July is behind us and it wasn’t fairly, so what does the August surf fishing report maintain for us? The tough surf that plagued us by way of Could and June carried straight by way of July with barely a break, making this probably the most persistently elevated surf I’ve skilled in 12 years of fishing this coast. To name it the worst season I’ve had could be correct – not as a result of the fish aren’t there, however as a result of situations have merely refused to cooperate lengthy sufficient to fish them correctly. But additionally… the fish don’t appear to be they’re there – a minimum of on the degree they need to be.
That stated, there’s real motive for optimism heading into August. The forecast – as far out as it may be trusted proper now – is displaying probably the most secure, fishable stretch of situations we’ve seen all 12 months. If there’s any likelihood of experiencing the delayed peak season we’ve been hoping for, the subsequent two weeks are it. Will it occur? I actually don’t know. However that is one of the best alternative this season has given us and it’s price being prepared for it. When you’re trying to e-book a guided surf fishing session, click on the hyperlink.
Right here’s the complete evaluate of July and what to anticipate as we head into August.
What’s Been Biting
Gentle Deal with
Gentle Deal with Gear
Gentle sort out fishing by way of July continued to disappoint relative to what this time of 12 months usually delivers. Surfperch stay by far probably the most generally caught species for many anglers, and total portions on gentle sort out (corbina, spotfin croaker, yellowfin croaker and surfperch) have been operating about half of what a typical July produces. The bites have been there however inconsistently so, making it laborious to string collectively the form of back-to-back productive classes that outline a traditional SoCal summer season.
One brilliant spot price highlighting is high quality. There are some very massive corbina and spotfin croaker within the shallows proper now – fish which have apparently been on the market all season doing simply nice no matter what the surf has been doing to our classes. A few of the anglers discovering them have been sight casters prepared to place in critical time scanning the water – some have been getting rewarded with legitimately massive fish. Apparently, whereas early morning and late night are classically one of the best home windows for sight casting (and surf fishing on the whole), this 12 months I’ve really been seeing extra fish in that late morning to early afternoon interval when the sunshine is best for seeing by way of the water. When you haven’t tried sight casting and need to perceive the approach, learn my full breakdown right here: Sight Casting for Surf Fishing in So Cal . There’s one video firstly of that article and one on the finish. The one on the finish is a very enjoyable one.
Yellowfin croaker have been current however equally inconsistent. Nothing that indicators a typical peak season. However the indicators of high quality fish within the shallows means that when situations do settle, the chunk may very well be strong.
Sand Crab Replace
Sand crabs could be discovered if you happen to put within the time, however the state of affairs stays properly under regular for this level within the season. The vast majority of beds you’re discovering are dominated by small child crabs, and the beds of good-sized usable crabs are few and much between in comparison with what a typical July/August seems to be like. It appears the mix of the persistent swell sample all season and the elevated water temps has saved crab populations from establishing the form of dependable widespread beds we’d usually be swimming in by now.
Lure Fishing
Lure fishing has mirrored the sunshine sort out story – not horrible, however properly under expectations for this time of 12 months. Halibut are nonetheless on the market and anglers masking water and fishing construction have been discovering them. That stated, even halibut numbers are down from what we’d anticipate in a traditional August.
Seabass have been the larger disappointment. Reviews have been sparse and the WSB chunk that must be constructing by way of July and into August merely hasn’t materialized the best way it usually does. That is seemingly tied to the identical combo of excessive surf and the El Niño-driven disruption affecting the remainder of the inshore fishery. As situations calm by way of August, hold lure fishing in your radar – that is the kind of chunk that may activate shortly when surf settles and bait concentrations enhance. That stated, it could merely be too heat for halibut to actually activate and particularly seabass.
Sharks
Sharks Gear
When you’ve been pissed off with this season, shark fishing has been the saving grace. Leopard shark fishing has been phenomenal and stays in peak season proper now. Whereas the whole lot else has struggled towards the persistent tough situations, leopard sharks have proven up persistently and in numbers for anglers prepared to place within the classes.
Soupfin sharks have been caught with much less frequency this 12 months than in latest seasons however they’re round. When you’re concentrating on soupfin particularly, persistence and prime tidal home windows are your greatest mates.
A notice on leaders: With wire leaders now prohibited inside 1,000 yards of shore underneath the present California emergency regulation, 200lb mono is the go-to inshore chief materials for shark fishing. My pre-made 200lb mono shark leaders are the precise leaders I take advantage of on each guided session and each private session – accessible right here: Pre-Made 200lb Mono Shark Rig
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Grunion Runs – August Is Open Season
One other factor price mentioning on this August surf fishing report is that August is among the greatest months of the 12 months for grunion runs and that is price planning round. In contrast to earlier within the season when grunion are protected and catching is prohibited, August is totally open – you may legally scoop them by hand.
For full particulars on timing, places, and the best way to fish round grunion runs: Grunion Run — The place, When, and How To
Circumstances Report
Water temperatures have climbed to 74-75°F, and properly above the historic common for this time of 12 months. That is the El Niño signature taking part in out precisely as anticipated. Whereas it may very well be screwing up the sunshine sort out and lure bight from the surf, the sharks appear to be loving it.
Seaweed made certain to indicate up through the one stretch of mellow surf we received in July – traditional timing – however has since cleared up at most spots. It could return shortly with any shifting situations, so examine your spot earlier than committing to it.
Excessive surf has been the story of this complete season and July was no exception. In 12 years of fishing this coast I’ve by no means skilled a summer season stretch of persistently elevated surf like what we’ve seen since late Could. It has been the first limiting issue throughout each model of fishing and it’s the rationale this season has been probably the most difficult I can bear in mind.
Forecast — The Finest Alternative We’ve Seen All 12 months
That is the place the August surf fishing report takes a unique tone than the final three months.
The forecast by way of the primary week of August seems to be genuinely good – and it’s displaying continued stability by way of a minimum of August thirteenth on the time of scripting this. It seems to be prefer it might pop again up after that, however I can’t belief the forecast that far out anyway simply but. Calm surf, manageable situations, the form of setup that provides fish an opportunity to settle into the shallows and feed comfortably. If any stretch of this season goes to ship the delayed peak season chunk we’ve been ready on, that is it.
Right here’s what to look at for if situations maintain:
Gentle sort out is primed to enhance considerably. Corbina and spotfin which have been current however powerful to catch in rougher situations ought to change into rather more accessible in calm surf. The standard fish within the shallows are already there – situations have simply been stopping clear shows. If the forecast holds, that is the window.
Lure fishing ought to observe go well with. Calmer water means cleaner retrieves, higher visibility, and extra lively halibut within the troughs.
Sharks will keep sturdy. Leopard shark season has loads of runway left by way of August and into September. Calm situations make shark classes extra constant and extra productive with much less present to battle, and a neater time preserving your bait on the market.
Grunion runs in August are price planning round as famous above. Examine the grunion run schedule and place your self for the post-run chunk if you happen to can.
The large query is whether or not the forecast holds. We’ve had false begins all season. However based mostly on what the fashions are displaying proper now, August has a real shot at being the month this season lastly delivers. Get on the market.
Closing Ideas
This has been probably the most difficult surf fishing season in my 12 years on this coast – there’s no sugarcoating that. The surf has been relentlessly tough, the chunk has been inconsistently gradual, and the situations that outline an awesome SoCal summer season have been largely absent.
However there are some fish on the market. The leopard shark chunk has been distinctive. Massive corbina and spotfin are within the shallows for these prepared to place within the time to seek out them. And the forecast heading into August is probably the most encouraging factor I’ve seen all 12 months.
When you’ve been ready on your second to get on the market, this is perhaps it.
Observe alongside on Instagram and YouTube for real-time session updates from the seaside. Fished just lately? Drop your report within the feedback – all the time good to listen to what others are discovering on the market.
