Tidepool microfishing and surf fishing success! (7-4-2016)

[BenCantrell]

Went back to the same tidepool I took the underwater photos in last week.  Did not see the zebra perch, opaleye, or sculpin, but there were tons of blennies.  I caught over half a dozen, but I'm not sure what they are or if they're all the same species.  Rockpool and mussel blennies are likely contenders.











I found that a small tidepool served as a good holding tank to make sure I didn't catch the same blenny twice.    They'll be released at high tide.



A lot of other neat critters in the pools including this purple crab.





When the waves started crashing into the pools I moved over to the surf.  A Lucky Craft minnow didn't get any hits, so I downsized to live sand crabs on a #10 octopus hook on a Carolina rig.  After just a few casts I hooked up with my first surf fish!



I am immensely excited about this catch!  It's my first halibut and first flatfish.



Just a few casts later I had my second fish, also a new lifer - barred surfperch.



A few more casts and I hooked into a yellowfin croaker, my only non-lifer of the day.



At one point a small fish followed the bait all the way to my feet, took a swipe, missed, and then bolted away when it saw me.  After my last catch the beach started to get crowded, so I packed up and went home feeling quite triumphant!

[Latimeria]

Well damn!  Let me revisit this tomorrow as I'm trying to get everything started for a 4th celebration.  Congrats Ben!  I should have gotten you on a staghorn sculpin.  I forgot about them where we were fishing!

[BenCantrell]

The consensus is that this one is a rockpool blenny.  They have a dent in their head behind the eyes. 

[Pinoyfisher]

Blennies are pretty cool looking.

[LONGCAST JOE]

You didnt give one of those blennies a try as live bait when the surf started crashing the pools? ...btw, do you know if blennies are related to midshipmen

[SurffishingSean]

Super awesome! Great for those low tide days when the swell is up and you still need to get out. Ive always thought those were baby cabezon. They are beautiful fish for sure. Keep it up !

[SurffishingSean]

Sweet! love so cal's surf fishery!

[Latimeria]

....They'll be released at high tide.

That or the seagulls will feast on them all.  lol

[BenCantrell]

That or the seagulls will feast on them all.  lol

Uh oh. 

[BenCantrell]

You didnt give one of those blennies a try as live bait when the surf started crashing the pools? ...btw, do you know if blennies are related to midshipmen

Haha, I thought about it.

I don't think there is any relation.  Looks like midshipmen are related to toadfishes though.

[Pinoyfisher]

You didnt give one of those blennies a try as live bait when the surf started crashing the pools? ...btw, do you know if blennies are related to midshipmen

I'm sure they'd be great as live bait! I caught blennies while in Cabo fishing near the mouth of the marina and pinned them on another rod for larger game and scored some croakers.

[LONGCAST JOE]

You didnt give one of those blennies a try as live bait when the surf started crashing the pools? ...btw, do you know if blennies are related to midshipmen

I don't think there is any relation.  Looks like midshipmen are related to toadfishes though.

The only reason I ask is this soupfin diet study stuck in my head, with the midshipman the #1 food source for females

[BenCantrell]

The only reason I ask is this soupfin diet study stuck in my head, with the midshipman the #1 food source for females.

Now I want to catch a midshipman, damnit.