34 June 9 - 23 , 2017 VOL . 36 • ISS . 13

time we were together , we were talking about the revolution in surf casting . With the arrival of the super braid lines , much smaller tackle can be used to produce equal or better results than in the old days .

With 30 lb . test super braid lines hovering around the same diameter as eight or ten pound test mono , reels were downsized and so were the rods . At the time , many of the first surf fishermen to employ the new lines looked to the heavier steelhead or river salmon rods to match their reels . While these rods were OK , they weren ’ t surf rods with the longer lengths and longer grips . Those nine-foot river rods just weren ’ t ... you know ... 11 or 12 foot surf rods .

As I was working retail at the time , I happened to notice that a number of Filipinos were bringing their rods into the shop to get the rods guides changed for bigger rings . If one person brought a rod to be modified , that could mean anything , but dozens of

Filipinos were bringing in the exact same rod for the exact same modification ! I knew

I had to find out what was happening here .

The rod these Filipinos were bringing in was the Cabela ’ s 11 ft . Predator rod , with a test curve rating of 1.75lbs . That ’ s right ... a carp rod ! Remember , this was before the Internet was the hot little number we have now , so research into this matter was pretty tedious .

The test curve rating , I found out , was a system of power rating , much like it is with fly rods and fly lines . Basically , it is a rating of how much weight is necessary for a horizontally mounted rod to achieve a 90 * bend .

A rod of a test curve rating of 1.75 lbs . is considered to be a light rod , and these Filipinos were using their rods to toss

56 ’ High Speed Stable Catamaran Halibut • Stripers • Rockcod

Captain Quang Vo

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perch grubs with sinkers up to one ounce or so . Of course , a rod capable of throwing one-ounce sinkers can also easily toss 3 / 4-1 oz . bucktail jigs at stripers on those rare calm days in the surf .

But what if you wanted to toss a real surf lure out into the suds on a windy day ?

That Cabela ’ s rod would certainly be over taxed tossing 2-4 oz . Mickey jigs , the size of lure that is most popular out here on the West Coast . The answer would lie in a distant land , and that Predator rod ( which is no longer available ) was the first clue .

Enter Daiwa ’ s Maddragon Carp rod ... the “ gateway drug ”.

It seemed all innocent and everything . Go to the official Daiwa website and checkout all the slick tackle they offer . Daiwa is an international tackle company with its headquarters in Japan . Go to the index at the bottom of the page and there is that innocuous looking link to “ international carp tackle .” Click on it . I dare you .

Apparently , carp fishing is HUUUGE in Europe and other places , and specialized carp tackle is all the rage . Take a look at their rods and the least expensive model is called the Maddragon . I was instantly struck by the specs and the apparent workmanship of the rod . I love minimalist rods and this rod embraces that philosophy .

There she was , all 12 feet of her ; from the graphite / fiberglass composite blank , to the large rings , to the “ just barely there ” reel seat , I was moonstruck . And don ’ t get me started on the price !

NEXT TIME : Orange is the new black

... or is it stripers are the new carp ?

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Half Moon Bay Sportfishing and Tackle

FRESHWATER REPORTS :

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

• Salmon Fishing ( when allowed ) •

• Whale Watching •

• Nature Trips •

• Full Bait and Tackle Shop •

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HALF MOON BAY

Rockfish Bite Excellent , But Salmon Starting to Stir

EL GRANADA - Rockfishing has been outstanding when the weather is cooperative , and with the emergence of the salmon near W Buoy , private and party boats are making the run short of the Farallons for solid scores of salmon .

Sherry Ingles out of Half Moon Bay Sport Fishing reported good action for rockfish when the weather is decent , but the bite varies from day to day .

She said , “ The number one rig for rockfish has been shrimp flies tipped with squid on a 16-oz . sinker as bars and swimbaits have not been as effective . There have been salmon taken outside of W Bupy , and there have been some good scores on the outside . There are also

It ’ s halibut time on the Happy Hooker . This beautiful fish was landed while potluck fishing in S . F . Bay on May 17 .

Photo courtesy of HAPPY HOOKER SPORTFISHING , Berkeley .

salmon outside of the Deep Reef , but fewer private boats are heading this way .”

“ Stripers are moving along the beaches , and Daiwa ’ s SP Minnows are the top sellers . Crab are still found from the small pier or along the jetty , and there are still surf perch from the beaches ,” she tipped .

Captain Dennis Baxter of the New Captain Pete went on a scouting trip for salmon on May 27th , and he returned with what they came for – limits for the few friends on board . He will be running salmon trips on the upcoming weekend .

Second Captain Michael Cabanas of the Huli Cat found good action for both rockfish and crab with quality rockfish including a vermilion at 7 pounds from Mike Shaffer of Hayward on a swimbait and limits of lings to 13 pounds with the big fish landed by Anil Kumar of Modesto hitchhiking on a small rockfish .

-by Dave Hurley

MONTEREY BAY

Limits Of Lingcod And Rockfish Boated !

MOSS LANDING – “ Limits are the rule for both lingcod and rockfish on trips down to the Big Sur Coast ,” reported Carol Jones of Kahuna Sportfishing . “ We ’ re seeing steady good fishing with more chances to get down the coast with the weather improving .”

On May 27 , the boat checked in with lingcod limits , with at least a dozen fish going over 15 # and the brute weighing in at 25 #. The 25 anglers landed 50 lingcod , 40 vermilion rockfish , 38 copper rockfish , 15 canary rockfish and 47 assorted copper rockfish . On the previous trip , Jones reported , “ It was a beautiful day on the water with flat calm conditions . Our 21 anglers caught limits of lingcod to 19 # and near limits of quality vermilion , copper and assorted rockfish plus a bonus 2 lb . petrale sole ”.

Chris ’ Fishing Trips also reported great lingcod and rockfish fishing . The 26

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