Best Southern California Spots to Fly Fish the Surf

[websterjp]

I am relatively new to fly fishing and Southern California. I am looking for any suggestions that anyone may have for good spots to fly fish the surf in Southern California.

[notime]

Try kayak4fish.com It's a guides website but it might be a starting point. They are located in or near San Deigo.

[Time Flies]

Hi,

I grew up in southern California and we used to fly fish for surf perch at Laguna Niguel beach. I caught a couple of corbina there too. What a thrill on light tackle. Other beaches are good spots for the pearch with sandy bottoms and lots of pocket water. Even Huntington, Newport and Bols Chica beaches could be great if you can avoid the surfers. The perch run in April and the corbina in May if memory serves me. Search for the beach areas that are somewhat flatter and have areas in each wave that break more slowly than the rest of the wave. Here are the depressions where the fish hang out. I used to use a simple fly tied with red and brown cheneil - bumblebee style. It had a short hackle barbule tail and a mixed red and brown hackle at the head. I am sure any decent bonefish fly would work great. Try a Teeny 300 or 350 line to keep the fly close to the bottom. A short leader of 8 - 10 lb line works too. Fishing was usually slow - even on a good day. The roar of the surf is invigorating and you never know what you may catch. I once hooked a shark that gave a heck of a fight and I have heard of others landiing halibut. For other areas, try the jetties near Dana Point. Yoiu may entice bonito, barracuda, mackeral or some of the delicious bass. Good luck.

[eljefepaul]

I'm going to be in the Laguna area in two weeks and this information helps a lot. Thanks Time Flies and notime. I'm a native New Englander so my experience is limited to this location.

You have any further info. to share on fly selection for the species that will be present for this time of year? I'll bring crazy charlies in an assortment of colors for the perch as mentioned. I was also going to bring clousers and an assortment of striper flies. Any other bait details or patterns or species to target?

Thanks.

[Slappy]

Surf fishing is tough in so cal with a fly rod. The surf perch are the most likely fish--barred surfperch and walleyed perch will hit small flies--try around size 8. If you have some sand crab patterns, you might try sight casting for corbina in the wash. That is a very difficult proposition, but could be very exciting stalking fish in ankle deep water.

The jetties are a good idea, bass and halibut will hit clousers and the like fished right on the bottom. I used to catch a lot of halibut off the jetties in Dana point.

There are not many bonito in-shore in so cal now. There should be some big spawners just off shore, but you have to know exactly where to go and your best bet is trolling.

But if you like bonito, you must try Redondo Beach harbor. It is a ways north of Laguna, but it is the best year round spot for bonito. Tough place to fly fish--I would suggest making the long walk to the long breakwall. Your best bet in the harbor is to use splasher and feather.

I grew up fishing splasher and feather in Redondo. Life at its best! Bonito rock!

[eljefepaul]

Thanks for the details Slappy...

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Slappy]

One more note. I just read an article on line about the rental fleet in Redondo harbor. (I think it was on espn.com) In the 60s and 70s there was a huge business renting boats in the harbor for bonito fishing. The business died out and there weren't many rentals available. They are back now.

Fly fishing is one of the most effective bonito techniques in the harbor. There are many days when live bait and feathers is all they will eat.

When I die, I will know that I am in heaven if the bonito are boiling everywhere!