut will follow the grunion in for the feast and linger around for a few days or longer. While we have good halibut fishing year round the numbers and size bump up during the grunion runs.
Here is some California halibut video from last year:
This morning I got to the spot at first light. The ocean was at dead dog low tide. -.8ft on the tide charts. The tide pools were all drained out and many of the intertidal creatures were left high and dry. Star fish, limpets and anemones to name a few. Even a sea lion pup managed to get stranded by the out going tide.
After a few hours of diving and passing up dozens of smaller fish I score two nice fish. My partner also shot two. I passed on a smallish but legal wsb on the way back in. I have a two halibut limit at this spot due to the climb out is up a gnarly goat trail to the top of a 60ft bluff. Fun dive and a great morning to be in So Cal..
Cheers,
Mike aka ladvr