Bass Harvesters II: Castaic Lake

[RichB]

I have been out of bass fishing for about 7 years, and began fishing heavily since Feb (new boat, equipment etc..). I fished a 2 day tournament at Lopez back in April were I observed a schit load of people being brought out via boats to different locations throughout the lake to fish along the shore. As you may recall I commented/ ranted about this a few months ago. I was concerned many of these people were catching more than their limit.

We'll on Monday I fished Castaic for the first time during the daytime (it seems I only fish this lake at night tournament) and at which time I saw the same thing going on here as what I saw at Lake Lopez.. WTF!!!

Are food and fish prices going up so much people have to be boated out to points and remote areas miles from the launch ramp in order to fish.

Many of the areas I caught fish off of were now populated with 5 to 10 people.

As you can tell this It really pissing me off!!

I can understand shore fisherman fishing in the designated areas but is it legal to have boats drop off people on points miles away on the North/East end of the lake. It is hard enough to compete with other bass boats on prime locations/points in order to find fish, now I got to compete with the shore fisherman that got dropped off by a boat along with 15 members of his family..

I never saw this occurring at Castaic lake 7 years ago..

[gt5bass]

According to the Lifeguards it is "Perfectly OK"

I brought this up to them a few weeks back and they said the shoreline is open all around the lake.

I also think it is a crock. Every point you want to fish is jacked with 10-15 people dropped off from a rental boat and I would put money on it that most of them don't know that Castaic doesn't have the standard 12" 5 fish limit either Has anyone seen anyone inforcing it? I sure haven't!

But God forbid if you break the speed limit in a bass boat They won't hesitate to harass you as the speed demon cigar boats blow by

[propgun]

This is something that I have only started to notice this year. I don't recall it being this bad in the past years. I think DFG needs to do more spot checks in their boat like I've seen in the past. the last two weekends I've fished and almostevery piont you want to fish is Hi jacked with these shore hounds. they sometimes have as many as 5-6 lines in the water.
Just my 2cents.

[propgun]

This is something that I have only started to notice this year. I don't recall it being this bad in the past years. I think DFG needs to do more spot checks in their boat like I've seen in the past. the last two weekends I've fished and almostevery piont you want to fish is Hi jacked with these shore hounds. they sometimes have as many as 5-6 lines in the water.
Just my 2cents.

[DTaylor]

Besides being on the shore all over the lake,,, even more important is the fact that we have seen some of them with bar-b-ques on the shore! With all the fires in that aresa, and the increased fire danger this year, I am surprised the Fire Department has not stepped in,,, Most likely they are not aware of what is going on. If that is the case, they need to be informed. If anyone has any information as to how to do this, let me know!
Thanks
Dennis

[mark poulson]

The best way to get information to the right people is to contact Friends of Castaic Lake, FOCL. They are on the Castaic Lake website.

[propgun]

the big question is who is going to pick up all the trash they leave behind it's getting really bad. I know I have been plucking trash out of the water if I see it floating .

[mark poulson]

I emailed Lori Bennett, who is in charge of Castaic Lake. She said she has alerted DFG, and they have been to the lake several times on the weekends. I told her the weekdays were also a problem, and that there were BBQs invlolved, and she said she would alert both DFG and the lifeguards.
Fingers crossed.
At least the gal in charge there gives a dam#!

[gt5bass]

Thanks Mark!

And yes it is nice to have a Lake Manager that like us Bass Fershermen

[RichB]

Thanks Mark!

I still can't believe what I saw at Castaic on Monday. It was like I was at the Huong River Basin, in Central Viet Nam.

[Gee Gee Baits]

About a year ago while fishing at Castaic in one of the remote areas in the back of Slalom Cove I made a cast too far and had to get it free from a bush. As I reached for the bush to get the lure free I almost grabbed a very big rattle snake maybe 5 feet long hanging there sunning itself.....

[kazk]

DON'T FEEL TOO BAD!!! WHILE FISHING THE LAST WON TOURNAMENT THERE SCOTT SWEET AND I HAD AN ALUMINUM BOAT START ACNHORING ACROSS A POINT WE WERE SETTING UP ON. SEEMS THEY ONLY UNDERSTAND VIETNAMESE AND NOT ENGLISH.

CHRIS KODA

[Ted Nguyen]

Gary,

Man I know what you mean. Just the other day Thanh Le and I were out bank fishing a rocky point at Castaic trying to catch some dinner, when this guy in a fancy bass boat came charging in and "parked" right on top of our dinner and chased all the fish away.

Something has got to be done about this. Can't a man catch some dinner without being harassed? That's why Thanh told me he would never go back out west as he never gets harassed like that down south.

BTW Nice fish

[DougH]

ha ha ha good one!
Catch a dinner , haha! Without being harrassed!! hoot!

[gt5bass]

Ted,

Always da SmartArse

How ya been?

Thanks for the Props!

[Ray L.]

Ted you sexy guy you ....how the heck are you....

[mark poulson]

Chris and Ted,
You guys bring up a really good point.
It's not a racial/ethnic thing. It's a cultural thing.
Most of the shore fishermen I see are from other countries where fishing is how they probably fed their families. Not just south east Asian countries, but latin American, too, and eastern European.
It's really easy to forget how good we have it here in the U.S., where we can fish for fun, instead of food.
I'm sure, with time, these immigrants will adopt "our" cultural ways, or at least adapt to them, like every wave of immigrants before them, including my family on both sides.
In the mean time, *#!% them! My fishing is more important than theirs!

[tunaman]

I don't think anyone is making racial statements, or complaining about those who are following the rules and regulations. The complaints I've seen are regarding violations - undersized fish, over-limits, too many rods, etc.

I would certainly hope someone at Castaic is doing creel checks with these folks to ensure that they are adhering to the size and catch limits? As I recall, they're extremely tough at Castaic (2 fish at 18" minimum length?). I'm not sure how many are catching legal fish from the shore?

Roger

[kazk]

Mark

I was not making any racial remark. It is that I know that the guy that cut us off during the tournament was Vietnamese as I understood what he was saying, in Vietnamese. I am a Vietnam War Vet.

Chris Koda

[mark poulson]

Chris,
I didn't think you meant it as racial. I thought you just pointed out something important, that most of these shore anglers come from places where fishing is for food, and fishing regulations don't exist.
I know they look at me like I'm crazy when I release a fish.
Personally, I'd love to see DFG patrol and do a creel check every day. Not to be a dick, but to ensure that Castaic, and other lakes, don't get raped.

[macinckirk]

I know that this is a Bad Deal but I would say 75% of those People that are shore fishing are Going after the Stripers, sure they are getting some LMB's also. And I'm sure that they are taking then home

But I have also seen guys at weight in's with dead fish and go down to the ramp and just empty there weight in bag and walk away with floater's in the water and act like that's Cool Also. So In someone else's Eyes Maybe that is Bad Deal.

So what I'm just trying to Point out without Getting Hammer on this site is that we are people bitching about other people and things there doing, but It's COOL when were out on the Lake Braking the Law like, speed limit's, running to close to the shore on plane, get up on plane in the fog and running WOT and etc.

And also this 1 is not braking a law but what about all the gut hook fish that guys are riping the hook out and releaseing the fish Knowing its going to die. You know there is always 2 ways of looking at things.

I have fished most my life on and off and I love Bassfishing and I have to say this ( and I know its not going to go over to good but ) You know Bass Guys bi*ch more then my ex-wife did. We bi*ch about the lake lice, jet ski's, plesure boater, guys trolling, shore guys, trout guys fishing the ramp, people on the docks and etc.

But I'll tell you what In the last few Years the Bass guys with Bass Boat have gotten way out of line also So I guess all I'm saying here is no one is 100% perfit ( just like my spelling) all the time so maybe we need to also Look at what were doing

Just my 2 cents

[gt5bass]

Alright Kirk,

Let me be the first to jump on you.

But first let me clarify a few things.

1) I don't have problems with people catching their legal daily bag limit of fish if they have paid for a fishing license. They are entitled to do so in a legal way.

2) I have watched the shoreline brigades put everything they catch on stringers (I have also seen it happen at Oroville) with no regard to any regulations and have called Cal Tip 1-888-DFG-CALTIP (1-888-334-2258) to report what I have seen.

3) I one of the tournament anglers that will usually go around and scoop up dead fish from a release area after a tourney. I know in No. Cal they have asked us at most venues to release our dead ones back to the fisheries (back into the ecosystem). We don't leave them at the dock but are required to take them back out a 1/2 mile. Not sure how it is down here. I usually will ask if any of the folks fishing for dinner if they want them if they still look edible before disposing of them. Guys that careless dump dying fish at the dock after a tourney is also one of my pet peeves. This makes all of us tourney anglers look bad.

I grew up shore fishing the local lakes an abided all the local regulations. I packed out what I packed in. We would usually bring an extra Hefty bag and pack out an extra bag of trash each trip to try and preserve the reserve the resource. If I kept fish, it was within the legal limits. This is how I was brought up, so I get a little offended when I see the resources getting trashed. I have watched boat load after boat load of people just bring their trash and leave it, catch more than their legal share of fish using more than their legal number of rods without any concern for others around them.

I have no problems with the parties that clean up after themselves, don't drive up on top of others already fishing (I practice then when fishing too, if there are shore anglers, I give them wide berth) and have a respect for the resource and regulation of that resource. These resources are here for the LEGAL taxpayers and tourists usage! The freeloaders and abusers need to be sited as appropriate!

[macinckirk]

gt5bass, I agree 100% with everything you said, and I have the same problems with what you said also. All I'm saying here is that Not EVERY One of the people shore fishing are Braking the Law.

I understand about getting upset about it and trying to do something about it also, But the way things are put in this post it just sounds like if your on the shore fishing and your from a diff country then your out there braking the law. The other thing that I get form this post is that the shore guys should only be able to fish in a few area's.

Don't they have Just as Much right to be on the shore's as we do on the water in our boat's??? I think so

So I was just saying there is 2 ways of looking at everthing

[gt5bass]

It used to be at Castaic you'd only find shoreline fishing around the both ramp areas. Nowadays they are all over that lake and there and there a fewer areas of shorelines you can fish from a boat. Let a group see you catch a bass or two this weekend on a point or bank, you show up tomorrow or next weekend and that same bank will be covered with boat in shore anglers harvesting those same fish. Hell, I have had them move down the bank and do it immediately. We need to find a balance here. We also pay an extra fee to launch our boats to fish on the lake, soon there are going to be no banks to fish from a boat if the current trend continues.

A couple weeks back, I went to fish the first cut on the right as you go into Dry Gulch, and low and behold, there was clutch of Guys up in the rock in the cut, no boat, they had been dropped off there. Just sitting there catching the fire out the fish. None had licenses displayed, all had mulitple rods in the water, and they were keeping fish under 18". And no they weren't line sides!

Where do we draw the line? Yes, we are all entitled to use the facility and No one said they are all breaking the law...but I would venture to guess that a majority are! Have you how many they stuff in a single rental boat? And how many will drive right in front of you without looking? No idea what the rules of the water are...but who cares as long as the concessionaire gets his bucks right?

If they can walk to the bank then they can be there, but boating in boat load after boatload is where I draw the line. I pay an additional fee to launch my boat so I can fish on the Lake and I can't do that if the drive on top of my line in the rental boat and make camp on the bank I am fishing and start throwing their 50# line on mine. Then to top it off, they tend to leave their trash behind when they leave. I say close off shoreline access if they can't clean up after themselves! They want to rent a boat, fish from it!

Yes, there are two way to look at it! As yes, if they are LEGAL abiding citizens or tourists/visitors they have a right to use the facilities but they also need to respect them! or get OUT! I don't go an mess up there home recreational facilities or crap in their yards!

For the price we pay for access to this lake, you think they could do some more enforcement! The lifeguards say its the concessaires responsibility, the concessionaire says it the lakes...typical runaround as the average Joe takes it up the pipe!

[macinckirk]

Once Again I Agree with 100% of what you just said and if there doing this there that much I think that someone needs to do something.

I have only fished Castaic 4 times, 1 time about 2 years ago and I fished it 2 times prefishing for the Reg 7 and then that trny this year. So if it is as bad as you Say then I Guess I would be Pissed too.

Here is were the problem is

For the price we pay for access to this lake, you think they could do some more enforcement! The lifeguards say its the concessaires responsibility, the concessionaire says it the lakes...typical runaround as the average Joe takes it up the pipe!

Its Call Passing the Buck and this State is GREAT at it

gt5bass, I hope that your blood presure comes down just alittle before you go fishing tomorrow, and I hope you the best of luck out there or werever you are fishing

I for 1 will not be having this problem do to the fact that I'll be prefishing the soup bowl down in Escondido called Hodges

And Trust me I really DO FEEL THE SAME AS YOU ABOUT this Whole Deal, I just didn't have anything better to do then to stir the pot this morning

[mark poulson]

Yes, there are two way to look at it! As yes, if they are LEGAL abiding citizens or tourists/visitors they have a right to use the facilities but they also need to respect them! or get OUT! I don't go an mess up there home recreational facilities or crap in their yards!

For the price we pay for access to this lake, you think they could do some more enforcement! The lifeguards say its the concessaires responsibility, the concessionaire says it the lakes...typical runaround as the average Joe takes it up the pipe!

Don't hold back, Gary. Tell us how you really feel!

Seriously, I agree with everything you say. I see the same boatloads and it's a 1000% increase from last year. Loads on every main lake point, and starting to be in the coves, too.
Even if it's the concessaire's resonsibility, I'm still going to bitc! to the lifeguards tomorrow morning, and to the Lake Police. And to the DFG, if they show up.
But, it looks to me like Lori Bennett is the one to talk to, since she seems to get things rolling, and she really does care about the lake. I will email her again.
I'm trying to get her to come to our club meeting next Thursday night, and I'll see if I can whine to her in person then.

[kazk]

The guys were fishing for LMB as they were using Crawdads. As for the Shore fisherman we ran into them on the south bank befor Dry Creek. We backed off an went around them a good 50 yards before reuming our fishing. But I to used to shore fish at Puddingstone and snagged a gill net. I proceeded to cut it up into 12"X12" squares when the owner came by and started shouting at me. I was tepted to just throw him in the water wrapped upped in his net.

Chris Koda

[SCVchad]

You guys are to funny, complaining about the people that are literally ridding the lake of the fish that you complain about. These people are there for the stripers and once they are gone you will not need to worry about them anymore.

I also can not stand these people because I am a striper fisherman first then a bass fisherman. They are pretty much hauling out fish after fish.

I am one of those people that you might see on shore away from the ramps. I dont get dropped off by boat. Lets just say I like to hike and I know where to go but you won't see me out there fishing bait amongst the third worlders.

Tight lines

PS- Thanks to DFG for screwing us by not stocking trout, I'll be bitter about that for a while

[Rob Cummings]

I haven't said anything yet because I haven't personally seen these people yet.

However, this is the dumbest and most ignorant post I have read in a long time and I can't keep my mouth shut after this one. I guaran-damn-tee you that these people are not specifically targeting stripers...do they throw back the LMB they catch?? So you're tellin me that once they catch every last striper in the lake, they won't fish there anymore??? Get a grip on reality! So you're also telling me they're fishin for stripers in Lopez????

Get yourself an education on why trout weren't stocked this year. Don't be mad at the DFG. It's not like they said, "we're not stocking trout this year just to piss off SCVchad". Don't blame the lack of trout stocking for lack of skill catching fish.

You guys are to funny, complaining about the people that are literally ridding the lake of the fish that you complain about. These people are there for the stripers and once they are gone you will not need to worry about them anymore.

I also can not stand these people because I am a striper fisherman first then a bass fisherman. They are pretty much hauling out fish after fish.

I am one of those people that you might see on shore away from the ramps. I dont get dropped off by boat. Lets just say I like to hike and I know where to go but you won't see me out there fishing bait amongst the third worlders.

Tight lines

PS- Thanks to DFG for screwing us by not stocking trout, I'll be bitter about that for a while

[gt5bass]

SCV,

The may be fishing for stripers, but they are hauling, I see alot hauling out everything they catch!

I don't have a problem with Stripers, let 'em be, I pretty much enjoy catchin' anything that will pull my string

I just hate seing our resources being plundered!

[SCVchad]

AF- I know they are targeting stripers because they all have multiple lines out with chovies or sardines, take a walk around the west ramp or even down the dam and you will see for yourself. You dont go bass fishing with frozen bait. I dont know exactly what they want these fish for but we believe it is for there meat markets. Last fall we were getting good fish up to twenty plus pounds on the big baits, every time we landed a fish there would be a sworm of people offering to purchase the fish, one guy offered me fifty bucks for a twenty pounder he saw me catch, I said no way and would release it right in front of them. This was really the first year we've seen these people, they started crowding the area from ball point to the main point out of the marina basically camped out and trashing the place. It was disgusting the amount of trash which was left. We have had talks with the life gaurds and have even seen the boat police walk the shore over there. Then they basically migrated to the west ramp for that bait bite in the winter and started renting boats and dropping each other off and the problem has really esculated.

As fas as Lopez I have no comment because I don't go there

Who are you to say I have a lack of skill for catching fish, I'm sure you know damn well that when there is trout, the true monsters come up

gt- I was unaware of them taking bass because I personally have really not seen them targeting bass but I do agree with you that they do keep everything, and I mean everything they catch. I have not been out on a boat in about a month on Castaic. We have called CAL tip numerous times but who knows what happens. You cant educate them because you cant communicate with them.


It's just sad to see one of the best resources in socal, which happens to be 15 minutes from my house, getting treated like this.

[gt5bass]

It's just sad to see one of the best resources in socal

Exactly my point!

Good luck with getting yer Monstah Stripers...I've had a couple come up on my big baits in the last month...they are lurking around

[Ted Nguyen]

Gary-doing well, Thanh and I are at the Potomac River (Castaic ran out of dinner so we be headed east for dinner ) Confucious say; "Smart a** is better than a dumb a**

Ray L- easy now, everyone on this forum might catch on that you have "yellow fever" "you very very bad boy, you go now !!!

Sounds silly but maybe instead of getting angery, how bout take the time to educate, they may listen they may not, those that do not play by the rules will get caught, mb not today but someday.

It does suck but I also understand the mentality as that is how I grew up and as I became more involved with bass fishing and having the luxury of being on the water to just fish for "fun" the more I understood the importance of conservation. Next time Gary trade them a striper for the point. Barter system works wonders.

The enforcement is left to lake staf and DFG so the more they are informed of what is going on perhaps they will take more regard to the situation. Until they ban the "Thanh Le" shuttle, I am afraid it is what it is guys.

Please no more race card talks, that is just ridiculous. I think we all are beyond that narrow mindset.

Next time you see Thanh and I on the bank, give us a striper and tell us about the rules of the lake, smile and you would be suprised how we will listen as our bellies will be full of stripers.

Good fishing guys.

[mark poulson]

Confucious say; "Smart a** is better than a dumb a**.

Now that's funny!!!

[RichB]

If you see some of the areas the boats were dropping these people off you would cringe. These areas are steep rocky areas that don't appear safe..Especially with young kids...

[Ray L.]

Hey Ted you and Thanh should know by now I have yellow fever or is it brown fish fever... I allways get them confused.