VOL . 41 • ISS . 1 January 14 , 2021
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WHAT ’ S HOT continued from page 2
This group of anglers were all smiles since they closed out the 2021 fishing season with limits of lingcod while fishing aboard Flying Fish Sportfishing .
Photo Courtesy of Flying Fish Sportfishing
Ernie Marlan , of Elk Grove , pictured with a lingcod that he landed while aboard the Flying Fish out of Avila Beach . The 4oz Ahi Mackeral Jig is Ernie ’ s goto for rockfish and lingcod . Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp .
Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp we boarded the Flying Fish it was a short ride to the shallow water spot . The weather was incredible . Hardly any swell or wind that morning , and the water visibility was amazing . As we pulled up to the first spot , I
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SAVVY ANGLERS VISIT
WWW . EGOFISHING . COM was handed my breakfast burrito by deckhand Ryan Bower , it went quickly into my tackle backpack for later . Sorry Ryan , the fish were calling ! After the first few drifts we started picking up the lings . At first there were a
A Madame Lure Nebula Colored Sand Dab swim bait , rigged on a C4 Custom Rainshadow Rod proved to be a deadly combination for lingcod during the 2021 season .
Photo Courtesy of Amy Wellenkamp
couple around the boat , with us on the bow with the biggest collection to start . Then we began hearing shouts from the stern and it was on . Each drift we picked up a several more lings . I tried a few different lures . Having lots of success early on with a 1-1 / 2 oz Pearl White Hook Up Bait . The Pearl White is a replacement body color , and I love it . I have caught many species with this bait , including striped bass . This is the perfect baitfish replica color that can be used most anywhere . After catching a couple of the same size lings , I decided I wanted to target the bigger size as I saw they were attacking some larger lures from anglers next to me . Into my FishLab Tackle Backpack I dove ( also a mini tackle store , it is so heavy , but I never know what the fish will be biting , so I must bring it all !). I looked at all the Madame Lure swimbaits I had brought along and decided the Sand Dab Nebula swimmer was it . The Nebula has a purple , red , black glitter body , and a glow tail . The thing I like most about these Sand Dabs is the action of the tail . I have discovered these Sand Dab swimbaits work best in the shallows as their flutter takes too long to get to the bottom if we are in the deeps . Well , I added a 3 oz jig head , tied on my newest lure of choice , and tossed it in the sea . It barely hit the bottom and I was loaded up . Using my C4 custom rod with lots of action , the fight was on . The best thing about shallow water fishing is the fight from the fish . A few headshakes later and we saw color . This was my largest ling of the day . I have discovered as I am on these trips to really pay attention to what is going on around me . Take notice of the other anglers , what they are using and what colors , types of lures are working . I am always learning and appreciate the amazing fishing community and anglers I share the rail with who are so willing to offer advice and tackle suggestions . Ernie Marlan was also trying a few different lures as well . The swimbaits were working , but slower that he would like so he ended up with his old faithful 4oz Ahi Mackerel Jig being the bait of choice . The lingcod were flying over the rails . Many of the lings were the same size , however , for one angler , Kenny Young , he landed three 14 pounders back-to-back . Kenny was using The Fishing Armory 45mm jig head paired with the Madame Lure 5 ” red crab swimbait . The lings couldn ’ t get enough . As Kenny was landing these gators on the stern , he had plenty of company . Ryan Bower was running around from angler to angler gaffing lings and throwing them on the deck . It was madness , the best kind . After two hours of fishing , we had hit the boat limit for two lingcod per angler . Simply incredible . Kevin McKee brought up the jackpot fish using a Savage Gear Eel White Swimbait . Congratulations Kevin ! Thank you , Captain Wayne , for your expertise and trusting us to get the job done . Definitely a trip we will talk about for a long time . To book a trip aboard the Flying Fish call Patriot Sportfishing out of Avila Beach at ( 805 ) 595-7200 or visit them online at www . patriotsportfishing . com . Here ’ s to 2022 ! Tight lines . See you on the water .