Mac spots other than piers?

[spideyjg]

Need to make bait and 2/3ds of the pier crowd is people that don't have licenses to fish elsewhere.

Anybody try the jetties for macs? I was thinking hospitality point or across it on the mission beach side.

Jim

[LONGCAST JOE]

I feel your pain Jim, it seems as if making fresh bait as of late is harder thing to get done then actually catching what we target with that bait. I've found myself giving how to get bait more thought then the fishing I do once I  ever do get the bait...
Joe

[spideyjg]

It is a different type of dues you have 5o pay. Time on the sand and time making bait.

Working 2 jobs makes any fishing time precious.

BTW tried fresh caught croaker a few times and it gets no love. 

Jim

[sasquatch]

Hit the pier. Watch and learn the ways. It will up your mackerel game.

[LONGCAST JOE]

Are cast nets legal in California??

[spideyjg]

Are cast nets legal in California??

No but you can use crab nets with a finer mesh on them. There is a local shop that sells them. Next pier trip I have to bring that to catch live bait. If I score enough, wheel and deal for macs.

Jim

[raychavez91]

pretty unlikely you'll get macks with the dip met your talking about. Best bet is fish the piers and deal wit the crowds.

[spideyjg]

But the dip net can get live baitfish for bigger pier targets. Guys were slaying bonito with live bait last year.

Jim

[Eric H]

I've caught a lot of macks  from the jetty on the iron but if I were to target them I'd hit the jetty. A few years ago I caught bonito and macks from the sand on every cast.

[xjchad]

What would be the best technique for catching macs on a pier?
Sabiki rig with squid strips?
I need to put the kids to work!

[LONGCAST JOE]

What would be the best technique for catching macs on a pier?
Sabiki rig with squid strips?
I need to put the kids to work!

Hustle them with a couple bucks from the people you do see catching them 

[Pinoyfisher]

Best bet is to give the piers with a tackle shop a call and get a live report of what's biting before heading out. It could save you a trip. I call OB, Oside, and Shelter on occasions. Word is OB and Shelter has a daytime bite going.

I avoid sabiki rigs, they always tangle. 2 hook rig and a split works best for met during the day. Same rig at night, but I replace the split shot with a glow stick. Squid strips.

[spideyjg]

Traded some info with some catfish folk who told me their mac harvest area. Will try to hit it this week.

Maybe make bait and do some ray fishing in the bay since the surf looks to be obscene.

Jim

[raychavez91]

Wide open mackerel today at oceanside pier, for those interested

[sasquatch]

Wide open mackerel today at oceanside pier, for those interested

Heard they were in. Thanks for the confirmation, Ray.