The wind has been a blow'n and the waves a crash'n.

Immense runoff has muddied the waters and completely changed the beach. It looks like we may have a few more days of rain (some are saying another storm on Wednesday!) but then we should be in the clear--so to speak--and ready for some good surf fishing.

This upcoming week has some small tides but the following week looks great for good morning and evening surf fishing. There are no reports of large surf on the horizon so that bodes well for the water to clean up quickly.

All we need is a little cooperation with the weather. Remember: the beach has changed so it will be important to cover some area. Fan cast as you walk the beach--I like to use a grub with hot sauce and walk until I find biting fish. Then, if I want to change to a crab or worm I've already found the fish.

Now is also a good time at low tide to find areas that have newly uncovered rock and changes in the inshore trough. Mark them by looking back toward shore and lining them up with something. Go back at high tide and fish them--they may be the spot!

The Fred Hall show is coming up soon so please come by our booth and enjoy the seminars. I will post the seminar times as soon as they are available so you can make your plans. Please check out and our surf equipment, tips, pictures, tides and book at: http://www.fishthesurf.com/

This week's surf fishing in Orange County was characterized by big surf and churned up seas.

Coming off last week's storm the inshore water was very much churned up and murky. The large surf and enormous amount of debris push most fish off their spots and reformed much of the beach.

On Thursday and Friday the size of the surf increased and produced a strong downhill long-shore current. But the swell which was originally from the West is now more from the Northwest and is being blocked somewhat by Palos Verdes. Areas from Newport to Cabrillo will see some large sets but also some good long lulls between waves. This will make fishing and conditions a bit better as we wait for the swell to calm down later this week.

I received a couple of great fish reports right before and as the storm was hitting last week. Up north in Santa Barbara there has been great halibut fishing on hard baits like the Lucky Craft and also on soft 5" swimtail baits.

Down here in Orange County I received a fantastic report from central Huntington Beach (at a location unknown) Mike wrote: "I changed to the Corbina Stinger and my first cast produced a nice sized Yellow Fin Croaker...guesstimated at 14". My brother was quick to cast. His retrieve was approaching the rocks when all of a sudden he swung and his rod doubled over. He hooted and his drag began to sing. The rain started to come down at a steady pace and his rod bent as he stood still waiting for the fish to turn. It was at that moment, I wished I had my camera. The fish swam out to the middle of the channel then back towards the jetty. He finally showed himself and it was a big Spot Fin. It was the same size of the one that is pictured on your web page. I switched to a green camo slider and every cast produced a fish. I used each color you recommended and they were equally deadly. We caught Yellow Fin Croaker, Spot Fin Croaker, Corbina, Barred Perch and Walleye Perch."

That's a great report that lets you know that once the conditions improve the fishing will continue to be epic!

If you're looking for my book or the great surf tackle that I use everyday check out my store:

CLICK HERE sales from the store help to support our website and provides much need donations to United Anglers to help them fight proposed State rules that may close our favorite fishing areas.

Looking forward to the upcoming week: We still have some good tides this week and as the swell diminishes and the wind turns offshore fishing will improve all the way through next weekend. Both plastic grubs, worms and sidewinder crabs seem to be working well using either the carolina rig or dropshot rigging.

Please send me your reports! Until then great fishing and I'll see you at the beach...

www.fishthesurf.com

This week produced the complete gamut of surf and weather conditions at the beach.

(Monday's beach conditions)

The week started with cool offshore winds and medium to large surf. Early in the week there was a strong long-shore current running downhill that made fishing tough. It was essential to find protected pockets where fish could congregate and eat. As the week progressed the surf subsided and then built up again.

Most of this week's fish were small with a good steady bite of 8" -10" inch perch. The best bite of the week came on Thursday evening when I found a "ball" of shiner or walleye perch. It was a fish-a-cast using the lug worm or the lug worm grub combo.

The most frustrating day of fishing came on Jan. 2, when I ventured down to the beach, on the most awsome fishing day of the decade, and realized I needed a new license. No Problem--I'll just go to the tackle store and buy one. Two stores later and no license all I could do was watch the sunset and hope for better luck tomorrow.

(Wednesday's perfect conditions)

This weekend we'll just wait for the sky to clear and the wind and surf to drop off. We have some great tides starting today and running all the way through the month. The weather prognosticators don't really know what will happen this week but if it clears up the fishing will be good.

Birds working the surf mean yellowfin croaker, halibut or stripped bass are not far away

Surf fishing is always good after a storm. Most fish get blown off their usual feeding grounds by the surf and wind. Once the storm passes the current calms down and they settle back into place. Having been starved because of the storm, fish look for areas of circulating water, like the edge of a rip tide or a current area (like where rocks meet sand).

(Thursday's conditions)

Take this weekend to clean up your gear and get ready for the calm-between-storm--That's when the surf fishing will be good--I guarantee it!

Look for me at the Fred Hall Show, March 5-9, 2008, where I'll be having several seminars on light-line surf fishing and a great booth with all kinds of surf gear. Also, surf over to my website, if you haven't already, and view the new slide shows on many pages.

Check out the beach conditions and CHEAP surf tackle at: www.fishthesurf.com