Newby Looking to Fish Sandy Beach - Needs Expert Advice

DaveMcG Jun 4, 2013 at 8:51 PM #1

Hey Guys,

Brand new to fishing and especially brand new to fishing in rocky point. I am going down on June 21st for a week and staying in los palomas on Sandy Beach. We are looking to do some inshore fishing and need some expert advice.

Hoping someone could let me know the best way to catch some fish in shore.

Ie.

Will I have luck at sandy beach or will i need to go to a pier of some sort?

What is the best bait to use? I have heard everything from sardines, squid, to kastmaster or shrimp. (need some guidance)

Which fish should i expect to catch? (or go after)

I have heard the following are most common:

Trigger Fish

Corvina

Dolphin Fish

Dorado

Flounder

Mackeral

Pompano

Rock Bass

Sea Bass

Sea Trout

Sierra

Skipjack

Any other rocky point fishing wisdom is more than welcome.

Stuart Jun 5, 2013 at 10:06 AM #2

You can eliminate about 1/2 your list if you're fishing from shore at Sandy Beach. My suggestion is search this forum for "La Pinta" and/or "surf fishing" and you'll find oodles of threads that have all the information you need. :)

tlcnate Jun 5, 2013 at 11:07 AM #3

I am going this Sunday to the same area with the same intentions. I will try to send you some info once I get there and do some scouting about.

azfish Jun 5, 2013 at 5:08 PM #4

That beach 7'-8' light/med. action rod with 6-8lb test. two types of fishing. Step one go to fish market get a lb of octopus. Slip sinker rig cut 3'' piece put on hook 3' leader and a slip sinker (egg sinker) throw it out as far as you can. 2nd way silver spoons 3''-4.5'' long look for birds feeding on bait fish and cast to them. Best times tide going out and tide coming in. Night fishing octopus but be careful you will catch sting rays to. Do not drink beer and try to unhook them unless you are a beer drinking fishing machine like me. They are good to eat. Scrap parts can use for bait.

DaveMcG Jun 5, 2013 at 7:14 PM #5

Thanks for the replies!

@ Stuart: thanks for the info, ill try to search this forum for some more info
@ Ticnate: Thank you, I would definitely love to hear what worked and what didnt. please keep me posted.
@ Azfish: Great info! Best response yet, what type of fish would you expect me to catch?

Anyone else out there who has some good input on what to use?

Wood Spinner Jun 5, 2013 at 7:45 PM #6

If you fish in the sand areas be sure to schuffel your feet. You do not want to step on a stingray.

DaveMcG Jun 5, 2013 at 8:02 PM #7

Good call I totally forgot about that! Also, anyone had any luck renting a kayak or canoe there? I know you can rent jet skis and banna boat rides. but i figured renting a canoe might be a good option for me if available.

Mexico Joe Jun 7, 2013 at 12:34 AM #8

DaveMcG said:
Good call I totally forgot about that! Also, anyone had any luck renting a kayak or canoe there? I know you can rent jet skis and banna boat rides. but i figured renting a canoe might be a good option for me if available.

If you're not Happy then go to Del Mar Charters, second right as you're starting to make the right hand bender into the fish market. They rent sit on top kayaks. Tell them handicap Joe sent you!

DaveMcG Jun 7, 2013 at 1:40 PM #9

Thanks Mexico Joe, Do you need a fishing license and boat license if you are in a kayak or canoe?

azfish Jun 7, 2013 at 3:08 PM #10

DaveMcG said:
Thanks Mexico Joe, Do you need a fishing license and boat license if you are in a kayak or canoe?

No, just cold beer. The fish? who knows, what ever is in the area at that time.

DaveMcG Jun 8, 2013 at 10:52 AM #11

My buddy said get the biggest kastmaster available (3 oz or so) and I'll catch fish all day. Anybody else have luck witha 3 oz or should i go smaller for surf fishing?

Stuart Jun 8, 2013 at 12:14 PM #12

The weight of the Kastmaster depends on how much wind. I have several weights and go heavier if it's windy. Otherwise, the smaller 1.5 oz is fine. ProTip: Get the ones with the white bucktail and the SINGLE hook, not the treble hook. The Kastmaster will orient itself hook up on retrieve and you won't have as many snags in the reefy areas.

Mexico Joe Jun 10, 2013 at 2:07 AM #13

My buddy and I were doing really well with Corvina on Friday night. We were both fishing off of the bottom and I was using both of these Diamond Jigs, tipped with a little rock bass and they were slamming it. The current was one of the strongest Ive felt kayaking in Rocky Point. I like using the 4oz because I can feel the bottom with it, so I prefer weight and I needed it on Friday.

#ChollaBay4Life

Stuart Jun 10, 2013 at 8:21 AM #14

Funny, Joe... I bought that same mack pattern jig on Sat. @ PHX Fishing. 16 oz. for the deeper reefs.

jmcdtucson Jun 10, 2013 at 1:38 PM #15

Nice-looking Corvina.

ckyevanjay Jun 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM #16

nice fish man i didnt see a single corvina...
Friday was a windy mess on the las conchas side. no way i could launch the kayak from the beach.

azfish Jun 13, 2013 at 3:42 PM #17

Mexico Joe said:
My buddy and I were doing really well with Corvina on Friday night. We were both fishing off of the bottom and I was using both of these Diamond Jigs, tipped with a little rock bass and they were slamming it. The current was one of the strongest Ive felt kayaking in Rocky Point. I like using the 4oz because I can feel the bottom with it, so I prefer weight and I needed it on Friday.

Joe did you check out the new kastmaster xl's

DaveMcG Jun 16, 2013 at 9:30 AM #18

Thanks for all the updates and pictures guys!

I just bout 15 different kastmaster and krocodile lures for $20 off of craiglist. hoping that they will suffice for the trip this thur. If not ill probably try some squid and see if that will work.

DaveMcG Jun 19, 2013 at 4:45 PM #19

azfish said:
That beach 7'-8' light/med. action rod with 6-8lb test. two types of fishing. Step one go to fish market get a lb of octopus. Slip sinker rig cut 3'' piece put on hook 3' leader and a slip sinker (egg sinker) throw it out as far as you can. 2nd way silver spoons 3''-4.5'' long look for birds feeding on bait fish and cast to them. Best times tide going out and tide coming in. Night fishing octopus but be careful you will catch sting rays to. Do not drink beer and try to unhook them unless you are a beer drinking fishing machine like me. They are good to eat. Scrap parts can use for bait.

hey Could you eleoborate on best times to go fishing? Tide going out and time coming in? Im kind of confused what should i look for on this site: Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico

jmcdtucson Jun 20, 2013 at 10:50 AM #20

For Corvina, high tide or tide running (either in or out) and also evening is always good for me.
So mid-day low tide is out.

azfish Jun 20, 2013 at 11:01 AM #21

DaveMcG said:
hey Could you eleoborate on best times to go fishing? Tide going out and time coming in? Im kind of confused what should i look for on this site: Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico

At the top tells you the day and time it is above the top of the wave witch is highest water level the time above the lowest wave is lowest tide its tells you the precise time it will happen. To the left of the graft is in meters tells you how high or low the water level will be.

azfish Jun 20, 2013 at 11:06 AM #22

6-20-13 at 11:51 pm the tide will be at its highest water will be high on the beach.
next morning 6-21-13 at 6:07am lowest tide water will be way out on the beach.
You want to start to fish when water is almost at its lowest and when the tide starts to come half way to full high tide.

MIRAMAR Jun 20, 2013 at 9:27 PM #23

Here's the next few days tide charts (according to Tide/Current Predictor). Next month looks even bigger high tide:

2013-06-20 23:49 MST 13.24 feet High Tide
2013-06-21 03:42 MST Moonset
2013-06-21 05:29 MST Sunrise
2013-06-21 06:02 MST -2.48 feet Low Tide
2013-06-21 12:43 MST 16.73 feet High Tide
2013-06-21 17:59 MST Moonrise
2013-06-21 18:49 MST 1.14 feet Low Tide
2013-06-21 19:40 MST Sunset
2013-06-22 00:37 MST 14.14 feet High Tide
2013-06-22 04:42 MST Moonset
2013-06-22 05:30 MST Sunrise
2013-06-22 06:48 MST -3.65 feet Low Tide
2013-06-22 13:28 MST 17.92 feet High Tide
2013-06-22 19:03 MST Moonrise
2013-06-22 19:34 MST 0.39 feet Low Tide
2013-06-22 19:41 MST Sunset
2013-06-23 01:23 MST 14.74 feet High Tide
2013-06-23 04:33 MST Full Moon
2013-06-23 05:30 MST Sunrise
2013-06-23 05:47 MST Moonset
2013-06-23 07:33 MST -4.24 feet Low Tide ****
2013-06-23 14:12 MST 18.50 feet High Tide ****
2013-06-23 19:41 MST Sunset
2013-06-23 20:02 MST Moonrise
2013-06-23 20:20 MST 0.02 feet Low Tide

Last edited: Jun 20, 2013 at 9:42 PM

DaveMcG Jun 21, 2013 at 10:28 AM #24

Thank for all the advice guys my WIFE caught 2 corvina haha. oh and also just FYI to any other newbies out there Corvina are a little sharp. I got a little poke when trying to unhook my wifes fish.

azfish Jun 21, 2013 at 2:30 PM #25

DaveMcG said:
Thank for all the advice guys my WIFE caught 2 corvina haha. oh and also just FYI to any other newbies out there Corvina are a little sharp. I got a little poke when trying to unhook my wifes fish.

FYI NO pic it didnt happen.

azfish Jun 21, 2013 at 2:32 PM #26

DaveMcG said:
Thank for all the advice guys my WIFE caught 2 corvina haha. oh and also just FYI to any other newbies out there Corvina are a little sharp. I got a little poke when trying to unhook my wifes fish.

PS: FYI: If you get poked rub that spot on the belly of the fish that poked you.

azfish Jun 23, 2013 at 3:38 PM #27

where are the pics???? I need to know.

DaveMcG Jun 23, 2013 at 3:39 PM #28

planning on renting a 24 hr kayak tuesday. should i launch from sandy beach or paddle out to a certain area?

azfish Jun 23, 2013 at 3:39 PM #29

MIRAMAR said:
Here's the next few days tide charts (according to Tide/Current Predictor). Next month looks even bigger high tide:

2013-06-20 23:49 MST 13.24 feet High Tide
2013-06-21 03:42 MST Moonset
2013-06-21 05:29 MST Sunrise
2013-06-21 06:02 MST -2.48 feet Low Tide
2013-06-21 12:43 MST 16.73 feet High Tide
2013-06-21 17:59 MST Moonrise
2013-06-21 18:49 MST 1.14 feet Low Tide
2013-06-21 19:40 MST Sunset
2013-06-22 00:37 MST 14.14 feet High Tide
2013-06-22 04:42 MST Moonset
2013-06-22 05:30 MST Sunrise
2013-06-22 06:48 MST -3.65 feet Low Tide
2013-06-22 13:28 MST 17.92 feet High Tide
2013-06-22 19:03 MST Moonrise
2013-06-22 19:34 MST 0.39 feet Low Tide
2013-06-22 19:41 MST Sunset
2013-06-23 01:23 MST 14.74 feet High Tide
2013-06-23 04:33 MST Full Moon
2013-06-23 05:30 MST Sunrise
2013-06-23 05:47 MST Moonset
2013-06-23 07:33 MST -4.24 feet Low Tide ****
2013-06-23 14:12 MST 18.50 feet High Tide ****
2013-06-23 19:41 MST Sunset
2013-06-23 20:02 MST Moonrise
2013-06-23 20:20 MST 0.02 feet Low Tide

I down load the app. on my Iphone how do you get the tide chart? pic chart of the waves?

Last edited: Jun 23, 2013 at 3:42 PM

Mexico Joe Jun 24, 2013 at 1:04 AM #30

davemcg said:
planning on renting a 24 hr kayak tuesday. Should i launch from sandy beach or paddle out to a certain area?

menzo

jerry Jun 24, 2013 at 7:20 AM #31

Windy...don't waste your time

DaveMcG Jun 24, 2013 at 7:46 AM #32

where is menzo?

playaperro Jun 24, 2013 at 8:48 AM #33

Menzo is JJ's cantina in Choya, JMHO

DaveMcG Jun 24, 2013 at 2:52 PM #34

hey guys, caught a sea bass today. pretty windy but caught it on my 4th or 5th cast out. and for all those skeptics image is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fkivgf4seu132ku/DPP_0032.JPG

my son was helping me unhook him.

Mexico Joe Jun 24, 2013 at 4:30 PM #35

DaveMcG said:
hey guys, caught a sea bass today. pretty windy but caught it on my 4th or 5th cast out. and for all those skeptics image is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fkivgf4seu132ku/DPP_0032.JPG

my son was helping me unhook him.

A sea bass?????????? LOL

azfish Jun 25, 2013 at 9:28 AM #36

Mexico Joe said:
A sea bass?????????? LOL

Thats not nice Joe!!!!!!

azfish Jun 25, 2013 at 9:30 AM #37

DaveMcG said:
hey guys, caught a sea bass today. pretty windy but caught it on my 4th or 5th cast out. and for all those skeptics image is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fkivgf4seu132ku/DPP_0032.JPG

my son was helping me unhook him.

Hey I believed you caught fish, its just the rest of them on here. PS: look on your fish cart.

Landshark Jun 25, 2013 at 11:22 AM #38

The pic of your son looking at the fish is priceless. Nice going Dave.

DaveMcG Jun 25, 2013 at 1:24 PM #39

Thanks landshark it was fun!

and whats so bad about sea bass?

Landshark Jun 25, 2013 at 3:05 PM #40

DaveMcG said:
and whats so bad about sea bass?

I assume they don't think it's a sea bass. What is it guys? Stuart posted this website for identifying fish.
Fish pictures and species identification for hundreds of species caught in Mexico

mondone Jun 25, 2013 at 5:24 PM #41

Landshark said:
I assume they don't think it's a sea bass. What is it guys? Stuart posted this website for identifying fish.
Fish pictures and species identification for hundreds of species caught in Mexico

Looks like a little ol rock bass to me.

Shawno Jun 26, 2013 at 6:27 AM #42

DaveMcG said:
Thanks landshark it was fun!

and whats so bad about sea bass?

DaveMcG - You caught a spotted bay bass. Very tasty! Spotted Bay Bass fish pictures and species identification
Great pic of your son. Don't mind Mexico Joe ...

Stuart Jun 26, 2013 at 6:35 AM #43

Shawno said:
Don't mind Mexico Joe ...

Really. He would have had it mounted as a trophy! :rofl:

The IMPORTANT thing is that you were out fishing and introducing your young son to the wonders of the sea, as well!!

Congrats!

azfish Jun 28, 2013 at 2:13 PM #44

Dave anymore, did my tips work for you?

DaveMcG Jun 28, 2013 at 8:53 PM #45

Hey guys, sorry just got home today.

Silver kastmasters is all I had time to try and they worked just fine for surf fishing in the morning. My wife was able to catch a couple corvina and I was able to snag a sea bass, ahem sorry, spotted bay bass. No mas fishing after the spotted bay bass catch, however it did make for some tasty filets on our grill.

Side note: our vacation stay was extended 1 more day due to some nasty food poisoning me and my wife got from a sports bar called "Bryans" we are still recoverig right now. will post more details under the restaurant section on this forum. But do NOT eat their pepperoni pizza!!! LINK IS HERE: http://www.rockypointtalk.com/thread8012.html

Thank you for all your tips everyone! Much appreciated for sure!

Last edited: Jun 28, 2013 at 9:11 PM

DaveMcG Jun 28, 2013 at 8:57 PM #46

ps: This forum post has some really great basic tips on how to fish the shores on sandy beach. In order to keep this forum from duplicate posts like this it would be nice to make this a "sticky" post since Im sure other newbies might be looking for the same info for their visits.

jerry Jun 28, 2013 at 10:06 PM #47

DaveMcG said:
ps: This forum post has some really great basic tips on how to fish the shores on sandy beach. In order to keep this forum from duplicate posts like this it would be nice to make this a "sticky" post since Im sure other newbies might be looking for the same info for their visits.

Dave that is not how we roll....a new guy asks if he needs a passport,can bring 9999 dollars down,10 cases of beer,huge amounts of dog food and steaks,wonders if fireworks and atv's are legal at Los Conchas and his questions are answered with very little grief......well that depends on the moon and tides

DaveMcG Jun 29, 2013 at 7:34 AM #48

No worries just thought it would be a little bit easier for newbies to find information a little quicker, thanks jerry!

azfish Jun 29, 2013 at 7:43 AM #49

DaveMcG said:
Hey guys, sorry just got home today.

Silver kastmasters is all I had time to try and they worked just fine for surf fishing in the morning. My wife was able to catch a couple corvina and I was able to snag a sea bass, ahem sorry, spotted bay bass. No mas fishing after the spotted bay bass catch, however it did make for some tasty filets on our grill.

Side note: our vacation stay was extended 1 more day due to some nasty food poisoning me and my wife got from a sports bar called "Bryans" we are still recoverig right now. will post more details under the restaurant section on this forum. But do NOT eat their pepperoni pizza!!! LINK IS HERE: http://www.rockypointtalk.com/thread8012.html

Thank you for all your tips everyone! Much appreciated for sure!

When in Mexico, eat Mexican food.