Can I have tips of deep sea fishing?

I'm going deep sea fishing, any tips?

• I'm going out on a 1/2 day boat out of LA harbor, i've been pier fishing since i was 9 and this is my first time going out on a fishing boat, just need some tips. Thanks ...show more

• Answer:

  In LA Harbor they usually assign you a spot at the rail when you buy your ticket. On the longer trips they rotate every hour or so, so everyone gets a shot at fishing the stern, but I'm not sure about the half day runs. (Up north many boats just let you pick whatever spot you can get -- basically first-come, first served, but this system benefits the regulars and the pushy people.) Be there an hour in advance, so you're not rushed and have a better chance of getting a better spot, as well as buying tackle you may need. You're better off fishing a weekday -- on summer weekends the boats are packed, and fishing shoulder to shoulder isn't fun. I just checked the online reports for the Matt Walsh (LA Harbor half day) -- mornings they've been fishing for barracuda, afternoons they've been after bass. The barries will eat baits fished on the surface, or iron jigs, while the bass will be taken over structure, probably down near or on the bottom. You can get them on plastics, but you'll probably do better with the live bait. For bait fishing for the barries, I'd suggest 20 pound line at least, not because they pull that hard, but rather because they'll bite through light line pretty quickly, and with 20 pound you'll get more of them to the boat. 25 or 30 would be better, but that'll cut down on the number of bites you get. Hook size depends on the size of the bait, from about size 4 for small anchovies up to maybe a 2/0 for larger sardines. For jigs, the basic blue and white is a good place to start, either a large lightweight one like a Tady 45, or if they're deeper, a smaller heavy one like a Tady AA (there are several good brands out there, I just like Tadys). You can fish the iron with 20 pound line, but you'll be better off with 30. For bass, the sinker size will depend on the size of the bait. 2, 3 and 4 ounces will probably cover you, or maybe the bass will come up and you can fish with a splitshot or no weight at all. Torpedo sinkers will sink faster and are less likely to snag if you're on a rocky reef. 12 to 15 pound line is fine for most bass, unless the bait is huge (mackerel or live squid). If you have questions ask the crew; if people are catching and you're not, try to figure out why they're catching and change what you're doing. If the crew is helpful, make sure you tip them $5-10 at the end of the day. Entering the jackpot is optional; if you do enter and win it, the crew will expect about half of it back as a tip. Besides tackle, bring needlenose pliers or dikes for unhooking fish, sunglasses and a baseball cap, and sunscreen. A license if you're 16 or older. Wear clothes which won't be ruined by fish slime and blood, and short boots or sneakers which won't be ruined if they're soaked when the deckhand hoses off the deck.