Capitola: What the heck is a shad??

28th July 2009

posted at 6:09 PM in Fishing Reports |

The person who caught this was using sabiki from the wharf. It’s a shad - very unusual for this area. The wharf was host to a whole bunch of fun-to-catch stuff today - lots of perch, sardines, and jacksmelt, though no mackerel.

On the ocean, Sheriff Larry caught 9 stripers, released 5 (kept 4) fishing New Brighton with live sardines. He gave them all away before we got to the picture. We are tempted to say something like “suuuurrrre Larry” but we know how sensitive he is about which fish he gets photographed with (they must be very large).

Off new brighton today another private boat caught a legal halibut in 13 feet of water with live sardines.

Conditions are definitely looking spookier, but we can’t say where.

Finally, bait is all over the place - pretty much all the varieties we’re seeing at the wharf and then some including some pinhead anchovies. Lots of bird action, sea lions, and dolphins. Pretty much the seas are alive with life right now.

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1 On July 28th, 2009 at 6:09 PM , Brendan said:

Seems like everyones picked up on the sardine striper phenomena!

2 On July 29th, 2009 at 6:09 PM , Donnie said:

RE: conditions are definitely looking spookier…. Matilda?? What do we mean by this??

3 On July 29th, 2009 at 6:09 PM , Capitola Boat and Bait said:

“Spooky” refers in general to the increased presence of white seabass, which are sometimes called “ghosts” cuz they are elusive.

“Matilda” is a great white shark that’s known to inhabit these waters. The two ideas aren’t connected.

4 On July 30th, 2009 at 6:09 PM , Kurtis said:

As to the Matilda reference which I seem to have missed on here somewhere. She is not the Whitey I have spotted now for the 2nd time in the last week. The 14 foot white I have seen cruising the shallows off New Brighton is not one I have seen before. Matilda is very big. Saw her last year and she is over 20′ now. The one I have seen recently is not afraid of people nor boats either. The 14′+ Shark decided to scratch his/her back on my boat today while I was fishing striper’s and the last time I saw it, it was trying to eat my sardine as I cranked it in till I jerked it out of the water 2′ from my boat. A very beautiful fish but That right there is why you wont ever find me swimming in this ocean by choice.