San Diego surf?

[Natekursow]

Saw an article about fishing for corbina near San Diego, and the guy mentioned catching other species such as halibut and surfperch on the fly... I might be in San Diego early April and I know the corbina won't be there, but will there be surf fishing for other species, and if so, any tips? Fly fishing for halibut intrigued me, but I have no idea on how I'd set out about doing that. Any tips?
Thanks!

NK

[Sheepdog8404]

Nate,

You’d be missing out if you skipped bringing the rod with you. A 7wt with a sinking shooting head is what you’re after. Some dudes get crazy with high end sealed drag saltwater reels but I was able to get away with an old click/pawl reel and just rinsed it (and the rod) very well after each trip. For a line, any sinking head with a intermediate line is perfect. I used a Rio outbound short WF7s6/i. A stripping basket is a must. You can make one for a few bucks with a small basket from Home Depot and a bungee cord. Make sure it has some drain holes in it in case you get swamped by a wave. As for flies, a handful of small clousers (chartreuse/white and red/yellow) will get the job done. Make sure you watch your back cast too. Folks will like to stand behind you and watch. Look for rips buckets and troughs in about ankle to thigh deep water. No need to get deep. Most perch are caught in shin deep water. The Corbin’s are pretty tough but tying into some perch or a halibut is fairly easy to do. A small perch on a 7wt will take you for a ride. Hook into a sub-legal halibut even and you’ll have your hands full. Good luck!

[Natekursow]

Nate,

You’d be missing out if you skipped bringing the rod with you. A 7wt with a sinking shooting head is what you’re after. Some dudes get crazy with high end sealed drag saltwater reels but I was able to get away with an old click/pawl reel and just rinsed it (and the rod) very well after each trip. For a line, any sinking head with a intermediate line is perfect. I used a Rio outbound short WF7s6/i. A stripping basket is a must. You can make one for a few bucks with a small basket from Home Depot and a bungee cord. Make sure it has some drain holes in it in case you get swamped by a wave. As for flies, a handful of small clousers (chartreuse/white and red/yellow) will get the job done. Make sure you watch your back cast too. Folks will like to stand behind you and watch. Look for rips buckets and troughs in about ankle to thigh deep water. No need to get deep. Most perch are caught in shin deep water. The Corbin’s are pretty tough but tying into some perch or a halibut is fairly easy to do. A small perch on a 7wt will take you for a ride. Hook into a sub-legal halibut even and you’ll have your hands full. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips! By "small" flies, how big are we talking? Like between a size 6 and size 1?

[Sheepdog8404]

I think that’s about right. I want to say I tied probably 80% of them on a size 4 Mustad oshaughnessy hook. Or similar shaped hook.

[Natekursow]

I think that’s about right. I want to say I tied probably 80% of them on a size 4 Mustad oshaughnessy hook. Or similar shaped hook.

Thanks!

NK

[Sheepdog8404]

You got it. Good luck!

Also, maybe call or drop into Stroud Tackle while you’re there if you have a minute. Super solid guys and it’s the kinda shop you can just show up to drink coffee and talk fishing without any imposition to pull out your wallet. They’d probably have some advice for where and when to go also.