How to Catch Opaleye Fish
Whether you’re a professional angler or an inexperienced hobbyist, opaleye fishing can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Opaleye fish are found in the Pacific Ocean, near the coast of California and Baja California, Mexico. These hearty fish can be an elusive catch, but with some tips and tricks, you can increase your chances of success.
In this blog post, we’ll provide a few tips on how to catch opaleye fish the right way.
1. Choose Your Gear Wisely
When it comes to opaleye fishing, choosing the right gear is essential for success. Generally speaking, medium-action spinning rods coupled with an 8-15 lb test line is preferred for catching these fish. Additionally, you should use a 2/0 – 4/0 hook size when fishing for opaleye.
When selecting bait such as shrimp or mussels to attract opaleye, it is important to remember that they tend to prefer smaller bait options than other types of fish do.
2. Location Matters
Opaleye is commonly found around rocky structures in shallow waters at depths of 10-50 feet below the surface where there is plenty of natural cover for them to hide in.
If possible, try anchoring your boat near kelp beds or other areas where small marine life congregates as these will likely attract opaleye in search of food sources.
You may also want to try different locations until you find one that yields consistent results; once you do find a successful spot be sure to note its location so you can return later!
3. Use the Right Technique
Once you’ve identified a good spot and chosen your gear wisely, it’s time to start fishing! The most effective technique for catching opaleye is drifting with bait while keeping your line tight and ready for any bites that may occur.
With spinning reels, this technique typically works best when using light weights (which allows more movement). Once hooked onto an opaleye make sure not to pull too hard on the line as this could cause the hook or line to break due to their strong jaws and sharp teeth.
Instead, keep steady pressure while slowly reeling them in – this will ensure that you have landed yourself a solid catch!
Conclusion
Opaleseye fish can be tricky catches but with some patience and practice, you can increase your chances of success by following these simple tips on how to catch them properly.
Be sure to use medium-action spinning rods paired with 8–15 lb test lines as well as 2/0–4/0 hooks when fishing for Opaleseye and look for areas where small marine life congregates such as kelp beds or rocky structures – these are likely spots where Opaleseye will be hiding out looking for food sources!
Finally, use light weights when drifting with bait so that more movement occurs and remember not to pull too hard on the line once one has been hooked – keep steady pressure while slowly reeling them in instead! With these tips in mind happy fishing!
